Friday, 2 March 2018
7:00 am
Becky's 48th birthday had arrived. In addition to the spa appointments for her and Elsie, Becky wished for chocolate chip and banana pancakes for breakfast. Elsie had learned that from Becky on a Tuesday evening phone call, after her birthday morning had already filled up with appointments.
Elsie was now trying to hustle herself and Igor out the door to pick up Becky when she realized she had almost left her to-do/ shopping list for the day behind on the kitchen counter. The list included new sneakers for Becky whom she noticed in Brighton last Friday was needing a new pair; Martha a new nightie and for Elsie herself, a new electric heat pad and perhaps a new spring dress – but only if she found a great one. They would drop Igor back home before the shopping and likely take the Tube anyway. They would cap the afternoon with High Tea and then Becky was spending the night, a crowning element of her special day.
When Elsie was finally out the door, she was reminded that the snow – coming down for a fourth day in a row - was sticking to the windshields again. Hers, as it turns out, was a mess from the alternating snow and melting. Once she had Igor settled in the boot, she put her purse and shopping bag in the front passenger seat and brushed the snow off the car and scraped the windshield. Traffic was crawling due to an accident and Elsie repeatedly checked the time on the dashboard as they drove to Becky's.
7:35 am
Elsie pulled in the driveway a full 20 minutes later than she'd intended. She knocked on the front door and quickly turned the door handle, surprised that Becky wasn't right there waiting for her. Instead, she found Becky sitting in her chair at the dining table as the others - Beverly, Medrith, Brittany, Fatima, and Chloe - were all sitting down to their breakfasts.
"Good morning, ladies and happy birthday my sweet Becky! I'm afraid we need to run if we're going to have those special pancakes you wanted for your birthday and get to the spa as scheduled."
"Oh yes, I'm ready!"
"Well let's put yer coat on, honey." Just then Elsie noticed that Violet's nails were painted, well, violet. Incredulous as the sight was, Elsie didn't say anything, instead she rolled her eyes in Becky and Miss Rose's direction at their undoubted collaboration.
As Becky was moving toward the door, Rose handed Becky a small fabric bag adding, "Your polish and snack are together in here, Becky. I hope your birthday is beyond your wildest dreams!"
9:45 am
Facials done, Becky confirmed she wanted her nails painted the same 'Ultra Violet' color as Violet who now positioned herself beside Becky's pedicure chair on the end of the row. Elsie, on the other hand, contemplated the rack of bottles whilst nibbling on her lower lip. Narrowing to two subtler shades of pink, 'Abbey's Rose' and 'Lady Chatelaine's Lover,' Elsie wondered to herself who comes up with these names. Becky advocated for something bolder than either but Elsie explained the manicure would take her through a party next week Sunday and until she knew what she was going to wear, she didn't want to commit to anything beyond a neutral. In the end, Elsie chose Lady Chatelaine's Lover.
As the nail technician was working on her toenails, Elsie again began to worry about the time and so she called Beryl from the chair, advising she was concerned about arriving at the Veterinary Clinic by 11:30.
Remembering her matchmaking scheme hinged on Charles and Elsie both being at the Clinic at the same time, Beryl advised again that, "The boys are closin' the doors at 12:00 sharp." And so Elsie sat through the rest of the pedicure, manicure and under the dryer in an anxious rather than relaxed mode for fear of missing the window of opportunity. After paying the salon cashier, Elsie hustled Becky and Violet back to the car in the hopes of shaving a minute or two. Elsie knew something was amiss even before they reached the vehicle as she could see Igor had made his way out of the boot and into the back seat. "Oh no, oh no!" Elsie said aloud as she clicked the key fob. Hearing the doors unlock, Igor was scrambling to return to the boot. As Elsie opened the rear door cursing Igor's name, she found a wax paper wrapper unfolded with bite marks through one section. Igor had eaten Becky's snack. "Oh, Becky, honey, you've got to be careful with Igor. He simply has no manners!" Then looking at the dog himself, she admonished him, "Bad dog!" She had no time now to deal further with the dog who had managed to climb back in the boot. Elsie got Becky and Violet settled into the back seat before hopping behind the wheel. Fortunately, there was no other damage immediately obvious, and thank goodness she hadn't brought along her shoes that she planned to bring along for the shopping expedition.
11:25 am
Charles Carson exited the Tube station, Lady inside her soft-sided pet carrier in Charles' right hand, a zippered garment bag draped over his left. Amidst navigating his way around the other pedestrians and their parcels, Charles noticed the florist at the station entrance had a lovely display of fresh flowers with a few melting snowflakes on their blossoms beside a sandwich board declaring "Spring is here! Two for one." It was a hopeful though contradictory sight at this business just a block down from the Veterinary Clinic.
