An uncomfortable silence filled the air as Niles cleared the dining table, avoiding eye contact with Ada. His movements hurried like he was going to be late for something important. He was in a rush to go into the kitchen to be in a different room from Ada, to put as much space between them as possible. He was upset that she was here, disturbing his peace, reminding him of his guilt. If only he did not fall in love with another woman, a woman who was clearly unattainable for him, a woman he was certain would not return his love but despite the fact, he unduly loved her. He wanted to be honest both with himself and with Ada. It would be unfair for either of them to keep the relationship with the shadow of Ms. Babcock right between them. His honesty had hurt the woman he once loved, the woman who seemed to continue to care for him to his utter dismay. If only Ms. Babcock could love him like Ada did.
His brows furrowed in confusion. Why was she wearing that scent? Was he going crazy or did Ada truly smelled like Ms. Babcock. It was disconcerting. Why did she have to wear her scent or had he imagined it? He always knew the minute Ms. Babcock arrived even if he had not opened the door for her. Her scent was something imbedded in his system.
From across the room, Ada carefully watched the man she once loved, the man she hoped she could win back into her life again, silently doing his work, completely ignoring her. She could clearly read the apathy in his eyes. It was like he didn't want anything to do with her. She knew she was dredging up painful memories that Niles must have wanted to forget and seeing her must have stressed the enormous guilt he had for falling in love with another woman. She wanted to approach him, touch his arm, and tell him she had not stopped loving him. She had forgiven him for falling for someone else.
With all the courage she could muster, she entered the kitchen hell-bent in convincing him to go back with her to England. She found him with his back turned away from the door, preparing tea after loading the dishwasher. She purposefully approached him but before she could utter a word, he turned around and he handed her an extra hot cup of tea that she dropped due to intolerable heat. The China cup broke into several pieces as it hit the floor, the water scattered sparsely around kitchen floor, the Lady Grey teabag lying at their feet. It was more of a surprise than the extreme heat that made her drop the cup.
"Niles! That tea was boiling," accused Ada.
"Just like my blood whenever you approach me," Niles retorted before it dawned to him it was Ada and not Ms. Babcock behind him.
He saw the hurt in her eyes at his sharp words, his heart sank in shame and remorse.
"Ada, I'm sorry. That was not meant for you," he quickly explained.
Suddenly Ms. Babcock appeared in the kitchen, witnessing the China teacup shatter on the floor and the verbal exchange between Niles and his friend.
"That must have been meant for me," sneered CC.
"Glad someone took one for the team. I want some tea, but I'll make it myself since I don't want to be scalded," said Ms. Babcock, taking an empty cup and filling it with hot water from the dispenser.
Ada immediately came to Niles' defense. "It wasn't really that hot. I was just surprised."
The smirk on CC's face deepened as she impatiently moved jars and boxes on the table in search of something. She would not believe that. Niles would have her killed if he could.
"CC what's taking you so long? I have found the email I wanted to show you," called Mr. Sheffield entering the kitchen.
"I'm just getting myself some tea..." explained Ms. Babcock, still moving around the kitchen looking for something.
"The wooden teabox is on the center table," said Mr. Sheffield.
"I know but there's no Lady Grey in that box," whined CC.
"Then we have ran out of Lady Grey. Take another tea like Chamomile or Darjeeling and come back to the office," said Mr. Sheffield, leaving CC alone with Niles and Ada.
"There's a new box in the pantry. Let me get it for you," offered Niles.
"Noh!" glared Ms. Babcock.
"I don't trust you," she continued, searching the pantry herself and leaving the two behind without another word as soon as she found the newly purchased Twinning's Lady Grey tea.
Niles sighed and bent down to pick-up the broken China. Ada immediately bent down to help me.
"Let me do it. I don't want you to cut yourself," said Niles, gently pushing her hands away from the broken pieces.
"Niles", cried Ada, almost in tears.
Niles stood and turned his back away from her as he discarded the broken China on the trash bin. He couldn't face her.
Ada couldn't help herself, she wanted to let him know how much she still loved him and wrapped her arms around Niles, pressing her face against his back as though her touch would banish every ounce of love he had for another woman.
"You shouldn't have come here. I have said everything I had to say, Ada. You're making it more difficult for both of us."
Her embrace tightened on Niles.
"Do you want to hear me say it personally? Is that why you came? To get the apology you deserve."
Niles tore her arms around him and faced her, for once looking into her eyes, his voice trying his best to contain his emotions.
"I'm sorry I have hurt you. Believe me, it wasn't my intention. If I could do something to take away your pain I would..." he told her solemnly.
"Then come back to England with me, Niles. Let us forget the hurt…the pain and pick up from where we left of seven years ago," begged Ada.
Niles cradled her face between his hands. "You know very well; I can't do that. My place is here in New York. This is where I belong."
