Miss Shaw waited until the coat was successfully hung, "Miss Gardner do drink coffee or tea?"
"I drink both." Miss Gardner 's feet have not moved from the coat rack.
"Do you have a preference in the mornings?"
"I do like coffee to start the day."
"How you like your coffee?"
"Cream only, please."
Miss Shaw nods and leaves the entrance.
Miss Gardner finds her footing and goes to her office to begin her day.
Miss Shaw knocks on Miss Gardner 's door frame.
"Please come ..." Miss Gardner smiles as Miss Shaw has a tray with biscuits and two coffees.
"I always have a cup of coffee with a small breakfast before I leave for work. I would like you to join me."
"That would please me."
"I do not think it would be respectable if you come to my humble flat for breakfast ..."
"Why not?"
"Miss Gardner ! What would people think?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes. No. You would not feel more comfortable here?"
"I don't know how to answer."
"What is holding back a response?"
"What is your reason behind the inimate socialization?"
The front door bell rings. Miss Shaw with haste exits Miss Gardner 's office.
Miss Gardner drinks her coffee with a smile. She notices that Miss Shaw has not taken her cup with her. She takes 1/2 the biscuits and places her cup on her desk. She carries the tray with the remaining biscuits and coffee mug to Miss Shaw's receptionist desk.
"Here is your coffee and biscuits."
"Thank you. Sorry for the interruption. It was a delivery." Miss Shaw takes the tray and places it next to her.
Miss Gardner smiles and examines Miss Shaw for hints of further conversation.
Miss Shaw simply offers an intimate smile but remains composed as the tailor shop and investigations agency starts to buzz the noise of business.
Miss Gardner returns to her office, this time she quietly closes the door.
Miss Shaw is her usual efficient and professional self all day. Yet every time she passed by the accountant's closed door has her heart became distressed.
It wasn't until the last employee left for the day Miss Shaw grabbed the daily registry and knocks on the accountant's door.
"Come in," Miss Gardner give in an authoritative tone.
"Here is today's registry." Miss Shaw hands it over to Miss Gardner .
Miss Gardner takes it without looking up, "Thank you Miss Shaw."
Miss Shaw then walks out the door back to her desk, her bravery has been completely lost. She is planning another night of cheap wine, buttered bread and a well written mystery.
Miss Gardner passes Miss Shaw with determination to put on her coat. "Miss Shaw."
Miss Shaw stands and offers a genuine smile. "Yes Miss Gardner ."
"Is your work day completed or are there other duties?"
"All is done."
"Today is Friday and the end of our work week, what are your plans tonight?"
"I unwind with a glass of wine, humble supper and a good book."
"That sounds delightful. Are you a good cook?" Miss Gardner lifts her head to notice that Miss Shaw has quietly walked across the room and is now putting on her coat.
"Oh dear me, no I am a terrible cook. I do what I can. What are your plans?" Miss Shaw is genuinely interested.
"I usually go home, supper with my family and then read in my room," Miss Gardner blushes and talks in a whisper, "But ... I ... " Tears start to build up in Miss Gardner 's eyes.
Miss Shaw heart is cracked instantly and fights pulling Miss Gardner into a hug. "Please, Miss Gardner ... I do not want to cause any undo stress." She gathers herself, "I am sorry if I offended you, trying to become too familiar. I am sorry."
"I am not." Whispers Miss Gardner .
"W ... What did you say? Your whisper is so soft I could hardly hear." Miss Shaw needs to hear those three words again, to be sure.
Miss Gardner looks up with soft wet eyes, "I am not offended."
"You are not offended?"
Miss Gardner shakes her head no.
"No you are not offended?" Miss Shaw is clarifying a second time. It might seem like she is double checking, but Miss Gardner can understand her need to be certain. Miss Gardner is an accountant. "Truly?"
"Truly."
"You said that you usually go home and have supper with your family. What are your plans tonight?"
"I told my family I will not be home tonight, as I have plans."
"What are your plans?"
"I actually do not know."
"My goodness Miss Gardner , you have my head spinning. Do you have plans or not?"
"I have plans, but they are dependent on various outcomes. I could still be heading home. I am not quite sure."
"Miss Gardner I am truly trying to follow you. I want to understand. If you are cautious to avoid hurting my feelings, please don't."
"I am trying to explain," Miss Gardner looks directly into Miss Shaw's eyes, "What could I say that would hurt your feelings?"
"Oh Miss Gardner ." Miss Shaw is completely exhausted and resigns herself to believe is all a terrible mistake. "You are a breath of fresh air of wonderful innocence. Go home to your family. I will escort you out." She opens the door to exit their place of employment and head to their individual homes.
Miss Gardner replies in harsh whisper. "Miss Shaw I thought we understood each other."
"Miss Gardner ?" She closes the door and whispers back, "I am not a young child. I am almost nineteen and you are eighteen we are grown woman with responsibilities. I am tired and now emotionally drained beyond my expectations. Please release me ... "
"N ... n ... no."
"... from this conversation."
Silence.
"I am hungry. I have not had a bite to eat today. Please let us go home."
