"Welcome, Audrey." He whispered under his breath, the pieces of the puzzle were finally coming together. Snapping back to reality, he looked at the shards of glass on the floor before him and sharply regained his composure. "Goodness, I'm so sorry."
"Please, don't worry about it! I'll go grab the dustpan!" Audrey squeaked as she scuttled into the kitchen. Michael watched her intently as she walked away. This was not the girl he remembered.
She swiftly returned, bending down to clean up the mess. Both Michael and Sylvia were full of apologies.
"Oh, it's not a problem. It's just a mug. You wouldn't believe the things that I've accidentally broken since moving in here." Seymour added, trying to ease their embarrassment. His clumsiness was one thing that he was unable to leave back in Skid Row.
"Say, where are you guys originally from?" Michael queried, wanting to confirm what he already knew to be true.
"Skid Row." Seymour admitted with a hint of shame in his voice. He was almost sure a couple like the Cottons had never even heard of that Hell hole.
"Wow, Skid Row?" Sylvia asked, slightly shocked. She'd heard things about that place and just couldn't imagine anyone as seemingly perfect as Seymour and Audrey originating from there.
"I've been." Michael simply stated.
A slightly awkward silence filled the room for a brief moment. "Oh, you have?" Audrey asked, politely trying to make conversation.
"Yes, almost a year and a half ago now." Michael responded with his eyes fixed firmly on Audrey.
"Small world, huh?" Seymour smiled.
"Let me give you a hand with this, Audrey." Michael said as he began scooping up the remaining mugs and plates.
They walked together towards the kitchen, hands full of dishes.
"You and Audrey are such a lovely couple, Seymour." Sylvia told him while they were alone. "How long have you been together?"
"We haven't been together for very long but I've known her, and loved her, for years." Sylvia smiled at his heartwarming response. "How about you and Michael?"
"Four years! Time flies when you're in love." They shared a sweet smile. A smile of two people completely content.
Meanwhile in the kitchen, Michael assisted Audrey in putting the dishes in the sink.
"Thank you so much for that." She smiled at him and began to head back towards Seymour and Sylvia. Before she could get very far, Michael placed his hand on her arm. He softened his grip very quickly when he realised that he'd probably been a little too rough.
"Um, before you do...are you sure we haven't met?"
"I'm sorry, I can't say I recognize you." She thought long and hard. "You didn't happen to visit any florist shops while visiting Skid Row, did you?" She asked, and began to laugh lightly.
He joined in with her laughter. "No, no florists...just a night spot."
Audrey's blood ran cold. Her face drained of color. It felt as though someone had knocked the wind out of her. And that reaction was enough to tell Michael that she was exactly who he thought she was...