London Harmony: Doghouse (12 page)

I awoke with a start and looked around, it was early morning and everything was silent except for a couple loud sleepers in the main sleep area.  I didn't know what had woke me until I looked at my cell.  One missed call at oh-too-damn-early.  I wiped my eyes and looked at the screen, it was Gina.  Oh yeah, the evil wench had me going to church again.

I chuckled and sent her a text back.  “Hold your horses,  I'll be ready in twenty.”

She texted back, “See you then.”  With a smiley of course.

I got ready in the best clothes I owned.  I still felt a little embarrassed and vowed to get at least one proper outfit for things like church when I got back to the states.  Not that I'd be going to church in the States.  My performance outfit was the best that I carried with me.

I stepped outside, cued up some swing to wake me up, and waited.  A couple minutes later, a grinning Gina drove slowly past without stopping, and turned at the end of the block.  I suppressed a smile as she came back around the block but actually stopped this time.  I slid into the passenger seat and said. “Brat.”  Then asked, “You're still riding your dating high aren't you.”

She shook her head. “I'm sure I have no idea what you are insinuating.”  Then added after a beat, “Is it Monday yet?”

We giggled.  I couldn't help it.

As she navigated the roads, I said, “I need to come up with some big romantic gesture to make Amy listen to me.”

Her eyebrows almost met her hairline. “Romantic?  So you're admitting it?”

I narrowed my eyes at the sharp lady.  “I'm not saying that.  I'm just saying that she lives, eats, and breathes those sappy romance books.  It is the language she speaks.”

She nodded and said, “Whatever you say Miss Denies-a-lot.”

Yup, she was still in an awesome mood.  Smitten like a kitten.  Valerie better not hurt her or she'll have me to deal with.

I almost whispered, “Fine, whatever.  I may have...”

She looked at me expectantly and I exhaled and grinned, “Feelings.  There I said it, are you happy with yourself now?”

She parked the car and raised her chin and replied, “Extensively.”  Then shook her head. “To think a tiny slip of a thing like Amy could bring down the mighty Eliza.”

I said as I got out, “I hate you.”

She stepped up beside me as we joined the stream of people going into Saint Paul's.  She bumped my shoulder and said, “Tough because I love you.”

I nodded and said in resignation, “I love you too.  When did you get so assertive?”

She rushed ahead as she said, “After meeting a brash Yank girl.”

Hey!  I hustled after her and we met Father Mike at the doors.  He gave a head bob of welcome to Gina then turned to me and gave me a smug look.  Yeah, yeah, two Sundays in a row.  I muttered to him, “Shutup, don't be an ass.”

He held his hands up at his sides in surrender.  “I'm sure I'm not knowin' what you're talking about Miss Montrose.  We're just happy to see you attending... again.”  The grin he shot was what had to be of the category five, shit eating type.

I rolled my eyes at him and he chuckled.  I called back as we passed, “Blame it on Gina.  She thinks she'll be smited if she misses mass.”

She said to me, “Hey now, nobody wants to get smited.”

Fair point.

Then she asked, “Is smited even a word?”

I rolled my eyes and crossed myself as we made our way in.

I spent most of mass trying to figure out what I was going to do to get Amy speaking to me again so I could explain that as trite as it sounds, it really wasn't what she thought.  I took a moment to notice that again, there wasn't a lot of preaching in Father Mike's preaching style.  I could actually appreciate that.  I wish more churches were like that, rather than trying to force feed you scripture.

The sermon today was about just doing good and being yourself.  I blinked.  That's it, I'd be myself.  I knew exactly what I was going to do.  I only paid half attention to the rest of the sermon as I planned things out.

After we were released to wreak havoc on the world again.  We said goodbye to Father Mike.  Gina said that it was an inspired sermon and I added, “I agree, it made church almost bearable.”

He grinned at me then got a little serious.  “Will you be attending next week?  I have something I've been meaning to discuss with you.”

