Flutter

Flutter: Vingt - Deux (1/2)

"I think if she was such a wonderful woman, her likeness shouldn't be hidden away. Plus I always wondered where all the photos have gone. There's plenty of lovely art on all the walls, but there's not a single frame with Quinton, his father, or Elisa."

"Ah. True. Quinton's not one for sentiment. Well if you want that, I know something else that you probably would desire."

Nora followed Mary out and into the hall. Mary was still until she spotted what she was looking for. She pulled out a box and bent over to rummage through it, putting things besides her on the floor as she dug.

"Ah. Ha!" Mary exclaimed. "I ran across this before, and you might want to add it to your collection."

Mary stood to full height and handed a photo to Nora, who gasped in delight. It was a black and white photo of a little button nosed boy, sitting on top of a bench in an adorable little outfit. The chubby cheeked cherub had a smile on that Nora couldn't help but imitate.

"Is this who I think it is?" Nora asked, not wanting to look away from the image.

"Yes indeed. Quinton Abran Reeves. He was three years old, going on four. I remember that day well. Helped him get dressed, I did."

"Oh, he's so precious."

"Handsome young lad and now he's grown into a handsome man."

"I have to keep it."

"Please. Enjoy."

"Thanks."

Nora pocketed the two treasures.

"Now let us get back to work."

Nora headed Mary's command, but couldn't get the two images out of her head. She was eager to run to her room and inspect them further. But she managed to fill up that note pad, and eventually Mary was calling her to cease. Mary had more affairs to take care of, so they exited the floor from where they'd come.

"Thanks for asking me to help, Mary. I got more out of that then I was anticipating."

She said as Mary closed the door and rearranged the tapestry.

"But of course. I appreciated the assistance." Mary turned to Nora, and clasped her hand in her own. "I thought you're mind is racing and I thought it would do you some good to get your hands dirty."

"You have good intuition, Mary."

"Someone has to in this house." Mary muttered."Well, I have to be off dear. Hate to leave you to yourself, but I have to help get dinner ready, and all."

"I understand. I will see you soon then, Mary."

"That you will."

"You should dine with me tonight. You never have had dinner with us."

"Me? Well, I guess I have always served and not dined. I couldn't..."

"Oh please, it would make me so happy." Nora cajoled.

"Fine, but just for a moment. Not too long. I'm not good at sitting still."

"I'll take however long I can get."

O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O

The clock on the mantel clock showed that it was a quarter to seven. Nora put her book down. Nora had been on the same page for the last hour. "Who am I fooling?" She wondered. There was no way that she could focus on a word, nevertheless a page. Not when her molecules were bouncing all over. 

"Get it together, Nora." She tried telling herself, but the reassuring wasn't doing much to help calm her nerves.

Nora huffed and put the book down, getting up to head to dinner. Mary told her a couple moments ago that Quinton and Blaine would not be appearing at dinner, being that they had work obligations. So, Nora did not bother dolling up. If word got back that she wasn't in her Sunday's best, then she would deal with the ramifications.