Jennifer gently opens The Park Hotel front door at 825, she didn't reach to quiet the bell in time.
"Ping Ping"
She closes the door, this time holding the bell quiet, stands and waits. The last time she let the bell ring, poor Mr. Mooting, the owner of the hotel, thought she was a robber. It ended with Mr. Mooting on his back for a few days.
He enters the pub with a hunting rifle in hand.
"Mr. Mooting it is Miss Jennifer Flint-Saint Clair. I have just returned from my shift."
He points the gun to the ground, "I don't know what you folks doing up there, but I am sick of losing sleep over you coming and going."
"If it could be helped Mr. Mooting, I would."
"Yes, yes. You are a good girl." He sniffles, "You are all are good girls. There is a Mr. and Mrs. Clements waiting for you in Room 8. They say they are family."
Her eyes light up, "Yes they are family members. Thank you, I am sorry again."
She slowly goes up the stairs avoiding the predictable creeks and lightly knocks on Room 8. It slowly opens and a wide eyes familiar face appears.
"Come in," calls Grant from his small table. "Let me finish this."
Julia comes to Grant's side, "I like that. Have you included furniture?"
Grant smiles, "I forgot. Let Miss Jennifer pick for herself."
Jennifer sits at the edge of the bed, "What shall I pick for myself."
Grant looks at his watch, "Is there a place to get breakfast?"
"Yes, there is Mrs. Fielding's house. For a small price, she feeds us lost souls."
Grant, Julia and Jennifer sit down to breakfast. They look at Jennifer's choice of stew, "This is your breakfast time, while it is my supper."
"You may if you wish," Grant looks to his anxious Julia.
"Thank you," She turns to Jennifer, "You know Kay and April have the farm to manage?"
"Of course." Jennifer looks confused.
"Well since you are going to be here for the duration, your family leaders thought it would be a good investment to have a bookstore here in Milton Keynes."
Grant patiently waits for her response. He knows how business deals go and sometimes it is not a two-way commitment. He is about to give Miss Jennifer a way out of this commitment but he sees her smile.
"I think we can take it one step further."
"Oh?" Grant and Julia quickly take out their notebooks and pen.
"When I was at school in New York, there were cafes that were open all hours. Some were bookstores, others simply coffee or tea. But if we have a combination laundry services, coffee with light fare and a bookshop it will be an excellent place to escape for my coworkers and peers."
Jennifer sits back and watch the two have a business conversation. It is just a few words passing back and forth, papers back and forth. Finally, they both sit back as if they just had a scoop of hot pie on a cold night. They are satisfied.
"The place we are thinking to buy would be able to handle all this and there is a three-bedroom living quarter on the first floor."
Jennifer has filled her stomach and her body is full of adrenaline. 'To never smell rotten rum again.'
They walk two miles to high street, catching up on married life and Molly
"I have suggested to invest closer to High Street. I found this." Grant points to a large white building. "Built in 1400, it is called Chantry House."
"It is unlocked and empty," Grant goes to the front door and opens it to a grand space. He and Julia get busy drawing sketches, taking measurements and Jennifer escapes to the first floor.
She looks at the brightness and quickly decides which room is hers, 'I wonder if she would dare'. She smiles, goes to the kitchen and says out loud to herself, "I can finally make meals."
Grant and Julia smile.
"Don't worry both of us share the habit of talking to ourselves, even when we are in the same room together."
Grant and Julia do as they did on the ground floor, take measurements, make notes and hears unusual sounds of, what Jennifer hopes, is approval.
"Come lets us go back down to the ground floor."
He smiles, "This will do quite nicely. If we put a wall here that can be the small cafe kitchen." He smiles at Jennifer, "Back home it is not unusual to waste a day with a pot of tea and conversation. This room," He opens the door, goes through and opens the back door, "This would be sufficient for laundry services, especially if we procure the washer and dryers for streamline income. Shelves all around for the books. I think twelve tables with four chairs a piece. A few cub seatings for book patrons and here will be the cashier counter with confections and small store of luxury items. Also outside we will have four small bistro seating between two and four."
"What luxury items?" Jennifer feels overwhelmed.
"Leather bookmarks, pens, paper, chocolate bars, tobacco products, packaged biscuits, Curly Wurly and things of the sorts. Think about what you would need if you continued boarding."
"I see what you mean." Jennifer looks around, "How am I to manage a business and my odd hours."
"We will hire staff through our new hiring agency. He hands her a card." We will first start with a general bookshop manager, a night shift manager and then light staff and proper trades individuals for laundry services." Grants watches at Jennifer's face returns to a normal color.
Julia adds, "April and Kay were given tools, machinery and have hired hands for the cattle, sheep and planting. You just have to look over the books, keep the employees happy and report to us each month."