Glurk, a preacher needing to speak with me?  He was a good egg, so I didn't think it was some sort of conversion talk.

I nodded. “If I'm still in London. I don't think Gina would let me get away with not attending.”

The woman affirmed the statement by just grinning like a loon.  This satisfied the man as he nodded at us then turned to the other exiting parishioners.

I gently shoved my best friend's shoulder and chastised her, “Don't think you are going to convert me into a church going woman.  I only come for you.”

She nodded and added, “And because you're superstitious.”

I echoed, “And because I am superstitious.”

I looked around at the Garden as we slid into the car.  Then I looked at her.  “Feed me.”

She chuckled and we were off.  I was fervently typing in the garage band app on my phone as we went.

I worked out some lyrics as we had a light lunch.  She seemed fascinated by my creative process and how I was able to carry on a conversation with her at the same time and not look distracted.  “Years of multitasking practice.”

She nodded in understanding. “A good skill to have.”  Then she said.  “You tease me about being smitten with Valerie.  This obsession with Amy... you're smitten too aren't you?  I mean, not just a casual hookup attraction.”

I squinted at her, I had made that determination myself, and it frustrated me.

She asked, “You realize you've given up multiple chances to get your passport back yourself, but you're concentrating all your efforts on Amy.”

I shook my head. “No I haven't.”

She chuckled.  “Just from what you have shared with me, you know when this Fran girl comes home from college each day yet you haven't simply intercepted her.  You now know that she indeed does work at London Harmony, just not the day you were there.  You saw Scratch at Ronnie Scott's.  This Paya person you met seemed to know Scratch, but you didn't pursue it.”

I threw a piece of carrot from my salad at her and grinned.  “You can shut up any time now Miss Smartypants.”

She giggled.

She looked at the lyrics I was composing and she nodded, and mumbled, “Romance.”  She tongue in cheek teased, “Sure, use a girl's weakness against her.”  Then added, “These words... I think you more than just like Amy, Liza.”

I sighed and gave a crooked grin and shrugged one shoulder.  I just needed ten seconds with Amarissa to explain, this might get me the chance.  I was mostly silent on the way back to the hostel, my nerves were getting to me.  I never got nervous, even before the start of a gig.  I always had an excited energy.  But I was scared to death about my plan.  I was going to be admitting something with it.  Something that scared and confused me.

We pulled up to the Oxford and I noticed that Gina was studying me intently.  I leaned in and kissed her cheek.  “Call me after your date tomorrow, I'm going to need to hear all the sordid details.”

She seemed distracted and just nodded.  “Will do.”  Then she smiled.  “Now off with you, I have something important to attend to.”

I hopped out and waved back when she gave a tiny wave as she drove off and turned the opposite way from her house.  I absently wondered what the important thing she needed to get done was.  She hadn't mentioned anything earlier.

I spent the next couple hours practicing my new piece, to the delight of a couple people not out and about at the hostel.  When I was satisfied, I packed up Audrey and took a deep breath then headed out to Ponsonby Place.  I was scared to death.

I hopped off the bus down the block and paused.  Gina's car was driving off.  Amy, that Max girl, Fran, and that other gal I had seen Fran with before all went into the building.

I hesitated and pulled out my cell and dialed Gina, after a few rings it went to voicemail. I knew that she never used her cell while she was driving.  I just hung up instead of leaving a message.  I hesitated a moment then made my way to the building entrance.  I couldn't see the women in the lobby.  There were only a couple of the ever present students studying in the overly comfortable looking seats.

I didn't bother ringing, I just set up Audrey, looked through the door again, and began plucking strings.  I had an audience of none, and it was the most important performance of my life.  I started singing the slow bluesy number I had composed that day, called Annoying Pipsqueak.

