The Waiting Room

Chapter 4

"Alright the water is almost done".

Penelope's announcement echoed through the air after returning from her adventurous journey to the back room.

The boiling point of the water signaled the completion of her task. The rain had subsided, yet menacing grey clouds lingered, suggesting an imminent threat of another sudden downpour, their presence hanging over the city like a suspended promise.

"So, How long have you been tending to  the store?" Connor asked.

Penelope's eyes held traces of both time's weight and fleeting moments. "It feels like an eternity, yet in the blink of an eye," she mused.

Before she could elaborate any further, Connor's pocket erupted with a shrill ringtone, cutting off her words. Retrieving his phone, he noted the caller ID flashing "Mary Office" on the screen.

"I should really take this call," Connor stated, glancing at Penelope for permission. Penelope arched an eyebrow, then nonchalantly gestured for him to proceed as she begins to set up the dainty white and purple tea pot.

"Hello, Mary?" Connor answered.

Mary's voice on the other end crackled with impatience, demanding, "Where on earth are you?"

"Well, I impulsively decided to take a  stroll, and through a series of odd events, I ended up in this intriguing store on the corner of 14th street," Connor explained with an undertone of excitement.

"That's wonderful, I'm truly happy for you but I'm afraid I have to cut your adventure short... we still need to file the Nexis clients report," responded Mary.

"I know, I know... as soon as I'm finished here, I'll head to the office," Connor promised.

"Should I send Michael to pick you up?" Mary offered her words actually insisting on the matter.

"No, there's no need for that. I'll make it there on time,".

"Alright, see you soon, sir," Mary concluded.

"Well, she seems like a lively character," Penelope commented, resting her head on her folded arms as she calmly observed Connor's return to her presence.

"To be fair, I have been pushing her buttons as of lately," Connor admitted, acknowledging his own actions. Lost in thought, he continued with a contemplative tone, "You know, I should really leave before the rain starts pouring again."

In a swift and urgent motion, Penelope lifted her head, gasping softly under her breath.

"Wait, what about the tea?" she interjected. "I can pour it up in just a minute."

Connor had never encountered someone who held such an ardent affection for a simple cup of tea. Nevertheless, he responded, his head swiveling between the cloudy outdoors and the young Penelope, who seemed to be begging him with her grey eyes.

"How about I take a rain check?" Connor suggested. "I promise to return."

Penelope shook her head, a sense of urgency in her voice. "Oh, my dear, it doesn't work like that."

Confused by Penelope's statement, Connor inquired politely, "What do you mean?"

Penelope visibly ran her hand through her hair, feeling ensnared in a web of thoughts. Hastily, she positioned herself on the store floor, her eyes darting from high to low, before finally asserting, "I'm worried about the rain. You'll get drenched."

"I assure you, I'll be fine," Connor insisted.

"Trust me, I have a knack for these things," Penelope stated as she rummaged through a high shelf, rearranging objects with in a struggling rush. Meanwhile, Connor observed her with a mixture of curiosity and confusion.

Silence enveloped the room, with one persistent thought resounding in Connor's mind: "I should have split that cab with Dave."

"If you must go, then please take this," Penelope declared, retrieving an old umbrella and extending it towards Connor.

Thrown further into bewilderment, Connor attempted to rationalize this act of kindness, which seemed to defy his usual encounters in daily life. It wasn't a slick sales tactic or a cutthroat business maneuver; it was simply an act of genuine benevolence.

Embracing this realization, he reached out and gratefully accepted Penelope's offering. "Thank you," he expressed sincerely.

"You're most certainly welcome, and good luck," Penelope replied, her words laced with warmth.

Umbrella in one hand and the store's door handle in the other, Connor stepped outside into the somber cityscape, the bell's ringing chime resonating behind him as it had when he first entered the establishment. Through the misty window, Penelope watched as Connor unfurled the umbrella's canopy, the sound of drizzling rain blending with his deliberate footsteps as he gradually faded from her view.

With an untold richer setting and a seen expansive view, the scene unfolded, capturing the intricate details of the encounter between Penelope and Connor, their dialogue, and the underlying emotions that coursed through their brief but meaningful interaction, all summed up in the eyes of the observer, in the eyes of Penelope.