New Revelations

Posted on Fri Jan 16th, 2026 @ 4:11pm by René Rouen & Lola ‘Myth’ McDowell

2,323 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Safe Harbour
Location: Lola's Cottage
Timeline: TBD

It never could be the same person but her mouth and brain disconnected and she spoke up before she could stop herself. If she was wrong she was wrong but she had to know especially as how many people could be called René Rouen from Paris?

“With a sister called Chloe and Grandfather called Henri.” Lola said quietly but so hopeful that this man was the one her friend across the ocean spoke about often with worry for where he was but also with so much hope that he had survived and was somewhere in the United Kingdom making a life for himself.

René froze in place as he stared at Lola in shock and awe. How couid she know the names of my sister and grandfather, he thought. His eyes blinked several times, as if his brain were a frozen computer screen that needed shutting off and turning back on. He finally moved to a chair and sat down. His eyes never leaving Lola's. When he spoke it was with a hoarse voice. "I think I will take that tea now if you don't mind."

"Of course." The woman said as he finally sat down in the chair, unable to take his eyes off of her. She finally wrenched her eyes away from him and looked at the kettle and the mug she had started to prepare when she had made herself and Juliet hot drinks. "How... how do you take your tea?" She wondered, knowing it was important to learn that as some people liked tea with milk, others liked it with lemon, while others liked the milk after. It was a minefield.

"Just plain s'il te plaît." René watched the lovely, young Lola as she poured the hot water into a cup with a tea bag. He glanced at the various radio parts again before meeting her gaze as she returned to the table. He nodded as she graciously set the cup and saucer on the table in front of him. "Merci." He took a deep breath as she sat back down. "I deduce you have been in radio contact with my sister or grandfather. Either that or you are gifted with mental powers from Our Heavenly Father."

The woman sat back down, shifting in her seat before she wrapped her hands around the mug in front of her and looked at the milky mixture for a moment before she nodded. "I have. We speak weekly and just discuss things. I am currently trying to guide her through radio repair." She said, smiling a little.

René felt an emotion he had not dared to feel in several years. Hope, real hope, had not been a part of his emotional being. He felt tears begin to drip down his cheeks as he gripped his tea mug. He glanced at the ceiling and spoke softly. "Merci Dieu d'avoir répondu à mes prières en protégeant ma famille (Translation: Thank you God for answering my prayers in protecting my family). He reached across the table and grabbed Lola's hand gently. "Merci Mademoiselle Lola. I owe you a debt of gratitude for such joyous news." He released Lola's hand and wiped tears from his eyes.

Lola nodded as she slowly translated what he said and smiled. “You do not owe me anything
René.” She assured quietly as she moved her hand around her mug hoping that it would help warm her. “If anything owe my random scrolling one random Sunday months ago.” She sighed wishing it was closer to Sunday so she could put them in touch properly.

René took several sips of his tea as he pondered Lola's words. He couldn't help but believe that despite all his hardships and loneliness over the last few years that circumstances throughout had been God's design to bring him here. He would soon be able to speak with his family again. Perhaps even find a way to get home to them.

René's one concern was his mother and father. Lola had not mentioned them. He looked up at Lola. "Did Chloé say how mother and father were? Did they all make it to Rouen and grandfather's estate?"

"I do not know where they are properly. We have not confirmed locations, but she has hinted that she is somewhere where they can produce wine." Lola would let him decide if he knew where that was. The woman took a deep breath as she revealed what she knew about his family. "She said she lost her mother when Paris fell. I am sorry." Lola leaned out and touched his hand.

René was understandablely sad about the news of his mother. He gave Lola's hand a gentle squeeze. He closed his eyes and silently prayed for his mother. He took a deep breath and released it before opening his eyes. "She at least made it to Rouen, well the family estate five kilometers outside Rouen." He gazed into Lola's eyes. "Thank you for telling me. I'm very grateful to finally know something."

“Me and your sister have not revealed locations but they would make sense,” Lola said softly and nodded. “A few days and you will be able to speak to her.” She encouraged, wishing she had known before he had left, as they could have spoken sooner.

René squeezed Lola's hand one last time before releasing. "You have given me a wonderful gift. Hope." He couldn't help but smile. "I shall always be grateful for that." He glanced at the saucers and cups on the table. "Allow me to clean up." He nodded to the stairs. "I used only a little of the hot water, in case you still needed some."

A warm shower sounded like a nice idea in all honesty, but she was not sure whether she trusted her new housemate just yet. She would see how she felt in a little bit once she had cleaned up the table mess of radio parts and pieces. "You do not owe me anything." She assured. "Thank you. I will see how I feel in a little bit."

René caught Lola's expression. He gestured at the parts on one end of the table. "At least let me help clean up." He wanted to show Lola that he could and would be useful around the house.

“I have a system so it’s okay. You can get to elder to bed Rene you have been out and about today or go through to living are find a book or something to do.” Life was simple in the evening long gone were the television or endless scrolling on the internet. It made things simple in the darkness but in the winter it made things hard.

