Ch. 3
The clock read ten o'clock. Damn, Tommy thought to himself, wiping the sweat from his dirty brow. You can't keep doing this to yourself, you'll go crazy, his mind told him.
There was still an hour's wait until he was granted leave to wash up. He wanted to look amazing when Allie saw him. He knew he would look nothing like the fashionable gentlemen who had possibly courted her while she was in New York, but yet he wanted to impress her.
He tried to keep his mind off of their picnic by keeping himself busy. There was freight that needed to be hauled into the warehouse, steel to be melted down or cut, and other odd jobs. Tommy even took the chore of mopping up mud on the factory boardwalk, one job that usually only 15 year old lackeys were ordered to do. But he was determined to make the time pass and focused his efforts.
Finally, the eleven o'clock lunch bell rang and he eagerly put aside the shovel he had been using to scoop steel bits. He entered the front walkway of the warehouse, and turned to enter the office door. As he approached the open door, he rapped a quiet knock, to announce his presence.
Burt Laggins looked up from the newspaper he had been reading.
"What is it Wesley?" He asked, not bothering to hide his annoyance.
"Actually Burt, err Sir, I was coming in to confirm my permission to leave. May I go now sir?" Tommy asked nervously.
Burt tapped his fat fingers on the wooden desk. "Ok Wesley, but be back at noon. We have cargo coming in through the river, I need you to go to the docks with Marshalls and pick it up."
Tommy's heart skipped a beat. "But Sir, I've earned my two hour break; I haven't had it in 3 months and today was my scheduled day to take it."
"Well, tough shit. You can have your break tomorrow. In the meantime, come back at noon or find another job," Burt grumbled.
Tommy turned and speedily left the warehouse, knowing that by tomorrow, he wouldn't have a job.
Allie stood in front of the mirror, gazing at her reflection. She had put on an extremely beautiful mint green dress, special apparel she only wore to special gatherings. She had especially picked this dress for the way it brought out her Emerald colored eyes and also for the way it made her red hair give off a warm glow when she wore it. It came down just past her knees and was trimmed with lace. The short, silk sleeves hung just below the shoulders, showing off her milky white, but beautifully fair skin. The neckline plunged to a V cut, slightly highlighting the soft swell of the top of her breasts. It was tied in the back with a soft pink sash. It looked cutesy, beautiful and sexual all at the same time. She knew she looked perfect and was satisfied.
She had carefully applied only blush, knowing that Tommy never did like the idea of her wearing makeup. He had always said that she was too beautiful for it, and she trusted his judgment. Her hair had been simply tied half up upon her head, the rest tousled with soft curls, delicate, but free to fall onto her shoulders.
Finally, she walked over to the cedar chest and took something out from the bottom of a corner of it. She completed her outfit with a simple, silver heart-shaped locket that Tommy had given her for her 16th birthday, a token of his love for her. Knowing that she was with Noah, and had to maintain her honor, she also adorned the equally simple engagement ring Noah had given her.
She looked over to the bed side clock and saw that it was eleven-twenty, so she grabbed a light sweater and headed downstairs.
She was in the kitchen preparing the picnic basket when she heard the doorbell ring. Once more, she checked her reflection in the kitchen mirror, and scurried into the entrance hall. Slowly, so as not to appear forward, she opened the large door.
Tommy was awkwardly standing on the porch, a bouquet of lilies in his hand. He was dressed in an old, visibly worn pair of trousers and a near-clean white button up shirt that was only buttoned half way up. To the world, he would look like a desperate member of the lower class, but to Allie, he looked amazing. The effects of time showed in his stance and in the way his shoulders had broadened. He had grown at least 5 inches taller and as Allie looked, she noticed the muscles that the tighter parts of his shirt revealed, the effects of working in a steel factory for almost thirteen years.
Knowing he might be wondering why she wasn't letting him in, she finally spoke.
"Tommy, it's really good to see you again. Thank you for coming."
Still holding the flowers, he nervously thrust them at her. "Uh, these are for you. I know how much you like Lilies so, well you know…"
She smiled at him, the same smile that always mentally knocked him off his feet since he had met her, and still did now. She had remained beautiful, or if possible, had become even more than he could ever dream her to be.
She thanked him for the lilies and invited him in. As they entered the kitchen area, the sweet smell of honey rolls and fried chicken filled his nostrils. She had always been an amazing cook and he was glad for the fact that she had offered to provide the food. Tommy always ate at pub's, for the fear that he would poison himself with his cooking.
He noticed that the pleasant smell of the food had blended with the delicate lilac perfume that Allie had always worn, which she was apparently wearing today. He had never forgotten that smell and could never forget it. He loved her more than he could ever possibly love life.
Allie grabbed the basket and turned just quick enough to catch Tommy gazing at her. She smiled as he blushed and said, "Well, are you ready to go Tommy?"
He nodded and stepped towards her. "Actually I picked the perfect spot. But it's a surprise, so hand me the basket, and let me blind fold you."
She laughed and, deciding to be a good sport, let him wrap a handkerchief around her eyes. He led her out of the house and to the car.
The whole car ride, Tommy hummed to himself and avoided her endless questions of where they were going. Finally they arrived and again, he led the way. She kept pushing him to let her take it off, but he still refused. At last, she heard him say, "Ok Allie, you can take off the blindfold."