"It is not Mrs. Clements to be late." Alaya says with an obvious tone to her Mother Vastra, "There must be a reason".

"If she doesn't come, we must postpone our travel. She is essential."

Alaya nods.

Fiona waves to the entrance, "Here she comes!"

"Where is her luggage?" Jenny exclaims.

Julia catches up to her group, "Sorry, truly. Mail! I got mail!" She holds an unopened letter in her hand. It is crinkled from her grasp, obviously to not let go or lose it to the wind.

"Where is your luggage?" Jenny asks.

Julia turns around to model her rucksack, "We got it during our honeymoon." She spins around, "What do you think? It is quite practical. My hands are free and I have this," She swings around a large square pouch, "is a first aid kit and it has a few hiding places."

"We better get ready to board; the train is coming." Vastra encourages movement.

Jenny steps back from the group and whispers to the overly affectionate couple, "Odea and Ada your privacy is lost in public. I am sorry."

Odea smiles, grabs her wife arm and runs up next to Vastra, "How long is the travel?"

"Just under two hours. We will change trains twice, which will affect our arrival."

"Why didn't we drive?"

"We do not want to waste our petrol rations. Besides it would cost the round trip almost twenty-eight pounds."

"That is significantly cheaper to take the Underground."

Vastra bows, "Exactly."

The train arrives and the small group move quickly and take up the seats towards the front of the train.

Once the train gets on the way, the tickets are shown and the group of woman relax. Jenny is about to have a conversation with the group and holds back as she notices it is not the right time or the privacy she needs.

Odea and Ada sitting seat in the very first row and to look like two friends having a gossip session.

Julia sitting across the aisle is reading the letter from Grant.

Vastra drapes a coat in between her and her wife, she slinks her hand under the coat, grabs Jenny's hand and squeezed it. She whispers, "Are you prepared?"

"This is familiar."

Vastra reminiscences softly, "All those times they left London ... first is was just the two of us, then Mr. Potato, in time we added Alaya, April and Fiona and now go with Julia and our daughter-in-law. Characters change but the sediment and feeling remains the same."

"The fashion is different."

"That is a shame."

Jenny tilts her head, "What do you mean?"

"I still prefer the maid uniform."

"Oi!" Jenny whispers with a tease of anger and blushes at the effect.

"Do you still have it?"

"Have what?"

"The maid outfit?"

Jenny simply raises a single eyebrow.

Fiona pulls her wool cape over her right arm as she grabs her wife hand. Fiona leans into her wife as they watch farmland and tiny towns as they travel to Tilbury Riverside.

Once they arrived at Tilbury port the quickly check the schedule.

Julia smiles, "We have about fifteen minutes to board."

The group makes it way to the Danish steamer Kina. The ramp is currently being used as men continue to bring cargo on board.

Julia heads up to the man at the entrance of the ramp and shows her documents.

The looks over his clipboard, nods and looks at his watch.

Julia returns, "That is the Chief Officer. He is responsible for all accommodations. He says they are going to begin undocking procedures shortly. I am sorry. We must board."

One final hugs around.

Odea, Fiona and Alaya watch until the small ship turns past Coalhouse Fort.

Fiona and Alaya begin to walk back to Tilbury Riverside Station.

Odea stands looking at the Thames, aching inside.

Fiona comes to her sister's side, "I am sorry. It is much too cold for me to be outside much longer. Please let us head back to the station."

"I am not cold."

"I am, please." Alaya softly begs, "Please."

Odea turns to her sister and nods.

The train ride back home was quiet.

Too quiet.

Alaya senses an emotional storm, she remembers when her Fiona left, both times.

The train ride back was twice as long. There are more trains into the port than leaving.

The silence from Odea was twice as depressing.

Alaya leans over and taps her sister's knee, "Hey. She will return."

Odea just keeps her head down and silent.

"Alaya you are going to have to allow her sister her own process. I suspect Odea wants to be so busy that time will fly." Alaya was hoping that it was a subtle hint on an option.