It was a song of finding a challenge unlike any other, of reveling in the battle of wills and emotion.  Of confusion, frustration.  Of emotions that were locked away, buried away from everyone so they couldn't be harmed.  I closed my eyes and smiled as I sang of acceptance, of getting over the fear of letting those emotions show.  The tempo sped into a happy and energetic swing.

I opened my eyes again and saw the four women watching from just outside Amy's office.  When I sang of how an annoying pipsqueak named Amarissa held the key to my heart, the key to either make me whole or to unravel all that I was, she covered her mouth with her hand.

Then I improved a solo before singing the tag.  I closed my eyes again in silent prayer as Audrey's final note hummed through my being.  I gave her silent thanks for helping me do this and then opened my eyes and the women were all gone.

My heart was heavy as I packed up Audrey.  I looked up and Max came walking out of the office, then paused near the door and looked back.  Amy popped her head out of the office and shooed her, and looked over at me.

Max opened the door, slid out quickly and shut the door behind her.  The toned woman looked slightly amused.  Her brilliant white teeth showed through an almost sarcastic grin.  They were a stark contrast to her chocolate skin.

I almost opened my mouth, but she spoke after another glance back.  “You just missed Gina.  She's a good friend, you should keep her around.”  I nodded.  “She wouldn't leave until she spoke with Amy.  She explained everything.”

I felt hope swelling, and even pride for Gina.  She had come to help me?  She was so timid, confrontation scared her, yet she was looking after me.  I am so glad I met her at Covent Garden.  I almost whispered, “Will she speak with me?”

She looked back again, Fran and Amy were now motioning her to me.  She said, “Not now.  I'm supposed to tell you to show up here for Thursday Night.”

She said Thursday Night like a title.  I nodded enthusiastically.

Then she added, “That was beautiful by the way, you made her cry.”

I shrugged and said, “She's argumentative, annoying, frustrating, infuriating... and I always find myself counting the seconds before I could cross swords with her again.  I've never wanted to gain someone's favor more in all my life.”  I tried not to tear up.

Max was beaming.  “Right then.  Thursday night, be here at five or you better be on a plane to the States or in a hospital.”

I nodded.

She added in a quiet, threatening whisper, “And Liza if you hurt her.  I will bloody break you.”

I fought back the urge to swallow.  Not only did I think she meant it, but she was possibly the most tone woman I have ever met and her fluid motions told me she was dangerous and could carry through.  I almost chuckled.  Of course, Amy would surround herself with good people and fierce friends.

I almost jumped when Max's cell started ringing.  She squinted at it then rolled her eyes and held up a finger to me as she answered, “What?  I did... what?  No.  Fine, fine, fine... she's right, you are an annoying pipsqueak.”

I heard the giggle on the other end as she hung up and looked at me.

She sighed and said, “I'm supposed to give you this.”  She leaned in and kissed my cheek.

I could hear the “awwww” from the three women with their heads out the office door now.  They pulled back in when I looked at them.

I grinned and Max winked and buzzed herself into the building and shut the door behind her.  She was shaking her fist at the office and I could hear more muffled laughter through the glass door.  The evil women were having fun with this.  My heart didn't know what to do anymore, my pulse was racing and I tried to figure out what emotions I was feeling.

It felt like a huge weight was lifted from me.  She wanted to see me Thursday.  I slung Audrey over my shoulder with a grin, then cued up some upbeat Jazz and virtually danced down the lane, swinging my hips to the beat.  Hells to the yeah, everything was coming up supermurgitroid!

I had to chuckle as I realized that I had just serenaded someone.  How friggin' Shakespeare was that?

The week went by sooooo sloooowly.  It was killing me.  Amy wouldn't answer any calls.  She was just like the Factory that way.  I was getting nowhere with them either.  They had a high tolerance for incessant bugging.  My only reprieve was first scolding then thanking Gina for going up to bat for me.