Charles walked into the Clinic right on time for Lady's scheduled appointment. Beryl looked up from her desk, a little surprised if not disappointed to see him. Regardless, she welcomed him over to the front desk and was making small talk with him including acknowledging the garment bag and offering to hang it up, not on the coat tree in the waiting area but in the normally private storage closet. Charles thanked her but was certain that on the coat tree would be fine. Next Beryl offered him coffee or tea and made a point of asking how Lady had been doing of late. Other than Beryl's palpable anxiousness, Charles was oblivious to her stall tactics. But Bill, having heard Charles's voice, appeared from out back, asking as he approached, "Are those the Carsons I hear?" The two men greeted one another and Beryl offered an awkward half smile to her husband as she realized Lady's appointment would likely only be a short one, and Elsie had yet to arrive at the Clinic.
11:40
Elsie and her entourage of Becky, Violet and Igor arrived prompting Beryl to mutter through a deep exhale, "Thank God." Only her relief was short-lived as Elsie, shooing the others in explained from the doorway, "Sorry Beryl, a few mishaps on the way and I am double parked. But Igor's here and Becky will stay here with him and Violet. I'm going to dash down to the car park and be back ASAP."
Beryl opened her mouth to reply but saw it was a lost cause as Elise was already on the far edge of the sidewalk checking both ways for traffic, the Clinic door not yet closed behind her. Beryl stood motionless for a moment before processing Becky's presence. "Oh, love, don't you look pretty?"
As Becky settled the dogs in the waiting area and herself into one of the seats there, Beryl had left the confines of the reception desk to chat with her. Beryl was subtly swaying side to side and repeatedly folding her hands into fists and then straightening her fingers as she spoke with Becky. She tried to pay attention as Becky sweetly told her all about the morning so far – the pancakes, salon services, Igor's eating her snack – but kept looking out the window in the hopes of seeing Elsie returning.
But before Elsie had returned Charles stepped out from the back, leading Lady on her leash. "Ah, Mrs. Mason, seems we're all set here but I wonder – " Charles halted both his feet and mouth as soon as he recognized Igor in the waiting room, only there was no Ms. Hughes with him, instead a black Lab and a woman who looked enough like Ms. Hughes that Charles took a double take.
Turning around to address Becky again, Beryl was so startled to see Charles standing there, her right arm flew up to her face and she even jumped slightly. "Oh," Beryl's voice was more highly pitched than usual and Charles thought he detected a slightly nervous laugh accompanying just that one syllable. Wringing her hands together, Beryl strode over to Charles and stopped at his side. "Mr. Carson, may I introduce you to Miss Becky Hughes. Becky, this is Mr. Carson."
The seated woman smiled up at him while swinging her lower legs to and fro under the seat. "Hi Mr. Carson. Today's my birthday!"
Charles still wasn't quite tracking with the situation he'd walked into and looked from the younger woman in front of him, the black Lab with the service vest at her side and then to Beryl, who smiled up at him and awkwardly tried to direct his attention back to Becky by ever so slightly tipping her head in Becky's direction.
The younger woman continued speaking, "I had pancakes for breakfast my sister ate avocado toast with poached eggs." There was a brief pause as she registered that Charles had not yet acknowledged her. "What do you like better for breakfast?"
To end the awkward silence, Beryl prompted Charles with, "Mr. Carson, Becky asked you a question."
Snapped from his woolgathering, Charles replied, "Oh, I beg your pardon. Um – " and he pretended to consider the options deeply. "Of those two options, I should think pancakes! Happy Birthday, Miss Hughes!"
And suddenly it was as if nothing unusual had happened a moment ago. Becky smiled at his concurring with her birthday selection and Beryl let out a subtle sigh of relief as Charles effortlessly began to converse with the woman who clearly had some underlying developmental disability. And before Beryl knew it, Becky was nattering on about an endless stream of information including, "Igor ate my snack. My service dog…Igor's sister…" Charles missed half of what Becky was sharing because the situation was so surreal to him. He was pulled from his reverie again by Becky's question, "What's your dog's name?"
Elsie had walked through the door and was similarly as startled as Beryl was moments ago by the scene in front of her. Overlooking Beryl's presence entirely, Elsie didn't even realize she was smiling as she acknowledged the others, "Becky, Mr. Carson!"
Walking to Becky's side, Elsie continued, "Becky, honey, you're usually not this talkative with strangers."
"He's not a stranger, Beryl introduced us. And I want to know his dog's name."
