Scene 1

August 4, 2008…

"Hi Zelda." Heather greeted her part-time chef as she set her purse and shopping bags on the kitchen table.

"Hi; how was your shopping trip? Did you enjoy yourself?" Zelda smiled warmly at her as she glanced up from the dough she was kneading at the island counter top.

"I did. I found some adorable things for Allison, and Derek is working on a new dress for me. I couldn't find what I wanted in any of my usual shops so I went to see him." Heather said referring to her personal tailor as she gazed at the dough. "I love it when you bake bread. It smells heavenly in here."

Zelda nodded appreciation for the praise "You're having a new dress made? What's the occasion?"

"Yesterday at breakfast Gil pointed out two things. One: we've been seeing each other for about eight months and we've yet to actually go out anywhere and …Two: my birthday is three weeks away. So, he says he wants to take me out somewhere nice, but he won't say where. I told him he had to at least tell me what sort of attire I should choose for the evening. He thought for a moment and said "formal." I have to admit. I'm looking forward to it; nearly to the point of distraction Zelda."

"Wait…you two haven't been out yet?"

"No. He comes here when he gets off work or sometimes I spend the night at his place so that I'm there in the morning when he gets home…"

Zelda interrupted. "You are telling me that man hasn't even taken you out to dinner yet?" She shook her head in shock and disapproval. "I gave him more credit than that. I should sit him down and give him a good talking to."

"No, you will leave him be." Heather said to the older woman. "Gil and I both like just being alone together …in private.

"I can guess why." Zelda smiled, "…and I don't blame you, but…"

"That isn't the only reason why Zelda and you let him be… I haven't said a word to him about going out in public. I waited for him to ask so that I'd know that he's comfortable with the idea and apparently he is. I won't have you giving him grief because he didn't ask fast enough to suit your tastes. Understood?"

"Yes Heather." She said flatly.

Heather smiled good-naturedly. "I know you mean well Zelda, but I'm serious. Not a word to him. Now, where is he? I saw his Tahoe out front."

He got here about hmmm…" She looked at the clock on the stove. "An hour and a half ago. I let him in. Poor man works too hard Heather. He looked positively dead on his feet. I said hello and offered him some breakfast. On his way up the stairs he muttered something I couldn't be absolutely sure of, but I think he might have actually said he was 'too tired to chew'. I heard the shower upstairs come on and then shut off a few minutes later. I haven't heard a peep out him since. I bet he's dead to the world smack in the middle of that enormous bed of yours."

"Hmm… it's 10:49 now." Heather said with her back to the only clock in the kitchen. I think a midmorning nap sounds delightful."

As Heather gathered her shopping bags and made to leave the room Zelda asked, "Are you ever going to tell me how you do that?"

"Do what?" Heather called from just outside the kitchen archway as if the two women hadn't had this conversation a hundred times in the eleven years Zelda had worked for her.

Zelda rolled her eyes even though there was no one in the room to see her do it. "Tell time without looking at a clock. What else?"

There was silence for a beat and then suddenly Heather popped her head back into the room; the rest of her hidden from view out in the hallway. "Zelda, I've told you before…"

"Yes, I know, don't tell me, you've got great timing."

"Yes Zelda, I do. Now if you'll excuse me; my internal clock says it's time to go upstairs and kiss a certain forensic scientist I know."

Zelda shook her head smiling and went back to kneading dough.