Green or blue
The sun peered through the thick cover of clouds and dazzled Holly for a moment where she was cleaning the living room windows. George was close by, flipping restlessly through a magazine on the couch.
They were waiting – for the clock to strike disaster. It wasn't long until then now. Only an hour. Maybe less.
In thirty minutes, Lucy would walk into the Gentle Ghost hoping to see Lockwood. Another thirty minutes of waiting, her heart would break when the harsh reality finally hit her. That Lockwood no longer cared for her.
Holly had considered calling Lucy to tell her that Lockwood wouldn't show but a part of her couldn't bring herself to do it. A part of her still hoped that Lockwood would come around. Otherwise…
No, Holly didn't want to think of what might happen if he didn't. She wasn't ready to give up just yet.
Lockwood was down in the basement, doing … Holly wasn't exactly sure what he was doing. This morning, she had heard him wearing himself out on Esmeralda with his rapier while she was preparing a breakfast he hadn't bothered to touch. Then George had went down there after lunch to retrieve a couple of books he had left on his desk only to be hissed at for making noise. Lockwood had been deep in thoughts according to himself. George, on the other hand, had described it as 'starring into the wall like luny'.
Since then, it had been awfully quiet down there. Holly had begun wonder if he was down there at all.
It was the silence that bugged her. Watching time go by without knowing what future it would hold. If only he talked to them. Told them what was going. Something! But then he would do the exact opposite to what he had done for the past four months.
She opened the window and was just about to climb up on the sill to clean the outside when the staircase in the hallway creaked. Holly frowned. Weird. It sounded like someone was coming downstairs, but she and George was here and Lockwood was…
Walking into the room. Dressed in his best suits, with polished shoes and the fringe combed to perfection he came towards them with one tie in each hand. He held the ties up for them to see.
"Which one do you think Lucy prefers? The green one matches the suit but she gave me this one last Christmas. I thought it might work as an olive branch; you know…"
Holly stared at him. On the couch George mirrored her surprised perfectly. How had he managed to walk upstairs without them knowing? Holly had her eyes on the hallway all day and the floor boards weren't exactly quiet in this house.
Lockwood misinterpreted their silence for disapproval and began to lower the blue tie.
"It's silly, isn't it? I'll find something else."
His was bright red when he turned to run back upstairs. Only Holly's call made him stop.
"No, it's perfect!"
Lockwood returned somewhat hesitant. His eyes didn't quite reach hers.
"The blue one is perfect," repeated Holly and forced a smile. "Lucy will love seeing it on you."
Lockwood gave the tie an uncertain look.
"It isn't silly, then? I wouldn't want to her to think … The green matches the stripes…"
All day she had thought he didn't care. All day she had blamed herself for the worst idea ever. But here he was, so much in love he didn't know what do with himself. She had been wrong about him but not in the way she thought. Behind his usual cocky confidence was a boy longing for love.
"Save the green one for the magazines," she reassured him. "The blue one is more you."
Lockwood nodded, slightly blushing for putting his heart out on table. He hung the green tie over the back of the couch and began donning the blue one around his neck.
"You're going then?"
"Yes", replied Lockwood and grunted as the tie came out all wrong. He ripped it off and started fresh. "Whatever Lucy thinks, she belongs here and I'll be damned if I let some silly idea of hers put her in harm's way. She's a brilliant agent. Her Talent is needed."
He growled. The tie had come out wrong again. When he wasn't looking, George and Holly exchanged a look. Was he preparing for a date or a battle?
"So, this is all about keeping a good agent alive and nothing with you liking her?" said George.
Lockwood gave him a dark look that would have burned a hole through George's head had the look been a rapier and George a ghost. He never answered. Instead, he let out another frustrated growl and untied the mess he just made of the tie. He fingers didn't want to work with him. Holly couldn't stand there and watch him struggle so she put down the cloth and wiped her hands against her apron.
"Here, let me."