"Don't let me hurt you again by hearing me refuse you. You deserve a better man. Someone who can love you the way you deserve," pleaded Niles.
Hot, angry tears poured down Ada's cheeks.
"Is this what you want for yourself? A domestic existence, pining for the love of a woman that does not even know you exist. You had big dreams, Niles… We had big dreams…together", cried Ada.
Niles looked at her hard.
"That man no longer exists," he stated.
Ada hugged him once again. "I know that man is right here, somewhere. Find him in your heart."
Niles sighed and explained gently. "I still have big dreams… I work hard. I save up. I enjoy life. Mr. Sheffield and his family are my family. My place is here… with her. I may be swimming in a pool of unrequited love, but I am happy…. And I wish for you to be happy too."
He kissed her forehead gently, sealing the end of their conversation. His endearing touch told her he cared but he was no longer in love with her. Their story had ended.
"Make new happy memories, Ada, even without me."
A loud knock on the back door erupted and the Chauffer came in to pick up Ada.
"Ms. Babcock is now inside the limo. We are ready to depart, mam," said the Chauffer.
"I guess this is good-bye, Niles. Thank you for the good times," said Ada.
A sense of peace overcame Niles. They may have needed this long overdue conversation. He felt lighter and everything seemed much brighter now. Perhaps, he indeed needed this closure. He cared about Ada deeply, but his heart now belonged to someone else. He wished with his whole heart that she could find the happiness she deserved. He hoped that the next time he saw Ada she would be happily married to a good man.
"No… thank YOU," replied Niles.
Ada gave Niles a defeated smile before following the chauffeur outside.
Minutes later, Fran took hurried steps down the back staircase, she was hoping to catch Niles and have a word with him. She kept glancing back, hoping Mr. Sheffield would not catch her approaching Niles. She knew she would get another scolding for meddling in other people's affairs. More importantly she wanted to help Ada. She found Niles putting away the dishes, his back to him, the stiffness in his movement gone. Ada must have left.
She quietly approached him and slapped his back hard, giving him a scolding. Niles flinched at the blow but remained unperturbed with her outburst.
"Niles! How could you? You're such a brute. Why did you have to be so cold and distant to Ada? Didn't you once love her? Didn't you guys have happy, memorable times together? Just for old time's sake, couldn't you at least spend Saturday with her?!"
Niles shook his head wearily and collapsed on the chair. He was quiet for a minute as though composing his thoughts, wondering how he could make his friend Fran understand.
After a deep exhale, Niles looked at her hard while she stood in front of him, her hands on her waist in anger, glaring at him.
"Ms. Fine… what if your ex-boyfriend Danny Imperieli decided to take you out for dinner or spend the entire day with you, how would you feel? Wouldn't you be hopeful that maybe, just maybe there was still a chance that you could get back together? Look me in the eye and tell me that you would not have a tinge of hope that he still loves you, that you will not take it as a chance of getting back together. Misleading Ada is the last thing I wanted."
Fran's face changed from anger to gloom. She felt rather ashamed for judging Niles to be cruel and heartless. He was right. Ada might misconstrue his kindness and friendship with love. Ada might nurse the hope that she and Niles can still get back together.
She sat dejectedly beside Niles, for once speechless.
"You see Ms. Fine I was afraid Ada would misunderstand. I don't want to give her false hopes. Even if she would want us back together despite my heart belonging to another woman, I would not do it. That would be wrong. I would rather miserably swim in the pool of unrequited love than make another woman miserable because I could not return her feelings. I know it was harsh, but I wanted the message to be clear. Our love story ended years ago."
"Did you tell Ada who she is? That's all she wanted," pleaded Fran.
"When you found out Danny dumped you for Heather Biblow what good did that do to you?" asked Niles.
Forlorn and torn, Niles said in a low voice, "Knowing who she is will not change anything,"
Fran looked at Niles solemnly, holding his hand to express her understanding and support. She wanted him to know she would always be his friend.
"Who is this woman, Niles? You must love her deeply to give up what you have with Ada, to give up your plans of going back to England and be a lawyer."
"Like I told Ada, we cannot help who we fall in love with…" Niles replied in a low voice.
He looked deeply into Fran's eyes, his other hand clutching over her right hand holding his other hand. In all honesty he said, "Yes, I love her inexplicably…"
In a curious tone, Fran asked, "Do I know her?"
If Niles couldn't explain why he loved the woman… was he talking about Ms. Babcock? Heaven forbid he should fall head-over-heels in love with her. That woman could easily crush his heart with her bare hands and then step on it mercilessly with the sharp heel of her Prada pumps.
"Come on, Niles. I can keep a secret," whined Fran.
Niles stood up and with an enigmatic look on his face, his lips curling in a slight smile, he replied as he walked away from Fran.
"It's a secret I'll keep till the day I die."