ACT I
We’ve all got secrets in life, they may be of varying degrees but we’ve all got them. Depending on the emphasis you put on them I’d consider mine a middle of the road kind of a secret. I’m not ashamed of it but I still treat it on a ‘do they really need to know this?’ kind of a basis, as not everyone would understand it, or more specifically my mother wouldn’t. She’d just think it was all a part of my “escalating nonconformist madness” as she’d put it. Sheesh, you give up one little lucrative career on Bay Street to follow you dreams and suddenly people think you’ve gone off the deep end and have lost your marbles. Personally I prefer to think of it as following my dreams and my heart and finally starting to really live. So you may be sitting there thinking, so what is this secret that’s she’s trying to hide from the rest of the world in a rather cloak and dagger manner. Well a couple of nights a week I transform into my alter ego of Miss Kitty and perform on stage. While it’s true that Miss Kitty is a somewhat frisky little feline with a sassy stage presence, she’s definitely not an exotic dancer. You could say that I’ve got more of a Victor/Victoria kind of a thing going on. I’m a straight woman who pretends to be a man who’s performing as a woman. In other words I’m a drag queen impersonator and for the most part I think I do a pretty fair job of it. Mind you it does have its draw backs, as currently it’s my main form of a social life and is may not be the most conducive environment ever, for finding the man of my dreams. The moneys great, the tips are better and best of all its fun having this alter ego that’s capable of saying and doing things I’d never dream of. Okay so I do have to find some of my courage in a stiff drink before I strut myself on to the stage but that’s a minor detail in my books. Now you might ask yourself about how a girl that pretty much comes off looking like the quintessential girl next door came to be a drag queen impersonator. Initially the motivation was the extra income it could provide me while giving me a chance to knock off a couple of things on my “to do” list in life. I’d always wanted to give both acting and stand-up comedy a shot but being somewhat shy about appearing in front of large groups of people, neither of these had ever really been a viable career option for me.
The reason why I was so desperate for the extra income was the house I’d inherited from my great Aunt Emily. It was a great home, in the heart of Cabbagetown and I loved it dearly but it was quite frankly a money pit that was rapidly draining my bank account. It was a bank account that was mortally wounded and hemorrhaging money rapidly. The new roofing and windows being two of the major hits it had taken, since I had decided to give up the daily grind of the 9 to 5 rat race on Bay Street. I’d always been passionate about writing and truly believed that one day I’d be a published author on the New York Times best seller list. Until I made it big though I spent a lot of time doing free-lance work as well as my one solid writing gig on my way to being a published author which was writing an advice column for a local weekly paper. It was because of this new life style of mine that I was home on a Wednesday afternoon and since my column for the week was ready to go, I’d decided to roll up my sleeves and apply a little elbow grease into my efforts to improve the house. Today I was going to do some painting in what I dreamed was going to be my study where I would while away the hours writing my best- selling novel.After hours of painstakingly stripping away several layers of old wall paper I was finally ready to begin painting. I flipped on some music to keep me company as I worked and was really getting into the swing of things when the doorbell chimed. “Oh crumb, who could that be?” I said to no one in particular since the only other living thing in the house was my cat Sydney. I found a rag to wipe my hands off on and headed for the front door. Maybe it’s those books I ordered off of Amazon last week, oh well the mystery would solve itself as soon as I opened the door.
I didn’t bother to even cast a passing glance at my reflection in the hall mirror as I headed for the front door knowing I looked like a walking disaster. I gave the door a good stiff tug as it always seemed to stick. Just another thing that needed fixing I thought to myself as I pulled it open with a slight grunt from the exertion of the yank I had just given it. “You are such a class act Victoria” I mumbled under my breath, as I took in the person standing before me. Clearly he wasn’t the UPS delivery guy or the mail man. He didn’t seem to be a door to door salesman nor did he seem like he was going to try to save my mortal soul from the fires of hell either, but he did have a rather bemused smile on his handsome face. “I apologize for barging in on you like this but I’m in a bit of pickle and was hoping you’d be kind enough to help me out. Please allow me to introduce myself, I’m Philippe Renault and I’m your new neighbour. I recently purchased the house next door to yours and my land line hasn’t been installed yet and my mobile has gone flat on me and to top it all of the moving vans haven’t arrived yet either. I was hoping you’d allow me to make a quick call, I’d be most obliged to you if you would.” He said ending his litany of woes and flashing me a beseeching smile. I sized him up a minute while deciding whether or not to invite him in. He was definitely a striking looking man, in khakis and a polo shirt which gave him a casual but polished look to him but I never was one to judge a book by its cover.
“I understand your reluctance to let a strange man into your home. I can only assure you that I mean no harm and just want to track down when my furnishings and personal effects will be arriving. I’ll make the inconvenience up to you, I promise.” He said flashing me another dazzling smile. “I can show you some I.D. if you’d like.” He said as he began to reach for his wallet in his back pocket. “That’s not necessary. Neighbours are supposed to help out each other in a pinch.” I responded. “Thank you. That’s very kind of you.” He said as a smile of gratitude painted itself across his lips. Dressed in a pair of faded old jeans, paired with a faded t shirt from a long ago attended concert, bare footed, my hair pulled back with a bandana, and paint flecks across my face I must have looked quite the sight to this well put together and polished looking man who was now invading my personal domain. I offered him a reticent invitation to enter, acutely aware of not only my appearance but the house itself, and I was vexed at myself for caring about what this stranger’ opinions of not only me but my home were. “The phone is right in here.” I said motioning him into the living room. “I’ll just go back to my painting and give you some privacy while you make your calls. If you need me I’ll be down the hallway first door on the left.” He thanked me and I returned to the study to continue on with my painting. I carried on with my work but my mind kept straying to the man in the next room. I hated to admit it but he was intriguing to me. There was just the slightest trace of an accent when he spoke that gave him this delicious mysterious air. He wasn’t hard on the eyes either. He had the more incredible eyes I’d ever seen warm dark orbs that were penetrating, leaving you shivering involuntarily as you felt them probe your inner most being. It was his smile though that was most disarming of all.
I was still lost in thought when I was startled out of my reverie. He’d cleared his throat obviously in an attempt not to startle me but it had the exact opposite effect on me. I jumped and with my usual lack of finesse ended up stepping into the paint tray and sending paint flying everywhere as a result. “Crap” I yelped out loud as the paint oozed between my toes. Toes which had only that morning had a fresh coat of Bikini Pink nail varnish applied to them. “I’m so sorry.” He said as he rushed forward to help me out of my predicament. “I truly didn’t mean to startle you like that, let me help you.” “I’m fine thank you.” I replied stiffly, not wanting to be rude but clearly indicating I was not impressed either. The problem was it was me, that I wasn’t impressed with. If only I hadn’t been concentrating so much on him, I would have been non-pulsed by his arrival. I certainly did not need any more complications in my life at the moment and a man was one of them, even if he was totally dreamy looking. I plunked myself down on the floor to avoid walking and tracking the paint any more than was necessary. Which is precisely the time Sydney arrived on the scene to see what all the commotion was about, then proceeded to traipse through the wet paint and then scampered off leaving a trail of little paw prints in his wake, which left me quaking inwardly and groaning at the thought of the mess he’d just made. I was torn between bursting into tears and laughing hysterically over the situation. I chose the latter of the two. I’m sure my new neighbour thought I was a complete lunatic.
I’d found her a breath of fresh air since the moment she’s yanked her front door open. Dressed as she was she was clearly a confident woman who was not afraid to roll up her sleeves and get dirty and at the same time she was proud of her feminine side as well with her prettily pained toe nails. She now sat laughing hysterically on the floor and I found it only added to her charming demeanor. Scanning the room quickly I spied a pile of what I hoped were clean up rags and grabbed several to offer to her as a peace offering of sorts. “I’m really so sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you that way.” I apologized profusely to her. She merely shrugged it off. “No big deal in the grander scheme of things it’ll wash off.” And with that she took a swipe with the sleeve of her t shirt at her cheeks. It only served to make the matter worse as the paint smeared across her face giving her the appearance of a warrior princess painted and ready for battle.
Taking one of the rags I began to gently daub at her cheeks. If she offered any resistance I’d tell her I was merely trying to be helpful but the reality was I wanted to get a better look into those eyes of hers’, which were a most striking shade of blue and something more, which was fascinating to me. “It’s a genetic defect.” She said in a matter of fact tone. “I’d hardly call it a defect it’s beautiful and unique” I said with a firm conviction. In her left eye there was a small dot of brown and in it were flecks of gold and green.” “That’s the first time anyone has ever called it that.” She responded with a short snort of laughter. Colour was seeping into her cheeks between the streaks of paint and she seemed to be flustered by my honest compliment.
It was unnerving to me to have this handsome stranger engaging in such an intimate act as touching my face and looking so intently into my eyes and telling me they were beautiful and unique. I pulled back from his touch and jumped up. “Well, I can clean this up later. I guess I should be a good hostess and offer you some form of refreshments while you wait for the moving vans in the meantime.” My hand brushed against his as I leapt up and it sent a current of electricity thought my body and I gave an involuntary shiver, and dare I say that it was a shiver of delight. “Would you like coffee or something cold perhaps?” I asked him as politely as I could muster. I was trying desperately to appear poised and in control. “Coffee would be great if you’re sure it’s no bother.” He responded politely. “It’s fine.” I assured him. “It’s been my experience when most women answer a man with the word fine that things are not the least bit fine.” He observed while arching an eyebrow at me. “You’re a clever man than if you’re aware of that fact. You must be married or in a relationship.” I answered him. “No, neither.” He was quick to point out to me. “You’re also right except for one thing when a woman is truly annoyed with you she’ll respond with just ‘fine’. “I stand corrected then. You are also not the average woman and your only moderately annoyed then.” He shot back at me I was taken aback by his directness but responded “Guilty as charged about the being moderately annoyed at you.” I laughed having been caught so red handed about my thoughts.
“Well if we are going to be neighbours, I’d like us to have an amiable relationship so what do you say to a mulligan? You know put things behind us and give our new found status as neighbours a fresh start?” Cute and reasonable, two points for his team. “Sounds like a plan to me. How about we make ourselves comfortable in the kitchen and I’ll put on some coffee and see if I can rustle up some sort of a snack to go with it?” I asked. “Sounds great, but I’d like to know one thing before we do. You’ve never told me your name, and I’m not in the habit of dining with ladies not of my acquaintance.” He said giving me one of those rakish smiles of his which only caused me to start flushing again. “It’s Victoria, Victoria Bellamy.” “Well Victoria, Victoria Bellamy it’s a great pleasure to finally make your acquaintance.” His voice was like a bowl of melted chocolate, warm and decadently rich. He folded his hand over mine so that it became less of a hand shake and more of a caress, as his thumb brushed against my knuckles slowly and he looked at me intently. I found it disarming that I was becoming enraptured by this man and said “Right now that were introduced, let me get to that coffee.” As I slipped my hand out of his grasp. I could have held her hand for hours, it was soft and delicate and her eyes were mesmerizing to me. She might be trying to come off as having a prickly personality and being standoffish but her eyes betrayed her. In her eyes I saw a woman that did indeed share a mutual attraction but was unwilling or perhaps unable to acknowledge it. I knew I wanted to definitely get to know her on a much deeper level. For now though I’d have to just bide my time as she got to know me and felt more comfortable opening up to me.