Miss Gardner walks through with Miss Shaw following and closing the door behind. Miss Gardner walks to the pavement and halts.
"Miss Gardner ?"
"I do not know which direction to turn."
"Which direction do you regularly take when heading to your parent's home."
"I am not heading to my parent's home."
"You said you were hungry and going home."
"I am, but I didn't say I was heading to my parent's home."
"Good evening Miss Gardner . I wish you success in finding your destination and please don't starve." Miss Shaw feels like her mind is going in circles and heads to her flat. She heads north on Savile Row and begins to go through her morning, the plan she has carefully acted out has failed miserably. Left onto Clifford Street she mentally chastise herself for making any attempt at being brave. As she turns right onto New Bond Street she is resolved as to end this pursuit. By the time she puts the key in the door at number 47, she argued Miss Gardner probably doesn't have any desire to leave London, let alone to see another country. 'It is all for the best'.
"Miss Shaw?" A soft voice comes from the right.
She knows that voice. It is the same voice that haunts her dreams. "Miss Gardner , I didn't know you were going in my direction. I am sorry. I would have accompanied you, at least this far."
"I do not know the directions home."
"Good night Miss Gardner . You have me so confused." Miss Shaw whispers as she enters the through the now open door.
"Then we are at the same mental state. I have been confused since our coffee." Miss Gardner softly admits and steps directly behind Miss Shaw into the entrance.
"Miss Gardner , please ... explain yourself." She gently inquired looking straight ahead feeling the woman presence behind protecting her from the cool breeze flowing in the doorway.
"Miss Shaw, I believe that we should continue this discussion in private." She gently encourages Miss Shaw to continue as usual.
She takes a deep breath, turns, goes around Miss Gardner , closes the door and returns to take lead up to her flat. She feels obligated to explain her humble dwellings but decides to remain quiet.
They reach the fourth floor to flat four-d, the rear of the building, Miss Shaw unlocks the door and continues inside.
With the door closed. Miss Shaw takes off her hat and coat and places them on hooks along the wall. She removes an umbrella to make space for Miss Gardner 's things.
"Thank you." Miss Gardner decides to slowly take her coat off, as she does every morning. To linger near Miss Shaw has always been her quest, now it is a private dance. She blushes.
"You said you were hungry. I do not have much, but I can make something."
"I thought you said you couldn't cook."
"That is true."
"What were you going to have for dinner?"
"Buttered bread, a glass of wine and continue to read a mystery."
"Oh. Is there a grocery store nearby?"
"Yes, at the end of the block, towards Saint George. Why?"
Miss Gardner puts back on her coat. "I shall be back. I shall ring when I return." She exits the flat leaving Miss Shaw standing dumbfounded.
She wakes from the stupor. She looks around her one room flat and starts to organize things, fold clothes, clean up the kitchen and cleans the shared water closet in the front of the building. She is grateful that her floor is women only and that the residents are neat. She returns to her flat and quickly dusts. Once satisfied she opens a bottle wine and lets it breath, pulls the two glasses out of the cabinet and holds them up to make sure they are clean.
The bell rings. She goes down to the ground floor and opens the door to find Miss Gardner carrying a small box.
"I hope you are as hungry as I am."
Miss Shaw leads Miss Gardner again to her flat, she remains calm even though her heart is beating loudly in her ears.
Once inside flat four-d Miss Gardner takes over the small kitchen. "I see you have let the wine breath. Thank you. Also, I forgot to ask if you were religious."
"Miss Gardner I was raised Catholic, but I do not follow any sort of religion in my personal life."
"I decided to it would be safe to buy fish and vegetables. I do not want to force meat on Friday."
"Miss Gardner , are you religious?"
"I am not religious. My name is Alice. Please call me by my first name." She cuts a leak, puts in a bit of butter in the pan.
"It is too informal. Miss Gardner ."
"May I ask a few questions, as I tend to dinner?"
Miss Shaw goes over to the wine, pours into the two glasses, hands one to Alice and responds, "You may, Miss Gardner ."
Alice take a sip of her wine, "MMM ... nice. Why did you bring me coffee today?"
Miss Shaw walks to the other side of the small flat looking out the window. "I wanted to share breakfast with you and I was hoping it would be a regular daily activity."
"I want that too. We were interrupted after I asked for your reason behind the intimate socialization. May I have a response?" She takes out a fish fillet and places in the butter pan with the soften leaks. "I have to watch the food. Therefore you can avoid eye contact for a bit of privacy in your lovely home."
'My lovely home, she said I had a lovely home' Miss Shaw takes another sip of wine, a deep breath and opens her mouth to have nothing come out. Miss Shaw talks to herself 'Alice, that is a lovely name. But too many women are named Alice because of either the princess or the book ... she needs to be called something more appropriate nickname. Al is too masculine, it is not appealing to fall from my lips. Allie is nice. I like that, it is feminine and awfully cute. I shall be brave and call her Allie, at least in my private thoughts.' She finds her voice, "I wanted to court you." She takes another sip of her wine and is prepared for Allie to leave instantly out of her life.