Odea just sat for the almost three-hour ride back. It could have been quicker but Odea's slow pace they missed a few changes and had to wait for the next.

They finally arrived to Saville Row and they see Olga at the reception desk.

"Finally! The radio it is Mirum."

Alaya and Odea run up the stairs so fast the automatic perception device didn't switch off her human identity.

Fiona comes running up a few seconds later, takes the open seat and puts on the headphones Catherine had ready.

"Hello? This is Alaya. Hello."

She turns to Olga, "Is this working?"

Olga moves to the left side, plugs in a headphone and listens, "Yes, the connection is good."

"Hello? This is Alaya. Hello."

"Hello, this is Miss Dithers. Mirum is busy now please stand by."

"Stand by?" Fiona asks the room, "What does that mean?

"It means ..." Alaya was about to explain and she sees from her wife's face it was a rhetorical question. "Mirum will be with us as soon as she is free."

"Hello?" comes a soft voice through the headphones.

"Hello? To whom do I have the pleasure speaking to on a night like this?"

"This is Alicia."

"Alicia what is going on?"

"Mirum is talking on the other radio."

"I see. You are very good working the radio. Who taught you?"

"Mirum and Miss Dithers."

"They did a very good job."

"Mirum said to tell you there are more tin cans in the water. I guess people are littering. Mommy told me littering was wrong."

"Mommy is correct. Littering is wrong."

"Mirum is done. She is coming to talk to you."

"Okay see you soon."

"Hi, yes. I am not sure what to do. I am sure this cove isn't a target to the Nazis. My heart stops beating when I see another in the water."

"We will come get them and take them to April and Kay."

"We will leave first thing in the morning."

"I will have them packed."

"Mirum."

"Yes?"

"Be careful."

"I don't know if April or Kay are listening. You might have to wait to contact them, send them a telegram or summon the Teray Witch."

"See you soon."

Fiona stands up and falls to Alaya's lap, "What are we going to do? Who will take care of the girls."

"I will." Catherine offers.

"They are a handful."

"I can handle them."

Fiona looks to Odea and Olga, "You two must manage everything for the next week. Are you able to handle it?"

Odea nods yes while Olga responds with such enthusiasm it forces a smile on Odea's face.

"Come Odea," Olga pats Odea on the back. "We are Dioxygen, we can do anything."

"Dioxygen?"

"O2, Oxygen squared."

Odea smiles again.

Olga comes out of character and Odea tight and whispers, "I am so sorry."

Olga hugs back, "I am scared."

"Good."

Olga pulls back, "Good?"

"To feel nothing is worse."

"I would rather feel nothing."

"To feel nothing is much worse means you will grow dead inside. When Ada returns, your heart will be stone. You will not be the same person when she left."

"When she comes home all will be good again. My heart will be whole again."

Olga places her hands on Odea shoulders, shakes her head and says with all seriousness, "Your heart will not repair itself, it will take years. You know this. Why do you think war is bad? It is because people go off to war and harden their hearts to do their duty. While the ones at home die inside from worry. You must be more for Ada; you are to be brave and strong. Ada has lost so much; her heart is whole because of you. You, Odea, have the power to take our Ada's brokenness and make her feel whole again. You are magical."

"How do I keep from breaking?"

"You are broken, just like I am broken." Olga pounds her chest softly, "Ada is broken, I said you make her feel whole not fix. Your Mother Alaya is broken. Your Mother Fiona a is broken. My mother, Catherine, is broken. All we can do is feel whole, we never truly repair."

"Is this true?" Odea looks at the strong women in the room.

All the women shake their heads yes.

"What do I do?"

"You have been strong for your Ada, no?"

"Yes," Odea softens her tone.

"Now be strong for you." Olga pats Odea's chest.

Odea nods yes, "How do I do that?"

"I don't know." Olga smiles, "We all are strong differently. You will figure it out. I am here if you ever want to talk."

Odea instantly hugs Olga, "Thank you. Thank you."

