Day 2 – Noon (2) – Lunch with Preston & Annabelle

[Annabelle Rose Emerson]

** Read the previous part with Preston & Annabelle in the main street: Click Here **

Annabelel walked side of Preston to the Café. The lunch wurh time was nearby enfing, the place was now half-full. Preston selected a table at the extremity for have some undisturbed.

Annabelle: I'm not sure to ale to eat something Preston.

The woman sat down, while thinking about why she wasn't able to eat well this morning - because her pregnancy or the anxiety of the situation.

[Preston A. Lodge III]

Preston gave Annabelle an uplifting smile, wanting to let her know she wasn’t going to be pressured.

Preston: We’ll only order a smaller meal. You can just eat what you feel you’re able to.

Glancing around, Preston spotted Grace at one of the tables, serving some meals. He then turned to face Annabelle with interest.

Preston: If Grace is not too busy today, I’ll insist of her speaking with you in the matter of your pregnancy. I want you to feel no worries, well….I know that you’ve experienced this condition before, but since you’ve…

He paused thinking it wouldn’t be pleasant to inform once more about her lost memory.

Preston: Well, I can assure you, you’ll find Grace quite an intelligent woman and …

An instant fact came to mind, which made Preston’s face lighten up with joy.



Preston: Come to think of it, she’s from New Orleans, the same region you grew up. Now I have no doubt you two would get along just fine.

He thought that this connection could benefit Annabelle more than imagined.

[Annabelle Rose Emerson]

Annabelle looked at Preston sadly.

Annabelle: You can't undertand. I mean...

She bit her lips and glanced around before whisper to Preston, seriously, in strict confidence.

Annabelle: I will have a baby, but I didn't remember have conceive this baby. Last night at the hotel, I wasn't able to sleep, trying to think about... You know what I'm about talking?

She talked without let time to Preston to said something and continued.



Annabelle: I must admit that Albert have lot of charm, but that isn't a question of physical only. At this time, I can't imagine having something more with him, he stay a stranger to me and that isn't something you do with a stranger, so-

She stopped her speech when she noticed Grace walking toward their table.

[Preston A. Lodge III]

Preston knew Annabelle talked her mind, but he didn’t expect her to express herself so directly and with such a private matter. He was stunned for a second, but then felt rewarded that Annabelle would confront him so freely like he was her own family.

Preston: He will not stay a stranger. You’ll soon see your husband as…

He stopped his sentence, feeling the approach of Grace behind him.

[Grace]

Grace greeted Preston and Annabelle with her usualy smile.

Grace: What can we do for you?

The woman recognize this exprssion when she glanced to Annabelle.

Grace: I remember this. during my first 3 months, I wasn't able to eat allt he morning, but the fact is that you need to eat a little and this feeling will left quickly with then if you not eat. Dr. Mike suggested me to start with simple soup, something lig-

Mrs. Robinsons: My coffee is cold!

Grace was interrupted by Mrs. Robinsons again, who was sit at the neighboor table.

Grace: I complete this order and I'm up to you Mrs. Robinsons.

Mary Robinsons grunbled, unhappy as usual, while Grace tried stay quiet with a deep breath.

On he side, Annabelle looked at Preston, waiting for his advice before order something.

[Preston A. Lodge III]

Preston: I think soup would suit us nicely, whichever you would recommend and just plain water to go with please.

He tried avoiding the fact that Mrs. Robinson kept yelling from her table for a refill of her coffee.

Preston: Despite the presents of some particular faces, the café seems less occupied. Must give you time to hold back and take a rest once in a while. Certainly you would need this in your condition?

He tried focusing on the matter concerning Annabelle and hoped his words would succeed of having Grace’s interest.

[Grace]

Grace glanced to Preston.

Grace: If it could be possible, but at this time, I have to run the Café and experience and trusthfull worker are rare for a such position if I take some rest time. Dr. Mike wouldn't agreed this, but with the baby coming, I can't close the Café opening schedule.

While completed to write down the order, she thougt to Cassandra, which will arrive only in two hours.

Grace: Well, I'm realyl sorry to cut off , but I will go fill her coffee before she make leave customers, I'll back after.

She smiled warmly to Ananbelle and left the table toward Mrs. Robinsons.

[Annabelle Rose Emerson]

Annabelle smiled back to Grace before glance again toward Preston. She thougt few seconds, while glancing in the around.

Annabelle: I wondered Preston... You had a sort of courage for left in this far away place like here.

She continue to look around, examinind the people walking in the street.

Annabelle: It must be difficult to leave alone in an unknown place for start a new life? I mean, you never been married?

She was curious to know more about - well, she probably knew it, but at this time, she couldn't remember. She heard a lot from Albert, but this subject wasn't one talked with her husband.

[Preston A. Lodge III]

Preston sighed to Grace being unwilling to take the time off at the moment, though it was understandable in her position. If only he could figure something to be able to have Grace and Annabelle have a conversation. He was not given much time to think further when Annabelle began addressing him again with a subject he didn’t exactly feel commutable with.

Preston: No.... no unfortunately I haven’t. By not being engaged with someone gave me the opportunity to make choices I wouldn’t have considered if I had a family of my own.
After having worked six years for my father’s bank, National Trust, giving me the experience of the banking business, I made the choice of wanting to establish my own bank. The possibilities of doing that in Boston were met with difficulties and the chance of having success were poor with all the competing banks.

He glanced around looking proud, and then turned to face Annabelle again.

