A Subtle Change

Posted on Sat Jul 11th, 2026 @ 3:11pm by Lola ‘Myth’ McDowell & René Rouen

1,989 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: The Light House
Location: Lola's Cottage
Timeline: 20th December 2012

Lola slammed the door as she came in and let out a silent scream at the frustration she was feeling about Nathan and the whole sitation with Smith. She took off her boots and turned into the kitchen and smiled as the light came on but she quickly turned it off as it was daylight and not needed. It was more important to get the house warm, but she would need to check the electric radiators now that she had power to actually do it again. She looked around her cottage and noticed a note pinned to the kitchen door. She snatched it down and opened it.

Dear Lola,
I hope you will forgive my outburst at Cassandra's. I just wanted you to know that I only wanted to help with what was bothering you. I realize now we've only known one another for a couple of weeks and that you have other people you trust. Just know that I consider you a friend for all you've done for me. If you ever need anything, anything at all, don't hesitate to ask. I hope someday you will consider me a friend, until then, I think it might be best if I give you back your space.
Your friend,
Rene

She shook her head but noticed René's pack by the back door. She picked it up and flung it under the stars knowing that he could not leave without it. She listened to the house and turned outside as she heard a familiar sound.

Rene was outside splitting firewood with an axe. He shivered slightly from the cold and paused. He set the axe down for a moment and rubbed his hands together and flexed his fingers. He glanced around himself at the copious amount of firewood ready to be stacked. He shook his head and sighed. He figured this would be enough for Lola's needs for the next few days at least. He started picking up wood and carrying it in bundles towards the wood rack by the back door. He was just stacking the last of the firewood in the rack when the back door opened. He looked at Lola. He had not expected Lola to return from Cassandra's this early.

"So is this your thing? Wood chopper?" She demanded from the doorway that she slowly opened, so as not to alert him to her presence for a moment, but he had noticed her. She stood there looking freshly cleaned thanks to the shower at Cassandra's and the borrowed clothes.

René opened his mouth to speak, closed it. He then looked at the firewood and shrugged. "I like being useful. My way of showing I'm grateful for the hospitality." He turned back to Lola and approached the door. "You seem to be doing better then last night. You're lucky to have friends like Cassandra and Mrs. Lennox."

"I am better than last night. I am not... I ... look, I cannot tell you what I did, but I fucked up a bit, and I had to tell Cassandra and Nathan." She sighed, wishing she could tell everyone properly, but it would change how people look at her.

René listened to Lola. He remained quiet for a moment. He couldn't imagine Lola doing anything that would cause this level of stress, fear and doubt she had displayed the night before. Part of him wanted to reach out, take her hand, give her a hug. Do anything to shield her from whatever was upsetting her. He did the only thing he felt he could. "Lola, you are perhaps one of the kindest and most gentle person I have met. You would never intentionally hurt someone without a good reason. I'm not even sure you would hurt someone even with a good reason. I just want to help you. If you will let me."

"I cannot tell you, but I do appreciate the offer of help, but I am not allowed to tell you," Lola explained quietly as she walked over and took the axe from him. She indicated for him to move away, and she started to chomp the wood, feeling empowered, and it let out some of her own anger at things that had happened recently.

René watched Lola chop wood for a moment while his mind processed what she had said. He wasn't sure what to feel. He took a deep breath. "Would you tell me if you could?"

The woman picked up the cut-up pieces and put them in the pile to put under the cover to dry out a little. "I would because I think you would understand and not judge, but I cannot." She said quietly.

René was curious, but it was now apparent to him that he was being left out because either Cassandra or Nathan had made the decision that he was not to be informed. He finally nodded. "I wish I could help you. Tell me how and I will."

"Just being here and being you." The woman said simply. She knew that he was desperate to know, but she could not tell him. She was sure that eventually, he would know all about it, but for now, she needed to have at least one friend.

René studied Lola's expression. It tore him up inside to see her afraid and ashamed. He wanted to hug her. Reassure her that she was safe. Finally he simply reached one hand out to her. "Let's go inside. I'll make you some tea. Then you're going to bed and resting today. No arguing or I'll go get Doctor Parrish and have her order it so."

