Hello, dear readers:
As some of you have already noticed, the site is not working properly. I would really thank you to send a rw to let me know the chapters are being published propperly, because at the moment I haVe no other way to check it.
Thank you in advance,
VASLAV
CHAPTER 4: The toast
"A charming establishment. The shop assistant is a little weird but she tries hard to provide a good service. SCORE: ⅘ stars"
Muriel was looking over the latest reviews customers had left online. It was noon and at that time almost no customers came. The truth was that she was a little bored. That's why she cheered up when she heard the door open and got ready to welcome the newly arrived buyer with the best of her smiles.
- Welcome to A. C. Fe… - Astonishment prevented her from finishing the sentence and made her open her eyes wide.
The one who had just entered was none other than Aziraphale himself, dressed in a silver-color suit that did not suit him at all. Oblivious to her, the angel had advanced to the center of the store, looking at everything around him with a smile full of happiness and eyes of nostalgia. The little assistant, who could not explain herself his presence there, decided that it would be better to remain silent and not interrupt that sort of ecstasy.
Aziraphale continued looking at everything like someone reunited with an old love. He stroked the spines of the books on one of the shelves with his fingertips. He picked one up and turned the pages with his thumb, bringing the book close to his face and inhaling its scent with delight. He left it where it was and turned towards the counter, noticing for the first time the presence of his substitute.
- Muriel! - He exclaimed with open arms.
She couldn't remember anyone ever being so happy to see her. Although she was a little confused, she tried to respond to the greeting with the same enthusiasm.
- Mr. F…! I mean… Aziraphale!
- Oh, Muriel! Come here! Give me a hug!
Shyly, Muriel stepped out from behind the counter. Aziraphale strode up to her and wrapped the little angel in a tender bear hug.
Muriel had never hugged, and she didn't really know what to do. Aziraphale exuded warmth, he was soft and full of sweetness. If that was a hug, the truth was that she liked it a lot. She dared to put her arms around the angel's waist and lay her head on his chest, but when she did so, she realized with amazement that, in the midst of his uncontrollable joy, Aziraphale was feeling the pangs of an intense pain. A pain very similar to the one she had noticed just a few days before, coming from a certain demon.
Finally, Aziraphale broke their embrace.
- Look at you. You look great! Life on Earth is doing you very well.
- Yes… Yes, sir. I really like it here.
- And see how you have the bookstore! - He said, looking around him again and opening his arms as if he were trying to take in everything around him - Everything is perfect, spotless. You are fantastic!
- Um… Thank you, sir - Muriel decided that this was not the best time to tell her predecessor about the initial problems she'd had with the store after his departure.
- We have to celebrate this! - He gave her a mischievous look - I have a little something saved for a special occasion. And this one is!
With determined steps, Aziraphale headed to the back room, followed closely by Muriel, who remained disconcerted but very happy. Once there, he opened the cupboard where they kept the tea, cookies and cups. He reached deep into the top shelf, fumbled a little, and finally turned round, triumphantly raising a champagne bottle.
- Cuveé Dom Pérignon from 1961!
Muriel shouted with happiness, jumped and clapped her hands, although she had no idea what that was. Aziraphale reached into the back of the cupboard again and pulled out two champagne glasses with stems and bases of burnished silver with floral decorations. They were gorgeous. He handed them to Muriel to hold while he proceeded to open the bottle.
POP!
- AAAAHHHH! HA HA HA HA
The cork was thrown out and a stream of foam escaped from the neck of the bottle. Muriel was overjoyed. Aziraphale was also laughing, both because of the happiness of the moment and because of the fun of seeing that little angel so excited. He poured the drink and took one cup of Muriel's hands.
- Let's have a toast. For life on Earth! - He said, raising his glass.
- Yeah! For the Earth!
Muriel didn't even know what a toast was, but that wasn't going to stop her from enjoying whatever was happening. Aziraphale gently clinked the glasses. That surprised the assistant but she deduced that she should do the same, so she tapped her cup against Aziraphale's a little too hard.
- Careful, careful. It 's okay. Hold it here… That's right. And now, take a sip.
They both raised the glass to their lips. Aziraphale closed his eyes and purred in pleasure at the coolness and delicious taste of the drink. Muriel made a tight-lipped noise, swallowed, and giggled.
- Hi hi hi. If tickles!
- Yes, it 's true. Do you like it?
- A lot!
- I was sure you would. This is wonderful!
Crowley entered the bookstore with the sullen expression that was now usual for him.
It had been a while since he had last stopped by to say hello to Maggie or Nina and, although they sincerely appreciated him, they had become accustomed to his intermittent disappearances. Plus, they were busy enough with their own lives and enjoying each other's company so, when they wanted to know about him, they asked Muriel.
As soon as he opened the door he heard the sound of music, laughter and enthusiastic voices. He stopped his entry dead, his chest swelling with indignation. Had the office angel dared to throw a party there, in the bookstore? And during work hours? "She is going to hear me." He was about to spit toads and snakes out of his mouth but… The voice that accompanied Muriel's was incredible, astonishing, terrifying, moving, disconcerting, extraordinary, miraculous and impossibly familiar.
With hesitating steps, he walked around the counter, headed towards the gramophone… And he froze.
- Libiaaaaaamo, libiamo ne'lie-eti caaaalici che la-a-a belleza i-i-infioooo-oraaaa…
As incomprehensible it was, there was Aziraphale, singing at the top of his lungs the toast of La Traviata while holding a champagne bottle in his left hand and a glass in his right one. Meanwhile Muriel, who also had a drink in her hand, danced clumsily trying to keep up with the rhythm of the waltz. Neither of them had noticed his arrival.
Crowley took off his glasses so he could be sure that what he saw was true and not a hallucination caused by the bottle of wine he had consumed in one sitting just ten minutes ago.
- E laaaaaa fuggevol, fugge…
Aziraphale continued singing, believing himself to be Pavarotti until, finally, he realized that there was someone else there.
- Crowley… - It was barely more than a whisper. He remained with his mouth open, looking at the demon as if he were the lighthouse of Alexandria that had turned on its light to guide him in the middle of the dark sea.
- Crowley sir! - Muriel had stopped dancing and was pointing to the glass she was holding in her hand - Look what we have. It's called champagne! - But Crowley passed on it.
The music kept playing. Muriel remained between the angel and the demon, who looked at each other without showing the signs of joy that might be expected from their reunion and without saying anything at all. She didn't understand what was happening and she stood there astonished, looking from one to the other alternately, as if she were in a tennis match.
Finally, Aziraphale went to the gramophone, put his glass on the table and turned off the music. They all remained silent, tense. Crowley looked at the angel breathing heavily, with an expression on his face that was torn between absolute astonishment and demonic anger. For his part, Aziraphale no longer dared to look at his former friend. His eyes danced across the walls of the room and he looked downright embarrassed.
- Muriel - Crowley was the one who decided to break the silence - It's time for your coffee break.
- No, not yet. It's at…
- Coffee. Now - The demon cut her off, pointing his thumb over his shoulder towards the exit. Muriel, confused, looked at Aziraphale.
- Yes, yes, dear. Go get you a coffee - He encouraged her, with a forced smile - Don't worry. I'll go to say hello to Nina later.
Still not understanding, she shrugged, put down her glass, and walked toward the door.
- By the way, Muriel… - The angel's voice stopped her - Hang up the "closed" sign and don't come back until I tell you.
Aziraphale had given her that instruction smiling kindly, but with a look and tone that brooked no reply. The office angel understood she had nothing more to do there. Besides, she had no desire to stay either. A very strange atmosphere had been created.
- Yes, sir.
