‘Emmy, dear,’ Mr Urkley greeted me with a kiss on the cheek when he opened the door the following Monday.
‘Hi,’ I smiled at him, stepping into his cluttered apartment. Mr Urkley was a man in his seventies whose wife had died a few years ago. He couldn’t bear to live in his house so moved opposite me, his apartment was filled with memorabilia’s that he had collected throughout his life, he didn’t like to throw things out. I walked over to his dining table and set my plate of hot cookies in the centre. ‘How are you this week?’ I asked, tucked a stray tendril behind my ear. I hadn’t taken it down from work today, I had the afternoon shift and I was bone tired. There was a business lunch in the private room and I had been running around after their obscure demands for hours.
‘Good, cigar?’ He offered, wandering over to a shelf and opening his box full of cigars.
‘No, thanks, I’m good with my Marlboros.’ I smiled and tapped out a cigarette, lighting it up and sitting at the table.
‘I’m visiting my grandson next week, do you want to come? I think you’d like him.’ Mr Urkley grinned, showing me his teeth and I smiled, rolling my eyes.
‘No, thanks.’ I watched as he broke off the front of his cigar and lit it up, puffing on it for a few seconds.
‘Ah, it wouldn’t have anything to do with that boy I saw you with Saturday night, would it?’ He raised his eyebrow at me knowingly and I couldn’t help but blush.
‘Mr Urkley, have you been spying on me?’ I laughed and he nodded shamelessly.
‘Yes, I have. Can’t have you going out with any jackasses, not my favourite neighbour.’
‘I’m your only neighbour.’ I smiled at him and he huffed but I was touched that he cared.
‘I’m glad you’re out and about though, I was starting to think you were going to become a spinster.’ He stood up, puffing on his cigar as he made his way to the kitchen. He came back with two steaming plates of pasta and I licked my lips hungrily.
‘I would not have become a spinster, thank you,’ I mumbled as he set the plate in front of me, sucking on my own cigarette. ‘You and Haley both think that,’ I exhaled slowly and placed my half-finished cigarette in one of the dips of Mr Urkley’s ash tray.
‘What’s he like anyway? This guy, what’s his name?’ Mr Urkley asked as we picked up our knives and forks.
‘His name is Justin,’ I started, pausing to eat some food and try and remember everything that I had told Haley. I had had to leave out a few details and embellish a few more as I couldn’t tell them how I really met Justin. I wasn’t allowed to tell them that he was Phantom. ‘I met him at The Marionette and we got to talking. He’s really nice but it’s only one date. He’s a real gentleman.’
‘Ah, not going to tell me about that kiss?’ He spoke through a mouthful of food and I gave him a pointed look. ‘Sorry,’ he grumbled.
‘It was barely a peck, and you really need to stop spying on me!’ I exclaimed through a smile. He waved me away and we continued to eat. I really enjoyed my Monday nights with Mr Urkley, my mother wasn’t close to her parents and my fathers were back in New York so I didn’t get to see either set of grandparents very often. It was nice having an elderly figure in my life to give out pieces of wisdom when I needed it.
‘You always make the best cookies, Emmy.’
‘Thanks,’ I took a bite of one of the Oatmeal Raison cookies that I had baked for desert.
‘I got a new set of Civil War DVD’s, do you want to watch some?’
‘Um, I think I’ll pass.’ I said and Mr Urkley rolled his eyes. ‘Goodnight, thanks for dinner.’ I grinned at him, grabbing another cookie and leaving his apartment.
