Choking On Sapphires

Part 90 Right Back Where We Started From

Another Shabbat passes and Genevieve finds herself becoming more and more preoccupied with the planning of her bat mitzvah ceremony. Although simple compared to a traditional bar mitzvah, as she didn't want to ruffle any feathers with the orthodox and read from the Torah, she still had plenty to plan and worry about. Currently, the location being the biggest concern.

another sigh escapes her, Alfie had lost count of how many now. She hurriedly flipped through the notebook she'd been using to lay out her plans. The little leather-bound book hadn't left her side for weeks. It was full of speech bullet points and notes for her chosen subject to speak about but she was currently stuck on the list of places left she could choose from. The options were dwindling by the day as they became booked. Every night Alfie would watch her tap her pen on the top line, a sad limp mark through her first pick for where to have her ceremony and party, but she'd been declined.

But he was always the close observer and decided to try his hand at giving her an early bat mitzvah gift. The first of many to come.

"Ya gonna bore a hole in 'at if ya keep tappin' at it so." He remarks with glasses sliding down his nose as he side-eyed her from his reclined position.

"I'm feeling so very indecisive about the location." She sighed out frantically for the umpteenth time that evening. "I have everything else I want but...nothing feels RIGHT." She clenches a theatrical fist in her conviction.

"You aren't used to being told no." He states it as the fact it is.

"I'm afraid I am entirely serious." She retorts with a frown. "I have full power to customize this but the one thing I want I cannot have. It's frustrating when this means so much to me." Her face was round and pouting, pursed lips he thought were rather soft and precious when she was angry.

"I know love, I know. But ya can have whatever you like really. Just gotta know how to get it." He gives her a pat to her knee in support.

"You would think with how much I'm paying for all this." She huffs. "This is on par with one of my birthday parties." She reflects. "Good thing we skipped that this year." She grumbles. "I'm so perplexed. I'm paying for all this to not get what I actually want."

"You're paying for everythin'?" He challenges with an out of place smile.

Gen gives him a look that judges his intellect. "Yes, clearly. I haven't asked you for so much as a pound have I?"

"I wish someone had told me this before I went and paid for the venue then. Shame, that." He shakes his head.

"Alfie. I haven't chosen. My word, have you not been listening at all?"

"You have chosen though. You wanted the museum."

"And they told me no." She responds with flushed cheeks. "Repeatedly." she lets out a frustrated whine.

"Well, I wish someone had informed me of that before I paid for the bloody thing." He responds to her blustery rant with a confusing indifference.

"Alfie? Are you okay? Are you smelling oranges dear because you are making no sense." She places the back of her hand to his head.

"I'm makin' perfect sense if you'd just calm down and listen." He chuckles.

"You said for the museum." She states again. "But it's not available." She insists.

"Say that first part again. Forget the last." He instructs with high brows as he sets his book aside. The poor thing was so distraught over her rejection she couldn't see he was handing her the answer to her problems.