Sam follows Josie to her kitchen, as she preparing two cups of tea, with a small kettle. The room is cosily lighted up with an Art Deco styled ceiling lamp. Upon her oak shelf, there are ten small tin-cans, with cute German nutcracker prints. On the bottom, there are small paper stickers, with the name of each tea leaves. From her upper kitchen cabinet, she takes out two large stoneware cups.
"Sam, I hope you like the tea from Darjeeling district in India. It has always been my favorite flavour. When studying for my finals in Northwestern, I could consume up to fifteen large cups a day." Josie talks in her sweet voice. "Also a huge pile of chocolate cakes. I love sweet things, especially when I am unhappy. The creamy taste of the chocolate ice cream is often my best friend, when everything goes wrong at the same time."
The forlornness in her eyes goads him to reassess who this girl is. Although she is an extremely ambitious, talented journalist, who is not afraid of any worldly challenge, there is clearly a childlike honesty, which shines through her sophisticated appearance, in a moment like this. There are so many layers in her personality. Some of which are smoothly related to each in the conventional way; others follow their own set of logical chains, which is still excessively difficult for Sam to grasp. This is precisely the most imperative reason why Sam finds this lady very intriguing to be with.
"Oh, my graceful daffodil, Darjeeling is a perfect choice. I would be lying to you, if I say that I could bring your smile back again, no matter I badly I hope I could, by being here with you. The truth is, I am also deeply affected by Audrey's misery." The steam of the newly brewed Darjeeling tea brings him back to a distant past, when he worked with a group of newly emigrated teenagers. As a newly graduated teacher, he was eager to prove his capability, to prove for himself that he was a accountable leader. Many of the students had just escaped from the war zones. Many insignificant everyday details could easily trigger out a chain of whimsical reactions. It took a long time, before he could accept the dismal reality that he could not change the world in any radial fashion. What he could do be nice, regardless how they irritated him with their irrational reactions. During the breaks, he was often extremely distraught. His mentor, Abigale often treated him with the Indian brew, especially when he was frustrated over his own inability to teach. He would love tell her his old memories in the future. Right now, he only wants to be a good listener. With a dreaming voice, he says: "I like the scent of the tea. Please be honest with me, sweet Josie-Cosy! Have you been sleeping well lately? "
"Not really. I have been thinking my whole life about the wonderful feeling of having a boyfriend, also the moment of entering the nuptial in a European Gothic church. Somehow, I am not certain what I could expect from a relationship, from you! The other day, Anita from the office asked me how I felt about having a guy for the first time in my life. I could not give her an answer. I am not certain if I could address you as my boyfriend yet. I am also insecure if you are as infatuated in me as I am in you." Josie answers with a quiet voice.
"I hope I am your guy! I have never met anyone like you before, my brilliant Kitty. If you would allow me to be your Henry Tilney, I would be extremely proud to address you as my dearest, the queen of my heart." Sam gives her a kiss, whilst contemplating about how to explain his fervent admiration towards her, without pushing her away from him? also, how to express his genuine fascination of her unique personality, in order to ensure her that his feeling is not an impetuous reaction? In front her, he is nervous, as if she is his last hope of living a good life. When she is in such a dismal mood, he just want to escape with her, far away from here and now. He wraps his arm around her and murmurs: "You are such a brave journalist! Right now, I really wish we can take our bags with us and fly over the Slovakia, to embark upon a visceral hiking journey upon the most scenic peaks around a small town, called Poprad." With an exaggerated impish voice he continues: "And never come back!"
A smile breaks out of Josie's face. "Let's us book a ticket, now! A one way ticket from here to Krakow. From there, we can take a overnight train to Slovakia, to enjoy a wonderful lifelong hiking vacation on the top of the world. You do have a teacher's certificate. Over there, you can provide a decent life for me, by teaching English. I can enjoy the view from our rustic mountain cottage everyday! The idea of a mundane activity would be a stroll upon the snow capped peak, or a glass of fine Slovakian white wine with a couple of big chunks of mature goat cheese. I am ready!"
Before Josie finishes her last word, a new signal from her telephone brings them down from the sagacious Carpathian peaks to Josie's kitchen in Chicago. Again, there is a new message from Audrey. 'Kian is seriously injured. I really do not want to see him right now.'
Josie looks like a wreck and asks Sam in a petrified voice: "Did she mentioned whether her children are with her this evening? The nanny has gone. She is probably drank. Where are her children?"
Sam capps her face in his hands and says: "It does not sounds good. I never asked her this vital question. It is such a difficult thing to ask, when she is that bitter. Do you want to call her? Do you know any other people in your group, who might knows her better? It is probably not a good idea to invade too much of her personal space tonight, when she is as vulnerable as she is now." What a fantastic girl Josie is! Sam knows precisely why so many people love to reveal their most personal thoughts to her, without any reservation. When she looks at him, with her beautiful eyes, he feels that she likes him for a very special reason wholeheartedly, as if the entire universe would agree with her about why all his actions, regard the consequences in the long terms, are justified by the special circumstances, in which he cannot escape from. Back in South Glen, he has exposed so much more of his personal life than he should, as a teacher. He follows her to the couch again, carrying the teacups in his hands.
"I think I want to call her, although a trip to high Tatra sounds much more fantastic. As a journalist, I am curious about how her family constellation triggers her to make various strange decisions though the adoption process. Also, how her infatuation turned to such a bitter resentment, whilst the attachment is still very strong between them. As a friend, I wish she could survive this a calamity." She leans towards Sam. "Love is such a whimsical thing. Sometimes it brings out the best in you, sometimes it turns you to someone, whom you hardly recognize yourself."
Half an hour later, she dials Audrey's telephone number with her cell phone. This time, a male voice answers the telephone on the other end: "This is Audrey McShea's telephone, this is officer Huntington."
Sam could assess from her facial expression that Josie is extremely confused. She talks in a scared voice: "I am Josie Geller, Audrey's friend from Chicago. I just received a message from her. I hope she is alright. Can I talk to her."
That officer replies with a solemn tone: "Mrs McShea is under an investigation at this moment. I cannot pass the telephone to her right now. However, I will tell her that you have called. Good night!"