Jennifer sits down on the stairs, "Good. I was beginning to think this is too much."
Grants sits next to her, "We will be with you setting it up, however you must make up your mind now to have a balanced and organized life."
"Will you help me if I ever ask?"
"Of course." He makes a final note and stands up as the local Magistrate walks in to Chantry House, "What do you think?"
"We actually are discussing it now."
He looks to Jennifer who stands up, smiles and shakes Grants hand.
The Magistrate puffs out his chest as he knows a successful sale when he sees it, "When would you like to take it over"
Grants smiles, "How soon can I have a business license?"
"What do you want to put in this place?"
"Bookshop, cafe and laundry services."
"Well now," He replies slowly. "That is three licenses. Retail, Food and Services."
"We also would like to service the shift workers. Which means we shall be open twenty-four hours a day."
"Well now," The magistrates does his best on how to profit on such a novel idea, "That would be special license employees and police."
"When can I have the licenses?"
"I can have them in a week," The magistrates quickly lies for profit.
Grant knows the game, "Is there any way we can have the license today? We want to move into the residence space immediately."
"Well now," the Magistrate smiles as this is a profitable day. "That first floor needs a residential license."
Grant becomes annoyed with the local official and adjusts his stance sending a clear message. "Today?"
"Well now," He slowly responds as to ponder profit, "There will be a processing fee and a fee to speed up the process."
"Fine." Grants walks to the door, "Let us head to your office and finish business." He holds the door open for the magistrate and before he closes the door he winks at his wife Julia.
Jennifer and Julia walk back to the Hotel and gather all their belongings. They pass a carpenter's shop and quickly buy three double beds and pay for delivery this afternoon. They pass a sundry store for sheets, pillows, quilts and other kitchen items. The stop at a small store for grocery delivery."
As Jennifer eyes a cooking nice bowl, "You don't need that."
Julia smiles, "Your mother Jenny packed plenty new things for you."
Jennifer wonders, "What about the cafe? It is in the budget get a modern vertical espresso machine?"
"Is there a list of things you would like in the cafe kitchen?"
Jennifer looks at her watch, "It is nearing noon, shall we get tea? I don't suppose we shall have our beds delivered by five tonight?"
As they enter a small tea shop with a view of the Chantry House. As their tea service for three is delivered Julia excuses herself.
Jennifer watches Julia leave she sees from around the corner the top of his Dastaar behind the fence. As she watches the Dastaar bop up and down, 'Is he skipping'? She watches the Dastaar stop and drop below the fence top, 'Julia must have caught up'. She watches Dastaar finally displays t grant holding hands with Julia as they walk around the fence toward the tea shop. 'All this happiness and we are at war. Life is complicated.'
They had a lovely tea and Grant tells how the process took just a few minutes. "He is not an honest man. The permits not only were numerous, but they were higher priced than in London. The farm permit I received for Low Brorrowbridge was less by seventy-five percent."
Julie almost dropped her tea and almost gathers attention with a gasp.
The mistress of the tea shop came over, "Is there something wrong?"
"No, none. I am sorry we were just discussing local politics."
"Interesting, what have you heard?"
Jennifer smiles, "We were discussing your local magistrate. How sad."
The mistress leaned over, "I supposed he put his mind into his job. When Sally ran off with 'you know who' I am surprised it could have been worse."
Jennifer plays along, "Worse than Sally leaving with 'you know who'? I would be heartbroken."
The mistress stands and looks out the window, "Do you suppose he is ... you know ... heartbroken?"
"He has put all his energies into his career and making sure he has pocket money."
The mistress stares more intently, "Do you really think so?"
"Oh yes, would you if you have given up on love?"
The mistress comes out of her daydream, "When I lost my John, I put everything into this place. I understand where is at right now."
Julia taps Jennifer's knee and smiles in the direction of the street.
"Well look, speak of the magistrate, why don't you give him tea. We will pay for his service."
Without hesitation, the mistress ran out in the street giggling.
The three watched as the mistress pulls him into her shop and pays him all sort of attention. She puts him near the back, closer to the counter to allow dealings with business and giving the Magistrate her attention.
"That poor woman." Grant looks at the magistrate's uncomfortable situation.
Jennifer smiles, "One of the greatest curses is to have someone in your life exactly like you." She then takes a hearty bite of her sandwich.
"That poor man." Grant looks at the over doting woman and smiles back at this companions. Grant lets a hearty laugh that sucks in Julia instantly and the infection affects Jennifer and soon all the other patrons. He calms down, "I am so sorry. We are at war, but I needed that laugh."
The whole tea shop became a relaxed environment including the mistress and magistrate.
They go back to Chantry House.
Jennifer finds a corner and writes a list of all the supplies she will need for the cafe and suggestions for luxury items. She finds herself falling asleep and is woken by the furniture delivery.
