Hello. I'm back. Sorry for the delay. I shouldn't be disappearing any time soon, I hope. I'm looking forward to continuing this journey and hope you are too!

And away we go:


"I know how this conversation ends, Dad."

"Then you know why we have to have it."

Elsie closed her eyes. For the last hour she had been reliving Denker's words, 'just horrible the way he ran off with a younger woman', now, in a sick twist, those words were being drowned out by Anna and Charlie. She sat at the table working on Charlie's laptop, but really Elsie was doing her best eavesdropping. Anna rarely argued with her father, when she did it was unpleasant at best and painful at worst. It was one of the few times Elsie wished she were Anna's birth mother. Her lack of relation made it more difficult for her to step in - however wrong she felt Charlie was.

"I'm not going to smoke. I'm not going to snort cocaine, or shoot heroin. I don't even drink!" Anna said.

"And for that I am grateful." Charlie said, "but it doesn't hurt to be reminded why we don't do such things, or how to refrain from doing them. You'll be in London, at clubs and parties with people who might do these things -"

"My mother was ill, Dad, she had addictions - I know it can be genetic. I know I might fall into the same patterns, I know! I know! I know. I have goals, I have people I care about, I'm not going to throw that all away." Anna countered, clearly hoping to end the conversation.

"Again, Anna, I'm grateful for that. But don't go thinking there won't be something, or somebody out there that tempts you away from those things. You're smart, you're beautiful, and you're capable, someone will try to take advantage of you, they will try to hurt you, they will -"

Elsie rolled her eyes. How dreary Charlie could be sometimes.

"No, Dad, and I'm done discussing it. I don't want to discuss it anymore. We've been having this conversation my entire life."

"Then I don't feel comfortable allowing you to go to London." Charlie said.

"Allow?" Anna shot back, "Allow me to go? Mary and I have planned this trip for months! London. New Years Eve. I'll drive myself down! I'll -"

"And who gave you that car?! You are not -"

"Charlie," Elsie jumped in, "Don't say anything you can't take back."

He looked at her, his face flushed with frustration. Miraculously the doorbell rang before he could say anymore.

"They're here." Anna said, "I'm going."

She picked up her small duffel bag and headed towards the door. Elsie and Charlie followed. Mary and Matthew stood on the door step. Matthew looked rather glum about something while Mary's face extolled her superiority. They exchanged a few pleasantries. Matthew took Anna's bag from her and placed it in the boot of the car.

"Anna," Charlie tried again, softer, "Just don't -"

"I'll see you later." Anna said, "Bye, Mumzi."

The girl gave Elsie a quick hug and spun around. Elsie caught her arm, and as gently as her annoyance would allow, said, "Say goodbye to your father."

Anna glared, but threw out a quick, "Bye Dad."

Just as quickly they were in the car and driving out of sight.

When Elsie turned to look at Charlie he appeared smaller, tucked in on himself. A frown graced his features and it was clear he wasn't understanding quite where he went wrong. Placing a hand on his arm, Elsie tried in vain to offer support. He was miles away from her. She could imagine what he was thinking. She simply didn't want to go down that dark path herself.

"Charlie, come inside, I'll make us some tea." She said.

He grunted his response and accompanied her in. The cold followed them. Elsie rushed to the stove to get the tea going. This was going to be another night the wind left her shivering alone in her room. She sighed. Could she really fool herself like that? The cold keeping her awake at night?

Except it was true.

But it also wasn't.

Worry kept her awake at night. Now she could add Anna to her list of worries. A list she went over in her head hour after hour whenever she was left alone for long enough. Ever since Joe had said those fateful words. And it had only been two days.

"Elsie?" Charlie's voice called from the other room.

"Yes, Charlie?" She called back, setting the burner on high and looking around for his strainers.

"Never mind." He croaked.

She didn't like that. Heading in towards the living room she found him sitting in a chair at the dinning table, head in hands. She couldn't tell if he was crying. He mumbled to himself.

"I'm a terrible father." He said finally.

"Why do you say that?" She asked.

Walking up to him, she stood with his head inches from her body. If he had been Joe, she might have pulled his head against her tummy. He might have wrapped his arms around her waist. But as it was, he was Charlie and she was Elsie, just friends. She looked down at the back of his neck and bit her lip.

"I'm going to drive my daughter to the drink." He said into his hands, "She's going to become her mother. And some poor bloke is going to find her -"

"Don't," Elsie said. She put her hand on his head in an effort to stop his train of thought, briefly noting how soft his hair was, "Don't go there. You don't know what the future holds. Anna…"

"Terrible father," He mumbled again, "I can't even support her now. I had a job. I was good at my job, but now all of that is gone. I'm not bloody good at anything."

She ran her fingers through his hair, an attempt at comforting. He sighed. When he did finally look up at her, she saw his red eyes and lost expression. She gave him a soft smile.

"I can think of one thing you're good at." She said.

"What's that?" He rumbled.

"You're a good friend." She said, "I wouldn't be here if you weren't."

