After yawning in between helping customers for most of the day, she perked up when an old friend from her university days, Kali, appeared at the shop door later that afternoon.
Kali was a small woman who usually wore her dark hair parted in the middle and pulled back into a low bun, not unlike a beloved ballet teacher from Aurelia’s childhood.That afternoon, she was dressed in a stylish coat and was pushing a pram that seemed twice her size.Inside was a toddler, her son Ben, who was wrapped up in blankets and a large coat.
“Good afternoon, love!”Kali’s gravelly voice carried across the shop to where Aurelia was sitting.
“Hello, you!”Aurelia made her way over and gave Kali a hug before dropping down to greet Ben.
“How are you?Are you keeping Mummy busy?”
He stared back at Aurelia, his sleepy, half-lidded brown eyes suggesting that he had just woken up or was about to fall asleep—perhaps both.
“I’m trying to tire him out.Tom and I are off to dinner tonight and I don’t want Tom’s parents to have a struggle over bedtime.”
“I think you’ve succeeded.Though it looks like he might fall asleep any moment.”
“Oh no.”Kali dropped to a squat beside Aurelia, assessing Ben.“I must have overdone it.We spent a few hours at the National Gallery.”
“A few hours?You managed to keep him interested in art for all that time?”
“Yes, finally dusting off that art history degree I’ve never used,” she laughed.“You should have seen us—I had a crew of mummies with toddlers following me by the end.”
“Really?You know, I’m not surprised, actually.It’s your solicitor skills coming back to you—commanding an audience.And that voice!I’m sure you had them all under your spell.”
“Maybe so.”Kali shrugged.
“Can I get you something?”
“Tea would be lovely, thanks.”
Kali pulled off her coat and draped it over the back of the pram.Ben’s eyes began drooping and soon closed.
“Ah, well, best laid plans.Gives us time to chat uninterrupted, at least.”
Kali followed Aurelia into the back room, where Aurelia began making their tea.Remembering her aunt’s note from the last time she’d made tea for a visitor, she caught her quivering lip between her teeth as tears threatened, but she managed to hold them in.
“I’m glad he’s sleeping, actually,” Kali said.“I wanted to stop in to see how you’re doing?”
Kali was one of those people who always remembered her friends’ birthdays and life events.Aurelia had known she would remember that it was the anniversary of her mother’s death and was grateful for it.
“Oh, thanks.It was a hard day, but I’m doing okay.”The tears that had been threatening escaped; sympathy always seemed to bring them on.“All evidence to the contrary.”She managed to laugh as she wiped them away.“It’ll only get easier, right?”
“It will, but it’s still a slog to get through.”Kali gave Aurelia a hug with a strength that was surprising given her size.“Did you see your dad or Antonia?”
“No, we decided we’d wait for Christmas since it’s just around the corner.”
“Well, you know I’m a phone call away, yes?I can always get someone to watch Ben if you want me to pop in for a chat or meet for a drink.”
“You’re very sweet,” Aurelia said, giving Kali another hug.
The kettle clicked off and Aurelia put their mugs on a tray with a packet of biscuits, while Kali—who knew her way around the shop—brought an extra chair from the back room to sit beside Aurelia at the desk.
As Aurelia pushed papers around to make room for the tray, she spotted her copy ofAnna Karenina.Setting it aside, she found herself wanting to share her new discovery with Kali, but Aurelia was once again held back by the fear that her friend would, appropriately, question her well-being.She still hadn’t told Antonia and had forgotten to ask Cuff whether she’d ever be able to bring in other people at midnight so they could meet the characters.
“How’s it going?Are you all moved in upstairs?”
“Mmm…” Aurelia thought of the boxes that still littered the flat.“Getting there.”
“And how are things going down here in the shop?”