She went about preparing the coffee and I couldn’t seem to take my eyes from her, though I tried not to stare and make her feel self-conscious if she were to catch me watching her. Her unvarnished openness about being herself faults and all, I found to be very attractive. She wasn’t out to impress me or anyone else for that matter. This was a woman of substance. She also baked a pretty wicked chocolate chip cookie if the ones she served with the coffee were any indication. “So I take it your relatively new to the neighbourhood yourself?” I inquired. “Yes and no.” She responded. I cocked an eyebrow at her. “Yes I recently moved in and have been renovating pretty much since I moved in, and no I’m not really new to the neighbourhood. I spend a great deal of time visiting this neighbourhood and spending weekends and vacations in this house while I was growing up. It belonged to my great Aunt Emily who left into me in her will.”
“My sincere condolences to you, on the death of your Aunt Emily, I’m sure you must miss her a great deal.” I said. Death was often one of those awkward topics to deal with. “Thank you, but there’s no need. Aunt Emily lived to a ripe old age and was sharp as tack right up until the end. I do miss her though she was quite the character and knew how to live life.” She said smiling at the memory of her Aunt. “I take it that you take after your great Aunt?” I inquired. “You could say that.” She smiled with a smile that had an air of mystery to it. It was a smile that reminded me of the Mona Lisa, whose secretive smile had beguiled a great many over the years as to the underlying cause of it.
“Enough about me tell me more about you, Philippe.” “Please call me Philip or Phil, I find Philippe so stuffy and pretentious sounding.” I informed her. “Okay Philip, so what’s behind you relocating here?” She asked in an effort to deflect the conversation away from her. “Well I’m actually relocating from Montreal.” I responded. “So then I did detect a slight accent, not to mention your name giving it away.” She smiled pleased with her keen sense of observation. “Indeed you did. I’m fluent in both French and English.” “I think that’s wonderful.” She responded. “It’s not nearly as romantic as the Parisian French though.” I answered her truthfully. “Perhaps not but a romance language is still a romance language and has a certain something about it.” “You mean a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’?” I asked her. “Precisely,” She acknowledged and gave me a shy smile in return. “Do you speak any French?” I inquired of her. She laughed a soft tinkling laugh, “Just a little and I’m afraid that it’s terribly rusty from lack of use.” “I’d be happy to help you practice if you’d like.” “Maybe” she answered softly as she flushed. “Once again enough about me, so what brings you to Toronto?” She inquired doggedly, determined to get at least some of my story out of me. “Well I’m expanding my business. I’m opening a new art gallery in Yorkville.” “So you’re an artist then?” she asked seeming to warm to the topic. “A generous person might refer to me as that.” I shrugged. “Which mediums do you work in?” She asked, seeming genuinely interested. “They vary, sometimes I paint or sketch, I also sculpt and love to find abandoned objects which I breathe new life and form into.” “That sounds fascinating. I’d love to see some of your work sometime.” She added.
“I’d be delighted to have you come down to the gallery and I’ll give you a personal tour. I’d even be happy to show you my studio where the magic happens.” I told her. I hoped she would take me up on my offer as I wanted to spend more time with her but at the same time I didn’t want her to feel overwhelmed. “I’d like that. After you get a bit more settled, I’d like to take you on your very kind offer.” She replied. The more we talked over coffee the more I genuinely liked her and wanted to find out still more about her. We talked about her trials and tribulations with her renovation projects. I commended her on taking on so many of them on her own even though she had no real experience with it. “Well it’s partially trial and error, not to mention google, and some great friends that are willing to pitch in and lend a hand.” She confided in me. Clearly she was modest as well and not the sort to take credit for something that she didn’t feel she rightfully deserved. She also told me about the how she had recently changed her career path as well. “Oh I was on the fast track, great salary and fantastic benefits but at the end of the day my heart wasn’t in it.” “So you just decided to take a leap of faith and start fresh. That’s a pretty bold move.” I observed. “You mean for someone my age?” she grinned. “No, I mean for anyone at any age. Not a lot of people would have it in them to give up a sure thing with a solid future, for something that they had no real control over.” I added seriously. “I just never want to have any regrets about how I live my life. Maybe it is foolhardy of me to give it all up for something so uncertain but they say you should do what you love and love what you do.” She summed up.
“No I totally get it, life should be lived and money isn’t everything in life. Besides you strike me as the type woman that will make a success of anything she puts her mind to.” I hoped that I was coming across as sincerely as I thought it and meant it. “Thanks, that’s really kind of you.” She said softly as she flushed but still managed to look me straight in the eyes as she did. I knew in that instant that she did in fact believe that I was in fact being sincere. We heard the unmistakable sound of large trucks pulling up out front and grinding to a halt. “Sounds like your things have finally arrived.” She said and I detected just a note of regret in her voice that our conversation would soon be coming to a close for the time being. “That it does.” I was none too anxious to abandon our little tete a tete myself. Especially since it seemed we were getting along so well. “Thanks so much for the coffee and for keeping me company while I waited, but I guess I should get going.” “Yes I suppose you should.” She added as she began to rise as well. It looked as if she were going to walk me to the door, which I thought was a good sign. She did indeed walk me to the door but it wasn’t in a bums rush sort of a way, which to me was another good omen. “Hey I just had a thought. How about I have you over for dinner tonight? My way of saying thanks for everything and for all the extra work I caused you. What do you say?” I asked trying to sound very casual about it.
“I’d say you’re either a nut or dead brave you’ll be unpacking boxes for ages.” She laughed. “I never said I was going to cook, at least not tonight. I’m thinking more along the lines of take out and having an al fresco style picnic in the back garden perhaps?” “That actually sounds nice and I do want to finish painting the walls in that room today if I possibly can. So yes I’ll accept your gracious invitation to dinner. I could bring along a bottle of wine if you’d like. We could celebrate.” I felt my cheeks going crimson. “Great Victoria he probably thinks you’ve got a thing for him and your treating this like a date and not just a casual meal between two neighbours.” I quickly amended that “I mean to welcome you to the neighbourhood.” “Sounds great and if I can impose just one more time would you mind bringing along a couple of glasses, as I have no clue which box mine are packed in and it may take me a few days to find them.” He grinned totally non-pulsed by my implication this might be considered some sort of a date on some level. I was grateful for that. “I think I could manage that.” I smiled at him. “Great then shall we say a bit of a late dinner then so we can both finish up? How does eight o’clock sound to you Victoria?” he asked me. “Sounds, fine. I’ll see you then.” I told him as I opened the door. He lingered in the doorway for a split second before the shout from one of the furniture movers broke the moment. “Hey mister, do you happen to know the guy that lives over here? He was supposed to be here to let us in so we can unload.” “That would be me. I’ll be right with you.” He turned back to face me. “I’m sorry to cut this short but I really do have to go. I’ll look forward to seeing you later though.” He turned on his heel bolted down the steps and was gone before I could respond.
I closed the door behind me, and was left to my own thoughts once more. I went back into the study to pick up where I’d left off and to clean up the paw prints Sydney had left, but I just wasn’t in the mood at the moment. I flopped into a drop cloth covered armchair and let my mind begin to drift. Sydney wandered in and hopped into my lap and I absent mindedly stroked his soft coat while I thought. My thoughts of course were on my new neighbour Philip. This was so unlike me to be so taken with someone that I barely knew. I was also pretty certain it went a lot deeper than his surface good looks. Yes outwardly he was more than attractive and I’d be lying if I said otherwise, but in the short time that we’d talked I’d found myself drawn to him in other ways. I also knew in some ways he’d drive me totally nuts but I still couldn’t help but like the guy…..a lot.” “Oh Sydney what the hell am I thinking? There is no way he could ever possibly be attracted to me, especially if he finds out I’m a drag queen impersonator and I tell him I write an advice to the lovelorn column which can get a little risqué with some of the questions that I deal with. He’d be more at home with the woman that grabs her briefcase and races off to the office every morning in her black pencil skirt, white blouse and tailored jacket ready to do battle in the boardrooms of Bay Street.” I looked down at Sydney who cast his wide green eyes at me staring in that intense way only cats seem to be able to manage to. “Why do you humans have to complicate things so much? Just go on your date tonight and have fun, and see what happens.” He seemed to be saying to me and with that he leapt fleet footedly off of my lap and wandered off.
I finally finished painting the walls and cleaning everything up about half six, which still gave me ample time to shower, get dressed and select a bottle of wine to take with me. I was on the verge of an anxiety attack when I took a look in the bathroom mirror and saw the state of my face. I positively looked like someone out of the pages of National Geographic with my paint smudged face. That man sat there and talked to me like nothing was out of place for over an hour and he even told me I had beautiful eyes, he must be blind as a bat. I look like a reject from a Halloween movie, was all I could think. I quickly shucked the clothes I had on and was soon standing under the soothing hot water that was cascading down. I was alone and naked and thinking about the man that had caressed the back of my hand with his long fingers and the way he had tried to help me remove the paint from my face. If just those simple gestures could have such an effect on me, then dare I even imagine what it would be like to kiss him or even more? I could just envision sharing a kiss with him, those sensual lips of his, brushing against mine, oh so tenderly at first, but not before he had stared intently into my eyes and brushed his fingers against my jawline. He would be the sort that would test the waters of attraction before the actual kiss which would only increase the sensuality of it and make it all the more perfect. To feel his arms encircling me would be rapture. I was getting so caught up in my little fantasy that at first I didn’t realize the warm tingling sensation that was beginning to ebb throughout my body. When it struck me I was more flustered than ever before about my thoughts about this new still unknown factor in my life known as Philip. What kind of power was I giving this unknown quantity and why was I thinking of it as a permanent sort of thing? Turning off the shower I tried to get a grip on myself as I toweled off and then wrapped it around me while I wandered into my bedroom to select an outfit for tonight. I stood in front of my closet for an eternity holding various outfits up in front of me and rejecting them all. Why was I making such a major production out of what was to be a simple meal shared between two people who were nothing more than neighbours? I finally settled on peasant style blouse and a multi coloured flowing crushed crepe looking skirt. Casual, not too revealing, and perfect for the casual bohemian style picnic we had planned.
After I finished dressing making sure to add a funky beaded necklace, some bracelets and a pair of dangling earrings to complete the look I went into the bathroom to do my makeup and style my hair. When I was finished I thought I looked pretty, feminine but not like I was a woman with any sort of agenda that would frighten him off. Grapping a bottle of wine, and a pair of wine glasses I was all set to leave for my picnic. It was just a few minutes to eight so by the time I slipped on my sandals locked the door and walked over I’d be there at 8 sharp. In a lot of ways I felt very confident and in others I was more nervous than I had ever been in my life. “Don’t wait up Sydney.” I called as I locked the door and made my way across the front lawn and up the walkway to Philip’s home.