Remembering the last time she'd pet the little Scottie, Elsie put her hands on her knees, bowed slightly at the waist and then proceeded to lower herself further down into a lady-like with knees together squat. Her left knee popped just before she was all the way down. "Ouch." Elsie acknowledged, before shaking her head slightly and reaching out to the Terrier. "This is Shrimpie." As she scratched the little dog behind her right ear, she looked up and smiled at Charles, "Hello, Mr. Carson. We meet yet again." Neither Elsie nor Charles even registered Beryl's presence, Becky's partly.
Out of sight from Elsie, Beryl cheered her friend on with a little fist pump and smile of her own. Yet she was terribly interested in how this conversation would unfold so she stayed put to hear all she could. Beryl heard Charles inquire of Igor's wellbeing, some mention of Greenwich Park and a "mishap" followed by Elsie explaining to Becky that, "Mr. Carson had tossed balls to Igor in the park and he waded into the pond afterward."
Becky inquired of Charles, "Mr. Carson, why did you wade into the pond?"
Beryl snapped back into the moment when Charles and Elsie laughed. Rising up to standing, Elsie clarified for Becky that it was Igor who had waded into the pond.
Charles himself didn't even realize how happy he was to see Elsie again, twice in one week. He thought she looked more fetching than ever, her face had a good, healthy glow to it. Charles expressed that he was so glad Igor was fine after all and he apologized once more for his part in last Sunday's adventures. Politely turning his attention deliberately toward Becky, Charles inquired of what the rest of her birthday entailed. He found himself charmed by the younger Hughes sister in a similar, though very different way, than her sister. And suddenly he had an idea.
"Miss Hughes, would you kindly watch Shrimpie for me for a minute or two? I'd like to run down the street to purchase something."
Becky agreed enthusiastically, thrilled to feel important. And with that, Charles handed her the leash and excused himself, promising to "be right back."
Elsie turned to watch him leave and suddenly she saw her friend Beryl standing there with a silly grin on her face. "What?"
"You're adorable together!" Beryl gushed. "All three of ye!"
"Oh stop it! He's just being polite."
"Oh no, there's more to it than that! He's sweet on you. I can see it – there's magic between you!"
"Beryl Patmore Mason, you have a wild imagination!"
Beryl was about to protest when Bill entered the waiting room. "Doesn't she! Now what's she done?" Bill chortled.
"Oh, never mind. I'm trying not to," Elsie replied as she sat down beside Becky.
Like Beryl, Bill had known Becky for years and as he sat down on Becky's other side, he picked up Shrimpie and placed her in Becky's lap. When the dog settled into one spot, Becky resumed the scratching behind the ear that Elsie had done moments ago. Bill began to pet Violet before Igor, jealous of the attention, wormed his way in. Bill soon found himself with two handfuls of dog.
"Beryl, if Dr. Parker's going to get out of here at noon, I hope he's coming along soon."
Bill looked up quizzically, "What are you talking about, Elsie? Andy's here straight until 5:00 today."
At that, Elsie looked up at Beryl scrunching her eyes into slits at her longtime friend. "What are you up to?" Elsie demanded to know.
At that moment, Charles re-entered the Clinic, two bunches of yellow daffodils in his hands and walked straight toward Elsie and Becky. "For you Miss Hughes, Happy Birthday!" He handed the first bunch to Becky who, in leaning forward to accept them, stirred Shrimpie to a seated position in her lap. "And for you, Ms. Hughes, with my apologies once again for my part in Igor's Sunday swim."
Flowers. When was the last time a man had given her flowers? Four years? Five years?
Becky was ecstatic, no one ever gave her flowers, birthday or otherwise – save for their da. "Thank you Mr. Carson!" Becky gushed. Elsie was touched, not just for her own flowers, but for how nicely this near stranger was treating her sister. As a real person. "Yes, thank you, Mr. Carson," Elsie smiled back at him in gratitude, tears coming to her eyes.
Dr. Parker entered the waiting room just then, "Igor?" The dog sat up attentively at the mention of his name. "Are you ready to get that collar off, boy?" Igor barked approvingly prompting all the adults to laugh.
Elsie stood to follow Dr. Parker yet stopped in front of Beryl to look her dead in the eye with a steely gaze. "I hope we don't take too much of your time, Dr. Parker. I understand you have a busy afternoon planned." Elsie raised her eyebrows and tilted her head slightly, a silent signal to Beryl that she was on to her games. Beryl held her breath in anticipation, before Elsie spun on her heel back to Charles. In an instant she was sweet Elsie again. "Mr. Carson, thank you again, sincerely. You have done your good deed for the day – and a very kind one at that." She and Igor then followed Dr. Parker to Exam Room 2 to remove Igor's collar and stitches.