He nodded. At least, she thought he was nodding, agreeing with her. Really, his eyes had glazed over again, and he was back in his own worried world.

The tea kettle whistled. Elsie dropped her hand from his soft hair and returned to the kitchen. She called over her shoulder, "And besides, you have a wonderful daughter, so you must have done something right."

"Even if there are a few silly arguments," she added to herself as she gathered the teacups and poured the hot water.

When she walked back to the living room, he was gone. A faint thud upstairs told her he was in his room. She shook her head. Setting down one teacup, she walked up the stairs with the other and knocked on his door. "Tea's ready."

The sound of water whistling told her all she needed to know. She quietly walked into his room, hoping he was already in the shower and not standing about naked. The prospect of a naked Charlie not unbecoming to her, but given the emotional state they were both in she didn't think it wise to have such an encounter. Awkward moments were often best avoided with Charlie. She set his teacup on his bedside table and returned to her work.

Spreadsheet after spreadsheet consumed her for several hours. The beginning of a project always thrilled her. The organization of all the different time frames, the pay schedules, even the different camera dates she could figure out mostly in her head. She had done dozens of these projects and knew the process better than anyone. Lady Violet was not the first irrational member of the upper class and Elsie was quite sure she knew how to work with her and even, possibly, hopefully, interview her.

Absorbed in her work she didn't hear Charlie come down and make another round of tea until he was refilling her cup. She smiled at him, noting quietly the dark circles and sunken appearance of his face. His hair was still wet. She could easily imagine he had been crying in the shower.

"Cheers," she said, lifting the freshly poured tea to her lips.

"My pleasure," he said quietly.

He sat next to her at the table and fiddled with his own teacup. The flower patterns he traced with his finger before clearing this throat.

"We need to talk." He said.

"If you're going to go on about how terrible you are again, I'm not interested." She said, her eyes still on the laptop screen.

"I'm afraid there is a similar theme here." He said

She looked up. His brow knit and his lips pursed and altogether he looked terrifically hopeless. She attempted a light smile.

"Why don't you tell me what it is, and I'll decide if it makes you terrible?" She offered.

"Very well." He said, squaring himself to the deal, "I'm not sure how much longer you're going to be able to stay here."

He might have punched her in the stomach, the surprise would have been equal. "How do you mean?"

"Actually, to be more precise, I'm not sure how much longer either of us will be able to stay here."

"The point, please."

"I just received my quarterly statement from my company - my old company. And, you remember my telling you I had about twenty years worth of savings?"

"Yes."

"It appears it would be more accurate to say I have about ten years worth. More likely six to seven years worth."

He took a deep inhale of breath at that and looked as though he might try to hold that breath until he passed out. She merely nodded.

"By my calculations, it would be prudent, if not wise financially, to sell my house and rent a flat until Anna's schooling is over and she's settled on her own." He finished.

"I see." She said, turning this new information over in her mind. "I'm going to ignore for now how it is possible someone such as yourself only has six years worth of retirement savings, and instead I'm going to ask - I don't know, I - you want to sell your house?"

"I never said the word 'want'." He grumbled, "And if you don't remember we're in the middle of a recession right now, or rather, more likely, at the start of one, and my savings took quite a hit, and it never did quite rebound after the market collapse in ninety-nine."

"So do you or don't you want to sell your house?"

"Like I said, I don't want to. I just feel that it would be prudent, or intelligent, to do so in order to keep myself, and Anna, afloat for another few years or so."

At this point Elsie closed the laptop and turned toward him fully. She had given a great deal of thought regarding his financial situation and was now able to finally do something with those thoughts: "Charlie, I hope you don't find this impertinent, but I'm wondering what you would say if I offered to look over your finances - with you, mind. Perhaps, not being as affected by it all, I might see something you don't."

"No, no," he shook his head, "I don't find that impertinent. But, are you sure? I am an accountant -"

"I know. And I've run the accounting on all my projects since the beginning of my producing career. I've also turned a profit for every one, so I think I have some skill with numbers." She added cheekily.

He gave her a half grin, "I think, I think that might be a good idea. I just don't want to add anything more to your overburdened plate."

"You're not." She smiled, "I'm always happy to help out a friend. And besides, if it means you can keep your house, then we both win."

"Yes, I suppose that's true."

"Well, now that that's settled, let me get on with my work. The Clarksons keep nagging me about the set schedules and I need to have it all approved by Lady Violet." Elsie opened the computer and started clicking back to her original spreadsheet.

"Right then, I'll just worry about it when you tell me it's time to worry." Charlie said. He gathered his teacup and headed back to the staircase, his step a tad lighter, "Oh, did you want to go to Beryl's party, New Years?"

"I don't think I'm allowed to miss Beryl's New Years Eve party." She smirked.

"Right," Charlie frowned thoughtfully, "well, then, I'll leave you to it."

She nodded and he left her in peace. After a moment looking at her computer she allowed her eyes to drift to his retreating backside as he made his way up the stairs. She briefly wondered why he had asked if she was going to Beryl's party, but then shrugged the thought off and continued on with her time table spreadsheet.


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