Winnifred stood in the corner of the room, tugging incessantly at her sleeve. A little green, a little red; it was hard to tell if she was about to pop her lid or toss her cookies.
Anne took no notice of Gilbert's old girlfriend at that moment, however. She was completely captivated by Dr. Stowe as she thoughtfully recapped the situation, fact by fact, and walked the reporters through the pattern of sexism and the mistreatment of women rampant at the University. While McCoy kept clawing at the particulars of the assistant's relationship with the Dean, Anne was more interested in the speaker and her politics. Her questions tended more to Dr. Stowe's medical career, her long history of activism, and the systemic issues at play on campus. Anne scribbled in her notepad at a million miles a minute, not wanting to miss a word the powerful woman had to say.
"Wait until our readers hear this!", she could be heard mumbling between questions.
When the interview was over, the two doctors posed for a photo and then promptly excused themselves to rejoin the demonstration. Noticing her friend's troubled expression, Dr. Stowe-Gullen stole a word with Winnifred before she left. Anne could not hear what was said, but she noted the tender way the two friends held hands and looked deeply into one another's eyes. She was suddenly sick with longing for Diana and the intimacy they shared. The closeness and connection of a bosom friend was unlike anything in the world. There were hundreds of thousands of people in Toronto, they were everywhere and all around, and yet at that moment she wanted the company of only one. What she wouldn't give to hold her kindred spirit's hand and look deeply into her eyes.
While they packed up their gear, Anne let McCoy and Davies know she would collect a few quotes from the crowd and then meet them back at the newspaper office in time to collaborate on copy.
"You know what I want, McCoy. Don't let me down."
"What's that? A drink?" he responded coyly, knowing exactly what she was after.
"Do I have to spell it out for you?"
"Would ya, pretty please?"
"A by-line, McCoy, I want a by-line."
"What's in it for me?"
"Self-respect."
"I guess you don't know me as well as I thought you did."
"Fine. First round's on me."
"Better …"
"Fine! Second round's on me too. Do we have an understanding?"
McCoy shot a smile and a wink in Anne's direction, put on his hat, and was out the door before she had a chance to confirm one way or another.
"Humph!" uttered Winnifred from the corner, startling Anne. Anne hadn't exactly forgotten about Winnifred so much as she had set her aside, unable to move two mountains at the same time. Now, with only one mountain to climb, she braced herself for the rocky terrain ahead.
"Is everything alright?" she asked Winnifred kindly, or at least trying to sound kind; probably trying too hard as was Anne's way.
"I've had it with these men! The way he talked to you just now. I just … I'm at my wits end with all of the game-playing and fancy footwork we have to do just to be heard, let alone taken seriously. Enough is enough."
"I couldn't agree more."
The energy in the room shifted. There was a different conversation to be had between them, that was for certain, but neither woman knew where to begin and so a long pause followed.
"You're looking well, Anne. Happy … " she said, trailing off as the unfamiliar tingle of deja vu vibrated under her skin. She had come so far since their last meeting; Anne was not the enemy and this was not how she wanted this conversation to go. She determined to start again:
"I mean, that is to say, hello Anne."
"I … I thought you were in Paris," Anne responded, cautiously.
"I was, albeit only briefly. I quickly determined that the woman I wanted to be - the woman I am - isn't one who runs and hides from her problems. I am a woman who faces challenges head on. Father keeps an apartment here in Toronto and so I applied for a position in the Registrar's Office in the Faculty of Medicine and here we are." She took a breath. "I knew it was just a matter of time before I ran into him, and I was ready for that. I had planned just what to say. I just … I didn't expect to run into you, that's all."
"I am in Toronto working for the Globe."
"I gathered as much," Winni said, smiling.
"Right." Another pause. "I knew the second I put myself forward for this story, I was going to face my demons. I just .. I didn't expect to run into you either, I suppose."
"I-" both women said at the same time.
"You first," interjected Anne.
"No, you, please," responded Winnifred.
"I am very sorry for everything that happened back then. I was so young and I know I didn't properly consider your feelings and what you must have been going through."
"I was going to say the same thing."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. I know now that those difficult times were not for nothing because they led me here. I have found my people, and together we have been fighting for what's right and what's good and what's true. Had I married Gilbert and moved to Paris, I would never have known this life and this life is everything to me. These women, this community, are everything to me. For fear of sounding like an old ghost, I want you to know that I am sincere when I said that I hope you and Gilbert have a wonderful life together."
"I … we … that is to say … Gilbert and I are not together. I will spare you the details but he's engaged to someone else."
"Engaged? Wait, what? To whom?!"
"Christine Stuart."
"Who is Christine Stuart?"