A shared meal between two people, who only hours before had been perfect strangers, begins to take on romantic overtones. Now as they retreat to their own homes to rest their weary heads, those romantic desires leaves each of them reeling as they try to come to terms with their true feelings.
Please enjoy the continuation of this theatrical tale
Cerridwen's Heart
ACT II
After a few hectic hours of dealing with the movers and trying to locate some of the rather essential things that I needed, I was more than looking forward to spending a delightful evening getting to know Victoria, better. I was eagerly anticipating sharing dinner and a glass or two of wine with her, looking at it as the calm after the storm in my day. The doorbell chimed at exactly 8 on the dot and I rushed to answer it. “Good evening Victoria, come on in and make yourself at home. I see you remembered the glasses. Thanks for that.” I said as I ushered her into the interior of my rather chaotic and cluttered world. “I’ll be so happy when I finally manage to get everything organized.” I said, even though I was pretty certain she understood. “It’ll all come together, trust me. It just takes some time. I’d even be happy to pitch in and help you unpack if you want. I know what a daunting task it can be to even just unpack the boxes.” She said smiling warmly at me. “Be careful. I might just take you up on that offer. As it is tonight I think I’ll end up flaked out on the sofa as I have no inclination what’s so ever to put my bedframe together, led alone search for the box with my bed linens in it.” I warned her laughingly. I thought she looked lovely in the outfit she’d chosen to wear for the occasion. She was casually dressed in her colourful skirt and off the shoulder blouse. The ankle bracelet she had on, had small bells on it which tinkled softly with each movement. There was also a delicate scent clinging to her that my olfactory senses were quick to pick up on. It was her face though that was most pleasurable to my senses. It was now devoid of paint splatters and smudges and I could clearly see what a truly striking woman she was. My instincts had not been wrong about what lay beneath her earlier layer of her war paint. “I clean up rather well don’t I?” she inquired of me teasingly and I knew I had clearly been caught in the act of checking her out. “Indeed you do.” I responded trying to sound unruffled that I hadn’t been as discrete as I thought I was being and had been caught red handed.
“I thought we’d wait in the back garden while we wait for dinner to arrive and perhaps enjoy a nice glass of that wine that you so graciously brought along with you. How does that sound to you?” I asked her. I was anxious to change the subject for the time being anyways as I suddenly felt very self-conscious about having tried to secretly admire her. “That sounds great.” She responded. “I’ll show you the way.” I offered. “No need for that. You may not realize it but your house is a mirror image of mine. I always found that fascinating as a youngster. So I know the layout of your house as well as I do my own.” She answered me. “Well then ladies first.” I said bowing slightly and gesturing with my hand. “Gladly” she grinned and proceeded down the hallway to the back of the house and the kitchen which led out into the back yard. There was a certain gracefulness to the way she carried herself and I couldn’t help but notice the soft, natural sway of her hips as she moved along before me. The ironic part of it all was that she was in no way trying to be a seductress or entice me it was merely something that was a natural part of her being. Personally I found it truly delightful that she was so natural and at ease in my presence that she was just merely being herself. She skipped lithely down the few steps and into the garden. She placed the glasses and bottle of wine she still had in her hands on top of the small wrought iron table that was in the yard, than took a seat in one of the matching chairs. “You can thank the former owners for leaving us a place to dine tonight.” I informed her.
“The Barkers were lovely people. Stanley passed away about three years ago, than Jane decided to sell as the up keep of the house was getting to be too much for her on her own. She was a friend of my Aunt Emily’s and I still go and visit her once or twice a month. She’s living in a condominium in Forest Hills now. It’s closer to her children and grandchildren so she’s quite content.” She told me. “So do you have memories of garden tea parties on this table then?” I asked her knowing she had spent a great deal of time here in her youth. “Yes, among other things I did have tea parties over here. I often played with the Barkers children when I was here visiting Auntie Emily.” She smiled reflecting on her fondly remembered youth. I could just imagine her in her party finery, pouring tea from her little china tea pot and her stuffed animals and dolls as other guests. As an adult though I found that it was a small table perfect for two, and I was thinking it how it would offer a bit of dining intimacy. The chairs were currently situated on opposite sides of each other. I pulled out one of the chairs for her and she gracefully flowed into it and thanked me. I took the seat opposite to her and opened the bottle of wine. Thankfully, I had been able to locate my corkscrew after a mad search just shortly before she had arrived. I poured two glasses and offered her one. She took it and gave me a smile. “May I offer a toast to new beginnings and friendships” I said as our glasses clinked against each other and we each took a sip. I pronounced the wine to be excellent and thanked her for bringing it with her.
We were just beginning to get into a relaxed conversation over the wine, when the doorbell chimed. “That must be dinner. I’ll be back in a jiff.” I told her as I bounded up the back steps and into the house to answer the door. I returned a couple of minutes later with a brown paper bag of take out in my hands. “I hope this was a good choice and that you’ll like what I’ve selected. I sort of had to wing it not knowing your tastes in food. I hope you’re not a vegetarian.” I added as an afterthought. I so did not want to get off of on the wrong foot with her once again. “I’m not, your safe.” She laughed. The way she said it, I felt as if she could read my thoughts and she just somehow knew intuitively that I wanted very much to stay in her good graces. “It smells wonderful.” She sniffed the air daintily with her pert little nose. “The Butter Chicken Factory, I’m detecting, dinner for two. Chicken vindaloo, their classic butter chicken, naan bread, steamed rice, samosas, onion bhajia and chicken pakoras. How’d I do?” she asked. “That’s totally amazing you got the entire order right.” I said in awe. “Are you psychic or something?” I marvelled at her. She merely shrugged. “A bit perhaps, but I also order from there frequently myself, and get exactly the same thing.” She smiled. I was secretly pleased that I had ordered something that so suited her tastes as well as my own. I opened the bag and started to unpack the items. “Rats, they forgot to pack the utensils I requested.” It peeved me just a little, as I didn’t want her thinking I was some sort of uncouth barbarian. With the quirk of an eyebrow at me she said. “It’s really not an issue. I can pop home and get some or we can use the naan bread to scoop up the rice and entrees. It’ll just add to the bohemian picnic theme we planned on if we do that. I don’t mind at all as long as you don’t. Besides fingers will wash and more importantly it’ll be fun.” She grinned.
“Great.” I agreed with her. I was grateful that she was so relaxed and cool about it all, and thankfully they had packed a generous amount of napkins with the order. I finished setting out our meal and had the brilliant idea to move my chair next to hers. “It’ll be easier to share if I sit beside you.” Was the guise I used but the truth of it was I wanted to catch another whiff of that delicate scent she wore. I moved my chair beside her and settled in to enjoy what I hoped was the first of many meals that we would eventually share together. She’d been right of course the food was excellent, as was the wine but it was the company that I was enjoying the most. When a bit of succulent sauce from the butter chicken escaped my naan bread utensil and began to slowly run down my chin, Victoria grabbed a napkin from the pile on the table. She began to daub the sauce from my face. I was immediately touched by both the intimacy of the gesture and the fact that it came so naturally to her, as though we had been together for years. As we ate she told me more about her former job and how she’d made the decision to toss in the towel and go out on a limb and try something so vastly different. “What if you don’t make it as a writer?” I asked her. “Oh I’ll make it. Failure isn’t an option for me.” She answered confidently. The way she answered, I knew she truly believed she could and would become a success with her writing aspirations, and she made me believe it as well. I found it quite remarkable that she was willing to take a leap of faith and follow her dreams and not just continue to trudge along in a profession that her heart simply wasn’t in, few people would have had her pluck.
As much as I wanted to know how she was coping in the mean time I didn’t press the issue. She didn’t strike me as a spoiled trust fund baby or a woman that has some man keeping her and paying her way, yet she seemed to be making it work for her. Surely she must have some sort of a job though, even a part time one perhaps she did some free lancing or consulting of some type. Perhaps one day that mystery too would be revealed to me. We also discussed my art gallery and the projects that I was currently working on. She seemed to be fascinated asking me intelligent, thoughtful questions about my work. Once again I extended the invitation for her to visit the gallery and allow me to give her a personal tour, wanting to reinforce the fact that I truly would be delighted to show her around and have her give me her thoughts on my work. “I’d love to see your work and give you my thoughts on it.” She rested her hand on top of mine and gave it a small pat. “Really, I love art in all forms and I’m anxious to see yours. Especially since it has an environmentally positive influence to it since you use refurbished and found items in your works.” Her touch was warm and gentle and I was more than content to sit there with her hand resting so naturally on top of my own. She resonated with this positive energy and had this natural way of transferring it. I felt it running through my own veins and wondered if there would ever come a time when her touch would be even more intimate when it came to me. For now I would have to settle for these friendly supportive gestures and just hope for the best. It might be pure insanity but I wanted to win this woman’s heart, and I planned on doing it.
Victoria had been right of course, eating dinner with our fingers had proven to be fun. It had also provided the added bonus of occasional unexpected brushes against her hand. She chatted with me freely and candidly, and the more we talked the more I liked her and the more I wanted the evening to last forever. Unfortunately all too soon she was thanking me for treating her to dinner and saying she really should be on her way as it was getting late. “I’ve been having such a great time getting to know you but I really should be going.” Perhaps it was only wishful thinking on my part but she sounded as if she truly regretted that that our time together was drawing to a close. “I’ve got another busy day ahead of me tomorrow. Besides I’m sure you must be worn out after a day of moving. I’ll help you tidy up before I go if you like.” She said. “I am pretty wiped out” I admitted. “But you’ve been a most welcome and pleasant distraction from the madness of it all.” It earned me a soft shy smile in return. “As for cleaning up it’ll only take me a minute, so no need to bother. Thanks for the offer though. I saw her to the front door and when we got there I longed to take her in my arms and kiss her good night but figured that would be rather a brash and bold move on my part. “Take your time” I silently told myself “You’ll be glad you did she’s going to be well worth the wait.” We tarried by the door neither of us quite knowing what to say or do. There was definitely some form of mutual attraction on both of our parts but neither of us seemed ready or willing to make the first move. It reminded me of those awkward moments back in my freshman year of high school, wanting to ask a girl to dance but just being far too shy to work up the nerve to do it.