I didn't hear from her until almost two in the morning Monday night.  Her date went spectacularly well.  I could picture her almost dancing and spinning cutely as she spoke with me.  I had to whisper as I made my way to the restroom so I could speak since we weren't supposed to get calls after curfew and disturb the other lodgers.

By the time she finished telling me of the night, and how Valerie was such a phenomenal kisser, it was three in the morning.  My face ached from all the smiling as I went back to bed.

The two were almost connected at the hip the next three days.  I have to tell you, seeing Gina that happy made my heart soar.  I absolutely loved Valerie.  She brought the strong and confident side to the relationship that just complimented Gina's bashful adorableness.

I do admit to having the same conversation with her that Max had with me.  Valerie did swallow when I delivered the line.  Insert evil laugh here.  When they weren't at work, the two helped keep me sane as I waited for Thursday night to roll around.

I was getting more and more nervous and excited to see Amy again.  I can't believe how much I missed exchanging barbs with her, and just having her close.  I especially missed her hand in mine.  Max called Thursday afternoon, Amy must have given her my number.  She reinforced her threat, verified I'd be coming, and told me I needed to dress nicely.

That's all she told me before hanging up.  Dress nice?  Like what kind of nice?  Formal?  Semi-formal?  Or just nicer than she has seen me?  Where were we going?  Shit!  I was on the phone with Gina moments later.

She answered quietly.  I knew she wasn't supposed to have personal calls at work.  I blurted out, “She told me to dress nice tonight?  What the hell does that mean?  Is it a Brit thing?”

She chuckled and said, “Hang on you silly woman.  I finally get to help you.  Let me buggar off the rest of work today.  We'll get you ready for your girl.”

I retorted, “She's not my girl.”

She only giggled and hung up on me.  The wench!

I wasn't surprised when a half hour later, she pulled up the curb at the Oxford with Valerie in the passenger seat, still wearing her barista's uniform.  I looked at her as I slid into the back seat and she shrugged.

“Gin here said it was a fashion emergency, that's my more purview, so I took the rest of the day off.”

I grinned and she winked. “Let's get you ready for your girl.”

I started to protest, “She's not my...”  I just sighed and exhaled in resignation.  I shrugged at the women and said, “I'm in your hands.  Do your worst.”

I was a little afraid at the evil glints in their eyes.  Good lord, I was going to wind up looking like Princess Peach wasn't I?  I lost track of all the stores we hit.  I was like their very own dress up doll.  I liked a few of the outfits, but both of them weren't happy with any of them.  One or the other would say, “It just doesn't fit you.”

Valerie tilted her head as she regarded me.  We were running out of time.  Then she said absently, “It's like you were born in the wrong era.  You belong in the golden age of jazz.”

This made Gina's eyes widen as she made a realization.  “You're so right Val! Why didn't I think of it before?”   She gave her a sweet kiss on the lips that seemed to melt both of them.  Then she turned to me.  “Get your yank arse in the car lady, we have just enough time to hit the Forgotten Threads.”  I grinned as they dragged me to the car.

A few minutes later we were rushing out of the little shop with our new purchases in hand. When we arrived at Gina's, they had me dress quickly and then Valerie attacked my hair. Putting it up into an elegant bun.

I had to pause in front of the mirror as I put on a light coat of satin gloss over my lips and smiled as Gina clipped some heavy silver earrings on me to match the thick silver rope necklace.   I looked like a flapper who had stepped right out of a speakeasy in the nineteen twenties.

I wore a simple cream-colored sheath dress which had silver sequins in an art deco pattern down its length.  I wore satin stockings, which I never did, and some cream colored heels.  My essentials were in a matching purse with a heavy silver rope strap.

I loved the look.  I could imagine living in those times.  Bucking the law in an underground jazz club which had the stones to serve alcohol during prohibition.  Living life through the music that was edgy for the time.  Giving meaning to the term, roaring twenties.  Everything was big bands, jazz, and blues then.  Music that made you dance or made you feel the words in the lyrics.

