nose.
“Betty, hey!” Aiden could feel the flames of shame starting to devour his cheeks.
“Aiden.” Betty nodded courteously at him. She was calling him by his first name, that had to be a good sign.
“I’m sorry for my tardiness this morning,” Betty continued, clasping her hands together before her on the desk in a neat ball. “My refrigerator started leaking in the night. I was forced to clean up everywhere before I could depart the house. I’m terribly sorry, it won’t happen again.”
“That’s fine, Betty, it’s not a problem, really.” Aiden took another step towards the main door.
“I had hoped to discuss it with you when I came in,” Betty added. “But you’d locked yourself away in your office and I got the distinct impression that you didn’t wish to be disturbed.”
Aiden’s cheeks burned more intensely as he slowly turned back around to face her, clutching the paperwork he was holding to his chest like a shield.
“I hope you’re not avoiding me.” Betty’s eyes sparkled with knowing intensity. She held Aiden tightly in her gaze, not caring how much he squirmed; she wouldn’t let him go.
“What, no? Of course not,” Aiden fumbled, unravelling beneath the interrogation. He felt like he was back at school, a naughty boy caught playing up in class and forced to answer to his strict headmistress.
“Because I was concerned that perhaps you’d locked yourself away to avoid facing me.” Betty continued to stare squarely at him.
“Betty…”
“Aiden, I know.” Betty sighed and her gaze softened. Aiden’s own shoulders automatically drooped in relief. “Clyde White has been the busiest of bees, buzzing all round town since your run in with him over the weekend.”
Aiden looked blankly at Betty, who remained poised and expectant. He didn’t know what to say. Was she mad at him? Did she want to cease working for him?
“I feel like I should explain,” Aiden lowered the paperwork, his voice soft.
“Nonsense!” Betty held up the palm of her hand towards Aiden, the taut blue veins visible beneath her thin skin.
“No explanation necessary. What you do in your own time is your business, Aiden. I just want to make it perfectly clear that it is not my place to judge you. I’m just here to work and honor Edmond’s legacy. It is imperative that we maintain an air of professionalism here.”
“But I thought you hated Brandy as much as the rest of Avalon does?” Aiden asked, bewildered by Betty’s logical response.
“Hate is such a strong word,” Betty raised her eyebrows at him. “And Miss White, Cotton, whatever she calls herself these days is actually an innocent woman. Many people here seem to forget that, but I don’t.”
“I appreciate your candor on the matter,” Aiden told her honestly.
“You’re most welcome.” Betty nodded stiffly. A slight smile began to pull on her lips as a kind glow softened her gaze.
“You might want to recall this conversation if you ever hear about the bedfellows I keep,” she said cheekily.
Aiden laughed; a sharp, joyous sound which hadn’t been heard within the offices of Copes and May for quite some time. Betty also began laughing, the mirth was contagious.
“Yes, Betty.” Aiden managed to find his voice against the laughter still bubbling within him. “I shall remember this conversation if and when I hear about your own…arrangements.”
This made Betty laugh all the more heartily. She was still laughing as Aiden stepped out to the gentle chime of the door in to the hot morning sun.
*
Brandy looked at the auction, her finger poised over the button she needed to press in order to confirm her bid. During her time working in the city she’d amassed some modest savings. She was going to exhaust those now on one single purchase.
The small white piano looked impossibly beautiful even in a one-dimensional image on the computer. Brandy gazed at it adoringly, imaging how much she’d enjoy playing on it, having a piano of her very own. Aiden’s lounge was large enough to accommodate it. She could place it on the far wall, near the staircase, that way if she tilted her head to the right when playing she could look through the patio doors and admire the garden outside.
Her finger continued to hover with intent. She reminded herself that Aiden had told her to purchase a piano if it would make her happy. It would certainly help her feel more at home with him. Her previous conversation with her Aunt Carol still burned in her mind. Brandy was now more determined than ever to make things work in Avalon, to prove to the world that she truly was destined to be with Aiden.
“Just buy it,” Brandy urged herself. But still she was unable to commit to the purchase. She’d be spending a lot of money. Over a thousand dollars. She recalled all too easily a time was money was extremely scarce. Back when she lived with her mother in the trailer park, they barely had two dimes to rub together. What would her mother think if she could see her now purchasing her very own piano?
Thinking of her mother was enough to spur Brandy in to action. She pressed down hard on the button and bought the piano just as the online auction was about to close. Trembling with excitement and satisfaction, she sat back and lifted her gaze to the position on the wall against which she planned to place her new piano.
A warm smile brightened her face. The joy over the purchase was enough to banish the negative memories of her time with her mother back to the shadows of her mind.
*
Aiden’s brief drive did little to ease the conflict he was feeling over Guy Chambers’ call. He pulled up outside the offices of Copes and May, minus the papers he’d successfully dropped off at the town hall. Through the glass front he could see Betty busily typing away at her computer, staring distrustfully at the screen from behind her tortoiseshell glasses.
Aiden appreciated her more than ever. She’d showed him kindness about Brandy when he’d feared she’d only have hostility. Betty had surprised him. Glancing towards the other side of the street Aiden made a snap decision to grab Betty something sweet as a way of thanking her for her kind attitude.
It was a decision he swiftly regretted. As soon as he walked into the café, the gentle murmur of chatter ceased and the whole place was engulfed by a stony silence. Aiden coughed awkwardly as he approached the counter and placed his order. The assistant who usually smiled a little flirtatiously at him each morning shot him a quick, hateful glance before telling him how much money he owed. Sighing, Aiden slid out his wallet and handed over a five-dollar bill and waited on his change. He could feel numerous pairs of eyes boring in to his back, watching his every move. He just wanted to get out of there as fast as he could. With his Danish in a paper bag, he darted out of the store and didn’t look back. He was about to cross over the street to his office when someone tapped him on the shoulder. Surprised, Aiden spun around.
Deena Fern was standing on the street, her blonde hair snaking down one shoulder in a trendy plait, her designer sunglasses lifted up onto her head so that she could look him directly in the eye.
“Deena!” Aiden said in surprise. He had not seen Deena since he’d helped her during the paternity suit her late husband tried to take out against her. It had become yet another fly in the ointment of Aiden’s reputation in Avalon since he was hired by the husband, Samuel Fern, who had recently passed.
“How are you holding up?” he asked sincerely, remembering how distraught local sherriff and long-time adversary Buck Fern had been over the death of his brother Samuel.
“I’m doing okay.” Deena shrugged, her tanned shoulders partly exposed in the white tank top she was wearing. “I actually popped out to check in on you.”
“On me?” Aiden took a physical step back in surprise.
“Yes,