That night, Aurelia played out a similar scene with the characters.She left the box on her desk with the top closed and waited for someone to ask what was inside.Marianne was the first to spot it.
“You have a box, Aurelia.”
“I do,” she said mysteriously.
“Is there something inside?”
“There is.”
Aurelia smiled as she realized she was channeling Sergeant Cuff.
“Will you make me guess or shall you tell us?”Marianne asked impatiently.
Aurelia opened the lid of the box, then tipped it forward so that everyone could see what was inside.Cheers and whoops erupted as they realized it was Vronsky’s book, and she held a copy up as the characters pushed in to look.Vronsky stood toward the back of the crowd, smiling and accepting their congratulations as he looked on in amusement.A new burst of excitement sprang up when Laurie noticed a photograph of Aurelia on the back cover, and she had to hold up the book again so that everyone could see it.
Chatter broke out as they began to plan their celebration for the official book launch, but Vronsky left the others to join Aurelia at her desk.
“Your book,” he said, nodding to the copy in her hand.
“Our book,” she said, placing it on the desktop so he could inspect it.“Do you want to take a closer look?”
Aurelia fanned the pages, landing on one that described Vronsky’s first days in France.He peered at it, smiling.
“There is no need.I am quite satisfied.”
He looked at Aurelia and the weight of his gaze deflated her holiday mood.She opened her mouth to ask what was the matter, but in the same instant she knew.
“Now?Not yet.”
“But when?”he asked quietly.“Waiting will not make our goodbyes any easier.”
“I thought… after the party—”
“I would rather the party were a celebratory affair.If we wait, it will only dampen the spirit of the occasion.”
“You’re sure—quite sure?Even if it works, you might not be one of the people who comes into the shop from your new book.”
“I understand the risk.We will simply have to hope that I appear from the new book to reassure you of our success.”
Aurelia looked around the room.
“Shouldn’t we tell them?You might want to say goodbye, just in case you don’t see them again.”
Vronsky’s eyebrows drew together.
“Yes, I agree.I would hate to depart without taking the opportunity to thank everyone for their friendship and kindness.”
Astonishment spread throughout the shop as the others learned of Vronsky’s plan, but they soon put aside their disappointment to give him their well-wishes for a bright future.
In the hour before dawn, Aurelia and Vronsky retreated to the window seat, where they reminisced about the first time they’d met—when she’d woken up in the shop and learned its secret.It seemed too big a moment, knowing that it might be their last conversation, to try and cover everything they’d like to say to each other.But as the sky lightened, Vronsky turned serious.
“You remember your promise, Aurelia?You will not put my old book out again?”
“I do—I promise.”
Aurelia couldn’t stop her tears now that their time was running out.She was saying goodbye to a dear friend, possibly forever.Although it brought to mind her last goodbyes with her mother and aunt, her heart felt lighter knowing she might hear from him, or at least hear about him, very soon.
They joined the others downstairs, where there was much smiling, laughing, and brushing away tears as the minutes closed in on their final goodbyes.Vronsky had been looking at Aurelia, one eyebrow up in a teasing gesture as she laughed through her tears, before the dawn swept him gently away, back intoAnna Kareninafor the last time.
