New Day, Part One

Posted on Thu Jan 15th, 2026 @ 11:28am by Lola ‘Myth’ McDowell & René Rouen

1,491 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Safe Harbour
Location: Lola's and René's Cottage
Timeline: 04 December 2013, 0700 (7am Wednesday)

René set two plates and eating utensils on the table and then inspected his early morning efforts. He ran through a mental checklist of everything he had accomplished since waking this morning. Ashes from the woodstove in the kitchen and fireplace had been discarded outside, fresh fires started both for cooking and warmth, breakfast of bacon and French style crepes prepared and water was boiling for morning tea. He gave a nod as he stepped over to the stairs and called out. "Mademoiselle, breakfast is ready?"

Lola stirred and winced at the voice echoing up from below. She sat up panicked before she remembered she had a house mate now and it seemed he had made her breakfast. Was that bacon she smelt? She rubbed her face trying to wake up more. “Five minutes.” She called sleepily but already started to get out of bed. She quietly used the bathroom and headed down stairs grabbing on a hoodie as she went. “What time is it?” She wondered as she stepped into the kitchen shivering from the cold of the house.

René glanced up at Lola as she emerged from the stairs. He quickly moved to the table and pulled out a chair for her. "Hope you had a good night's sleep." He slid the chair in as she took a seat. "I wasn't sure if you preferred coffee or tea in the morning. I boiled water for tea."

Lola confused sat down and looked at the man over her shoulder. “Well, isn’t this a treat?” She pondered, not sure she had ever been on a date with a man who treated her so well, let alone a man who was a random stranger to her who had been assigned as her house mate.

René returned to the stove to retrieve the kettle as his thoughts went to her unanswered question. "I woke up about quarter to five, at least that's what my wind up clock said. I think it must be 7 in the morning by now." He poured hot water into two mugs before setting the kettle on a wooden plate on the table and gesturing at the tea bags. He glanced at Lola's expression, unaware of her thoughts. "What?" He started to rise. "Would you prefer coffee? I can prepare some in just a few minutes if you like."

Lola shook her head. "No... this is... this is very much enough and a surprise." She stated picking up the teacup to make it how she liked with milk and sugar. She smiled at the strength of it before she looked at the food. "I think this is the first time I have had anyone cook me a meal here." She admitted to normally taking her meals in the pub, altogether with everyone.

René resumed sitting and gestured to the covered platters. "Please eat. I hope it's to your liking. I learned how to cook from my mother." A tinge of sadness draped his face when he realized that he would never again taste his mother's cooking again.

“René… you have cooked at meal for me. Relax.” Lola said quietly as she picked up her knife and fork and tucked into the food. “I normally eat in the pub which is our communal kitchen.” She admitted getting up, pouring some water from the container over the sink into a glass.

René took a few bites. "I just wanted to do something to show my appreciation for the hospitality you extended to me." He watched Lola as she took her seat again. "How is the food?"

"Really good. Thank you." She assured quickly as she carried on eating with her knife and fork. She could not remember the last time she had breakfast like this, but she was not going to argue or question it when it was a nice way to start the day.

René breathed a sigh of relief. It had been a while since he had last cooked a proper meal. He gave Lola a shy smile before setting into his own food. René glanced at the window. "Sky is starting to brighten up, indicating sunrise would be soon. He looked back to Lola. "May I inquire as to your plans for the day?"

Lola smiled a little as she turned to glance at the sky and nodded. "I monitor the communication machinery from light till dusk." She explained her job role a little more. The only day she was there differently was Sunday, so she could speak to Chloe later in the day.

"Do you make contact with other survivors very often?" He was genuinely curious. Most of the UK was overrun by the dead. There were settlements of course, Most were similar to Thistledrift, villages and small towns. York was probably the only real city still standing in all his travels, but it was not a place you wanted to travel to unless you had to. Oxford was fairly well populated and actually rather pleasant for the most part.

The woman looked up from the eggs and panicked. She had contact with quite a few people but the panic came from not actually knowing if she could speak about it. “I cannot go into anything with you until you go in front of the council.” She said sadly knowing that she could not imagine him not passing but she did not want to give anything away.

René nodded his head. He understood that Lola was prohibited from speaking on the particular subject. He pondered what she said about the Council. "So your town maintains a parich council. May I at least inquire who sits on this Council? I gather Mademoiselle Lennox and possibly her mother."

“Father Aldridge, Juliet, the pub landlord, and several other people you would not have met yet but they each have their own area of things and control that keeps us running.” Lola assured finishing up the food putting her cutlery down. She felt full and happy and having both of them at the same time was not a thing that happened often.

René found himself hoping that this council would approve his remaining in Thistledrift, at least for the time being. Winter was coming in strong and while he was confident he could survive on his own if need be. He found himself wanting to belong to this community. He glanced at the dim light starting to come through the window. He rose from his seat and started collecting the dinnerware and taking it to the sink. "I will clean up the dishes when I get back inside. I want to make sure we have enough firewood ready for the next few days." He paused at the back door and glanced at the lovely young woman still seated at the table. It was rare to find a kind people these days. "Merci Mademoiselle, I appreciate your kindness in opening your home to me."

"I guess it was fate or whatever that is." Lola rolled her eyes at the man and the fact that he was going to try and do the dishes. That was not going to happen, but he could dream. She would go and get dressed and then do them, but he could cut wood if he wanted to. Lola had to admit she was looking forward to the Europa being back soon; if she was honest, a few nights on the warm ship sounded lovely in the winter. "You do what you have to."

René simply nodded. "Is there anything I can do after splitting wood?" He wanted to be helpful around the house.

Anything else? What else could he do there and then? She thought to herself as she tried to think about the question. "Nope. Sorting the wood out is enough." It saved her a job, to say the least.

René appeared thoughtful for a moment. He stared at Lola for a moment. "Would it be okay if I looked around town later today? I just want to see if there's anything I can do to help out the community. I feel guilty about eating food and taking shelter without giving back."

"I am not your keeper, René." She laughed a little. "Just be mindful that people might be suspicious of you." She warned. It was an expected emotion in their new world, but even so he needed a warning that even inside this community, it needed to be reminded.

René nodded. "I understand." He glanced at the window and noticed the rays of sunlight shining through. "Well, I better get to it. Wood isn't going to split itself." He exited the cottage, and a few moments later the sound of wood could be heard.

Lola scrubbed at her face and shook her head. What a plot twist this was to her. She would need a few days to unpack all of it and she hoped by Sunday she would be able to do it better.

 

RSS Feed