« Mrs Hall ?

-In here ! » Siegfried hears coming from the kitchen.

When he comes in the kitchen, she's carving some meat with a chopper.

"Do you need something ?" she asks making a violent movement from up to down. 'Oh I'm sorry ! What time is it ? I have to iron your shirt. I'm going to take care of it as soon as I'm done with that beast." She said keeping on chopping.

"No, it's not about that. I can come back later.

-Go on. After your shirt, I'll have to cook the diner. Tell me." She dryly says. She looks upset.

"No, I didn't mean to bother you." He turns around.

"You don't bother, Mr Farnon. Tell me !

-Are you sure ?"

She looks daggers at him.

"You seem upset and you're holding a chopper so I'm worried."

She can't help a smile. He can have this kind of effects on her. She puts the chopper down on the table then wipes her hands with her apron.

"What can I do for you ?

-It's not about 'work'. I need… advice.

-An advice ?

-Yes. It's about…

-Dorothy." She interrupts him, sighing.

"Yes.

-Of course it is." She murmurs lowering her eyes. "Flowers will do.

-What ?

-You want some idea for Valentine's day.

-Not at all. It's something else. But I take due note of this, thanks."

She rolls her eyes. He can see she's annoyed again.

"Allright, allright. I wanted…

-You fought. You know, that kind of things can happen. I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner.

-No, we didn't and I'm going to try to not take due note of this comment. No we didn't fight. It's just… I know we're different and I'm going to consider your disagreeable comment as a tactless way to point this matter. Actually, recently, she does'nt seem as enthusiastic as me.

-What did I tell you about your 'willing flesh' ?

-No !" He says, shocked by her comment. "It's not about that !" He adds mortified. "Of course not ! What's wrong with you ?

-So what ?" She asks raising her voice.

-She can be distant and I admit, I, myself can be too : I talked to her about it, about Evelyn still being there somewhere. I'd like to know if there's something I…

-I am your employee, Mr Farnon." She sharply says. "I think you're mistaking me for a bartender or your fellows when you take some bears at the Drovers Arms. You shouldn't talk about this with me. It's your life." Siegfried is speechless. She's never talked to him like that. For some days, he has noticed that something's wrong. She's irritable and doesn't seem in her normal state. That's why he tried to run out the kitchen earlier. He thinks that something happened with Edward and when the time came, she would tell him. Even after Christmas, few weeks ago, she's never been like that. He doesn't understand what's going on and now he's trying to not take umbrage at this.

"Oh… I… I… I'm sorry, Mrs Hall." He stammers. "I didn't mean to … offend you. Dorothy is your friend, that's all and I believed… I mean… I thought you and me are friends too and since you encouraged me. At least until now. It seemed to me ; but apparently, I was wrong ; you wanted to help me or at least, I could talk to you. I thought you wanted me to move on.

-I don't want to be caught between you both. I really don't anyway. I refuse to have connection with what's going on between you both."

Now Siegfried is really hurt and in spite of his efforts to stay calm, his temper starts to surface.

"Mrs Hall, I don't understand. I've never imagined this. I thought you approved. Thanks to you, we've met…

-You really believe that I thought just a second you could fall for the first woman who show interest in you since Evelyn ? My God ! I must be a masochist ! I woke up a morning and I told myself : 'What about my best friend meeting the man that I love so they could be together ? So I'd inflict myself such a sorrow that I probably won't get over it. And since I live under the same roof than him, each day would be just painful ! What a blessing would it be ! I would love to cry every night in my bed.' You should get married. That would be the most beautiful day of my life right after the one I had to denounce my son for stealing of course !"

An heavy silent imposes itself. Siegfried's mouth remains open. She rushes out of the kitchen hardly jostling him. Siegfried stays in the kitchen having not a clue about what just happened. He only jumps when he hears the front's door slamming.

THE END