Preston: So I chose to come out west.

He looked down, thinking deeper.

Preston: I admit I also wanted to escape. Escape the pressure. My brothers seemed to achieve success and always brought a burden on my shoulder, making me feel less successful. Well, I was just glad to get away from it all.

[Malvin Gormley]

Mr. Gormley entered the café, taking his regular lunch at noon, having just closed the bank, which had to be opened again half past twelve. He hadn’t really eaten any breakfast and was very hungry. He looked around and was glad that the café wasn’t overbooked. A sudden chill went down his back when he noticed Preston at one of the tables, sitting with Annabelle.



He began walking away, trying to avoid contact with his employer, while thinking back on the morning event at the bank that had turned out rather shameful. As he moved quickly, Preston turned his head and noticed Gormley´s peculiar behavior.

Preston: Mr. Gormley?

Malvin: S-sir...

[Preston A. Lodge III]

An idea came to Preston´s mind, not that it was proper, but it was a possibility for him to succeed in his little plan he had for Annabelle.

Preston: Would you come over here please.

Very nervous, Gormley began walking towards Preston thinking he now was going to be fired because of his disgraceful behavior at the bank. As he came closer, Preston noticed Grace walking back to his and Annabelle’s table. He glanced at her, putting on a smirk of a huge smile like if he had some master plan.

Preston: Grace, how would you like to take that well deserved break that you so sincerely deserve?

Grace seemed very confused by this gesture.

Preston: Mr. Gormley here would be more than happy to provide his service for the next half hour, serving meals, preparing and such.

Malvin: I would?

Preston looked at Gormley with one of his usual demanding expressions that took Gormley’s uncertainty away and just left him standing speechless, not sure why Preston wanted this. Preston quickly turned to face Grace again.



Preston: You’ll find his skills quite to your standards, as he has some experience in the particular field. And there’s no payment required for his kind gesture, I can assure you.

Malvin couldn’t believe his own ears. What was Preston up to and why him. He certainly didn’t have that much experience in the matter, only a few months ago he was in the position of serving at the hotel, but only because staff was needed, and it was only for two days at that time.

Preston: So, I insist you take this opportunity, both for you and your child’s sake.

While still not letting Grace answer, he quickly stood up and went towards Gormley, giving him a slap on the back and pushing him in the direction of the smaller outside kitchen.

Preston: Well, what are you standing here for, get to it.

As Gormley gave an odd expression, Preston quickly whispered discrete in his direction, trying to avoid anyone else hearing.

Preston: This little task will be added to your next paycheck, now please, just do this.

Malvin seemed a little less overwhelmed and did what Preston expected of him. After all, he wanted to keep his position working for Mr. Lodge, so if that meant doing this little peculiar thing, then it was certainly worth the doing.
Preston turned to face Grace once more, and with a smile he moved closer towards her, putting out his hand, placing it on her shoulder, then pointing to his own chair.



Preston: Grace I insist you take a rest. After all, you need it. And I was thinking, why don’t you and Annabelle become better acquainted. Well I’d certainly say, since you both share the fact of having been settled in New Orleans.

He gave a wink to Annabelle, while trying to guide and convince Grace to take a seat.

[Grace]

Grace glanced to Preston, unsure. The banker acted so strangely since the arrival of this woman in town yesterday, but now to take decision for the Café was totally unbelievable.

She looked at Annabelle which was in charm and shinning.

Grace: New-Orléans? Yes I grew up there with my grandma and my aunt. What do you want to know exactly?

While talking, Grace couldn't stop herself to take looks toward Gormley, nervous of the situation not more under her controle, especially with Mrs. Robinsons as customer.

[Preston A. Lodge III]

Preston went around the table and took a seat at the chair across from Grace.

Preston: Well that really isn’t the primary Grace. Just you two have a nice little chat about this idyllic location. Surely you have some memories from this place Grace that you could share with Annabelle.

He glanced between Grace and Annabelle, noticing Gormley at one of the tables taking his first order.

Mrs. Robinson: I need a biscuit with my coffee!!

Preston hurried giving a sign to Gormley by making a quick whistle and waved his hand in the direction of Mrs. Robinson. Gormley noticed this and moved quickly towards Mrs. Robinson’s table.

[Grace]

Grace: New Orleans is probably unique in america. A huge mixte of French, Creole, Spanish and Acadian cultures and spirits. It is noticeable everywhere, the foods and the architectural houses. From where you said you where?

Annabelle: I-I'm not sure for tell the true, but Albert told me that my family had a plantation at the east of the city. D'Orillion was my father family name.

While Annabelle glanced to Preston about if her information was alright, Grace freeze when she heard that name. She could remember some rumors about a curse made by a witches toward this place, something about jealousy was at teh origin. But well, in the downtown, there was a lot of rumors, especially around the rich people from the surrounding.

Annabelle: Something wrong?

The blond woman worried when she noticed Grace grin.

Grace: No, no. The baby is moving I think.

She put her hand on her belly and breath slowy. She could heard Mrs. Robinson request again to Gormley and tried to stay quiet.

[Cassandra O'Neill]

** Read the previous part with Cassandra at the Chateau: Click Here **

Cassandra walked toward the Café after came back from the hotel a littel late due of her discussion with Watson. She didn't saw Grace at first and squint when she saw Malvin working here and whispered to herself.

Cassandra: Mr. Gormley? But...

She glanced around quickly, trying to find answer to understood what hapenned.