Allie doesn't stop watching the dinner cook. She takes a sip of her wine, another and then another. The glass is empty. "I thought we were. We have been acting like my sisters and their beaus before they were married. I just assumed you felt the same way." She goes to sip the glass of wine to notice it is empty. She takes the pan off the stove and transfer the food to the two plates. "Please fill our glasses for dinner."
Allie places down the two plates next to the already set table and sits in a chair waiting for Miss Shaw to return with the wine.
Miss Shaw sits across the table looking at such a plate of food. "This looks amazing. It smells delightful. Thank you. Miss Gardner ." She dares to look at her Allie. 'Yes, she is her Allie. I am going to be brave.' "You are correct, I do feel the same way. You are my Allie."
Allie smiles from ear to ear, "Please eat and enjoy. What is your name please?"
"Victoria."
"Victoria, after the queen?"
Victoria nods yes as she enjoys the first bite of dinner. "Oh my dear this is delicious. How did you ever learn to cook?"
"My mother said that if we are good cooks we shall have our choice of husbands. Little did she know that I was learning to cook for my future wife."
Victoria coughs a bit.
"I am sorry I said too much."
"No, my Allie, you just caught me off guard with your frankness. You are not this open at work."
"I am not at work. Are you reserved in your home as you are at work?"
"I don't think so. I have lived alone since I have been twelve."
"Twelve?"
"Yes, my parents died and I came to work for Mrs April Saint Clair cleaning up after the tailors and worked my way with education to a stable position."
"I am sorry for your loss. I am grateful for Mrs April Saint Clair was there to watch over you."
"You keep a clean home. Much better than my shared room at my parent's house."
"You share a room?"
"I share with my siblings. There is no privacy, quiet moment or ..." Allie starts to turn bright red. "I like that you call me Allie. It is nice. Nobody calls me that."
"Good."
"Do you have friends that call you anything other hand Victoria?"
"No."
"My dear, do you have friends?"
"No."
"What do you do with your free time?"
"I go to the park, museums, and the library."
"I enjoy all three of those things."
"Good."
"May I give you a nickname?"
"I do not know ..."
"Tori?"
Silence. Victoria is thinking.
"Please share your thoughts out loud. I want to hear. I imagine being alone you must ache for your voice to be heard."
"Tori is very uncommon."
"That is a good thing."
"Tori? Please use it in a sentence. I will close my eyes and listen." Victoria closes her eyes and waits for her Allie to utter the nickname. She is waiting. Warmth. 'I am being kissed. I should kiss back.'
Allie stops kissing and leans over to Victoria's ear, "Dearest Tori, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I am home."
Allie goes back to her seat and eats her food.
Tori's face is flushed. "I ... I like Tori. It is acceptable."
"The rest of my words?"
"We have much to discuss."
"What do we need to discuss?"
"The future. I have plans and dreams I do not want to give up on pursuing."
"Tell me."
"To leave London when I am older and spend the rest of my life seeing the world."
"Wow! Leave Great Britain and never return?"
"Yes."
"When do you plan on leaving?"
"Ten or twenty years. It depends on my savings."
"Have you always wanted to leave?"
"Yes. I have read books of places, viewed pictures but I want to see the world with my own eyes. I want to feel the sand of Egypt between my toes. I want to watch the monks of China. Listen to the music of the Americas. There is a wonderful world and I want to see as much as possible."
"That takes money and health."
"I have been saving since I have been working. What of your future?"
"It is with you. I thought we established that." Allie gulps her glass of wine, gets up and goes to where her coat is hung. She opens her handbag and pulls out a ribbon bound diary. She returns to her seat, "What if I told you that I never wanted to leave London."
Tori looks down at her empty plate, drinks the last of her wine and pours Allie and herself the last of the bottle evenly. "I have thought of that. I would be damn to choose."
"My Tori, please open this." Allie hands her the diary.
Allie gently unties the ribbon and opens the diary to see headings of different countries. Under each are book titles, associated check list of things to see in that country and food to taste. She flips through and goes back to the front. "What is this?" as she point to an item of food listed under Bahamas.
"Yucca, the 'Y' sounds like a 'J'. It is a root that is a favourite food boiled or fried."
"Thank you. You are more organized. I just have been pointing to a map and find books on the subject. How long have you kept this diary?"
"I started when I was eleven years old. Of course it was transcribe and organized alphabetically later, but the concept has always been the same." Allie can't help smiling.
"Have you been saving?"
"My dear Tori, my job is accounts." Allie rolls her eyes. "I have been frugal with my choices. Even tonight dinner was inexpensive."
"What did it cost for our meals?"
"5p divided by two that is less than 2.5p for us individually. It is cheaper than the slice of bread with butter you would have had and healthier."
"How is that possible?"
"Patience. The mongers were leaving the square. It would not have been profitable to have day old fish. The leek was less than 1p and I bought a carrot 1p. We will make soup tonight so that we can eat well again tomorrow night with your bread. How does that sound?"
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes my Tori, tomorrow."