Lockwood hesitated before handing over tie. Was he scared she was going rip the fabric apart or strangle him? Did he know they were competition? Or at least competitors… There hadn't really been a competition. Not outside of her head, at least.
Lockwood sighed.
"I owe you guys an apology," he said. "I know I haven't been the easiest person to be around lately. It's just … Lucy resigning surprised me and I didn't know how to deal with it. It took it out on you guys. Especially you Holly. I'm really glad you went to see Lucy yesterday. You did what I didn't have the guts to do. Thank you."
Holly hated how she couldn't stay mad at him for more than two seconds. How had Lucy managed to stay away from him for four months? The guy was a heartthrob.
She remained silent until the knot was done and the tie hung perfectly around his neck. It was a beautiful tie. It somehow managed to capture the mischievous twinkle in his eyes even though his eyes weren't blue.
"Just bring her home, okay?" she told him. "The life of a freelancer is dangerous, not to mention short. Lucy is rare."
"I'll do my best."
From the couch came a snicker.
"You're so whipped, Lockwood. Do you know that? Lucy's got you wrapped around her finger."
The outburst took Lockwood by surprise and for the first time since Holly started working for him, he didn't know what to say. So, she did it or him.
"You're the one to talk, George. I've seen how you look at Flo when she comes over. All starry-eyed and stuttering. It's pathetic. At least Lockwood does something about it."
George and Lockwood gaped at her. Oh, so Lockwood didn't know?
George bounced back quicker than Lockwood but it wasn't very graceful, nor convincing.
"What … me and Flo … pah, never! You're delusional."
Holly didn't bother to hang around to argue with him. The clock was ticking and Lockwood was already late as it was. She forced him to the door where she found to her surprise a cab waiting for him.
Lockwood turned on the doorstep.
"What if she doesn't come? I don't think I can…"
The cab honked to make him hurry and drowned whatever he was planning on saying after that.
"She'll be there, trust me," Holly reassured him.
Lockwood wanted to believe but… Holly placed a hand on his shoulder.
"She wants this too. Otherwise, she would never have agreed to meet me at the café. She cares about you."
Lockwood nodded and inhaled the chill evening air in a deep gulp before turning to head down to the vehicle.
"Good luck," she called after him.
With her eyes, she followed him down the stairs down and out on the street. His lean frame disappeared into the backseat and the car took off. Holly waited no longer than for the cab turn right at the next crossing before heading back inside.
"George! Grab your coat, we're leaving!"
George looked up from the magazine. Was he aware that he was reading it upside-down? Her comment about his feeling for Flo must really have shaken him.
"Why? Where are we going?"
"Just hurry!"
For once, George didn't argue with her. Maybe he heard the urgency in her voice and decided it was best to follow suit. Or maybe he was afraid she would make another comment about his love life. Either way, it only lasted until they came outside.
"Where we going?" he asked again as she locked the door to 35 Portland Row. When she didn't immediately answer, but instead dragged him down the stairs and around the corner where a cab waited for then, he added two and two together: "We're not going to spy on them, are we?"
"Well, of course we are", she said and opened the backseat door. "Someone has to make sure they don't screw up. I've work too hard for this to let them ruin it."
"But that's prying..."
George's protest fell short as Holly shoved him into the car.
"I'm not comfortable with this, Holly. They are our friends. They deserve to figure things out on the their own…"
"You heard Lockwood," cut Holly off abruptly. "He thanked me for reaching out to Lucy. He needs my help."
"Why am I tagging along, then?"
"I don't want to be the only one standing outside looking stupid. Besides, you need all the research you can get if you are to start seeing Flo."
The cab ride proceeded in silence after that. Thankfully also smoothly with no near-death experiences. Good thing she had used the number from Lockwood's phonebook.
