A/N: Another update! Thanks for all the reviews, it's very kind and encouraging :) I own nothing etc, etc, etc. Happy New Year!
Edith and Michael sat at a corner table in a small cafe near the hospital Sybil worked at happily discussing more ideas for her latest book and Michael telling her a story from the office where Charles had a frustrating time with a new intern who was insisting that he read his friend's story about time traveling pirates.
"I hope you don't mind me dragging you across town to come here, Sybil raved about the cheesecake and I've been craving it for days." Edith conversationally said as she took a bite of her dessert
"It's fine, I trust your judgement. So does Sybil live with you or was she just visiting when I came over?"
"No, we live together, but she's usually busy at the hospital, she's finishing up her residency and wants to go into pediatrics." Edith answered
"That's kind of you, to have your sister live with you before she gets her career off the ground." Michael responded as he pushed around a quiche on his plate
"It's a family home, so it wasn't my place to refuse her. Plus it's nice to have her around when she's not working, she's a darling."
"Oh, a family home, that sounds important." Michael said a bit surprised at the news
"Did you think I bought it with my earnings from my books? They didn't sell that much, I think it's been in the family for seven generations if I remember correctly, my other sister, Mary, could give you a much more detailed explanation."
"So you're one of those old money families then? I never would of guessed..."
"And why's that?..." Edith said with mock offense "...was it because I wasn't very polite to you when we first met or because I wear sensible clothes?"
A smile stretched across Michael's face as he answered
"First of all, thank you for finally admitting that. Secondly I went to university with your lot and they usually had a sense of arrogance about them, but you're not like that. You're very down to earth, it's nice." Michael casually said as Edith felt herself smile slightly at the compliment
Edith was going to respond but before she could a man approached the table and caught her attention
"David!?...Hello, how are you?" Edith nervously said as she got up from the table and gave the man an awkward hug
"Hi Edith, it's nice to see you, I thought I'd come over and say 'hello'" The short man with thinning hair sincerely said
"I'm glad you did,...and how is Sharon?"
"She's good, still plugging away in the garden" Edith gave a polite smile and a charged silence settled between them as Michael looked from one person to the other, unsure on their relationship
"I'm sorry, this is Michael Gregson, my new editor." Edith introduced as Michael raised out of his seat to shake hands and exchange greetings
"Back to writing, eh? Good, that's wonderful" David said as he smiled at Edith
"Yes, I'm quite excited and Michael has been a big help."
"Excellent, well I should be going. It was nice to see you again Edith, take care."
"I will, thanks. You too." Edith said to his back as he left the cafe and she sunk into her chair and covered her face with her hands
"Are you ok? Was that an old boyfriend or something?" Michael asked with concern evident in his voice
"No! No, but it was close enough. He was supposed to be the best man in my wedding."
A tense silence settled over the table, Edith didn't share much about her past or personal life and Michael gathered it was a sore subject and didn't want to pressure her into talking about it
"Oh. Well, that's a relief because I was going to say you could do much better." Michael joked hoping to ease the tension
Edith gave him a small smile and said
"Thank you for that, the last time I saw him I was in tears and running up a flight of stairs. It wasn't too awkward was it?"
"A bit, but he's gone now."
"I suppose you'll want to hear the story." Edith flatly said
"Not if you don't want to, but I don't mind hearing it. It's up to you" Michael said in a diplomatic tone
"It's only fair. I know about your marriage so you should hear my tale about a failed engagement."
Michael cocked his head to this side and leaned forward
"If that's how you feel then I'm all ears."
"His name was Anthony, he was a friend of my family's. Right before I finished my first book I ran into him at one of our parties at the house and we got to talking and discovered we had things in common, one thing led to another and we started seeing each other. Of course we had to sneak around and do everything very hush hush-"
"Why's that?" Michael interrupted
"Anthony was a bit older than me, truthfully he was closer to my father's age than mine and that aspect made him uncomfortable, he kept saying he would never be able to look my father in the face if he knew we were dating. At first it was all very romantic and clandestine, but after a time I grew tired of sneaking looks across a dinning room and meeting in London after his work functions, so I made a passionate declaration to my parents at dinner one night while Anthony was there and then we were out in the open."
