Flotilla: Keeping Time by Erik Schubach

Author:Erik Schubach [Schubach, Erik]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Erik Schubach
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7 – Victorian Blues

I think my lack of enthusiasm and the pain in my chest was showing when I showed up at Gears in my all black gown with a black parasol as a cane. And both the valet, Tremaine, and Raj asked if I was all right. No, I wasn't. I felt as if I were going to a funeral so I had dressed the part.

Yes, I have a corseted Victorian funeral gown, just hush up and don't judge.

I just waved it off, saying I was feeling a little under the weather and made my way to my table by the bar. I just sat there, kicking myself for my hotheadedness, trying to think of a way that I could go about fixing this.

Maybe if she wouldn't speak to me after Karl talked with her, I could give him a letter to give to her, maybe with a chocolate covered strawberry? I somehow doubted the big boiler-man would be keen on being a go-between.

Face it, Melinda, you can't fix this cockup.

I blinked when a glass of wine was put on the table in front of me before Charlotte slid into the seat across from mine. She leaned on her silver tray which she sat on its edge and cocked her head, eyes creased in concern. “Are you right, Miss Stafford? You've been staring off into space the past ten minutes.”

Then she added as she reached out and slid the glass of wine a bit closer to me. “Sorry it took so long to get to your table, we're absolutely packed to the gills tonight.”

I shrugged and confided in her, “I've been a right muppet and really lost the pot on someone. I was hoping she'd be here tonight.”

Her eyes widened, and she leaned a little closer and whispered, “You mean that tall fit Audrey Hepburn you've been drooling over the past couple weeks?”

I nodded sheepishly, and she whipped me with her cleaning rag, shaking her head in incredulity. “You best fix it then. You two were a smart match. Anyone here at Gears with eyes could see that.”

That was like a slap in the face to me. Sure, it was something I wanted more than just about anything, but I had thrown that all away. I looked down at my hands and shook my head. “No, it's too late for that.”

She stood and shook her head sadly, placed a hand on mine, then said before she headed off to the other tables, “Chin up. I'll bring you something to eat, on the house. I'm sure she'll show, she has those same eyes for you.”

I gave a feeble wave then looked over the club, it certainly did seem a bit more crowded than normal. I felt itchy in my own skin as I realized a lot of the patrons kept looking at me and looking around like they were searching for something. I downed most of the wine in a single big gulp and shrank down in my seat. I'm sure I was just imagining things.

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