When Odea lets go of Olga she can see the power of a simple hug as she notices every single human in the room crying.

"We are Dioxygen, we can do anything."

Breakfast was earlier than usual.

When Odea came down the stairs she noticed Catherine's suitcases on the landing. She takes a deep breath and enters the kitchen with a positive outlook. "Good Morning? Catherine, did you pack enough?"

"I am going to a farm. Nobody ever packs enough for a farm." She sips her coffee while having a russian treat for breakfast.

"Why is that?" Odea pours herself a cup of coffee.

"Do you want to eat?"

"No thank you. My appetite has not returned." Odea sips the coffee black. She skips the usual two cubes of sugars afraid of something that might make her happy. She is not ready to be happy. But she is pretending, "Why is it that nobody packs enough for a farm."

"Have you been to a farm?"

"No."

"There is always mud, even with the sun shining every day there is mud. Always muddy." Catherine sips her coffee and continues, "Mud is not as bad a poop. Animals poop, they don't know how to use the loo so there is poop everywhere. Farm life is busy life. You should be prepared. Who knows, maybe the farm has extra potatoes for me to make my vodka."

"With the girls around?"

"I am sure they have an out building that I can lock."

Alaya swings open the kitchen door, "Ready Catherine?"

"Da!"

"Odea I will require petrol rations; do you have any?"

"I suspected that you might need them." Odea pulls them out of her pocket, "Mother said we might need them."

"Here is mine." Olga comes down to the landing, checks her hair in the mirror, "Please come home safe."

Fiona calls up the stairs, "I have the car out front."

Alaya picks up Catherine's luggage, and it make a clanging sound.

Alaya looks to Odea and shakes the luggage again.

Odea whispers, "Vodka."

Alaya smiles and shakes her head in disbelief.

After taking her time hugging Olga, Catherine walks down the stairs. "I come from Russia to tailor shop and now I am sent to the farm. What is next, do I become a fisherman?"

Olga looks to Alaya "Good luck."

Olga and Odea go to the kitchen to finish coffee.

"You are going to the morgue today?"

"Not unless I get a phone call."

"What are you going to do?"

"I am going to help you. Tell me what to do."

"Today I tell you what to do. Tomorrow you are on your own. We have much to manage."

"First, did you eat breakfast?"

"I just wanted coffee."

"Today I tell you what to do." Olga turns around, makes a plate of oladi and fruit. "Here eat this."

"I am truly not hungry."

"That is your heart talking. Your body needs food. Just one."

Odea spreads jam all over the one oladi and bites.

"Good." Olga sits down across the table with her own plate and coffee. "I created a list. We start with you, until the morgue calls you can manage the reception desk or shadow me."

"Shadow you."

"Good." Olga crosses that off her list.

"I have to decide which worker I will manage the reception." She shows Odea the list of workers.

"If they move to reception, what will they give up?"

"Gossip and companionship." Olga laughs, "All workers like to talk while they work. This is a solitary job."

"Are you cold?" Odea realizes that the residence is cooler than usual as the fires are no longer roaring.

"Nah, this is Russian spring."

"Are you cold?"

Odea shakes her head no as she subconsciously bites into the second oladi coated with clotted cream.

"We still have to make sure we don't lose the heat. We need to manage this on our own. I suggest that we focus on the fireplace where we will spend the most time." Olga adds it to her list. "As for worker, we might have to hire temporary receptionist. That way they don't particularly need training."

"Is that expensive?"

"Not as expensive as our time will be occupied because Julia usually handles training and we lose a seamstress. It will be easier to hire a receptionist temporarily than hire a new seamstress."

"I see."

"Now how this could be profitable we ask if a worker wants to stop being a seamstress. Ambition is always profitable as they take in information rather quickly."

"If there are no ambitious worker then we hire a temporary receptionist."

Olga looks to her watch, "We have four more things to discuss. We are just two people and have a huge home to manage. I am thinking of hiring, temporarily a cleaning person."

"Is that expensive?"

"Cheaper than receptionist."