René nodded. He glanced at the two wood crates, one by the stove and the other next to the fireplace. He remembered seeing a firewood rack outside the front door and decided he could refill the inside bins. He gestured to the door. "I'll bring more firewood in for in the morning."

Lola smiled a little more as the man found a new task to do. “You mister Rouen do not know how to relax do you?” She laughed a little bit indicated that he could go ahead if he felt like he needed to.

René returned Lola's smile with one of his own as he shrugged. Her smile gave him a sense of warmth on the very chilly night. "I don't get many nights under a roof unless it's an abandoned building during my courier runs. Mademoiselle Lennox and yourself have been extraordinarily kind to provide shelter. The least I can do is be useful to make things easier for you to repay the kindness." He turned and went out the door to get more firewood, quickly closing the door so a minimum of heat escaped.

Lola wanted to argue, but he was already gone out into the snow, leaving her alone with having to tidy up the table. She grabbed up more wooden crates that she used to store stuff, and put the two different lots of machinery away. She stored them under the table out of the way so they could use the table properly.

René took a minute or two to get a significant amount of firewood. He realized that he would not be able to open the door with such a large armload. He gently tapped the door with his and waited for her to let him back in.

Lola chuckled as she heard the tap and rushed back over to open the door. "Here." She offered taking several of the logs from his arms, chucking them into the crates used for storing the firewood. "You did not need to."

René closed the door with his foot as he entered and deposited the remaining firewood in the crate by the fireplace before turning to Lola. "If I am going to be staying in this house with you, then it is only proper that I share in the chores. Your friend, Doctor Parrish also told me to remain on my best behavior. Helping you is part of being on my best behavior.

Lola rolled her eyes just a little bit. "I am not entirely sure how we are going to do this, René." She admitted with a shy smile. "I am not used to having people in my space, so this might be a bit of a learning curve for us both." She would like her best, but it would be hard.

René held a thoughtful expression for a long moment before he spoke. "I don't want to intrude upon your space. I can speak with Cassandra in the morning for different accommodations if that would be more to your liking. Doctor Parrish was the one who suggested I stay here. I wasn't told my new housemate would be a woman until just before arriving."

Lola laughed a little. “I am not worried about my house mate being a man. I am just not used to having anyone in my space.” She said quietly. “I have lived alone since before the zombie virus.” Lola was actually sure the last time she had lived with someone was her first year of university.

Rene let out a short chuff of laughter. "I was still living at home prior to the virus. I had come to London to compete in a fencing tournament, but then everything went to merde and I was stranded here." He thought about his family as he looked at Lola. "Did you grow up in Thistledrift? Where's your family?"

"I did not grow up here, but I worked in the TV and radio studio space in the nearest town, and when the undead came, I was the only person left standing when every else abandoned the space, so I worked out how to use the equipment. Cassandra found me when I was trying to find supplies and brought me and the equipment into the walls when we had enough fuel for moving equipment. They had a radio shack, but it was just that, but I had access to the local BBC studio and equipment, so we were able to approve all the stuff."

René listened attentively to Lola describe the circumstances that brought her to Thistledrift. He glanced around the room at various cobbled together devices and turned back to Lola with a smile. "Well, Thistledrift is lucky to have a innovative woman such as yourself."

"Thank you." The woman smiled a little. "And we are lucky to have you, even if you came to us as a courier. You brought things that will keep me entertained." She said smiling at the pages of information that were scattered around her desk in the office space of the cottage.

René couldn't resist thinking how beautiful Lola looked every time she smiled. He returned a small smile of his own before glancing at the window. He turned back to her. "You mentioned books earlier. May I see what's in your library. I only have one book."

“Come on.” She said indicating further into the cottage past the stairs into the room at the front that was homely. The room had several sofas in that were covered in blankets, plants were everywhere as well as lots of random pieces of equipment. “This house used to belong to an elderly couple who died at the start but they left a great book collection that practically supplied the library but there are still loads here.” She indicated the book shelves. “But I will make sure I will tidy up tomorrow.”

René was amazed to see multiple bookcases along the wall. Most were empty, but there was still one that was nearly full. He walked over to the bookcase and started perusing some of the titles. One title caught his attention on the top shelf, a book entitled Les Trois Mousquetaires by Alexandre Dumas. His breath caught as he stared at the tome like book. He reached out and gently stroked the binding almost reverently. He turned to Lola with an expression that was hard to discern. "May I?"

“Go for it roomie.” She declared smiling. She might have been reluctant for a roommate but it might be okay to get herself back involved in the community properly. She sat down in her favourite chair and watched him a little.

René took great care in retrieving the book and carrying it to the couch. He opened the book and started reading. He was mesmerized by the pages for several minutes, lost in the pages of his favorite novel. He occasionally released a content sigh as he carefully turned a page. He was extremely glad that Juliet had brought him here. It was the first time in three years that he truly felt at peace.

TAG (she could probably disappear, take her shower and he might not even notice LOL).

 

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