Susan ran down the stairs and out the front was snowing. Big fat flakes were gently floating down from the sky. She looked up and let the snowflakes fall onto her face. Then she reached down, picked up some snow and made a snowball. But there was no one to throw it at. Suddenly she missed Peter. She had a deep ache inside to see his face and talk to him again. And to throw a snowball at him.
She dropped the snowball. Somehow the death of Peter, Edmund and Lucy was like a death of a part of herself. The snowball throwing Susan. The Susan who played games and laughed. She wondered what Collin was doing. Maybe she was too hard on him. He looked so disappointed when she threw him out.
Maybe she would see him again. But for now, she was going to the hospital and getting her job back. As she walked on, the snow crunched under her feet. She pulled the mink closer around her. Life wasn't all bad.
Finally at the hospital she went up to the pharmacy. She opened the back door and walked in.
"Hello Mr. Jenkins." Mr. Jenkins was her boss.
"What are you doing here? How did you get in here?"
"I came in the back door."
"Susan, you know the back door is reserved for employees only. You'll have to go to the window
like everyone else."
"But I'm not here for a prescription. I'm here to get my job back. I want to go back to work."
Jenkins put down his clipboard. "I'm sorry to tell you that we've already hired someone to fill your position. We couldn't hold it for you any longer. We're busy."
"But how can I go back to work?"
"Well, we don't have any openings, but you might try some of the chemist shops. I'd be glad to give you a reference. Just let me know if you need one. Now you really must go. I have things to do."
"Is Alice here?" Susan looked around.
"No, it's her day off. Now I must ask you to leave." He showed her to the door. "Just ring us up if you need a reference." Then he shut the door in her face.
"I don't want your old job anyway. Who needs to count pills all day long?" Speaking to the door. "Now I know how Collin and Mr. Tumnus felt earlier."
She turned and walked past the line at the window. She walked down the steps and out the door, wiping her feet on the mat.
"Good riddance."
She walked on not really knowing where she was going. She walked by a park. All the benches were covered in snow. Then she turned to the corner and saw it. The train station. For a moment she just stood staring at it in the distance. She hated it. And she hated the hospital. She hated it all.
She turned around and bumped into someone. It was Mr. Tumnus.
"Susan, what are you doing here? Going to catch a train?"
"No, I was just going for a walk and happened to turn the corner. And there it was."
"No pleasant memories here." He took her arm and began to walk by her side. "Say, why don't we step into one of these tea rooms and have a cup?"
Susan wanted to say no, she really did. But it was so soothing hearing his voice and seeing his cheerful face. "I suppose that would be all right."
"Good. I know a place just around the corner." They walked on for awhile in silence, each one thinking about what they might say.
"I'm sorry I threw you out this morning."
"All's forgiven. Say no more." Then he pointed to someone crossing the street ahead. "Speaking of this morning, Isn't that your neighbor, the woman whom I shoved out of your door? I wonder what she is doing here."
The tall blonde was hardly subtle. She was still wearing the purple gown, dragging it through the snow. She wasn't running, but still she was very fast and soon was out of sight, down the street.
"I'm not even certain she is my neighbor. She seems to know one of my neighbors, a Mrs. Sneed." Susan stopped for a moment. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen Sneed lately. It's possible that woman has taken her flat."
"Well, whatever the case, she didn't seem to want to speak with you."
"Maybe it's you she's scared of." She looked down on the man. Even in his heels, he was shorter than her shoulder. "She doesn't want to come up against a bruiser like you."
They both laughed.
"Ah, here it is."
Susan looked up. It was Mr. Tumnus's shop.
"They serve the best tea and scones here. If I do say so myself."
Tumnus unlocked the front door. He kept his sign on closed. And led Susan to the back and up some stairs. The stairs opened into another hallway. At the end of the hall at the front of the building was a sitting room.
"Make yourself at home. You can watch the snow fall in that front window. I'll go make the tea." He hurried off down the hall.
It was a beautiful little room, filled with all kinds of antiques. There were tapestries on the walls. One was of a battle scene. She drew in a breath. There in the battle along with the men were centaurs, fauns and dwarves. She stared at it for a long time. When Tumnus came back, she was still staring at it.
"Oh, do you like my tapestry?"
"It's quite a battle."
"Yes." He poured the tea and offered her some scones. "I have an interest in history. Including military history. My father was…" He thought of Collin. I'd better be careful. "My father was a military man."
"Oh, really? What war did he fight in?"
Now he really was stuck. He decided to be vague. "None of the great wars that you hear of. Just some skirmishes in foreign lands. That's how I got my name. My father named me for his commanding officer. Did your father fight in the last war?"
"Yes, he did. The family was separated during the war, as many families were. Dad went off to fight, we children were shipped off to the country and Mom was left at home, all alone."
"That must have been hard."
"Yes, it was very hard. But that is how I met Professor Kirke. He was kind enough to take all four of us in. That made it easier for us. At least we had each other."
Suddenly Susan choked up. A tear ran down her cheek. "I really should get over this, but it is so very difficult, being the only one, the one left behind."
"Yes, it's easier for them."
"Easier?"
"Yes, of course. They've gone on to the next world. They are there together."
"Do you really believe so?"
"Oh, I'm sure of it. More sure of that than anything in this world." He put his hand gently over hers. "And you are not alone. I will always be here for you." He leaned back in his chair. "And
Col…is very fond of you."
Susan blushed. "Even after this morning?"
"Oh, that. That was nothing. Nothing between friends." He stood up and took her hand. "Now, if you don't mind, let's go downstairs and look at a few things. Collin should be back soon and then we can discuss your chess piece."
"Oh, yes. The chess piece." She picked up her coat that was draped across that back of the chair. Something fell out of a pocket. "Whatever is this?" she held it up. It was a large red stone.
"Why it looks like a ruby." He took it from her hand. "I'll check it out for you of course, but it looks like a ruby." He put his hands on his hips. "I'll ask you again. Did you rob the tower of London?"
They both laughed. It was good to laugh…and to find treasures in your pockets. They walked down the hallway, arm in arm. Neither one of them looking back at the window. If they had they would have seen a very tall figure in purple leaning against a lamp post.