Chapter eleven
Alexander
Alex:Doyouknowwhere I could find out more about grandfather's old snuff boxes?
Nori: Who are you trying to impress?
Alex: What makes you think I’m trying to impress anyone?
Nori: The fact that you have never, not once, asked about any of the historical artifacts in that lodge.
Alex: Just tell me where to find them.
Nori: I will tell you after you tell me her name and three facts about her.
I stared at my computer screen, rereading the email thread I had been exchanging with Nori this morning. I couldn't remember the last time I had been so excited to get an email. Whenever my computer dinged, I rushed to see if she had responded. Only this time, her response showed me that I was very transparent; I scowled at that. I knew I could try to lie and say it was for some of the renovations, but I doubted she would believe me. My fingers hovered over the keyboard as I sifted through three things I would be comfortable sharing. Finally, I growled at the empty text box and stormed out of the room.
“Did last night not go well?” Asta asked as soon as she noticed my foul mood.
“It was fine.”
That had been a lie, and we both knew it. Last night had been one of the best nights I had had in a long time, but I was not going to admit that.
“What has you so worked up then?” She pushed further, obviously unwilling to let this drop.
“Nori.”
“Ah,” she said, understanding enough with a one-word answer.
"Do you know where my grandfather kept any documents for his collection?"
I could see in Asta’s expression that my question came out of nowhere to her, but she didn’t ask about the seemingly abrupt change of subject.
“Somewhere in his office, I would expect. You might ask -” her sentence cut off as realization dawned on her. “Why won’t Nori tell you where they are?”
Asta tilted her head like a bloodhound hooked on a scent trail.
“She thinks I am looking into it all to impress a woman.”
“Are you?”
I didn’t have an answer for that one. After a moment of silence, Asta nodded before returning to the pie she was making.
"Why is it so hard to believe that I want to learn more about them for my own sake?" I asked, plucking an apple from the fruit bowl on the island and taking a big bite out of it.
“It is not. Or at least, it would not have been had you started asking about it before your dinner with Agotia.”
“That was supposed to beyourdinner, by the way. Do not think I didn't notice how there were, conveniently, only two place settings on the table last night. Or your friend needed you urgently, but only once all the food was finished cooking. I don't appreciate you meddling with my life."
She put the whisk down at that.
“Have you ever stopped to think that I was not doing anything for your own sake? That maybe, I thought you and Agotia both needed a friend, that you could help her as much as she could help you?”
My phone started ringing, saving me from having to answer her, but as I walked back into the office, her words rang in my head.
"So, they are having trouble paying my nephew's tuition," I paraphrased what I had just heard.
I continue, "I will send a wire; the rest of the year will be taken care of."
