Chapter 25

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"Ninny," Alice said to herself, You're up at this hour.

Alice placed her head on the pillow and tried to not let the crash bother her. It was probably nothing, she might have even imagined it.

Or it could be an animal. . .

Or worse. . .

What if it was a break-in? Alices' breath caught.

Oh no, no no, no! The crash could have been a window, the burglar could climb through and do as he liked with all the residents fast asleep.

Alice lay there letting her mind paint the picture. She had no clue what she was supposed to do in this situation. Should she wake up Prescott? No, Frederick, she should get him. But could she? Something in her squirmed at the thought of going into his room this late while he lay sleeping peacefully. She imagined his hair more ruffled than usual. He would seem almost vulnerable without his stiff uniform to use as armor, her heart flipped. She couldn't. . .

What was she thinking?!? There could be a burglar in the manner rifling through timeless heirlooms and she lay entertaining such scandalous thoughts, shame on her! Why, the villain could be at this moment grabbing Mrs. Pench's precious picture frame. With that Alice once again turned over the covers and was on her feet. She found her wrapper, threaded her arms through, and tiptoed into the hall. She looked toward the stairs -where the sound had come from- then down the hall -where Frederick's room was- and shook her head.

She couldn't.

It was probably just a reckless critter anyway.

So Alice closed her door and forced her feet to move in the desired direction, only pausing when she reached the storage closet. Burglar or Animal she shouldn't go in unarmed, so Alice opened the door -grimacing as the hinges squeaked- and pulled out a broom. It wasn't much of a weapon, but it would have to do.

Then not letting herself think too much Alice hurried up the staircase. As she went it wasn't long before she realized there was light coming from the kitchen above. so, unless four-legged creatures had evolved to the point where they were able to light candles, Alice was forced to rule out the possibility of it being an animal. Refusing to turn chicken now, Alice tightening her grip around the broomstick and sending up a prayer for protection, pushed open the door. There she found a decidedly human figure, bent over something on the floor, muttering under their breath.

"Stop!" Alice raised the broom.

The figure jumped with a shout that made Alice shout in return. She with a start the theft fell over and she -for it was evident now that it was she- whipped her head around from her position on the floor and looked Alice dead in the eye.  

"Mrs. Pench?" Alice sighed, "What are you doing up?"

But the cook couldn't answer because she had begun to laugh. "I could ask you the same thing." she said between gasps, "What are you doing, scaring me to death like that?"

The older woman's laughs were contagious, for Alice too began to giggle. Then remembering herself, she dropped the broom and rushed to help Mrs. Pench off the floor.

"You scared me to death." Alice laughed. "I heard a crash and thought it was a burglar or something."

That seemed to make Mrs. Pench laugh even harder. Alice pulled out a stool for her and the older woman sat. After a moment the laughter subsided.

"You sit down honey, I'll make you some tea," the plump woman said, standing while wiping merry  tears from her eyes.

"Oh no, I-" Alice began to decline the offer but then thought. She didn't really want to go back to her lonely room.  Being awake here with her jolly friend was far better than being awake with only her anxious thoughts around. So Alice pulled out another stool and sat. 

"I dropped a saucer." Mrs. Pench explained while she pulled out a cup and saucer from the cupboard, she took the pot off the stove and poured the liquid from inside into the cup.

Alice was surprised to see that the tea was already prepared, "How long have you been up?"

"Oh not long. I'm usually up at some point, actually," she said and pulled out a second cup.

"You are?"

"Yes, I am," she answered in that definite way of hers Alice learned not to be intimidated by.

"Why?" she asked.

"Oh, reasons. I haven't slept well since the war, but a cup of tea usually does the trick." Mrs. Pench said as she brought both cups and saucers over. She set one down to Alices' left -forcing her to turn to reach it- and carried the other with her as she reclaimed her stool on Alice's right.

Alice took up her set and thought to turn around -her back was currently facing Mrs. Pench- When she felt the older woman's hands fiddling with her braid. Alice could only imagine what the thing looked like, after all her tossing and turning.

"May I?" Mrs. Pench asked.