"How did Anthony feel about that?" Michael asked as Edith was lost in her thoughts of the past
"Terribly embarrassed, he took my father's ranting like a man. But I was happy that we could be a proper couple, and things were going well. The first book took off and I started the second one, we were talking about moving in together and the future, then he proposed and I said 'yes'."
"Then?..." Michael encouraged
"Then we got to planning the wedding, my mother took it upon herself to make it a grand affair, the anticipation for my second book was very high, I just received some award for best new author and Anthony seemed to pull away a bit, but I assumed it was just work stress or wedding jitters then right before the rehearsal dinner he pulls me into the library and says that he couldn't live with himself if he made me tie myself to him."
"Ok..." Michael added, listening completely to Edith's story
"Of course I had no idea what he was talking about, but he went on about me having my whole life ahead of me and being able to do better than him and all that. Next thing I know he's jumping in his car I'm running upstairs and all my family ate for a week was wedding cake. And the last thing I heard about him was that he was working in his company's office in Frankfurt."
"I'm sorry, that's awful to happen to someone. But it sounds like he wanted what he thought was best for you." Michael said in an encouraging tone
"He did mention that, but I just wish he would have talked to me more about it, I had a feeling we could have been very happy together, but he made that decision for the both of us and that's all in the past." Edith coldly said
Michael could easily sense the sadness and regret Edith was feeling and wasn't exactly sure it was the right thing to say began anyway
"I'm not an expert on relationships, but I do feel that everyone deserves someone who wants to be with them, and will fight for them. If this man let his own insecurities end your relationship then he is a fool, and you certainly deserve better."
Edith's eyes glistened over with tears, feeling responsible for her emotions Michael reached across the table and gently squeezed her hand as he looked into her eyes and said
"Maybe it was for the best, you could be like me, I'm legally tied to my ex."
Edith let out a watery laugh and brought her other hand on top of Michael's as she heard a familiar voice call her name and looked to see Sybil walking towards them with a grin on her face
"Oh God..." Edith groaned under her breath as she pulled her hand into her lap
"Hello you two, everything going well?" Sybil asked as she borrowed a chair from another table and pulled it up to theirs
"Yes, I think so. Nice to see you again Sybil, are you all done with your shift?" Michael politely asked
"It's lovely to see you again Michael and unfortunately not, I'm just on lunch break and got sick of the cafeteria food..." Sybil responded as she took a bite of Edith's cheesecake
"...And what are you two discussing?"
"You actually..." Edith said already dreading the teasing she would receive from Sybil at home after she was caught holding Michael's hand
"...I was wondering if you would be ok with me basing the main character on you for my next book?"
Shocked, Sybil looked at Edith's nervous smile and to Michael's excited expression
"Am I going to be a prostitute?" Sybil teasingly asked
"No, of course not. You're going to be a suffragette. As well as vibrant, sweet, strong and full of life."
"I love it!" Sybil exclaimed making the woman behind her jump
"I can't wait to tell Tom, Oh! Speaking of..." Sybil excitedly said as she put her hand on Edith's arm
"...He just texted me and he is getting a regular column in The Guardian!"
"That's great Syb!" Edith responded with a wide smile then turned to Michael to explain
"Tom is her boyfriend and a political journalist. Irish lad, very nice, very smart and crazy about Sybil."
"That sounds great, congratulations!" Michael sincerely replied to both Sybil and Edith
"So I was thinking we should throw a party, is that alright? The house is certainly big enough." Sybil directed towards Edith
"Sure why not? Tom deserves it." Edith warily said as the thought of a load of people in her house went through her mind
"Good, nothing too big just a little gathering, maybe in two weeks? And Mary just messaged me and she seemed a bit desperate to have some more adult company so I bet she'll come." Sybil quickly turned to Michael and grabbed his forearm
"You should come. Michael I'm inviting you and you should come."
Taken aback at Sybil's enthusiasm Michael looked to Edith for guidance
"Michael you don't have to, Sybil, he's very busy. Don't force him."
"I'm not too busy, if it's alright with you I'd be glad to come if you think I'd fit in"
Michael looked toward Edith, their relationship had gotten much better over the past few weeks but he still wasn't sure she would want to see him out of a work setting
"It's fine by me, and it gives you a chance to meet Tom." Edith said with a smile
Sybil then added as she was standing to go place her order
"Of course you'll fit in, our friends are wonderful and you'll always have Edith there to hold your hand, figuratively."