My Fair Lady

Chapter 13 - 1964

Nick opened the door to reveal a strangely dressed man on the other side. He held a bouquet of roses in his hand & wore a wide smile.

"Yes?"

"Hello mister. I'm looking for a...", he glanced at the tag sticking out from the middle of the bunch, "...A miss Roberts. These have been specially sent in from New York."

"And who are they from?"

"Iris Caldwell."

"Uh...she's not here. You can hand them to me, I'm her friend & I'll give them to her once she comes back." He reached out for the flowers but the man moved it away from his hands. His smile grew,

"It's alright mate, I insist on delivering them myself. Do you know where she is?"

Mate?

"Uh, she went out in the morning. I don't know when she'll be coming back." He glanced at the flowers once again. "You can give them to me, she'll come back soon-"

"No it's alright thanks, I'll do it myself. Have a good day mister." With this, the bespectacled man with the awfully cheery disposition strode away, leaving a confused Nick to stare after him.

Just when he reached the ground floor, Eliza walked in through the main doors, her trademark camera hanging around her neck. He watched her eye the red banner hung by the lobby warily moved forward.

"Hello love", he pulled up in front of her so suddenly that she almost bumped heads. She stared back in surprise.

"Um, hello?"

With a flourish, he handed her the bouquet. Eliza stared wide-eyed, first at the roses & then at the weird bearded man. There was nothing familiar about him yet he smiled knowingly at her, like he knew a secret she didn't.

With an unsure smile, she accepted the bouquet & picked at the tag. An unfamiliar handwriting stared back at her.

To the lovely girl who reminds me of home, happy Valentine's day.

-P.M

There was only one man she knew who had those initials. A smile began to form upon her lips but she quickly stopped herself when she realized the delivery man was still standing before her.

"T - Thank you mister", she tried to not fumble over her words. The man's grin grew when he saw the faint pink forming on her cheeks.

"You still have to pay me y'know", he said airily.

"Oh um - sorry. Do I owe you something?"

"Just one date."

Her mouth dropped at the cheeky response. The corners of his droopy eyes crinkled. There was suddenly something very familiar in that cocky countenance. 

"I'm sorry but I don't even know you. That's not something you go telling -"

"Oh but you do love", he chipped in.

He suddenly grabbed her hand & led her out of the hotel, away from the inquisitive eyes that surrounded them. And right when those calloused fingers closed upon hers, she was able to put two & two together.

"Are you kidding me?", she murmured in disbelief. 

With his burly brown coat, obnoxious black hat & thick beard, she could never have recognised Paul. The cocky stance was familiar of course. But the 'love' gave it away.

"Paul, what are you doing here?!", she whisper-shouted.

"I came to wish my lonely friend a happy Valentine's."