Alice nodded, and the cook had the braid unraveling in seconds. Alice blushed as she heard the older woman's near-reverent gasp. Alice knew that she was blessed with long thick hair. When she stood with it down, it reached past her waist. It was the one thing about her physique that she knew was perfect and worth envying. Her overt hips and chubby thighs, she could do without, but her hair was lovely and worth all the strife.  

"You've got hair fit for a princess, Miss Kinly." Mrs. Pench said, "Or at least it would be if it were brushed."

Alice laughed again.

"Don't worry, I'll get it there," without hesitation, the cook began doing her best to finger-bush the locks as Alice sipped her tea and thought about how nice it was to be taken care of.

As the comfortable silence grew. Whether she was tired or whether she just didn't have anything to say, Alice felt that no words were needed and for once was content just to sit.

"Now then," Mrs. Pench spoke softly, "What are you doing up at this hour?"

And just like that Alice felt the tears coming back it wasn't long before they were streaming down her face. "I can't sleep.," she said, her voice wobbly.

"Oh there, there, sweetie. What is it?" Mrs. Pench tapped Alice's shoulders, so she turned until she was facing the cook. The older woman held Alice's hand in her lap and was wiping the tears from her cheeks. Alice knew what a pathetic state she must seem. But Elenor was being so kind and patient right now, that Alice felt like she was a little girl again. Home with her mother, ready to solve all her little girl's problems. 

"I'm a ninny," Alice managed thinking of how silly she was being. She was a grown woman for pittys sake. 

"Well the babbling is a bit of a head-scratcher, but we don't mind, really."

"No, it's not that," Alice let out in a half-laugh-half-cry.

Mrs. Pench lifted Alice's chin so their eyes met, "It's it, Frederick?" She asked as if she already knew it was true.

Alice could only nod as a new wave of tears came.

"Oh, Honey, I know." she said and cupped the back of Alice's head bringing her forehead to rest on the cook's shoulder, "Men can be hard."

For a moment Alice just let the older woman stroke her hair and shoulders, telling Alice it was alright. She realized that she had been missing her mother and here God had given her one through Mrs. Pench. Although the cook and Alice's biological mother were nearly nothing alike, Alice felt the same support and love when she was with them. 

When the tears subsided to sniffles and the ache to a slight throb, Alice straightened and after collecting herself said, "He and I are just so different. The more I think about it the more we seem like polar opposites. So why? -how?- do I love him?"

Mrs. Pench -still holding Alice's hand- used her empty hand to take a sip of her tea before answering. She didn't rush but took her time till the cup was back in the saucer then without turning her head said, "Sometimes love works because two people see eye to eye on most things. They share interests and some hobbies. Of course, not everything will match up, but most will."

She paused and seemed to study the ceiling before, "Other times they could have different personalities but it's their mutual views and values that keep them connected. Maybe they started out the same and over time they grow to be different, but their views and values never change, allowing the love to still thrive."

Now she looked at Alice and made sure their eyes caught before saying, "But sometimes it may seem like they have nothing in common. Their interests differ and their stations in life don't fit Where one is in their element the other struggles and vise-versa, but love works."

Mrs. Pench took Alice's other hand, "In fact, it really makes the most sense. They complete each other. They are each other's missing piece."

Alice drank every word and promised herself she'd ponder it all later. She felt hope but didn't want to be too hasty. This time she would think and pray it through.

"It's gotten so complicated, I-"

"Why? Because you thought he had a wife?"

"Ugh," Alice groaned and raised her hands to cover her face. "How did you know?"

"I put things together. Where did you get the idea?"

"On my first day, you told me that Mrs. Mansfeild died two years ago, and I just assumed."

"Oh dear." and Mrs. Pench began to laugh again.

And as much as Alice knew she should be miserable she couldn't help but laugh too. The whole situation was a little funny now that she thought about it.

"Oh dear!" the cook laughed even harder.

"What is it?" Alice asked giggling.

"I just remembered how you came in here with that broom!"

Alice started laughing hard herself, "You were squatting and then you-" inhale, "you fell over."

"Oh dear, I still have to clean it all up!"

Just like that, they were in another round of laughing till their stomachs ached and Alice began to think that maybe, just maybe things would turn out right.


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