"Don't see why not. At least to go through the whole house and business once. One good cleaning and then we simply maintain."

"Da!" Olga makes a note on her paper.

"Dinners. What are we going to do for dinners?"

"For the time being a cold plate would not be unacceptable."

"Good to see your appetite has returned."

Odea looks at the few crumbs remaining on the plate, "I guess I was hungry."

"Tomorrow night is my usual night to go to the cinema, would you like to join me?"

"I don't know."

"You can miss her and still enjoy life." Olga decides to leave it, "We have a day to begin. How did you sleep?"

"Not very well."

Olga gets up, fills her Bakelite jug with hot coffee and grabs two mugs. "I bring coffee to our office."

"Let me help." Odea grabs the mugs, "Does it keep the coffee hot?"

"Long enough."

"Where did you get it?"

"Ivan bought it from a man in our village." Olga smiles, "It was a good deal. Questionable man, but still a good deal."

Olga faces the group of workers, "You are all talented and an asset. However due to the war and circumstances we seem to be short staffed. As you know we are busy. You have heard the clients come and go constantly and the phone always ring. We are looking to fill the position for the the front desk. Mrs. Clements has been doing double duty while we seek a replacement. However, her employer needs her, temporarily, on another project."

She pauses to make sure they get the time to process the news.

"We want to offer the existing staff first opportunity to take the position. Is there anyone who would be interested?"

Silence.

"It is a god job."

The staff shuffle in their positions.

Odea comes behind Olga, "I believe they are uncomfortable taking the position."

Olga looks to the staff, "Is this true?"

A few nod yes and soon there is a consensus.

"Why? Maybe there is something we can do and surprise Julia."

The group turns to the oldest employee.

"Mrs. Holt? Please, tell us."

Mrs. Holt stands. She clears her throat, "You see Mrs. Yunevich anyone who in that position leaves."

"Leaves?"

"Yes."

"I don't understand."

Odea speaks up, "I understand. Before you came to work for us that position had difficulty maintaining the worker. It wasn't until Mr. Clements was hired that the position had any stability."

"Are you saying that no woman will take that position?"

"I don't know." Odea shrugs her shoulders.

Olga turns to Mrs. Holt, "Would you agree?"

Mrs. Holt folds her hands in front of the small frame, stands taller and says, "I have been here for twenty years. I started here when I was fifteen. I have worked for Mrs. April Saint Clair, with Mr. Granger, Miss Alaya, Mrs. Clements and now you. I like working here. These people are like family. But ever since Mrs. April Saint Clair died the women come and go. The men stay."

"I see." Olga leans against the table. "What do we do?"

"We take Mrs. Holt's advice and hire a man."

Olga nods, "It is settled. I will look for a man."

Mrs. Holt's decides to remain standing.

"Mrs. Holt do you have more to say?"

"We might have a man for you."

"Oh?"

"Yes, Miss Warrilow's has a good son. He fought in the Great War, just a boy. Lost one arm. He can answer the telephone; he has good manners and is respectful. Miss Warrilow has raise a good boy."

"Bring him in for an interview. The sooner the better." Mrs. Holt sits down pleased.

Miss Warrilow stands, She is small framed woman, think and quiet. "Miss Warrilow you do have a talent for sewing, many clients seek you out for customization."

"Thank you, I don't live far. Could I bring him here this morning?"

Olga looks at her watch, "I can give you an hour. The rest we have much to do!"

The staff breaks and move towards their stations.

Miss Warrilow hugs Mrs. Holt and walks towards the, previous owner's servant entrance, which is now the workers entrance.

"Oh, Miss Warrilow?"

"Yes?" She turns around before opening the door.

"Is there any other accommodations we need to take if your son is hired?"

"None Mrs. Yunevich," Miss Warrilow replies with glee in her voice as she exits.

"If anything," Mrs. Holt speaks loudly for the whole staff to hear, "Mrs. Yunevich is a fair woman."

Olga blushes at the attention, "He is not hired, yet." and she leads Odea upstairs to Julia's office.