“I should be a gentleman and walk you home, after all it is late.” The moment I said it sounded rather silly even to me but in a nice sort of a way. I thought she might be tempted to accept for a moment and perhaps I’d even get invited in for a late night cup of coffee. “That’s really sweet of you but I’m sure I’ll be fine on my own. If it makes you feel any better though you can always watch me to make sure I make it safely to my door.” She began to descend the steps when she swivelled her head to look back at me. “I really did have a nice evening, thank you again.” She said as she gave me a final little smile. I watched her glide along the lawn and up her own steps. She put her key in the door and turned the knob them stopped to see if I was watching which I was and gave me a little finger wave before she disappeared from view and shut the door. I stood on the front steps for a few moments before I made my way to the backyard so that I could tidy things up. We’d both been famished and had made justice of our little picnic, so there was no food left over to store in the fridge. I put the empty take out cartons and crumbled napkins back in the carry out bag they’d arrived in. I’d stow it just inside the back door for now until I could locate my garbage bags in the morning. Next I picked up the wine bottle and found there to still be enough left for one glass. “What the heck?” I thought as I poured the contents into my emptied and earlier abandoned glass. I’ll just sit out here and finish it while I think over the day’s events and try to decide just how Victoria Bellamy will fit into my life. The cool darkness of the night enveloped me in its cloak as I sat silently pondering this newest development in my world.
“Sydney, I’m home.” I called into the darkened house as I flicked on a light switch. I was forever forgetting to leave a light on when I went out for the evening. My fleet footed housemate came trotting into the entry way to greet me. “Hey, Syd, miss me?” I asked as I picked him up and gave him a cuddle and a peck on the top of his wee fuzzy head. I received an appreciative purr as he nuzzled his head under my chin. I slipped off my sandals, locked the front door and turned off the light as I made my way up the staircase to my room. I flicked on the light switch and set Sydney down on the top of my bed, where he proceeded to curl up on the foot of it while he watched me do my nightly routine. “I had a great time Sydney, and I really like Philip a lot.” I confessed to my feline companion. “He’s sweet, funny, intelligent and definitely not hard on the eyes either.” Sydney merely yawned with total disinterest over my confessions and shut his eyes and promptly went to sleep. “Message received Syd, I’ll keep my thoughts to myself for the time being.” I said as I proceeded to get undressed. There air was cool and still as I sat expounding on my thoughts about Victoria and how the evening had gone. The moon and the stars were out in full force on this dark and cloudless night. It would have been most conducive to setting a romantic mood with a certain woman of my recent acquaintance. The coolness of the night would have been a wonderful reason to have the excuse to drape my arm around her shoulders, under the guise of keeping her warm. I felt a dreamy smile painting itself across my face at the mere thought of getting romantically tangled up with Victoria. When I noticed a light flick on and illuminate an upstairs room. I knew it was the master bedroom based on what she had told me earlier about the houses being mirror images to each other.
The curtains were drawn together, but unlike a lunar eclipse they could not entirely conceal the celestial body that came into my field of view. Victoria’s silhouette and her decidedly feminine form were visible through the misty veil of fabric. It was a most enchanting and magical tableau that I was being treated to. Perhaps it was the artist in me but it I loved the mysterious aura it provided her. It somehow seemed to suit her to appear this way. I knew from our earlier conversations that she was very open and forth coming about a great many things, but I also sensed there was a great deal beneath it which she was yet unwilling to divulge to me. I watched entranced as she disrobed, and wondered if she felt vulnerable as she did so but then she had no idea I was sitting here enjoying the view and even beginning to have a little fantasy forming in the recesses of my mind. She was a siren who was wordlessly enticing me with her movements. An erotic game of hide and seek performed with the finesse of a burlesque queen. The most enticing thing of all was she had no idea of what a seductress she in reality was. Even with the curtain obstructing my view I couldn’t help but be enchanted by the outline of her feminine curves discretely visible through the curtains which billowed ever so slightly in the night breeze dancing around her. Watching silently as she peeled off her clothing unknowingly providing me with fodder for the thoughts of an intimate nature that were formulating in my mind’s eye. My body was beginning to respond to the visual stimulus despite the obstruction of my view.
I could feel the heat from the fire that was spreading throughout me, warming my heart and my soul. There was a throbbing ache in my loins that yearned to be satisfied. I wanted to know what it would be like to hold her tightly and caress her naked flesh. To run my hands over her body as though I were moulding and shaping one of my sculptures. To coax it to a point of perfection through my manipulations thus allowing her to see the same beauty I saw and take her pleasure in it. Would I ever know the thrill of tasting the sweetness of those lush full lips of hers and was I worthy of doing so? I wanted to press my lips against hers, and feel her responding with equal ardour, I wanted to have that kiss cling to my lips and linger in my thoughts until my dying day. Oh to be able to taste the sweetness of her flesh running my tongue and lips over it. To be able to experience and taste every aspect of it, from the savory saltiness of her naked skin to the sweetness of the honeyed nectar that could be discovered only by a lover. My own desires were rapidly manifesting themselves as my rigidness pressed against the cloth of my trousers begging to be freed and sated. If only I could, I would happily indulge in a rather torrid and passionate love making session with Victoria. It wasn’t just the physical that I yearned for with her either. I wanted her on all levels and in all ways. I barely knew this woman or anything about her and yet she was unknowingly working her way into my heart.
She faded from view and the light in the room was extinguished I sat caressing the stem of my wine glass which was a poor substitute for a man with a longing ache in his loins. I gulped down the remaining wine contained in the vessel that was capable of warming both the heart and the soul on a cool night such as this, but this too was a poor substitute for a man that was falling in love. The only one that could satisfy me now was Victoria who was filled with a vibrant life giving source of energy in its purest form. Having swallowed the last of the fortified liquid I made my way into the house, ready to call it a day. I ran some water in into the wine glasses and left them in the sink for the time being, I’d deal with washing them out tomorrow. Returning them would be a pleasure as it would give me a chance to see Victoria again. Navigating my way around and between boxes and crates I found the sofa, which was great for a nap but was rather unappealing to me as a place to rest my weary head if I wanted to really stretch out and get comfortable for a good night’s sleep. My jacket which I had tossed over the back of the sofa earlier in the day would just have to act as a makeshift pillow for tonight. I rolled it into a ball and stuffed it under my head trying to find a comfortable position as I stretched out. As tired as I was, sleep remained evasive and continued to elude me. Not being in my own bed wasn’t helping the situation but neither was having so many thoughts of the woman next door rushing through my brain. I laid there for what seemed like an eternity before sleep finally over took me and when it did Victoria was very much in the forefront of my mind.
After I had turned off the light I crawled into bed, being careful not to disturb Sydney who was already snoring away. It had been a long day and I should have easily dropped off to sleep the moment my head touched the pillow but there was just a little too much Philip Renault running through my head. “Victoria you need to get a grip on yourself. You are not the sort to go falling head over heels for some man you just met. You have way too much sense for that. Also let us not forget you are a drag queen impersonator, which would probably not be well received by most men and you write an advice column that is on a par with Dan Savage and his Savage Love column minus the fact your reader ship is limited to a local readership here in the city. You are definitely not the let’s take this girl home to meet the parents material. You’d probably stand a better chance with him if you told him you were Cat Woman and spent your free time traipsing around Gotham city in a leather outfit.” I grinned at the thought of that as it really wasn’t that far of a stretch from my identity as Miss Kitty. Only the name and the city were changed to protect the innocent. I started to laugh outright at that thought. My laughter shook the bed and earned me a disgruntled meow from Sydney whose slumber was disturbed by it. I’d tried doing normal but it was so just so not me. Normalcy was a one trick pony and that just wasn’t my style. If Philip or any man was going to be interested in me then he’d just have to accept me as I was. Even if that meant embracing a life that seemed like it would be more suited to some psychedelic acid experiment. My life at best could be described as trippy and I was more than happy to embrace it. If nobody else could that would be their prerogative but I knew what made me happy and I couldn’t or wouldn’t change it for love nor for money. Philip seemed to be pretty laid back and being an artist and environmentalist he was probably more open minded than most but he was also a business man and thus still an unknown quantity. I couldn’t help but think that we both had felt some sort of mutual attraction towards each other this evening but it was still way too early to know for certain. Maybe it was just wishful thinking on my part that he’d seemed at least moderately interested in me and perhaps in time pursuing something more with me.
“Why isn’t there an easier way to tell if someone was interested in you or not?” I thought as I flopped over on my tummy and punched my pillow a couple of times in an effort to find the sweet spot on my pillow and drift off to sleep. Tossing and turning restlessly, trying to find just the right position I finally gave up deciding it was senseless to remain in bed. Slipping out of bed I padded silently over to the widow seat in my bedroom and curled up with my feet tucked beneath me. Moonlight was streaming in the window and I couldn’t help but notice what a beautiful night it was. The moon hung in the heavens in all its luminous glory and even the smallest stars that studded the midnight blue sky sparkled with radiance. It had that natural ambience that would have set the scene so perfectly for a first kiss. A kiss that would defy description, thrill you to your very core and leave you aching for more. One that made your heart sing, the very kind of kiss that I just somehow knew Philip would gift a woman with. I sat there staring out into the night and wondering what was could possibly be making a logical, sensible woman like myself even consider getting into a relationship with a man that I had just met a few hours ago. I’d just barely met him and here I was wondering what it would be like to share the perfect kiss with him. “Are you a grown woman Victoria or are you some smitten teenage girl?” I chided myself. I sighed, stretched and returned to bed and buried myself under the duvet. I needed to get some sleep one way or the other. I had a show tomorrow night and still had a load of things to do to get ready for it. Perfecting dance moves in my routines, packing my costume changes, make up, and props. By all rights I should never have gone over to Philip’s earlier this evening but the allure of spending time with him had just been too great for me to resist. I wasn’t sorry that I’d gone even though it would mean paying a price for it tomorrow.
The evening kept playing over and over again in my head, like some song that gets stuck in your brain and you can’t seem to shake it no matter what you do. Why was this man leaving such an indelible impression on my thoughts? Was it possible that there really was such a thing as love at first sight? No I told myself don’t be silly that only happens in romance novels or to other people not people like you. I continued to wrestle with my thoughts which included a physical tussle with my bed linens and pillows. Sydney gave up any pretenses of sleeping on the bed with me for tonight and curled up on the window seat I had abandoned. He was curled up paws over his eyes and sleeping like a baby. I should take lessons from that cat he could just curl up and go to sleep at the drop of a hat. Oh how I envied him that at the moment. Finally somehow I managed to drift off, my mind floating on a sea of thoughts and all of them were of Philip.
Just as Philip and Victoria are settling into a domestic harmony with each other, Philip discovers some rather candid photos of Victoria. Which leads him to wonder is she really the woman that she claims to be? How long can Victoria keep her alter ego a secret and even more importantly how is she going to explain it?