I chuckled and said, “You're right, I was born in the wrong era.”  I stood and shouldered the purse, put on an honest to goodness shawl to keep the chilly night air at bay, and turned to the ladies.  They grinned, happy with their creation.  I shrugged.  “Taa daa?  Eliza, version two point oh.”

Gina just exhaled smiling sadly as she corrected, “No, Eliza version one point oh.  This look is so you.”

Valerie nodded and stuck her tongue out at me.  I could see why Gina was so smitten by her.

Gina squeaked and I looked back at her.  She was looking at the time.  “Get in the car lady!  No time for the bus.”

I looked at my cell and mirrored her squeak as we all ran out to the car.  It wouldn't do to be late when Amy finally agreed to see me.

We arrived with two minutes to spare.  I gave the girls each a kiss on the cheek then stepped out onto the curb.  The evil wenches didn't even wait to see what happened as they pulled away from the curb before I could even exhale.  They were on my list.

I turned to the door and paused.  There was a big ladder straddling the entrance.  A custodian was cleaning the windows.  I looked around it, but it was too close to the door to squeeze around.  I saw  Amarissa standing in the lobby, her eyes locked on me to my left.  Was that a smug grin on her face?

She knew my view on superstitions.  Did she arrange this?  I looked around but knew this was the only entrance.  There were some emergency exits on the side and back of the building.  It was like a dare... no, a test.  I swallowed hard and looked at the ladder.  She was testing me to see if she was worth a year of bad luck to me.

I took a deep breath and walked under the ladder and stood at the door looking at the beaming woman.  She looked back and waved.  I saw Max wave back and disappear down a back hall.  I couldn't stop smiling as Amy opened the door and looked down bashfully.

She looked fantastic in a cute white blouse and some form fitting jeans.  I suddenly felt overdressed.  I blushed.  “Hi.  You look great.  I wasn't sure what we were doing and may be a little overdressed.”

She looked at me and said, “Hi.  Actually, you have no idea how appropriately you are dressed.”  Then she nervously took my hand, looking at it.  “You didn't sleep with her, did you?”

I shook my head.  “No.  She's my friend.  And I'm... sort of attracted to someone else.”

She looked up and cocked an eyebrow.  “Oh?”

I grinned down at her.  “Yeah, she's short and argumentative.  She gets under my skin and is so frustrating.”

She smiled and it started widening as I went on.  “But I can't stop thinking about her, or her smile.”  Then I looked back at the ladder.

She shrugged and admitted. “I had to be sure.”  Then she chirped, “You walked under a ladder for me.”

I mock scowled at her. “Now I'll probably fall off a curb and into traffic.”  Then I softened my voice. “But I'd walk under a hundred ladders for you.”

She was grinding a heel into the floor as she looked at her feet and blushed.  “I'm glad.  I'd set up a hundred ladders for you.”

I snorted.  “Evil runt.”

She smiled.  “Brash yank.”

She bumped my hip and started pulling me out the door.  I pulled us to a stop as I looked up at the ladder.  I closed my eyes then stepped through with her.  She chuckled at my antics.  I scolded her, “The superstitions are there for a reason.  Now I have to build two years of good karma to erase this.”  She giggled.

I pulled her up short, not hard to do with a short person.  I looked down at her. “Yeah, laugh it up buttercup.  Let's see you laugh this off.”  Then I caught her by surprise by doing what I had wanted for so long.  I took a huge chance and kissed her gently on her lips.  It turned a little steamy and I broke the kiss.  She gasped and turned about ten shades of red.  I felt heat in all the right places.

She didn't say a word. Instead she just bit her lower lip and then dragged me to her car.  She sat behind the wheel gripping it, not starting the car.  She still wouldn't look at me.  Then she gripped the wheel again and smiled.  “That, we are doing again.”

