Page 53 of The Midnight Book Club
“Oh, no, I’m not upset!I mean, David is a total meddler and must be stopped, but no, it was fine!”She paused, then added, “He seemed to misinterpret something you’d said and thought you wanted to see me again, so I’m sorry for that.But now you’ve learned a valuable lesson: you should never utter my name in David’s presence again.”
She laughed and gave his side a gentle nudge with her elbow, but he only gave a soft exhale of a laugh in return.
They’d arrived at the entrance to the Tube and Aurelia took a few steps down the stairs that led underground before realizing Oliver was no longer beside her.She turned and saw he was still at street level, looking down at her.
“You said this was your line, right?”she asked.
He looked around and then back at Aurelia before saying, “It is, but… I think I’ll walk a bit further.”
She tried to read hurt or anger on his face, but it gave away nothing.Maybe he’d just had enough of being forced together, she decided.
“Goodnight, then,” she said.
“Goodnight.”
They both turned and went their separate ways.
As her train rattled homeward, Aurelia frowned, wondering if she’d hurt Oliver’s feelings.But he’d made it clear he wasn’t interested in her, not like that, so what was there to hurt?Her mind lingered for a moment on the attraction she’d felt again, on how the conversation had flowed once the awkwardness of the situation had passed.She put it down to having David and James there, reminding herself that they’d been with her the last time she’d seen Oliver, when things had also been pleasant and lovely.Conveniently, she swept over the conversations between just the two of them—about her writing and what books they were reading—and focused instead on all the reasons they were destined to be friends.
She made a mental note to remind David of those reasons ad nauseum until he’d accepted them.
31
ThenextdaywasAurelia’s last in London before she left for Yorkshire for the holidays, and the shop was hectic with people rushing in for last-minute presents and needing things gift-wrapped.The fuss provided a helpful distraction from yet another confusing encounter with Oliver.When she locked the door at five, she was so tired out from the day that she had to haul herself up to the flat for her evening nap.
Waking at eleven thirty, Aurelia was excited to see the characters but also disappointed to know it would be their last night together until she returned the following week.They’d become such a major part of her life in such a short time, each one occupying a different, unique role.
Rachel and Marianne kept Aurelia laughing.They were so eager to learn about her life, her university studies, anything from her time.She’d stopped dressing specially for their evenings in the shop, since Marianne and Rachel wanted to see her twenty-first century clothes and ask her what was in fashion.They were two strong-willed, intelligent women who might have done or been anything they set their minds to if only they’d been written a century or two later.Their joy and excitement were a welcome change after spending the past year struggling to see beyond her own grief.
Having readLittle Womenmany times, Marmee was as familiar to her as any character could be.And yet, Aurelia hadn’t counted on her being as demanding of Aurelia as she was of her own daughters.Aurelia felt the weight of Marmee’s hopes and it drove her to want to impress Marmee, to write something she might think was as good as Jo’s writing.
Elinor had become a steadfast friend.Though not as lighthearted as her sister, she was wise and thoughtful.Aurelia had noticed that Elinor was slowly opening up and sharing more and more of her thoughts and perspective, which Aurelia loved to hear.
Laurie still had his boyish interest in all things fun and adventurous.He often sat in on her writing sessions with Vronsky and offered suggestions for dramatic interludes.And although he couldn’t possibly be interested in Sergeant Cuff’s ongoing obsession with roses, Laurie never seemed to get tired of hearing him talk about them.
Cuff was altogether too pleased with himself for setting Aurelia and Vronsky off on their experiment, but Aurelia loved him for it.He deserved to be pleased with himself after figuring out so many of the shop’s secrets, but she often wondered if he were hiding any others up his sleeve.
And Vronsky—Aurelia couldn’t categorize or label what he’d come to mean to her.He was a friend, a partner in this writing project of theirs, and a relentless agitator.He loved saying things that made her roll her eyes or sigh with exasperation, challenging her, annoying her, and making her evenings in the shop more fun than she could have imagined.He still carried that sadness with him at the start of each evening.It was a sadness she recognized, almost as though it were her own grief being reflected back at her.Yet his excitement over their project also mirrored her own, keeping her hopeful that she could help him move on, even if she hadn’t yet found her own way to do the same.
A few days before her trip up to Yorkshire, Aurelia had prepared everyone for the fact that she’d be away from the shop, even though she knew they wouldn’t recognize the break between her visits.Marianne had begged Aurelia to read to them from the draft of Vronsky’s sequel as a Christmas present, and though Aurelia had tried to put her off, soon everyone in the shop had begun asking too.Once she’d given in, they’d decided that the night before she left would be the perfect time for it.
That night, there was a party atmosphere in the shop and Aurelia was caught up in it before remembering how different it was from last night’s dinner.Everyone here knew exactly what she got up to at night; they knew all about her writing project and were about to get a preview of it.Somehow, a group of fictional characters now knew more about how she’d been spending her time than her friends and family.The realization made her frown, but she forced herself to shrug it off as she still believed that secrecy was her only option.
Later, when everyone grew quiet as her reading was about to start, Aurelia experienced a slight case of stage fright.She’d offered to turn the pages of their draft so that Vronsky could read it himself, but he’d insisted that Aurelia take center stage.
When she finished to a round of applause and cheers, the group started calling out suggestions for future chapters.
“A cottage is the thing, Count Vronsky,” insisted Cuff.“A cottage with a rose garden in front.”
“Take up the piano, Vronsky!I would have been a musician myself if I’d had the chance,” was Laurie’s offering.
“I do hope a circus is in your future.I know Aurelia was only teasing, but consider what a thrilling life that would be!”Marianne sounded ready to run away with the circus herself.
As the others continued to offer up suggestions, Marmee appeared at Aurelia’s side, looking thoughtful.
“Moments like this make me regret more than ever our physical limitations,” she said, reaching her hand to Aurelia’s shoulder as if to touch it.“If I could, I would give you the warmest of embraces, but my words will have to suffice.”She smiled.“I am very proud of you, Aurelia.You are using your talent in the service of others and giving much-needed comfort to your friend, Count Vronsky.”Marmee paused.“I see so much of my Jo in you—my two novelists.”
Aurelia thanked Marmee, her heart swelling as she smiled through tears of happiness and a little sadness too, wishing she could share this experience with her own mother.
