Once the breakfast dishes were cleared, Eleanor, Lilith and Jackson walked to the entrance hall. Corrine fluttered into the hallway, helping Lilith into a long black coat and winding a thick scarf around her neck. To complete the outfit, she placed a handbag in Lilith’s hands. Paired with Lilith’s tall black high heels, she looked almost as if she should have been walking the runway in Paris instead of walking down the street in a small town.
Corrine quickly pulled on her own coat, which was still stylish, but not quite as expensive looking.
Jackson put on the vest that he had arrived in and helped Eleanor into her own fall coat.
Corrine held open the front door for them, and once the three of them stepped out into the crisp fall air.
The driver was standing in front of the large black SUV that Eleanor and Jackson had arrived in. For some strange reason, Eleanor thought that it seemed to sparkle more in the sunlight.
The driver opened the back door and bowed slightly at Lilith’s presence. Jackson climbed into the very back of the SUV, where a row of seating that Eleanor hadn’t noticed before now sat. Jackson somehow managed to awkwardly maneuver through the seats in a crouched position and with one good arm. He plopped down in the seat and began awkwardly trying to fasten his seatbelt.
Eleanor climbed in next, moving across the middle aisle to sit behind the driver.
Lilith passed her handbag to Corrine while she climbed gracefully into the seat behind the passenger. Corrine handed the bag back to Lilith, before the driver closed the door with a second bow. Lilith reached into her handbag and produced a pair of sunglasses, labeled with designer name that Eleanor had never heard of. Corrine climbed into the passenger’s seat, and the driver climbed into the driver’s seat. He started the car and adjusted the temperature immediately.
“Miss Grey? Would where would you like me to take you?” The driver asked, looking up in the rear view mirror. He was looking at Lilith.
Lilith paused for a moment. “You may drop us in front of the antique store on the corner of Ingraham and main. That is a fair place to start. Corrine, I would like you to get my usual latte for me, please.” Lilith was looking out the window beside her, sitting straight in her seat.
Lilith seemed so completely at ease with giving orders to her staff. Eleanor wondered if she could ever give someone an order like that and expect the person to wait on her hand and foot.
“Of course.” Corrine agreed immediately.
“Would anyone else like a coffee or anything?” Corrine asked.
“I’ll take a coffee,” Jackson said. “Black two sugar.”
“Nothing for me, thank you.” Eleanor said politely, as Corrine made a note in her phone.
The driver expertly navigated the large vehicle through the narrow road between the trees. Eleanor watched the reflection of the manor recede in what she could see of the rear view mirror.
It seemed to take ages before the car pulled out onto the main road. Eleanor didn’t recall that the drive into the manor had taken so long. When the car finally reached the edge of the pavement, the driver took a left and started down the road, quickly gaining speed.
Corrine removed her phone and was frantically typing on the touch screen. From the back seat, Eleanor couldn’t see what she was typing but assumed she was answering either emails or text messages. And with the speed her fingers were traveling, Eleanor assumed everything was work related.
* * *
When they reached their destination, somehow the driver managed to ease the car into a parking space directly in front of a quaint antiques shop. The driver immediately jumped out of the car, and within seconds, the driver was holding open the door for Lilith. He bowed again, and extended one hand.
Lilith gave him her arm and he dutifully helped her down from the car. Lilith took a handful of large strides away from the car and turned expertly on her tall heels. She waited for Jackson to climb out of the backseat and watched as the driver helped Eleanor down, even though she didn’t need the assistance.
Eleanor adjusted her coat, and looked around. Lilith hadn’t been wrong, the town was beautiful. The main street was filled with small shops and cozy restaurants. There were trees everywhere, and the fall colors made everything look lovely.
Jackson held the door for Lilith, who thanked him and stepped inside the store. As Eleanor stepped inside , Jackson smirked at her. Eleanor was sure that she knew what he was thinking. He wanted so badly to point out the spectacle of it all. It really was absurd to be shopping with a celebrity and being waited on by an assistant and a driver just added to the ridiculousness of it all.