I nodded and she smiled hugely, straight ahead, and started her little clown car and we pulled out into the early evening traffic as the sun started getting low on the horizon.  I rested my hand on the center console and she snuck her free hand into mine.  I was over the moon as I gave it a little squeeze.

Then I looked around as she drove.  “Where are we going?”

She exhaled and said like it was obvious, “Dense much woman?  Didn't Max tell you I wanted to bring you to Thursday Night?”

I made an exasperated sound though I loved that she was back to playing her games with me.  “That tells me nothing short stuff.”

She grinned and sighed, “Didn't you want to talk to Fran?”

I shrugged. “Not as much as I wanted to talk to you.”

I got a bashful blush and lowering of her eyes that made me hungry for her lips.

Then she explained, “Well I'm taking you to a movie with her.  Someone else wants a word with you too.”

Oh.  That was odd but fine, as long as Amy was talking to me again.  I kept replaying our kiss in my mind,  music was swelling up inside of me.  I just wanted to sing or dance, or both.  Graaaa!  I just pulled her hand up to my lips and kissed her knuckles and lowered our hands again.

Then I asked.  “Is this a date?”

She took two deep breaths before answering.  “Yes please.”  Then added, “Mixing business and pleasure.”

I inwardly sighed.  She was so confusing to me, she never pushed away any of my advances, but she never initiated more than holding hands.  I never knew what she wanted, or if it was the same thing I wanted.  Now I knew that she considered this a date.  I ran a victory lap in my head.

She glanced over.  “Hey now, there's no call for you to look so bloody smug.”

I kept my smug look just to vex her and we pulled into a small marina on the Thames.  I looked around, there were perhaps eight houseboats and two yachts.  What were we doing here?  We weren't picking up Fran, she lived at Ponsonby Place with Amy, and this sure as hell wasn't a theater.

I asked, “What are we doing here?”

She grinned smugly. “You ask too many questions.  Just trust me and get your fat yank arse out of the automobile.”

I pouted for her as we exited the car. “My arse isn't fat.”

She beamed at me and captured my hand in hers.  On auto-pilot, our fingers laced and we shared the heat of out hands together.  That heat spread throughout my body as she got shy and said, “You really do look brill tonight Eliza.”

I crinkled my nose for her as she brought me down the dock to a huge houseboat, with the name Water Witch stenciled on the side.  I could hear quite a few voices coming from the top deck.

Amy called out, “Knock knock.”

A moment later a familiar person popped their head over the top railing of the upper deck.  It was none other than Paya Doshi's smiling face, beaming down at us.  “Hey ladies, get your butts up here.”

Amy knew Paya?  I was pulled along in my confusion up the aluminum gangplank onto the boat.  We went inside and the lower level was spacious and looked like a huge apartment. In the kitchen area was none other than Fran, the blonde I had been hunting.

She was loading herself down with soft drink bottles and a couple tubs of freshly popped popcorn.  She waved bottles at us cutely.  She spoke around the second tub of popcorn she held by the rim in her teeth.  “Grab some drinks and meet us up top.”  She disappeared up some stairs before I could open my mouth.

Amy released me and stepped over to the oversize fridge.  “What's your poison?”

I stepped up beside her and she grabbed one of the many bottles of cola on the lower shelves.  I saw some imported American beers on the upper shelf and snagged one.  Hey, I wasn't driving.

She started walking backward to the stairs, enticing me. “Come along, you need to meet everyone before the movie starts.”

I hustled and took her offered hand and we went up the stairs through an open hatch to the upper deck.

I blinked, there had to be a couple dozen people up there.  Then my blink turned into a shocked stare as I realized I knew most of the people there.  I was floored.  Tabby Cat was there with a woman in a solid colored business suit, and Paya Doshi.  Abigail friggin' Addison was there with her service dog and that cute anime looking girl from the Broken Note.  The Purple Horseshoes were there.  That awesome one-armed guitarist was sitting on the lap of the drummer, who was playing the air drums to the low music playing on the deck.