"Tonight you will tell me all about the girls in the position before Mr. Clements."

"Yes, but you must never tell your mother."

"Why?"

"Ada was one of those girls."

Olga's face goes white.

"Please, it is so far in the past the only one who is truly flustered about it is Mrs. Holt. It seems if Mrs. Holt is flustered so the workers.."

Olga pours herself a cup of coffee, she sits at Julia's seat and points to the clipboards, "These are scheduled contracts. This is the active contract. This is our shipping record ..."

For the next thirty minutes Olga gives a short rundown of how they keep track of the businesses.

A knock at the office door.

"Come in."

A meek voice follows the small frame, "My son is here. I just wanted you to know. I am going back to work."

"Thank you." Olga stands, "You must live nearby."

"I do." She points to the outside, "47 New Bond Street"

Odea smiles, "Which loft?"

"We live on the second floor in a 'D'."

"D are very small."

"Yes, but that is all we can afford. My Morgan built a wall to create a second room."

Odea is imagining that small room divided into two and it gives her a slight headache.

"Imaginative. That must help keep the rent down."

"It does." Miss Warrilow becomes uncomfortable with the small talk with a slight body shift. "Thank you."

Miss Warrilow heads back down to her station and Mrs. Holt's wing.

"Shall we."

Olga and Odea walk out to the entrance with confidence.

A tall, broad shouldered, clean-cut man in his Sunday best stands up and smiles.

Olga is holding the clipboard in her left hand she quickly shifts it to her right once she sees Miss Warrilow is missing his left.

Olga holds out her right hand, "Mr. Warrilow?"

They shake hands.

Odea notices it was a few seconds longer than the usual businesslike manner.

"Yes, unless you were expecting another one-armed man to your business."

Odea and Olga are stiff with fear.

"You may laugh, I did make a joke."

Olga composes herself, "I wanted to laugh, truly."

"I did laugh," Odea quickly responds, "on the inside."

Olga walks over the to the receptionist desk, "We have a need for a receptionist and office manager. Mrs. Holt highly recommends you."

"Mrs. Holt knows many people who need employment. I am grateful to her for this opportunity."

"Do you know how to work phones?"

"I just need a little lesson. I did work the radio transmitting station during the Great War so using a phone is not completely foreign."

"How is your penmanship?"

"Nobody complained about my writing. Lucky for me I have always been right-handed."

"The hours are longer than most as you will be here before workers. Are you an early riser?"

"I am."

"May I ask of your last employment."

"A little of this and a little of that. I am afraid nothing too steady."

"Do you have any references, beside Mrs. Holt?"

Mr. Warrilow goes into his pocket and pulls out a folded letter, "This is from my last steady employer. I feel it is time to have a normal position."

Olga reads it, folds it and hands it back to Mr. Warrilow. "You did say a little of this and a little of that."

"How about we take you on a trial basis, let's say for a few weeks." Olga offers her hand for a man's agreement.

Mr. Warrilow hesitates, "I am not a man without pride. I would like to know my weekly wage?"

"Yes, for a three-week trial you shall be paid three and half pounds a week and then after that we shall negotiate."

"Agreed." Mr. Warrilow goes to the chair with his hat and coat. He grabs the coat and hangs it on the hook then does the same with his hat. He turns around walks behind the desk, "I am ready."

Olga turns to Odea and hands her large mail pile. "You'll take care while I train Mr. Warrilow. I should not be more than thirty minutes."

Olga looks at the clock, takes the mail and goes to Julia's office. She creates stacks based on the recipient then opens each letter cleanly, attaches the content with the envelope and then goes to the next.

Forty-five minutes later Olga comes into the office, "He is intelligent and knows the basics. I just assigned him to take messages and to tell our clients we shall return calls around three. We will return non-tailor shop calls in the offices upstairs to be closer to the files. You are going to learn more about the businesses than expected or wanted."

Odea show Olga what she has done with the mail.

"Good. Let's look at the letters. Hopefully we have payments."