Charles watched them go and when they were out of view, he looked down at his watch and realized he needed to run. He had an appointment to travel to elsewhere in town. He retrieved Shrimpie from Becky's loving arms, put her back in her carrier and said his goodbyes including a very genuine, "Miss Hughes, it's been a pleasure meeting you, on your birthday no less. I wish you a wonderful rest of you day and all good things in the year ahead!" He nodded to all, shook hands with Bill Mason and then grabbed his garment bag off the coat tree, to head back to the Tube station down the street.
12:30 pm
Charles entered his favorite haberdasher. He'd been shopping there for years and the owner, John Bates, warmly greeted him at the door upon his arrival. John had been expecting him.
Charles held up the garment bag explaining what he'd brought along, and then the animal carrier. John assured him it was not an issue to have the dog in the shop, so long as she stayed inside the carrier. As Lady was asleep, Charles knew there was very little chance that she would want to get out. And so he put the carrier down where John suggested and followed him to the counter to unzip the garment bag.
Inside was a two-piece navy suit that John remembered admiring previously. It was well crafted and stylishly detailed as was common in custom-made pieces from Hong Kong, like this one. It had striking yet subtle detailing in the purple thread used to construct the buttonholes. The silk lining was an even more eye-catching purple, fuscia and sky blue large print paisley.
Charles next pulled out a fabric shoe bag and a new pair of cognac colored leather Oxfords. John was immediately taken by the subtle quarter brogue, rounded cap toe, two-toned stacked heel and inquired of the maker. Having purchased others in the past, Charles knew it to be from Base London, the Butler model.
Charles explained that he was attending an anniversary brunch next weekend, the suggested attire being described as "festive formal." Charles asked for John's guidance on whether he thought the suit appropriate for that and what he suggested for pairing with it underneath the jacket. Also, Charles had lost a half stone since last wearing the suit and wished to have the waist taken in and purchase a new belt to match the shoes.
John agreed the suit would be perfect and began pulling a few shirts that would pick up on the purple detailing of the buttonholes. As Charles narrowed down to a couple he liked, one a tone-on-tone pale pink hound's tooth, the other a pink and violet gingham plaid, John suggested a couple of jumper vests that would be a nice extra layer in transitional weather that would likely carry him into May and also work well with his Winter coloring; further, they were buy one-get one currently. Charles asked John if he thought a tie necessary for next weekend's festivities and he replied that he thought it optional. Nonetheless, seeing an opportunity for an additional sale, John picked out a striped tie that he knew would go with either of the new shirts. Charles thought the mix of solid, pattern and stripe might be getting a bit much but John assured him professional men were mixing and matching to this degree quite frequently anymore. In the end, Charles opted not to purchase the tie, somewhat fearful of having to actually knot it successfully with his shaky hand.
John picked out a belt and Charles retreated into the dressing room for the pants fitting and tailoring. Whilst he was there, Charles received a text from Robert/ Ham. Change of plans, tomorrow okay?
Charles typed back, Of course.
As he was ringing up the sale, John suggested some printed "Happy Socks" to just be the finishing touch to his look. Charles was still been in the afterglow of the morning visit to the Veterinary Clinic for he agreed to purchase the socks, something that otherwise would have been completely out of character.
4:00 pm
After returning home with the car and depositing dog and flowers at Elsie's, the Hughes sisters had a similarly successful afternoon of shopping. It took her trying on several pair at two different shops, but they eventually found sneakers that gave Becky the good arch support she needed but looked sufficiently "cool."
Elsie picked up the heat pad she wanted at Boots and then at John Lewis they shopped the lingerie department, finding a terrific buy one get one deal on sleepwear. Becky said she didn't need anything and rather than purchasing two for Martha, Elsie picked out a cute one for herself. As they were heading to exit the main entrance, Elsie stopped to look at the dresses. She would have loved to shop longer but Becky was getting hungry. Despite the replacement snack they'd picked up at home, the lack of protein was catching up with her. So Elsie decided they should proceed to their afternoon tea.
Soon after they'd settled at their table, Elsie's phone rang. It was Martha. Martha was calling to wish Becky a happy birthday before the day was out. The two of them chatted for a couple minutes before Becky returned the phone to Elsie. Martha was pleased to hear about the new nightie Elsie had picked up and asked when she thought she might drop it off. Elsie advised not tomorrow, she was hosting Girls Night. Instead, she hoped to bring it over Sunday, she might bring Becky too. That pleased Martha to no end.