"I do not need to rest, I am fine." The woman assured. She knew that Juliet would not order her, but she would guilt her and she did not need guilt anymore. "I should be making you tea." She murmured, grabbing up the wood he had been splitting to bring in some inside to dry.

René stepped in front of Lola and held out his arms to take the wood. "I have already loaded firewood in the hearth, woodstove and indoor wood bins. No need to bring in any more at the moment." He glanced at the door before turning back to Lola. "You could go start the fires and I'll finish up out here."

The woman nodded, handed them back to him and stepped inside. She was almost tempted to turn the heating up properly, but she needed to get someone to check it before she did. “Tomorrow should be warmer as the heating will be on.” Lola declared as the man came back in.

René nodded his head as he gestured to the front room. "Go sit down. I'll bring you some tea as soon as it's ready." He paused for a second and glanced towards the front room. "I could start a fire in the hearth if you prefer?"

"I can start it." The woman said, smiling a little at the kindness he was showing her. She could do it herself and had done it for years. She was fully able to keep herself, but it was nice to have someone in the house.

René set about getting the stove started, putting water on to boil, and getting Lola's tea service set up. He brought everything into the living room once it was all prepared and set the tea service before Lola. He glanced at the already roaring fire in the hearth, starting to warm the room.

"Thank you." The woman was kneeling in front of the roaring warming her hands after being outside for a few minutes. "So are you planning on still leaving?" She finally wondered, thinking that his bag was still hidden under the stairs.

René froze for a moment. "I...I wasn't sure if you wanted me to stay. Now...I am not sure what to do." He looked into Lola's eyes. "Do you want me to stay?"

"I never wanted you to leave? You wanted to leave because I would not tell you what is going on." Lola pointed out, gently trying not to place blame or anything.

René gave a long sigh. "I don't want to leave. I just don't like seeing people I care about going through something and not being able to help. Besides, it might be best if I am close on hand should Smith pay you a visit."

"Nathan is not happy about Smith and Cassie is not happy that the man is being allowed on land, as he is one of the few people who can keep power flowing." Lola sighed just a little as she scrubbed at her face. She hoped he did not need to come and check anything at her cottage, as she would want Cassie and Nathan there.

René listened quietly as Lola spoke about the situation. He finally shook his head. "It's not right. He shouldn't be given a pass on account he has a critical skill that this community and the ship need to function."

"Well, he isn't allowed in my place of work, and once the word gets out, we shall see." Lola was trying to stay positive about the whole thing, even though it made her feel ill to think about it.

René picked up on her unease. Part of him wanted to hug her, take her hand at least, and reassure her that he would be there for her. That he would do his best to protect her. He wanted to open up about his growing feelings for her. His concern for her safety was etched across his face. He finally took a seat in the chair on the farside of the couch. "Just let me know if there is anything I can do for you. Anything at all."

Lola nodded. She knew that he would do anything, which was mildly annoying, knowing that Cassandra and the Doctor put him there with her life; they knew that they knew she needed someone like him, despite knowing nothing about her. "Thank you." She whispered, looking away from him to her tea.

René saw her look away. He sat in the chair for a moment then rose to his feet and disappeared into the little hallway between the living room and kitchen. He opened the closet door and spotted his gear. He paused for a moment and looked towards the front room. He pulled a comforter from the shelf and returned to the living room. He spread the comforter out and draped on the section of couch she wasn't sitting on. He gestured at one of the two books on the coffee table. "You get comfortable. Relax. Read. I'll...just be taking care of things around the cottage. I'll check up on you from time to time. See if you need anything."

“I am not ill.” She laughed quietly. There was not much that needed to be done around the cottage. “There isn’t much that needed to be done is there?” She challenged as she grabbed up the mills and boons book that was there waiting for her.

René shook his head. "Not much. Figured I would just sweep and dust. Maybe reorganize the panty a little. Minor things really."

“You should rest too.” Lola reminded with a roll of her eyes. All those things could wait in her opinion but who was she to comment if he was really intent on doing those things in their home.

René smiled at Lola. "I will." He glanced at the hallway closet where Lola had hidden his gear. It dawned on him that her hiding his belongings was her way of preventing him from leaving. "Let me take care of one thing and I will be right back. I promise."

Lola nodded and let him go. He would return when he wanted to and until then she had her book and tea. It sounded like a perfect winter day to her.

 

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