Eleanor stopped just inside the shop, squinting to make her eyes adjust. Compared to how bright the sunlight was outside, it was almost dark in the little store.
Lilith was looking at a pair of refurbished arm chairs that had been redone in a crisp white and green floral pattern. She was standing primly and so straight, she looked out of place. Her handbag was clutched at her waist between her two hands. Her sunglasses were still on, even inside. She stood out like a sore thumb. Her posture was almost regal. She wondered how the locals couldn’t immediately see that she didn’t belong.
Eleanor looked around. The antique shop was a lot larger than she had expected it to be, but it was filled with really breathtaking items. Any of which she would have loved to have space for in their condo.
As per usual, the minute that Jackson had been given a bit of free reign in a store, he had completely taken off somewhere. It would take her forever to find him, and he would probably be getting into some kind of inappropriate mischief. He could be a big, lovable kid sometimes.
Eleanor could hear the sound of Lilith’s high heels clicking on the wood floor as she walked; a steady drumbeat of a sound as she ambled along.
Eleanor had stopped to admire a really lovely display of local photography and prints when Corrine rushed by with two coffee cups. Eleanor followed her and found Corrine handing Lilith what could only be assumed was her latte.
“Thank you, Corrine.” Lilith said appreciatively, taking the cup in her hands. She tucked her designer handbag under her arm, and still managed to look like a run-way model.
Corrine nodded, and set off to find Jackson and give him the coffee that he had ordered.
“Do you come to this store often?” Eleanor asked Lilith, trying to make some form of easy conversation. She found it hard to talk to Lilith. Sure, they had a lot of history together and a lot to reminisce about. But Eleanor found it hard to get past the fact that now she was talking to a best-selling author whom she admired and looked up to. Though she tried not to be, Eleanor still found herself a little star-struck.
“I do, actually. I furnished a lot of the manor with furniture from here. The owner calls Corrine when a new piece arrives that she thinks I might like, and Corrine lets me know. I make a decision about whether I want the item or not and then it is sent to me if I want it.” Lilith explained, taking a sip of her latte. “They do wonderful work here, and I enjoy supporting the local businesses the best I can.”
“That’s amazing.” Eleanor mused. Together, they walked down the aisle and turned the corner. There they found Jackson sitting in a large antique chair. It was inlayed with gold leaf and had intricate carvings like a king’s throne.
“Oh my god.” Eleanor groaned, dropping her head into her hand.
In true Jackson fashion, he was wearing an oversized brown fur coat that hung to his knees. On his head was a ridiculous bright pink top hat with feathers sticking out of one side. He was even wearing a pair of old glasses perched on his nose. He looked absolutely and completely ridiculous.
Corrine was standing nearby, in a slight state of shock, not entirely sure what to make of Jackson’s behavior or appearance.
“Ellie! We have to buy this chair!” He said excitedly.
“Are you kidding? Where are we going to put it?” Eleanor demanded. “How are we going to get it home?”
“It would look amazing in our bedroom.” Jackson said. “It goes perfectly!”
Eleanor glanced at Lilith, who was actually outright laughing. She was attempting to hide her laughter with her hand, while her latte was clutched in the other.
“That thing doesn’t go with anything.” Eleanor informed him. “And take off that coat, you look ridiculous.”
Jackson stood and removed the fur coat, and draped it over a nearby chair. “Okay, I’ll take it off. But not because you told me to. Because it’s hot and it kind of smells a little.” He smirked. “But I still think that we should get this chair. I’m serious, I really like it. I could put it in my man cave… you know, if I ever get a man cave…” He shrugged.
Eleanor shook her head. There was no way a chair that tacky and ugly was getting anywhere near their home. She moved toward the chair and lifted the price tag. “Jacks, that hideous thing is six hundred dollars. That’s more than our car payment.” She pointed out.
“It’s an antique.” Jackson shrugged.
“If you are really keen on the chair, I’d be glad to purchase it for you. I’ll even pay to have it shipped to your house.” Lilith said, once again stone-faced and serious.
Eleanor felt her eyes almost bulge out of her head as she looked at Lilith. “Oh, no. We can’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t ask,” Lilith pointed out. “I offered.”
