Grell packed the last of a week's worth of clothes into her suitcase. The room was quiet except for the small radio in her living room. She looked out the window seeing the usual rainy weather.
She opened up the door to her room hearing two familiar meows. She smiled kneeling down to meet her babies.
A long Bombay with a pure white Munchkin following behind, ran towards her. She ruffled their fur kissing the top of their heads.
"My sweet babies. You two need to be good if you're going to be on the train with mummy. Especially you Troy."
She picked up the black cat combing his fur out. "You can be quite the talker when we're in anything that moves. Helen, is at least well behaved."
Troy meowed rubbing his face into her arms. She giggled kissing his face all over. "What a sweet little Prince."
She picked up Helen moving them all to the couch to sit. They purred lying on either side of her. She relaxed into the seat looking around at the small flat she called home.
The modern black, white and red colours covered her home entirely. The decor was artistic and with a vintage touch.
A knock at the door took her away from her thoughts. She lightly moved her cats over getting out of her seat. She fixed her hair looking out of the keyhole.
There stood William with a dark folder held in his hands. She smiled opening the door up for him.
He stood up straight looking down at her. Even house clothes she was stunning to him. "Hello there Miss Grell. I'm sorry to bother you the day after meeting but, I was sent with some things for you."
She opened up the door wider inviting him inside. He followed behind her seeing the sleek design of her home. His eyes fell onto the two creatures sitting still on the couch as if it were their throne.
"Please take a seat on the love seat Mr. Spears. My little ones don't bite." She pushed them off sending them onto the cat tree.
He sat next to her placing the folder onto the coffee table. "I was told to bring your train ticket and the key to your new flat. For the time being, you'll be staying at a hotel. Unfortunately, the flat is still missing the services to be turned on."
She looked at the ticket seeing a duplicate behind it. "Is that extra ticket to allow my animals on board?"
He turned his attention to the folder, clearing his throat. "That ticket is actually mine. Mr. Slingby and Mr. Knox will be leaving for Glasgow first thing tomorrow. I'm staying a bit longer to go with you."
Her eyebrow raised looking at him. The curl to her lips had his palms sweat. "I'll be making sure that you get there with no trouble. I don't want you to feel like your travel is unpleasant."
She smiled looking at the ticket. "It's a very kind gesture you're doing. Thank you for that." She got up from her seat heading to the kitchen. "May I offer you some coffee or tea?"
His eyes followed her hips and rear as she walked away. "Coffee would be fine. Black please." He groaned quietly to not attract her attention. Taking off his glasses, covering up his face with his hand. 'Dear God, please let me control myself.'
He placed his spectacles back on leaning towards the kitchen's archway. She hummed softly waiting on the French press to sit. He drank in her figure, starting at her long legs. He really had never dealt with these emotions.
She turned around grabbing the cups from her cabinet. She noticed his gaze looking back at the counter. "I know it's a little old fashioned but, I love it so much."
He stared at the French press sighing happily. "I actually have one of those myself. My isn't ceramic, but it metal and glass." He got up walking towards her. "Where ever did you get it?"
"It's a gift from my father. He gave it to me when I moved out to London." He moved next to her studying the small floral patterns on it. "You're not from London?"
She laughed leaning the counter top. "Oh no. My father is from Manchester. My mother was from Cambridge. I, however, was born in Lyon while they were on holiday."
He looked at her wide eyed. "So you're French by birth?" She shrugged thinking nothing of it. "My mother wanted me born in England but was on holiday to visit some family...she blames them for it."
He chuckled looking at cups she set out. Cute matching ones with painted chrysanthemums. "Do you know any French?"
She smiled picking the cups. "I learned only a little. Simple things like, Je m'appelle Grell. J'habite à Londres. You know, small things like that."
She poured him a cup handing it over to her. Could she get any more sexy to him? She grabbed her cream and sugar mixing her own. He cleared his throat heading back to the love seat.
She followed after him holding a small tray of lemon squares." So William, you said you were going to join me on the train correct?"
"That is correct. I'm going to be there with you and your cats." He glanced back at the cats as the kept their eyes fixated on him.
"Oh they don't bite. They're just a little nervous with new people. Are you not a fan of them?" She picked up her cup taking a sip.
He shook his head looking at them. "I don't mind cats. They're good companions but, I prefer the company of my finches." He took a sip of his coffee seeing her eyes widen.
"You have finches?! How lovely, you must be so happy to hear their little song in the morning. I get meows of needing attention." She turned to her cats teasing them.
He smiled holding the cup close to his body. Never had he heard of someone excited about his birds but him. His heart swelled looking at her with a genuine smile.
"They really do know to make a morning seem peaceful. You should see then sometime." He paused realising his invitation.
"That would be lovely William."
Shock went through him turning his head to her. A small smile placed on her lips. The thumping returned with the warmth he wasn't used to.
He swallowed a large amount of the coffee turning back to the file in front of him. "I do have some other things I need to attend to. Please forgive me if I seen rude."
Grabbing the ticket and key, he gave her the items swallowing the rest. She grabbed them setting them back down. "I understand. It was a pleasure having you in my tiny home."
She took the cup from his hands putting it down. "I hope I was a hospitable to you. Will you be meeting me here on the day of departure?"
He looked at the wristwatch nodding as he grabbed his coat. "I will be meeting you two hours before hand. I'll see you then."
The cats came off the tree back onto the couch with him gone. She sighed walking back to the kitchen to wash the cups.
A ringing came from her cell phone in her bedroom. She put down the book she had been reading running to answer it. Alan's name flashed across the screen when she grabbed it, answering it quickly.