ACT III
Mornings always seem to come way too early for a night owl like myself but at least now I didn’t have to face dressing for success and racing off to the office. No more nylons, high heels and sensible business suits in blacks, charcoal greys or smartly pinstriped navy ones. Blessedly no more crowded commutes on the subway crowded in like sardines. Best of all no more taking my place in the parade of the lemmings as I always thought of it as we all rushed from Union Station through the underground Path to reach banks of elevators that would ferry us into a world of cold impersonal chrome and leather furnished offices, that were like cookie cutter duplicates of one another. I think it was the march of the lemmings I found the most distasteful part of the whole thing. Marching along in a seemingly endless stream of body’s, faces devoid of emotion clutching cups of Starbucks coffee, briefcases in hand with newspapers tucked underneath their arms. Scurrying along, heels clicking like spiky little claws on the tiled floor, drumming out the song of the doomed. Their destinies preordained for them just like the lemmings that follow each other off of the edge of a cliff in rapid succession blissfully ignorant of the fate that awaited them. My wake up calls that this was really not the life for me came as I watched my colleague’s marriages collapsing and ending in divorces after their partners grew wearied and frustrated by feeling more like mistresses than spouses. Esteemed colleague’s that I had known for years and I thought were solid as a rock, were suddenly on the verge of nervous collapses, from the pressure they were under.
While I had a great deal of empathy for them, I also knew in my heart of hearts that I didn’t want to end up like them. I wanted to live, to love and find what truly made me happy in life. Maybe I was merely having some sort of mid- life crisis, and should have bought a little red sports car, had breast implants and found a boy toy but somehow I knew that that wasn’t the right solution for me. So here I was starting over, scared half to death by it all and now I was falling for the guy next door. I had to laugh at the irony of it all, if I hadn’t of been already writing a book I could have simply written one about my own life. Mind you nobody would have believed it was my reality, more than likely they all would have thought it some very fanciful form of fiction. I chuckled out loud at that thought. Admittedly my life was a bit bizarre these days but it was my life and I was fully embracing it and loving it. My thoughts seamlessly transitioned into the still unknown realm of that most engaging man that now lived next door to me. Thoughts tumbled together as I wondered if he’d had any thoughts of me before he’d drifted off to sleep. Did he look incredibly sexy and dishevelled this morning when he woke up, with his hair tousled and stubble on his face, clothes that were rumpled after a night of sleeping in them. I would have given just about anything in the world to know the answers to those and so many more questions. What would it be like to wake up with our bodies tangled together, our limbs entwined. To feel his lips skimming over my shoulder as he gently tried to rouse me from my slumber. To feel his arousal and need pressing against me, prodding against my thigh telling me he desired me. “Oh good grief” I thought its getting more than a little warm in here. I’m going to have to throw myself under a cold shower if I continue to think about this much longer. A certain seldom felt sensation was spreading through my nether regions and I blushed crimson that mere thoughts were stirring me so.
“Right, Sydney old chap let’s get on with our day. I’ll get you fed and watered. Make some breakfast for myself. Then I’ll do some rehearsing for tonight’s show.” I recounted to my furry roommate as I sprang out bed. Typical male that Sydney was, he meowed his approval at the thought of being fed. He followed me down the hallway and down the stairs and into the kitchen his tail triumphantly held in the air. I filled up his bowl with kitty kibble and refreshed his water bowl. He eyed me balefully as if to say “This is it? This is all you’ve got for a poor starving boy like me?” “Get a grip Sydney I’ll give you a treat once I get my own breakfast underway.” Somewhat mollified by that promise he began to chow down in earnest. In the mean time I got the coffee brewing, put some music on in the living room to get me into the mood to rehearse and got some things out of the refrigerator to start making breakfast.
I was dancing around the kitchen in fact whisking eggs when a tapping at the back door startled me. Looking up at the door I found my new neighbour grinning back at me with a bemused look on his face. He held up the wine glasses by their stems in one hand. I pranced over to the door and opened it with a flourish still in my dance mode. “Good morning. I hope I’m not intruding on you, but I wanted to return these before they got misplaced or worse yet broken while I’m sorting things out.” “Oh no, its fine I’m just making some breakfast for Sydney and me.” I responded as I set the bowl with the eggs and whisk down on the kitchen counter. “Come on in if you’ve got time. Would you care to have some coffee or join us for breakfast?” I inquired. I was pretty impressed I was remaining so calm and collected as what I had been wondering about earlier in bed had manifested itself in my kitchen. He did have that rumbled, sexy air to his appearance just as I had envisioned it and it was making me a little weak in the knees looking at him. An involuntary shiver shook me, as I felt that feeling of sensuality flooding through me.
“Chilly?” He enquired. Damn him did he have to be so bloody observant? I flushed thinking he could actually read the thoughts that were smouldering in my mind not to mention he more than likely could see the perkiness of my nipples through the tight tee shirt I had worn to bed and still had on. “No. I’m fine.” I mumbled. An awkward little silence followed. “I’m really sorry for barging in like this and for looking like such a complete wreck but it seems I used the last of my shaving cream last night and I’m still looking for the boxes with fresh clothes in them.” He hurriedly made excuses. “I’m also willing to bet you don’t have anything to eat either in the cupboards or fridge either for that matter. So come on in and have a seat and I’ll whip us up some breakfast. I can’t guarantee how good it will be though.” I said laughingly. “I’m afraid I’m not really much of a cook but I’m learning since I started working from home.”
“Your right my cupboards are bare, and I would kill for a cup of coffee and something to stop my stomach from rumbling.” He laughed. “Besides I’m sure you’re a great cook.” He offered. “I’m getting better, but I’ve had my share of disasters. If you’re willing to settle for scrambled eggs and toast you should be fairly safe though.” I told him and couldn’t help but smile back at him as I did. “What no eggs Benedict complete with hollandaise sauce?” He said stroking his chin with an air of mock disbelief. His eyes danced with mirth as he said it. “You can have ketchup or salsa on those eggs, final offer.” I said crossing my arms over my chest. “Well beggars can’t be choosers so I would be delighted with what’s on the menu then.” He said smiling.
I was actually delighted to have been invited for breakfast as I truly was starving but more importantly it meant more time spend with this vivacious creature who had been so freely dancing about her kitchen only moments earlier. Just to spend time with her I would have eaten runny eggs with the shells still in them and declared them perfect. After I offered to help set the table for breakfast she’d pointed out where I’d find the items I need to do so and she scampered off to turn down the music she’d been listening to. I was curious as to why she was listening to the Divynl's song “When I Think About You, I Touch Myself.” After viewing the old concert t shirt she’d had on the following day and the one she had on this morning, it was a bit of a mystery to me as this song was vastly different than the artists that were proudly displayed across her rather ample cleavage. When she returned I had the table set and she started to make breakfast. She tossed a dollop of butter into the pan heating on the stove and the sizzle of the butter melting reached my ears as I sipped my first cup of coffee of the day taking in the scene before me. She poured the egg mixture she’d been working on when I arrived into the pan and popped the slices of toast down to brown in the toaster. Ordinary everyday things but somehow she made it seem like it was something out of the ordinary. She hummed as she scrambled the eggs and her feet were keeping time with the music in the background. Life just seemed to be one joyful dance for her and she saw no reason to stop for any reason.
She turned off the gas burner, grabbed the toast when it popped buttered it, divided the eggs on to the two plates I’d gotten out for her and carried them over to the table. Placing one of the plates in front of me she said “You’re lucky this batch seems to be egg shell free.” She was grinning at me triumphantly, over her latest culinary triumph as she set the plate to rest in front of me. She looked so pleased about it that I swear even if they’d been burnt and had the whole shell in them I would have dutifully choked them down and pronounced them the best I’d ever had in my life. The woman that had seated herself at the table with me meant far more to me than anything else at the present time. “It looks delicious.” I told her truthfully. They appeared to be light and fluffy and as my stomach rumbled I was more than ready to dig into them. “Thanks” She replied, seeming grateful for the compliment. “Now that I’ve mastered these I’m thinking of venturing out into the wonderful world of omelettes and after that who knows, pancakes, French toast? Look out Julia Childs here comes Victoria Bellamy.” She announced and began to giggle. It was contagious and I joined her. After that we dug into breakfast with gusto. The eggs were actually as light and fluffy as they appeared and I was hoping she planned on keeping me around to try her other successes in the kitchen as well as for other reasons. Trying to be a gentleman I avoided looking at her chest which was framed nicely in that faded tight tee shirt it was swathed in. Her breasts were plump and pleasing encased as they were and with the deep scoop of the neckline more than a hint of cleavage was visible which was playing havoc with parts of my own anatomy. Quickly I focused my eyes and my thoughts on her lovely face. “So what’s on your agenda today?” I asked her trying to get my mind off places I probably shouldn’t be allowing myself to go to.
Secretly I was hoping she wasn’t particularly busy especially later this evening and I could perhaps make another date of sorts with her. I had to head to the gallery at some point to ensure that the renovations were going the way they should be but the majority of my day was going to be devoted to arranging the house and scoping out the neighbourhood. Which I dared to hope my lovely new neighbour would offer to show me around. “Oh it’s not too hectic of a day for me today. I want to get the study put in order now that the paints dry. Do some laundry, grab some groceries that sort of thing today.” She answered. I noticed she didn’t mention what she was doing with her evening and that gave me reason to believe I stood a chance of garnering another pseudo date with her. “Well I should lay in some supplies for the kitchen as well, at least the basics. Would you mind if I tagged along with you? Since you planned on going anyhow, it would be great to have a guide around the neighbourhood. I can drive if you like.” I offered. “Walking would be easier, parking can be a bit of a nightmare and it’s only a couple of blocks from here, as long as you don’t mind carrying groceries.” She answered me, which gave me the impression she was open to me coming along with her.
“Not at all, I think I’m up to the challenge.” I responded as I flexed my arm at her the better to show off my manly prowess. I felt a bit like I was a preening peacock spreading my magnificent tail feathers in an effort to entice her. It was obviously working as she grinned at me. “It would be my pleasure to show you around.” “Great.” I responded “I’d really appreciate it. I could also help you move your furniture back into place as means of repayment for you being my tour guide. What time were you planning on heading out to do your errands?” I inquired. “I’d like to shower first so how does say, half an hour work for you?” she asked. “Perfect.” I answered but my mind had heard the word shower which meant Victoria in all her natural glory and which totally got me off track and sent my train throttling ahead at full speed to amorous thoughts. She definitely had an allure to her and exuded a sexuality which my poor male self was finding hard to resist. Quickly switching gears before I found myself in a rather awkward situation thanks to nature itself, which would be rather difficult for me to conceal from the lady. I said. “I’ll give you hand cleaning up, then I’ll go try spruce up a bit myself then meet you back here on the front porch. “It’s a deal.” She chirped back at me and added you want to “Wash or dry?” “I’ll dry thanks” and she handed me a dish towel so we could set to work. It didn’t take very long for us to finish putting the kitchen back in order and I was rather enjoying participating in this rather charming little domestic scene with her. When we finished I bade her good bye and hurried home to grab a quick shower and hopefully find a box with some clean clothes to wear.