As soon as her bedroom is set up she hands Julia an envelope and a small hand-written map. "Please take this directly to Molly. She should be home shortly. I must sleep or I shall not be any good at my position."
Jennifer closes her bedroom door, draws the curtains closed and gets into bed.
Miss Krane patiently waits in the parlor and looks outside and sees Miss Cohen walking. She exits outside, "Miss Molly Cohen. I am a friend and employee of Jennifer's family." She hands Molly her card, "Jennifer has sent me to give this to you."
Molly sits down the first free step and opens it. She reads it quickly.
She smiles and hugs the stranger.
"I desperately want privacy and a friendly home." she looks to the woman, "What is your name?"
"Julia."
"Julia, when can I move in?"
"Now if you like"
Within an hour Molly is unpacking in her new room, looking out a grand window, writing desk, reading chair. She starts to cry.
Julia runs into the room, "Molly why are you crying?"
"I am overwhelmed, exhausted and happy at the same time." Molly looks at the room, "This room is exactly what I need."
Julia smiles, "You and Miss Jennifer are exhausted. She went to bed more than an hour ago and insisted you be here."
"Thank you, you have no idea how much this means." Molly stands, "I need to finish putting away my things."
Julia exits and closes Molly's bedroom door.
Molly lays back on her new bedding and smiles. Her face flushes as she just realized the woman she loves is sleeping nearby. It took great concentration to finish putting away her books and belongings.
After everything is put away she falls asleep peacefully since being at Low Borrowbridge.
Molly woke up to darkness outside. She looks down high street as stores have been closed for hours. She looks at her watch, it is after ten at night. She hears a tea pot whistle. He opens her bedroom door to see Jennifer, not wearing her device, in a house robe making tea.
Jennifer licks the air and smiles, "Molly I was just going to make some coffee and myself breakfast. Join me?"
Molly comes into the kitchen area, "How did you know it was me and not a stranger."
Jennifer smiles, "You are asking something very intimate."
Molly blushes she stands close to Jennifer as she makes herself a cup of tea and sandwich.
Together they sit at the small dining table.
Molly gets sad, "I am sorry. I shall return to bed as soon as I am done eating." She smiles, "We shall be stealing moments like this." Molly sits across with the warm tea, "This is beautiful, thank you for allowing me to share this home with you."
"Kay and April manage the family farm, there is the family tailor business, Vastra Flint Research and Investigations and we are expanding in to many things." Jennifer looks around, "This is our home." She points downstairs, "There is going to be a bookstore, cafe and laundry service business downstairs."
"How delightful."
"It will be exciting income for my family, there is a need for a quiet place where our co-workers may escape. It is solid income."
"I see."
Jennifer puts down her fork, "I am trying to express myself, but like you I am tired. I am being quite sloppy with my words." She grabs Molly's hand from across the table, "Kay and April have the farm while Kay teaches and April does research for the family business. Ada and Odea have their place in the family business and their own professional lives, Mirum is the teacher for the youngest for my family, writing and doing radio work for England. Everyone has multiple roles; my role will be to manage the business and my professional career at B.P."
"I see there will be little free time."
"Miss Molly Cohen I did not request that you come live here with me to simply be art, something to devour with my eyes." Jennifer exhausted herself and takes a deep breath, "What I am asking if you and I can be business partners? Like Kay and April on their farm." She pounds the table with her finger, "This could be our bounty."
Molly smiles, "Finish your breakfast, you leave for work in ..." she double checks her watch, "twenty minutes."
Jennifer laughs and does as she is told.
They clear the dishes and Jennifer goes and gets ready.
Molly makes a sandwich, apple and puts hot coffee in a vacuum bottle. Jennifer comes out wearing a sweater, long trousers and scarf.
Molly begins to chuckle, "What are you wearing."
Jennifer smiles, "It is cold there at night. I need to keep warm. Remember I can't produce my own body heat."
Molly gets serious, "No, what I mean I have never seen you dressed like that."
"You never have because this is what I wear under," Jennifer turns on the device. Jennifer's bulky warm clothing has disappeared and now replaced with a wool skirt, white blouse with a wool button down jacket. "What you see is an illusion."
"I am sorry you have to turn that damn thing on."
Jennifer turns it off so that Molly can see her blushing, "My mother and family feel the same way." She looks at her watch, "I am sorry, I have to leave."
Molly shakes her head in understanding, "Good night"
Jennifer guides Molly to her bedroom door. She kisses her on the cheek, "This is our bounty. Now get some sleep. We need to talk over your breakfast, my dinner. We need a third roommate."
Molly flops into her bed, covers herself up and falls right back to sleep.
Jennifer smiles all the way to work contemplating her three roles in life; Running a business, having a career and being in a relationship.