"Hello Alan dear. To what do I owe the honour?" He laughed gently trying to keep his voice down. "I'm glad you see that you're still so chipper. What's going on Alan?"
"Well, since your leaving, I was hoping you and I could have a night together to say goodbye?" His voice was still hushed as the sounds of music and trolleys being pushed could be heard.
A smiled curved her lips. "Sounds like you've already started buying the things you wanted for this. Of course I'll be there."
He sighed happily grabbing of a couple bottles of red and dessert wine for them. "I'm glad to hear it. I want to make you have a last night with me as best we can."
She smiled feeling the sorrow filling her chest. "That would be lovely Alan. I'll make sure to be there by seven. I'll make sure to bring you a surprise."
Before he could appose, she hung up leaving him to finish his shopping. She raninto her room making sure pick out an outfit, perfect for the evening.
The even soon came with the rush of cold as always. Grell stood at the front of the door to the familiar building waiting to be buzzed in. Closing the top of her coat in one hand whole holding a present box in the other. The buzz let the door unlock letting her inside.
Alan smiled pulling the baked eggplant pasta from the oven. As much as he wanted to add meat to it he wouldn't betray his friend like that. Setting up the table, he fixed the silverware and plates with cute swan napkins in the center.
The knocking on his door made him jump a little hurrying to answer. They smiled hugging each other with loving force. He let her through shutting the door behind her.
"I'm glad to see you made it early as always. Here let me take your coat." He reached up taking the gift from her hands. She smiled getting comfortable with the warmth of the flat.
"I would've loved for you to have gone to my apartment but, I know how you are with cats." Her bottom lip pushed out in a pout.
He waved it off grabbing her hand as they walked to the small dining table. "It's fine. Allergies to pet hair isn't so bad. I love them, even if I can't pet them." He pulled out the chair for her setting the gift onto the counter of the island.
"You should really get a cute animal with no fur. Like a turtle or a bird." He grabbed the bottle of Bordeaux he picked up, he popping the cork, pouring them a glass. "I would love to have a turtle. I just need to find the nearest shop that sells them with the things the need."
Placing the glasses on the table, he cut into pasta giving them each a healthy amount. They gently touched glasses giving a quiet cheers. Alan finally spoke after a moment of silence. "I really am going to miss you Grell. You've been a good friend and employee."
The tightening in her chest began, trying her best not to cry. "I'm going to miss you too. I've never felt such welcome and support from someone other than my family. Thank you for all that you've done."
He got up moving around the table, pulling her into a tight hug. "Thank you for that Grell. You're an amazing singer with a great future ahead of you."
She squeezed him tightly chewing on her bottom lip. "I'll call you. Or at least text you. You're too good of a friend to let go."
They smiled letting go of each other. Cleaning their faces. "Thank you for that. It makes me feel better that you'll still think about me." He moved back to his seat.
The dinner continued on with small talk and more wine. They soon finished up heading to the couches. Grell grabbed the box she had brought handing it over to him.
"What's this? You really didn't have to get this for me." He placed it into his lap unwrapping it piece by piece. Inside the box was a set of gloves, a scarf, a hat, and a cotton jacket in matching navy. A quiet gasp escaped his lips looking up at her.
"This is so lovely! You really didn't have to get me this." He tried on the jacket feeling the nice warmth with it. "This is perfect for the weather right now. Thank you. I got you something too."
He got up heading for his bedroom. A short while later, he came with a medium sized box decorated in red. She giggled taking it from his hands. "Thank you very much Alan, you spoil me."
Inside was a long crimson gown covered in sequence. Completely sleeveless and meant to be tight around her body. Her mouth stayed open with nothing coming out of her.
"Alan...it's absolutely gorgeous! Where did you ever find a dress like this?!" She hugged it tightly pressing it against her body. He smiled looking at her get exasperated over it. "I had them custom make it, just for you."
"Alan..." she placed the dress back in the box jumping on top of him. "Thank you so much!" She kissed his cheeks leaving red lips on his skin.
He chuckled trying to get the lipstick off. "I'm overjoyed. You always have been so affectionate." He looked at the clock feeling his heart sting. She turned to see how late it was getting turning her head to him.
He reached out giving her a hand a squeeze. "Thank you for everything Grell. I think we still have time for dessert and some more wine. That is, if you have time."
She got up heading towards her glass. "I knew this would happen. That's why I fed the cats before I left." Grabbing the bottle, she popped the cork pouring them each a glass of Roscato. "What kind of dessert did you have dear?"
"I bought one of those multi flavoured cheesecakes. It sounded nice for this occasion." He took it out of the box giving them each a slice of the plain.
The sat back down in the table drink and enjoying the dessert. Two hours later and both bottles gone, Grell got her coat and box hugging him tightly." Thank you so much for everything Alan. Please, come visit me anytime."
He raised his own hand, to the flat. "As you know you can come and visit me anytime. We have those options on holidays or free weekends."
She leaned down kissing his cheek again. "I'd love for that. Maybe before I go to my family's for Christmas, I can stop by here." Her heart hurting from the lingering goodbye.
He knew this had to end holding her hand. "Please be careful. Text me when your about to leave. That way, I'll know you'll be on your way."
"Of course I will my dear, you know that I do like keeping you, Mummy and Daddy and touch." She held her box closely to the side of her chest almost to her ribs. With her free arm she wrapped it around his shoulders, giving him a firm final hug. Their eyes met intensely, yet with a good powerful emotion as they parted ways.