A couple weeks after that unfortunate case, I finally got around to calling Miss. Rowan for a date. She was surprised by my offer, but she quickly accepted. After asking the permission of her father, and him meeting me at Brownstone, it got the clear. To my astonishment, Wolfe was perfectly fine with me using his lancia lambda to pick her up at a quarter to five.
Lesley greeted me at the hotel lobby in a champagne satin gown with rhinestones in a matching colored mink with gloves. If my breath was taken away just from our first meeting, it was sure out of my system now! Mr. Rowan was there to greet me to make sure his daughter's safety would be taken care of. After I once again reassured him of our timed return, we were set free back into the car.
"I'm so sorry Daddy is like that. I think he is still a bit frightened about what happened. I haven't been able to go out alone in ages"
"I understand Mr. Rowan's concern. As a father I am sure he is just looking out for his little girl."
"I do want to thank you Archie and Mr. Wolfe for all of your help. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to thank you earlier."
"It's alright Lesley. We have a whole night planned out and you won't have to think of your safety once. Mr. Corona is an especially excellent chauffeur." We smiled at each other as we headed into the dizzying lights of the city.
We first headed to the Oyster Bar at Grand Central. We drank plenty of oysters and expensive wine, chatting about ourselves. Lesley was positively radiant finally being able to get out of the hotel. We conversed about our childhoods, which both couldn't have been any farther apart. I told her about Ohio farms and she told me about the grueling hotel business. Despite our differences, we have a wonderful time.
It was then off to the Daly's 63rd Street Theatre for the new musical "Shuffle Along." We both roared with laughter along with the other folks. I'm sure the people around us didn't appreciate it but we could have cared less. It was my first time seeing a show of this sort and my first being in an audience of integrated kind. It didn't bother Lesley not one bit. She explained to me during the intermission she was use to all kinds of folk at her hotel. She told me plainly race had no matter to her. She believed people were either good or bad, and race had no play into it. Her perspective was pretty enlightening considering where I came from. We enjoyed watching the comedy and dances. Her favorite was the grand finale "African Dip."
"What a silly and fun little play! I may have to try the African dip sometime myself when my father isn't around," she laughed in her sweet voice as we headed home after the show and right on time. Mr. Rowan was in the lobby pacing, as Mr. Corona pulled up to drop off Lesley. I was quick to help her out of the car, so her pretty dress wouldn't get dirty.
"I hope you had a great time tonight," I said before we got to the lobby doors.
"I did. Maybe next time I can see the brownstone you talk about so much with Mr. Wolfe. Sure he wouldn't mind a visitor."
"Well Lesley… I'm not so sure about that. Mr. Wolfe can be a hot and cold kind of fellow. I am sure he would show you all ten thousand of his plants and all the Latin names for each of them."
"I will be a botany expert by the end of our visit I'm sure," she giggled, wrapping her mink tighter around her.
"I hope I can see you again Lesley."
"Of course you can see me again silly. I'm not going anywhere. I got to cut out since Daddy is here. Good night Archie I had a wonderful time," she smiled and waved to me, cheeks all a glow. I got back in the car feeling goofy and smitten.
"Quite a girl isn't she Mr. Goodwin?" Mr. Corona smiled.
"She has to be the prettiest lass in this entire city," was all I could reply at the moment.
"You sure caught yourself a good one. Her papa's doing quite well for himself."
"Oh the money doesn't matter. She is so pure and has such a good heart. I'm glad none of those rascals from our case have tainted her."
"Well Sir, I'm sure it wasn't just coincidence you two found each other you know. I only believe in miracles," he laughed heartily as we headed back to the brownstone.
Lesley and I did not see each other again till after thanksgiving. I briefly went home to my family in Cleveland, Ohio. I invited Mr. Wolfe to come with me, but he insisted on being alone. I felt terrible leaving him there, but at that point I was missing Lesley more than I was missing any of the late night cases that would await me first coming back.
Coming back to Ohio was sheer boredom. I quickly understood why I left for the Army. My younger sister Lucy as usual wanted to know everything about life in the big city. She asked if I had met any famous folk. I told her unfortunately my work was very confidential, even to little sisters. Mother of course made every good meal I liked and I couldn't resist. I told a small, very condensed handful of stories about my cases and Mr. Wolfe. I helped with duties for my papa around. Milking cows and lifting hay at the rise of dawn was much harder than catching a criminal any day of the week. I sure got my exercise and was outright exhausted by day's end. I was certainly the talk of the dinner table and would continue to be. I was sad to leave, but I knew where I was meant to be. It sure wasn't to be a farmer's son. I returned with a few pounds lost and my heart ready to see Lesley again.
Lesley had been away as well. She traveled with her family to Cooperstown with her family, for vacation and fresh air. We were both excited to see other after the long holiday and the melee of Christmas carols and parades beginning to appear. Our next visit at brownstone would lend itself to another case to coincide with the holiday. This time it would be an unexpected family affair of Wolfe.