The shadows reached far out on the street when they finally stepped out of the cab and watched it take off. They had been dropped off on the opposite side of the square from the Gentle Ghost. At this time of day, the square was still fairly crowded. People were having a late afternoon tea at one the many cafés, shoppers strolled with their purchases in colourful plastic bags, and tourists admired the architecture.
"I don't see him, do you?" said George.
Holly squinted as she took in the scene.
"There. He's at the door now."
Lockwood's lean frame disappeared into the restaurant. Holly signed to George follow her. They kept to the side of square as they neared the restaurant. Close but not in direct sight from the huge windows. She had been very specific about the placement when she made the reservation, and she was happy to see Lucy seated just inside the window.
She hadn't seen Lockwood come in yet. He had probably told the cab to drop him off at the nearest corner of the square which meant Lucy's blind spot.
Holly grabbed George's arm to make him stop and nodded in Lucy's direction. They saw the moment Lucy spotted Lockwood. Her body tensed for a brief second but then it was like the clouds that had hovered over her scattered and the sun shone on her face. Lockwood came into view and sat down. A waiter came by and judging by Lockwood's gestures he ordered them both a drink.
"What do you think their talking about?" Holly asked George as the conversation began to go back and forth across the table. Awkward at first, but more confident once the ice was broken.
George shrugged his shoulder.
"Who knows. Maybe they do the casual thing and asks how the other one is doing and how business is going. Maybe Lockwood complains about his assistant who interferes with his personal life and Lucy tells him about this random girl who showed up on her doorstep yesterday, insisting her to go on a blind-date?"
Holly nudged him not so playfully on the shoulder.
"I'm doing this for all of us."
George gave her a quizzical look. She was! Sort of. This would benefit all of them, not just her.
"Well," said George with a sigh as the waiter returned to Lockwood and Lucy's table to take their order. "It's been five minutes and neither of them is shouting. I think we can go home now."
"No!" blurted Holly out. "We can't go now. It's too early. They could still ruin things."
"But it's getting cold and I feel like an idiot standing here. Look, there's a cab over there."
Holly snorted. "How will you cope when you start seeing Flo? The river is cold."
That shut George up.
As the daylight retreated, so did the people on the square. The tourists were the first to leave, especially the foreigners who weren't used to the curfew. Then the shoppers as the boutiques began to close. Then the people at the cafés and pubs.
Halfway through the main course, the conversation between Lockwood and Lucy was light-hearted and filled with laughter. The awkwardness that had been there at the beginning had slowly faded as the beverage made it down their throats. Holly fought down the waves of jealousy of how quickly Lucy relaxed in Lockwood presence. It was almost as if there never had been argument between them.
Almost.
The elephant in the room was sitting at their table for every minute that passed without them acknowledging it, it was another minute closer to it bursting. And eventually it did.
Somewhere between main course and dessert, Lucy's smile faded and Lockwood tensed. This was it. From what Holly could tell Lucy took the lead on the subject, giving Lockwood a much more elaborated version of what had happened in the darkness under Aickemere's department store than the one she had given Holly the day before.
Or was it her side of what had happen up until then she was telling?
Without being a fly on the wall, it was impossible to know. What Holly could tell though was that parts of what Lucy told upset Lockwood. After so many months tiptoeing around him, Holly knew the signs. Square shoulders – he was annoyed but could contain it. Jaws locked tight – be aware, danger ahead if proceeding down this road. Knuckles whitening – the wise one would stop now. Slow breaths – don't move a muscle. Sharp inhale – now you've done it!
But there was something else too. His left hand moved over the table cloth and came to rest on Lucy's wrist. She finished her story and Lockwood began his. For a while the conversation went back and forth until … Lockwood adjusted his hand so that it instead of resting on her wrist, came to rest in her palm. Fingers intertwined. Soft soothing words. A smile and a nod.
The elephant had left the table.
Holly turned to George who was flapping his arms like a bird trying to work up some heat.
"Now we go home."