I skipped up the stairs to the bathroom feeling as giddy as a school girl who had a date with that cute boy from chemistry class. Sydney was hot on my heels as I did. I think I had the quickest shower in history as I wanted to make sure I looked good for him but not make it seem like I was trying to get his attention. It was a most delicate balance for a woman who was extremely interested in pursuing something further with a man but not wanting to come off as desperate to pull off. I settled on a pair of jeans which nicely showed off my assets and teamed it with a crisp white button down shirt. It was a classic, casual look that would seem like I always dressed this way to run to the grocery store. Sydney seemed to be reading my thoughts. “Get real” He seemed to be saying “We both know you wear yoga pants and a tee shirt when you do groceries what is this urban chic look of yours all about missy?” “Don’t mess with the keeper of the tuna, Sydney.” I chided him as I swiped a layer of mascara on and bolted down the stairs to meet my date. The doorbell chimed just as I was yanking it open with as much grace as I could muster. “Hi neighbour. Great timing, shall we be off?” I smiled before turning to lock the door behind me. I couldn’t help but notice how handsome he looked even with a day’s growth of beard on his face. His hair was still damp and he looked devilishly sexy and I found myself desiring him. He’d obviously been able to find some fresh clothes to put on as he now wore a pair of jeans which actually fitted his form magnificently and he had on a white polo shirt which brought out the colour of his dark eyes even more. They were eyes that were captivating and I could see myself surrendering to them, with little to no other effort required on his part.
“Indeed we shall.” I answered her and I’m not sure what possessed me but I offered her my arm, which she slipped hers through in a companionable manner with no hesitation what so ever and we started down the steps together. It somehow felt right to me to be walking along with her in this manner, as if we were a couple and had been for some time. She chattered away pointing out things that she thought might be of interest to me for either practical reasons or simply because she thought I would enjoy them. We shared a shopping cart when we arrived at the grocery store and I was quite relieved to find as we both added items to our allotted cart space that it appeared we would be quite compatible in the future. I was mainly picking up some basic staples to get me started, eggs, bread, milk, butter, cheese, peanut butter and the like. I also extracted a promise from her to show me St. Lawrence Market as well as Kensington markets where I would find the freshest of the fresh in the way of fruits, vegetables, meats, fish and everything my heart could possibly desire food wise. I smiled inwardly thinking of the pleasure it would give me to spend more time with her. Our arms laden with bags of groceries we began to make our way back home once more. I’d much preferred our walk to the grocery store arm in arm with her brushing against me every now and again. I’d even been able to catch the faint whiff of her shampoo and it was as soft and as delicate as she was. As we strolled the last half block or so she gestured ahead of us as best she could with her hands filled with grocery bags. “If we kept going straight ahead and turned right we’d end up at Riverdale Farm.” “A farm in the middle of the city, that’s rather fascinating.” I answered her quite honestly. “Oh it is, back in 1888 it was originally known as Riverdale Zoo, until it was relocated in 1974 to Scarborough and renamed the Toronto Zoo. Now it’s kept up by the parks department and civic groups like the Horticultural Societies of Toronto. It’s maintained like an old world farm from the 1880’s to the 1920’s period. I think you’d love there. It’s a great place to have a picnic, and there’s always something going on. Farmer’s markets, Rites of spring festivals, fall festivals. It’s a great place.” She summed up.
“It sounds delightful. Perhaps we’ll explore it together on some occasion in the near future.” I said looking at her meaningfully. She flushed as I said it and smiled at me softly. “Perhaps.” She added demurely. “Well here we are, home sweet home.” I didn’t want our time together to end. “Give me a minute to put this in the refrigerator then I can come back and help you move the furniture in the study. I mean if you want my help that is.” I added hastily. “That would be great, if it’s not going to be any trouble for you.” She responded. “No, no not at all, it would be my pleasure to be of assistance to you mademoiselle.” I said bowing to her. “Then I graciously accept your kind offer.” She said to me. “I’ll leave the front door open for you if I’m not in the study you’ll find me in the kitchen.” And with that she was gone.
I was grinning as I entered the house. Already she was treating me as if we’d been friends for years and felt comfortable with me just letting myself in. I took that as a good sign. I stowed my provisions in the kitchen and hastily departed for Victoria’s place. Bounding up the step at her place two at a time, I squared my shoulders as I put my hand on the door knob. It felt almost familiar to me and I fought back the urge to shout out, “Honey, I’m home.” as I entered. Instead I settled for “Victoria, where are you?” “I’m in the study Philip.” Her voice floated back to me. It had a melodic sound to it and I couldn’t believe it was the same voice that had sounded rather icy and full of prickles and stings only the day before. We’d come a long way in only a short time and I planned on taking it as far as I could. There was just something about her and I was for whatever the reason was certain that I wanted this woman in my life permanently.
“Hey” I said as I entered the study and found her standing in one of the corners of the room with her back towards me. “Hi” she said turning to face me and smiling brightly. “I’m just trying to figure out the best place to put everything. I’m planning on doing most of my work in here and I want it to be perfect.” “Yes the composition of the room is imperative to your creative flow.” I answered her earnestly. “Exactly, you totally understand what I mean Philip. I need it to flow. It has to be inviting in here so the placement is perfect. I want to take advantage of the natural lighting as well as the view of changing seasons through the window. I need it to be calm and soothing in here as well as having the environment stimulating to my mind and creative process.” . “It’s the same for me when I create my art. I want to work in a space where the energy flows freely and my mind can be open.” “Precisely!” she said snapping her fingers in agreement. “Well I think you made an excellent start with the choice of colours you selected for the room. Muted tones will make it light and airy and make the room seem more open. Now what do you say, we get these drop clothes off of the furniture and get a better idea of what we have to work with and where it would fit in best.” “Good plan.” She responded as we set about removing the paint splattered drop cloths together. We worked in wordless unison as we unveiled her treasures and folded the drop cloths together and stacked them neatly by the door way. She had some stunning antique pieces that had lovingly been hand crafted of quality woods. You could tell the time and attention that had been lavished on them to keep them so glossy. Her desk was a work of art on its own. It was an old fashioned one which had plenty of drawer space 3 on either side one directly in the centre of it and best of all the pigeon holed top on the back was a thing of beauty in its own right. Plenty of interesting little drawers and spaces to stash all the tools of her trade and have it done in an intriguing manner. There was enough space to comfortably work on either her laptop or scribble away onto notepads.
She also had two bankers style book cases each with three shelves and as I took a closer look I realized it was put together with no nails or hardware save for the metal hinges on the interior. It was a fascinating piece to me the way it fit together so snuggly and perfectly. There was also a built in bookcase which allowed her plenty of room to store her books and any research materials she’d require to spur her along. There was also a leather covered chair on coasters for the desk as well as two very cozy wing back chairs that looked perfect for sipping tea or wine in as she read over her notes and pondered what would make it a stronger piece of literature. After a bit of debate we decided the best places for everything and soon we had the furniture arranged in such a way as to be pleasing to the eye as well as the creative process. That left several boxes of what I presumed were books, knickknacks and office supplies to be unpacked and homes found for them. I figured that would be the end of our little venture together and I was desperately trying to think of ways to somehow stretch it out longer. I was racking my brain to come up with a plan of action, when I heard her voice in the silence of her room. “Would you mind if I took advantage of your creative talents and asked you to help me arrange my books and a few odds and ends? I’d really appreciate it if you would.” She said. I believe it was her way of signaling to me that she was more than pleased with the arrangement of the room. “I’d love to.” I said and I truly meant it. I was in my glory that I was being allowed to stay in any capacity. “Do you have a preference as to how I group them?” I asked her. “No they are all old friends of mine and I can easily identify them by the colours and fonts on the spine before I even focus on the titles. I’ll trust your judgement.” “Then I shall rise to the challenge and create a thing of splendor for you.
I was happy to unpack the books, framed photos and other little odds and ends as it gave me more insight into her character, her likes and dislikes which I would be able to discern to a degree by what wasn’t included in the mix. There were leather bound copies of various poets, stacks of classics some that I was aware were rather rare first editions of. There was also a mix of travel books, true crime books, novels by a wide variety of authors everything from Hunter S. Thompson to Richard Bach. Cozy murder mysteries, and a rather large collection of autobiographies of musicians from Phil Lesh and Searching for the Sound, to No One Gets Out Alive the biography of Jim Morrison. All in all a pretty eclectic mix but a lot of things I had similar interests in. I started unpacking the box that was marked pictures. Pretty standard stuff really that I was discovering as I unwrapped them to reveal the pictures. Family members and friends who I was confident I’d come to know in time as well as I knew my own family. The next one I unwrapped through me for a bit of a loop. There was a photo of Victoria who was unmistakable to my eye even with the leather mask with cat ears protruding from it. She was also dressed in a rather provocative manner. Her ample breasts were rather prominent in a leather bustier, and oh my, oh my, was that a leather riding crop in her hand? I was completely flummoxed by this discovery and let out a gasp of surprise. Had she been lying to me about the job on Bay Street and being a writer? Was she in reality some sort of professional dominatrix? Had my impressions of her been wrong all along? Try and get a grip on yourself old man, I’m sure there is a logical explanation for this like maybe it as some sort of Halloween outfit from a time she was feeling rather outlandish. I quickly rewrapped it and placed it back in the box for the time being. I set about arranging my other finds on the shelves but my mind kept straying back to that photo of her in the silver frame. She looked incredibly sexy in it but I’d fallen for that girl next door, with the business smarts and the desire to ply her craft as an author. That was a girl I could take home to meet my family and friends. Who was the real Victoria Bellamy and would I ever find out?
As Philip and Victoria busily organize each others homes, their thoughts both stray to what the future holds for the two of them. Philip would love to spend another evening with Victoria but she’s got a previous commitment that she must honour but remains elusive as to what it is. Based on those rather candid photos of Victoria he found earlier he’s torn between his feelings for her and finding out the truth. Restless after being on his own for the evening Philip decides that a walk and some fresh air might just help clear his head. Imagine his shock when he finds himself in front of a club with a play bill featuring the talents of none other than Miss Kitty, the same woman who only hours earlier had been mysteriously starring at him from inside a picture frame.
ACT IV
Waves of horror washed over me, rocking me none to gently over the swells of a nauseating realization. I’d been so caught up in finding ways to spend more time with Philip that I had completely forgotten about some of the pictures I had packed in the boxes. Pictures of me as my alter ego Miss Kitty, decked out as completely over the top as only a drag queen can be. “If there is a God in heaven please, please, please don’t let him find those pictures and make the connection.” I thought to myself wretchedly. Philip was currently sitting on the floor in front of a pile of pictures and books he’d recently unpacked. “How’s it going?” I said trying to sound as casual as possible but it came out more like a high pitched squeak from a mouse that had just been pounced on by a cat. “Oh fine. Just studying some of these photos and what not deciding how they’d look best on the shelves.” Did I detect an edge to his voice now or was it me merely being paranoid? At the moment I was as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs and felt rather on edge. “Here” I said stooping and scooping up the box with the offending pictures in it. “I’ll put a couple of these on my desk and maybe group a few on the walls. What do you think?” My voice was higher pitched and strangled to my ears then I thought possible as my anxiety levels continued to rise. This was so not the way I wanted him to find out about my secret life. Finding a great guy and dating was enough of a challenge without having to reveal all your baggage straight off the bat. Why, oh why did my life always have to end up being something that you’d see on an episode of the Jerry Springer show?