Corrine seemed to stiffen in place, not entirely sure what to make of the situation. She seemed completely shocked.
Eleanor gaped at her. “Oh, please. We can’t.”
“Yeah, I was really only kidding.” Jackson said, moving his good arm around Eleanor’s shoulders. “I just suggested it because I knew my wife would have a fit.” He teased.
Eleanor rolled her eyes. “Take that ridiculous hat off too, in case it has bugs or something.”
Jackson chuckled and removed the hat. “You used to be fun.” He warned.
“I used to be.” Eleanor pointed out. “Then I married you and have had to put up with you for the last two years, which drained all the good humor out of me.” She gently elbowed him in the side.
Jackson chuckled and finally accepted his coffee from Corrine and politely thanked her. “I’m going to see what other trouble I can get into.” He said to Corrine. “Care to join me?”
“No thank you,” Corrine said, her English accent suddenly seeming a little thicker and more noticeable than ever. She glanced worriedly at Lilith who smiled warmly at her.
Lilith turned and set off toward the other side of the store.
Eleanor thought briefly of following her husband to keep him out of trouble, but instead followed Lilith. She had more questions.
“Sorry about Jackson,” Eleanor said, catching up with Lilith. “Shopping with him is like shopping with a two year old.” She sighed.
Lilith nodded. “It’s no trouble. He seems like a good husband, a good fit for you.”
“Yes, I think so.” Eleanor said. She wanted to change the subject and talk about Lilith instead.
“What does he do for a living?” Lilith asked, still walking ahead a few steps. She paused to run a perfectly manicured finger along the shelf of a beautifully refinished dining hutch.
“He was a police officer.” Eleanor said without thinking.
“Was?” Lilith questioned, turning slightly to look at Eleanor.
“Well, he still is I guess. I mean, he’s been off since he was injured on the job. He’s been off… Eight weeks now, I guess?” Eleanor explained. She wasn’t entirely sure why she was telling Lilith all of these things. Perhaps she was being honest with Lilith in the hopes of some transparency on her behalf when it came time to giving an interview.
“He hasn’t been working at all?” Lilith asked.
“No. His arm pains him quite a bit. More than he lets on. And he stubbornly refuses to take anything for it other than over the counter pain medication.” Eleanor sighed.
Lilith paused to look at a wooden sign. “And you have been paying the bills then on your freelance wages? That can’t be easy.”
Eleanor sighed. “It’s not.”
“Do you need anything? Do you need money?” Lilith asked.
Eleanor’s mouth fell open in shock. “What? No, I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t ask me. I offered.” Lilith clarified. “I can’t take my money with me, someone who needs it should have it,” Lilith explained, still walking slowly ahead of Eleanor.
“No, no. We’re okay. We’re just.. In a tough spot right now. We’ll get through it, we always do.” Eleanor insisted. “Jackson should be getting back to work soon, and we’ll be better off.”
Lilith nodded. She gracefully stepped out of the aisle and to a display of second hand CDs. She began rummaging through them, immediately interested in the selection. She pulled out a CD, seemingly at random and held it up for Eleanor to see the cover. “Remember this?”
“Oh my god! Seriously? We listened to that CD thousands of times. Everywhere we went we were listening to that band. I think we even wore out my first copy and I had to use my allowance to get a second copy.” Eleanor gushed, taking the CD from Lilith’s hand.
She turned the disc over in her hands and read the track list on the back. “I feel like I still have at least half of these songs memorized.”
Lilith smiled. “Me too.”
“You had that big poster of the lead singer above your bed.” Eleanor laughed softly. “We used to pretend to dance like him while singing into our hairbrushes and jumping around like complete idiots.”
“We had their shirt too, we would call each other in the morning to ask if the other was wearing the shirt that day, then we would dress like twins.” Lilith said.
“I remember that.” Eleanor laughed.
“We were such dorks. How did we not get beat up?” Lilith smiled.
“I don’t know. I honestly don’t.” Eleanor shook her head. “I’m totally going to buy this.” Eleanor insisted. “Jackson is going to hate it.”