Spring came the following day. George and Holly sat in the kitchen, bathing in golden sunlight as they enjoyed a late breakfast in silence. Holly couldn't remember when her spirits had been so light. It was as if the sunlight washed away the worries that had held her down all winter long.
George had finally regained his appetite and was going through his second taking of scrambled eggs and beans. Holly sipped on a cup of herbal tea and nibbled on a slice of whole wheat bread with cottage cheese and avocado.
The only things disrupting the tranquillity of the morning was the footsteps coming down the staircase. George and Holly looked at each other. There was no one at home but them – right?
Lockwood showed up. Clad in t-shirt and sweatpants. Feet bare and hair tussled from sleep.
"Good morning," he said, squinting slightly at the bright morning light.
"Good morning," replied Holly automatically. "I stayed the night. I hope it is all, right?"
Lockwood nodded and sniffed the air.
"Are there any eggs left?"
George nodded. "Didn't make any bacon, though. Didn't know you were home."
"Oh, that's alright."
Lockwood walked over to the stove, reached for a plate in the cupboard and helped himself to the eggs. George gave the plate a longing look. No doubt he had planned to eat them himself.
"When did you get back? I didn't hear you come upstairs," said George.
Lockwood shrugged.
"Don't know. Didn't look at the watch. Late probably. Had a stroll through town."
"Alone?"
Lockwood pretended not to hear question. He popped slices of bread into the toaster, refilled the kettle and began scavenging through one of the drawers Holly had never seen anyone open before.
"Did you and Lucy have a good time last night?" said Holly.
Lockwood lost balance for a second. Cleared his throat but still managed to sound hoarse when he answered her.
"We figured things out."
He found what he was looking for and put it on the counter next to the toaster where he replaced the now toasted slices with two new ones. He took butter and cheese from the refrigerator. No more had he set it down until the kettle whistled.
A stripe of bare skin above the waistband of Lockwood's sweatpants came into view as he reached up to pick down tea cups. Red scratch-marks.
"So, everything is alright between you now?" asked George.
"Yes."
"When is she coming home?"
Lockwood trebled as he poured the hot water into the cups. Holly frowned. Cups. Not cup. Two forks to go with the eggs. And the thing he had dug out from the drawer – a tray.
"Oh, my god!" she blurted out when the pieces finally came together. "Lucy is here, isn't she?
The way Lockwood froze and turned bright red was all the answer they needed. Lockwood looked as if he wanted to sink through the floor.
"Lucy is sleeping upstairs."
"Upstairs?!" shrieked George. "But I have all my equipment up there! My clothes!"
He was halfway out of the kitchen before Holly could call him back. "Not the attic, George! Lockwood's room."
George blinked and looked at his friend. "Where did you sleep then? If Holly slept on the couch…?"
Once more, the blush on Lockwood's face said it all. George dropped his jaw.
"Oh," was all he said as he slid back down on his chair.
Oh, indeed. When Holly had planned their reunion, she hadn't exactly pictured them reunite to this extent. She had pictured many months of getting over Lucy while Lucy and Lockwood danced around each other like they had used to.
The claw marks on Lockwood's back… Had she done a mistake to let him have Lucy? The girl was tiger between the sheets.
And Lockwood wore the battle scars as Olympic medals. Oh, gosh…
"How did you get in last night?" She had to say something before the images of Lucy and Lockwood's nightly activities her head was feeding her drove her crazy. "You couldn't have come through the front door. I slept on the couch and I am light sleeper."
Lockwood who was donning the last slice of cheese on the stack of toast he was bringing back to Lucy, turned his head and smirked.
"There is perfectly fine drainpipe to climb on that happen to pass my bedroom. Lucy and I have done it before."
"The break in!" said George and Lockwood nodded.
Holly didn't understand a thing but she understood that was how he had managed to get from the basement to his room yesterday without them noticing.
As the guys decided to take a trip down the memory lane, she sat there with her tea and shook her head.
They were idiots, all three of them. But they were her idiots.
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