“Definitely something on the walls would be good. Perhaps I have something at the gallery or in my personal collection that would work well in here for you.” He replied. My back was turned to him as I unwrapped the pictures on the top of my desk and thankfully discovered the ones I wanted still wrapped in a protective sheet of old newspaper print. I quickly slipped them into one of the desk drawers and buried them under a sheaf of papers. Phew, that was a close call. My pulse was slowly returning to normal. “That’s a really wonderful offer, but right now I’m not in a financial position to be investing in art. Not with the renovations I still need to complete on the house, and my take home income has shrunken considerably since I decided to start a new career path. If you’d made me that offer 3 months ago I would have jumped at the opportunity.” I sighed. She sounded so genuinely sincere about having the desire to invest in art but currently lacking the funds. “I didn’t mean to imply that you purchase some of my work I was thinking it would be more of a gift or perhaps a loan if that would make you more comfortable.” “Oh that’s really a very generous offer but I couldn’t possibly, I’d feel like I was taking advantage of you.” I have to admit I was genuinely flummoxed after the photo I’d just viewed. The woman that stood before me concerned about taking advantage of me was not the same woman that was vamping it up for the camera. I was more than a little puzzled by this recent turn of events. Maybe I was blowing this whole thing out of proportion maybe it was for a costume party she’d worn the outfit living out some naughty fantasy of being a seductress for a few hours. Perhaps she had a twin sister who was her exact opposite and a very colourful character, but if that were the case why had she become so tense. Was it only a mere coincidence that she whisked the box out of my hands? Stop analyzing this and just focus on spending time with her and getting to know her, it’s not like you’ve declared your love for her or anything, I chided myself. I may not have declared it publicly but my heart had already begun the process of declaring it to me.
“You wouldn’t be taking advantage of me I’d be taking advantage of you show casing my works for me.” I told her. “I’ll think about it. Thank you.” She replied giving me a small smile. We continued to work together until I the last book was in place and she’d brought in a couple of leafy green ferns and a couple potted philodendrons which seemed to really help pull it all together and finish it off. Standing side by side, knuckles under our chins we surveyed our final efforts with a critical eye. “I love it. I absolutely love it!!” She enthused and turned and caught me off guard with a massive bear hug. I was further shocked when she stretched up on her tippy toes and placed a kiss on my cheek. “It looks amazing, totally amazing. Thank you so much for all the help. I never could have done it without you Philip.” She hugged me with an ardent fervor that I returned by hugging her back. She felt wonderful in my arms and I felt like I could hold her forever. The softness of her contours pressed against me, moulded to my body. It all felt so perfectly natural. Right now I wanted to taste the sweetness of her kisses against my lips more than anything. Poised on the edge of taking the plunge and doing just that, she suddenly pulled away from me, flushing to the roots of her hairline. “Oh I’m so sorry, Philip. I don’t know what came over me. I was just so overcome with my enthusiasm.” The words continued to tumble out her mouth. “It’s fine Victoria.” I assured her as I smiled down at her upturned scarlet face. “Hugs between friends are never inappropriate. Besides your spontaneous hugs and kiss are the best thank you I’ve ever received for helping someone out.”
“I really do love it and appreciate you adding your expert eye and touches to it to bring it all together.” She mused trying to look me in the eyes despite her obvious embarrassment for embracing me only moments earlier. It took someone of character to still look you in the eyes despite their own discomfort and it gave me to believe I had been concerned over something that was probably very silly and laughable at the end of the day. She’d tell me about it in her own time and her own way I reasoned. “How about we take a little lunch break and then I’ve got a few hours to spare and I could help you with things over at your place. That’s if you want me too” She added in an anxious voice. “That would be greatly appreciated if you’re absolutely sure you have time and it won’t be an inconvenience to you.” I replied. “No, I’d be more than happy to. As for lunch I was thinking tuna salad on whole wheat and some ice tea.” “That sounds good to me.” We made our way to the kitchen and prepared our lunch together. I was really beginning to feel at home with all these little domestic scenarios we’d been sharing over the last 24 hours or so. I knew I could totally grow accustomed to making it a regular thing. Without a doubt I could also get used to having her in arms and exploring the prospect of exchanging even more intimate and passionate kisses with her. It was time for me to face the facts I was getting totally hooked on this woman, as hooked as the tuna had gotten hooked and that we were now dining on together. We actually had a chaperone throughout our lunch together as Sydney at the first sound of the can opener and first whiff of tuna had clearly made his presence known. He’d done an intricate dance around our ankles and feet, purring and meowing against the two of us until we had given in and provided him with his own kitty sized portion of tuna.
As we were cleaning up after our little luncheon, it struck me that we really were like a couple that had known each other for years. Jabbering away at each other about nothing and everything all at the same time, sharing laughter and even knowing who was going to wash and who would be the one to dry. They might seem small and rather inconsequential things to a great many people but in the grander scheme of things it meant something pretty significant to me. All of this was crazy and totally illogical to my rather logical and structured mind set but nonetheless I found myself swept up into this maelstrom of emotions. Could I possibly have met my soul mate? Why did I just feel so sure deep inside of myself that she was something special and someone I very much wanted to hold on to on a permanent basis? We ambled over to my place after we’d finished the cleanup in the kitchen. I felt a bit disheartened when I realized the number of boxes that needed to be unpacked and sighed deeply.“Now, none of that.” she chided me. “This is so doable between the two of us, we’ll break it down into micro steps and we’ll have things in apple pie order in no time flat.” She assured me.“Yes ma’am” I said saluting her. “So what do you think our plan of attack should be?” She was clearly used to being in charge and making decisions as she mapped out a practical plan of action. “Our priorities to get into shape before I have to leave are your bedroom, the main bathroom, the kitchen and your studio area. The rest can be taken care of over the next couple of days. You need to be able to function in here.” She told me as she rolled up her sleeves ready to get down to some serious business.
Beckoning me to follow her down the hall to the kitchen which was where she clearly planned on the two of us starting. I appreciated the view as I trailed behind her watching the gentle sway of her hips, her perfect little bottom cased in denim and her confident gait. “What a woman. Sexy, confident, intelligent she’s a total package and it’s a rather nicely wrapped package that I’d very much like to unwrap.” I thought to myself. We started opening boxes and began unpacking them. I think she was pretty impressed that I was going to have such a well outfitted kitchen. “You’ve got such an amazing espresso machine. I’ll so be inviting myself over coffee klatches.” She informed me. “I’m being rather cheeky inviting myself over aren’t I?” she added grinning at me. “Not at all, I think you’ll find you have a standing invitation to drop by anytime you so desire.” I answered giving her a penetrating gaze which changed the colour of her cheeks to a rather fetching shade of pink. “I love these wine glasses too. They’ve got such an interesting combination of colours in them.” She added obviously trying to steer the conversation into an area that might lead to us blurring that thin line between becoming something more than just friends. “They were hand blown by a friend of mine in Montreal, a talented artist by the name of Claudette. I have several of her pieces on display at my galleries. You’ll see some more of her work as we get more things unpacked.” I told her thinking nothing of it other than it was a simple statement of fact.
“Claudette??” I thought rather indignantly, as I felt myself involuntarily stiffen at the mention of her name. “She’s probably some perfectly elegant, model like creature that he’s got something more than a working relationship with.” I was a little vexed by the thought of him with some woman other than myself. What was wrong with me, here I am falling for this guy even further and I can’t even bring myself to tell him the entire truth about myself. Not a great way to start a relationship. “I’m sure she’s very talented in her own right.” I said out loud. Trying to sound sincere as I said it but there was a short staccato delivery to my words that belied my irritation over this unknown factor in his life. Philip being a man though, I figured that I was probably safe, in that he wouldn’t even bat an eye over the change in the tone of my voice, lead alone even suspect I was irked at the mere mention of another woman’s name. Men can be so obtuse at times. We carried on until everything was properly stowed away in the cupboards in an orderly fashion or arranged neatly on the counter tops. “There you go one room done and it looks great in here. Now you can at least scrounge up a cup of coffee and a piece of toast for yourself.” I told him feeling rather pleased with what we’d just accomplished together. Good old what’s her name was still in the back of my mind but it was far better that I concentrate on the here and the now. There had been a distinct change in Victoria’s demeanor when I had casually brought up Claudette’s name and it made me think that she might just be a tad jealous of her. There was no reason for her to be as we truly were only casual friends and she was a business acquaintance more than anything. I was a little bit pleased over her reaction though as I figured if she didn’t have any designs about me or a future for us she wouldn’t have so much as batted an eye over the mention of another woman.
Next we went upstairs where we could begin work on the master bedroom and the main bathroom. We began by putting together the bed frame and attaching the headboard. Between the two us we than managed to wrestle the king sized box spring and mattress on to it. Victoria discovered the box of linens and set about making up the bed. I began unpacking boxes of my clothes and began to fill my dresser drawers with sweaters, t shirts, socks and my underwear. “Boxers, man are you?” she inquired. “We’re you expecting a leather thong or g strings perhaps?” I quipped back. “You never know.” She shrugged, “Rumour has it that you French men can be rather risqué.” But she was grinning at me as she said it and floated out the door with an armful of extra bed linens for the linen closet in the hallway. This unexpected little exchange seemed to somehow raise the bar for our flirtation and I couldn’t help but wonder where it might eventually lead us. The bed she’d made up so expertly was looking awfully inviting and I was pretty confident there was room for two in it. “Would you care to find out for yourself?” I called out to her teasingly. “Tempting offer but we’ve still got work to do sport. Besides I just made the bed, be a shame to mess it up.” She answered me as re-entering the bedroom and beginning to break down the cardboard boxes. I let the matter drop for the time being but it was one that I knew I’d definitely make attempts at pursuing again somewhere down the road. It would have been so easy to sweep her up in my arms and make love to her here and now. Just live in the moment and ravish her body covering it with warm kisses and gentle caresses. She felt and smelt so good that brief time she had spent in my arms earlier when she had thrown herself into my arms and embraced me. To have more would have been a most delightful experience and one that I was sure would be well worth repeating over and over again.
The bedroom looks great when we finished with it and it was going to be wonderful to be able to stretch out in my own bed tonight even if it was going to be a solo experience for me. Next we moved on to the bathroom which didn’t take all that long to get organized. I unpacked my toiletries and shaving gear which I’d finally located and would make sure I had a proper shave at the first opportunity that presented itself. Victoria hung the shower curtain, folded towels and arranged them on the towel rack and put in those little touches that only a feminine hand seemed to be capable of. It looked cheerful and cozy when we finished. “I’ve always loved these large old bathtubs. Perfect for taking long luxurious soaks in the tub. Just remember to shut the curtains when you do, or Mrs. Shapiro next door will be waving at you.” She giggled at me as she filled me in about my inquisitive neighbour on the other side of me.
“Thanks for the heads up. It might have led to some rather awkward encounters on the street as a result. I’ll have to make sure no nude sun bathing in the back yard either I suppose.” I knew it was rather naughty of me to be so cheeky with her but I just couldn’t seem to help myself. She just started laughing “Now that would end up being the talk of the entire neighbourhood and she’d probably have her entire knitting circle over to check it out.” We both laughed heartily at the thought of that. We drifted down stairs to the living room still chuckling and theorizing about Mrs. Shapiro and her peeping Tom tendencies. “It’s really nice having you around Victoria. Giving me the inside information on the neighbours and what to expect. Helping me organize the house and making into an actual home that I’ll enjoy spending time in. You’ve been just super about everything and I truly appreciate it.” I told her quite truthfully.
“It’s been my pleasure and a lot of fun actually. It’ll be nice having a friend my own age in the neighbourhood.” She answered me. I also hoped that on some level at least she too was seriously entertaining the idea of the two of us perhaps taking things to an even more intimate level of friendship and more. “Now the clocks ticking and I really do have to be going shortly and grab a quick dinner before I head off to my commitment this evening. So we’d better get a move on and hustle if you want a living room to relax in tonight.” Quickly checking my watch I noticed the time. “Oh Victoria, I’m so sorry I had no idea what time it is but it would explain my crumbling stomach. If you have to leave now I totally understand.” I told her. Of course I understood that she’d made these plans of hers long before I had come into the picture and I really did understand that she’d have to leave soon, but it didn’t stop me from wishing she could stay. Inspiration struck me, at least it would buy me some time with her keep her by my side for a while longer. “How about I order in and you’ll be my guest? It’ll save you some time not having to make dinner or clean up after it. What do you say?” I gave her a beseeching look. “How can I say no to that face?” she asked me with a faint smile on her lips. “Besides I feel it’s my duty to continue to educate you on the best take out places in the city. So what’ll it be tonight then?” she asked me. “Lady’s choice this evening, besides I picked last night.” “And you did very well if I remember correctly.” She smiled at me. “You might be sorry though as I’m starving and could really go for a burger and fries. Oh and a milkshake of course. If your game I know just the place Dangerous Dan’s.” “Sounds intriguing, and since I’m starving a good burger would hit the spot. Tell me what you want and give me the number. In fact I’ll bow to your judgement and ask you to order for me as well.” “Great.” She pulled out her mobile and hit one of the keys. Clearly she’d ordered from them more than once. “Hi, I’d like to place an order for delivery please. Sure the address is……” she reeled off the information in rapid succession and then placed the order. “We’d like two Elvis shakes, two big Kevorkian’s, a small order of Greek fries and small order of coleslaw. Do you want dessert?” she mouthed to me silently. I shook my head no, but she clearly had other ideas. “Oh, and C.C.P. please. Yes, that’ll be everything. Could I have a total on that please?”
“Method of payment?” she asked me quietly. “Cash” I answered her. “It’s going to be a cash payment.” She answered speaking into the phone. “Okay thanks.” And she ended the call and pocketed it again. “I really hope that you’re hungry.” She grinned at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I have no idea what you just ordered exactly but it sounds like it’s enough to feed a small army. Not to mention I’ll need to find a nearby gym to workout at.” I laughed in return“True this isn’t an everyday indulgence but sometimes you just have to throw caution to the wind and go for it.” “I’ll remember that it’s okay to go for it.” I said quietly and once again a rosy hue crept up Victoria’s cheeks. It was rather fun making her blush and she was extremely endearing to me when she did so. You were able to catch a glimpse of her vulnerable side when she did and it touched my heart. “While we wait for dinner we can still get some more work done. Come on.” She said once again trying to deflect attention away from talking about the subject that I was currently trying to put on the table. We figured out where the furniture would go best in the room and began arranging it accordingly. Everything was pretty much in place as the doorbell chimed. I excused myself and went to answer the door. I returned balancing a cardboard take out tray with the two milk shakes in it and a rather large paper bag with the rest in the order. “Shall we dine in this evening or dine al fresco in the back yard?” I inquired. “Definitely al fresco, it’s so nice out today.” She took the drink tray from me and we made our way down the hall, out through the kitchen and out the back door to the yard. “Look we’re in luck our table seems to be available.” She joked as she walked over and took the milk shakes out of the holder and placed them on the table and put straws into them.
While she did that I unpacked our burgers and the rest of the items. “Now that’s what I call a burger. What’s in it exactly?” I questioned just a little skeptical of it given its name. “Trust me. You’ll totally love it, there’s fried onions, mushrooms, deep fried pickles, garlic dressing, bacon and mayo on it. As for the fries think of it as a kind of Greek version of poutine, instead of gravy and cheese curds, they’ve got tzatziki sauce and feta cheese on them. Oh and the shakes are chocolate, banana, and peanut butter. There so thick you’re pucker will get a good work out.” She laughed. Outwardly I said “Sounds interesting and filling.” Inwardly I was thinking there were other ways that would be more enjoyable to practice my puckering with her. All in good time I reminded myself. Remarkably despite the size of the portions we wolfed down the meal like we hadn’t eaten in days. I had to admit it was good, not haute cuisine by any means but comforting and filling. I even enjoyed the twist on the traditional poutine I was used to having in Montreal. Time was rapidly running out before she had to take her leave and I wanted to linger over the dessert which turned out to be deep fried cookie dough with a pile of whipped cream and chocolate sauce on it. I have no clue how either of us managed to fit it in but we did. “I’m been having such a good time with you today. I really am sorry that I have to make a mad dash for it but a commitment is a commitment.” She said as she began gathering up the empty wrappers and containers from our meal. “Don’t worry about those, you have to get going.” “Thanks for understanding.” And for a brief moment she looked as if she might lean in and kiss me. Our eyes were locked together and the connection was definitely there, but this wasn’t the right time. Not a moment either of us wanted to rush when it came. A kiss may not have been in the cards but she did give me a tight little hug as I saw her to the door and I watched her as she disappeared into her own home with a little wave before she disappeared from my view entirely.
“Sorry Sydney” I apologized as I hurriedly fed my feline roommate and ran up the stairs like I was possessed to hurriedly check my “drag bag” as the queens all referred to it. A piece of luggage that was the size of a carry on piece and could easily be wheeled and pulled along. I took a quick cursory look, and did a mental check of the inventory in it. Make up bag, false eye lashes, costumes, props wigs, shoes and most importantly my leather mask which concealed my true identity while I performed. All I had to do now was grab my music that I’d been listening to earlier in the day when Adrien had arrived, grab my jacket and purse and be on my way. Feeling like I was fugitive, I snuck out of the house carefully checking to make sure there was no sign of Philip as I locked the door and rushed down the steps and down the street past his house. I wasn’t happy hiding this from him but I had to find the right way to break it to him, I knew I’d eventually figure out the way to do it. He was a reasonable person after all, right? It was only a twenty minute or so walk and I knew the fresh air would help clear my head and focus on my performance tonight. The brisk walk would also be a good way to help me burn off some of that dinner I’d just pigged out on. Arriving at the club, I took a quick glance at the playbills which was promoting not only tonight’s performance but the coming performances as well. They looked great and it was always gave me a small secret thrill to see myself pictured on them with my name in print, even if was my alias. It was still early and the bar area was practically empty maybe a half dozen people in total milling around chatting over cocktails and pints of beer. More than likely there was another hand full out on the patio area at the back of the bar or in the upstairs bar area.
Dropping by the bar, Alex greeted me. “Hey sweetie, how’s it going? Can I get you a cranberry and vodka.” “That would be great. Thanks Alex.” I said as he poured me a drink. “Are Sush and the rest of the girls here yet?” I asked as he handed me my drink. “Sush is, and so is Amanda, not sure about the others.” “Thanks hon.” I told him as I made my way to the change rooms for the performers. As I opened the door I heard, “Darling, there you are, naughty Kitty where have you been girl? The scolding I was get was friendly and coming from my dear friend and the headlining performer herself Sush. She gave me a warm hug and a kiss on either cheek. “Now let’s hurry and get ready. We need to transform you into your inner diva. I had no qualms about sharing a changing room with these other performers and knew that there was nothing sexual about it on their parts towards me. Though they had told me they envied the fact I had my own natural cleavage and didn’t need to tape or use bras padded with special inserts the way they did to achieve my feminine curves in their outfits. Sush was putting the finishing touches on her make up as I started getting into character myself. “So what’s new with you sweetie?” She asked me. “Not much I’ve got a new neighbour, who just moved in yesterday.” “I’ll need details.” She requested. “Single, married, female, male, your team or mine?” she asked teasingly. “Single and pretty sure he’s horribly hetro as you’d put it.” I responded. “Figures, the good ones are either married or straight.” She quipped. “Funny I thought it was the good ones are either married or gay.” I retorted. “All about your perspective I suppose.” She countered, as we shared a laugh over our silly little joke. Before I knew it I was dressed and ready to go as well as several other queens who had joined us and shimmied into girdles and bindings to provide shapes most women would be envious of. Soon I’d find myself waiting just off the stage area to hit centre stage launch into my first number of the evening, before the now packed bar.
I was restless after Victoria had left and I couldn’t seem to get her off my mind. I’d tried doing some more unpacking, had a shower and a shave, tried doing some reading and even tried to watch the game on television but nothing seemed to work. I should have gone to the gallery and done some work but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. In the end I gave up and decided to grab my jacket and go for a walk explore another area of the city and hopefully put my thoughts of Victoria into perspective. It was a nice night for a walk and I wasn’t entirely sure where I was headed. Eventually I found myself on Carlton Street at the corner of Church Street. The iconic former home of the Leafs stood where it always had a shadow of its former glory. Once a sports mecca and host to some of the biggest and best concerts in Toronto it was now housed a Superstore which seemed such a come down for the grand dame that she once was. I turned right and moseyed up Church Street. I guess I was thinking based on its name I’d find quaint old churches and some great architecture to take in. As I moved farther up the street I realized I couldn’t have been more wrong. It would seem I had stumbled into the heart of the LGBT community. It was a bit disconcerting to me but I decided to venture further and explore. After all you never know what might be uncovered or what inspiration I might garner for some new art project. Stopping in front of one club I scanned the play bills and advertisements for things like Ruby Slipper bingo on Tuesday afternoons, along with other events and then I saw it and it stopped me dead in my tracks. There it was clearly announcing the fact that Miss Kitty was performing tonight. Despite the fact I was new in town, I was certain I’d made more than a passing acquaintance with the very fetching looking sex kitten pictured on it, for it was none other than my new neighbour and love interest Victoria Bellamy that was staring back at me from the poster before me. Despite the mask there was no mistaking the fact it was her, especially after I had stumbled upon her photographs earlier dressed in similar outfits. I had no clue what was going on but I aimed to find out and there was no time like the present. I squared my shoulders and headed into the bar.
To be continued.....