As I was expected to stay for the holidays with my family and Christmas was but a week away I did not return to Whitby not even for the New Year. For that entire period I did not see Mr. Belmont for I was told he was away when I attempted to deliver him a Christmas present. During Christmas I wondered how his had been, where had he spent it, hopefully happily.

After it had all passed I started towards his house to deliver my Christmas present at last. 

"Miss Stanton?" He opened the door and a sense of relief came over me.

"Good morning Mr. Belmont."

"Come in please," he asked me.

"Thank you."

"So to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Oh forgive me I just came to wish you a happy new year." I gave him the gift though it was not a customary thing for a lady to do.

"I cannot accept anything from you," he tried to refuse me.

"Open it before you reject it please," I insisted and he unwrapped the gift.

"Miss Stanton I... Tea?"

"Yes I thought a writer should always have tea at hand, one never knows when it'll be needed."

Mr. Belmont looked relieved about my gift, no doubt thinking I might have been foolish enough to gift something extravagant due to my status.

"Thank you, will you have some with me?"

"If you will," I nodded.

"So how was your holiday? Did you spend it here in London?"

"Yes even though I'm not terribly fond of London. I find the country more diverting in manners of relationships."

"How odd, I came to the opposite conclusion about my time in the country. I ran back as fast as I could to London. Here I barely share three words all year long with my neighbors and I'm quite fond of it."

"How can someone like you say such a thing? You are so well versed."

"I just did not have it in me to tolerate the pressures of a small society. I am by nature too contumacious."

"Right. Your book."

"It was after living in the country I wrote it with such conviction as if the words were being torn straight from my... heart or soul?" He questioned for a second. "My mind was too disturbed back then to have come from such a noble place."

"So what disturbed your heart and soul?" I treaded lightly on the subject even though I was hungry to know about him and my mother.

"My existence." He uttered and I at once locked eyes with him almost moving to touch his hand but held myself back since we were not well acquainted enough for such a display. "Come, come, it was a long time ago. I have found my own way to bear it. Or rather the pen has had to bear all of me and my thoughts."

"A lucky pen sir," I did my best to console him.

"Have I converted you Miss Stanton?"

"I do not think you have the power sir but I will gladly concede your thoughts are probably thought by so many others it is not such a disservice to my beliefs but rather a call to study it in depth. All questions have answers if you look deep enough."

Something I said made him stare at me with eyes caught somewhere that wasn't here for I blinked and waited for him to react but he took a while to come back to his senses. 

"Did I say something amiss?" I asked him.

"No. Not at all. I was just reminded of... Anyways. Do you like Baum, or Jack London, Du Bois, Kafka, Proust, Forster, Jayme Joyce, Edith Wart-on." He suddenly got up and rambled.

"Edith Warton?" I asked as she was a woman and most men would be ashamed to give her due compliments or be afraid to have such a woman as a wife.

"If the writing be up to par who's to care where it came from?"

"You are such a modern man."

"Too modern some would say," he chuckled and then there was a knock on the door, a letter arrived. 

I put down the tea while he attended to the door. I thought of just how deeply he kept his secrets to himself. While mine seemed to have almost bubbled to the surface today. I had to get a hold of myself or next thing I would be saying I was his... No not his, it's not what I meant.

"Miss Stanton would you care to join me?"

"Uh join you?"

"I have to go see about my work for the week."

"Oh um..."

"I think you'd like it. There's plenty of room for judgements, discussions."

"Then I'd be delighted." I smiled at his proposition.

Mr. Belmont put on his coat, a tie, and we set off from his home. Unfortunately the way became familiar once I noticed we were headed towards the printing press so my enthusiasm was cut short.

"Come Miss Stanton there is no use turning back now." He knew I was hesitant given our unpleasant talk the other day so I nodded and followed him inside.

The secretary's eyes passed over us together as if judging my resurgence in front of her editor who clearly disliked me.

"Mr. Thornton please," he said to the secretary.

"Right this way Mr. Belmont." The secretary guided him at once.

"Mr. Thornton here's Mr. Belmont" she introduced him, "and Miss Stanton."

Mr. Thornton was getting up from his seat then looked up with his mouth open caught by surprise about my presence.

"Good afternoon Mr. Thornton. Do you remember Miss Stanton?" Mr. Belmont said.

"Yes, good afternoon Miss Stanton."

"Good afternoon sir," I responded.

"You said there was a new article for me to write," Mr. Belmont asked him.

"Yes I thought you'd like to write a review on this book," Mr. Thornton passed him the book.

"The Magnificient Ambersons by Tarkington. What do you think?" Mr. Belmont gave me the book to look at.

"I'll buy a copy for sure. The plot seems interesting even if it's a little too American. No harm in seeing what the other side of the world is up to right?"

"A modern woman indeed," Mr. Belmont gave me back my compliment.

"Here, I was sent three." Mr. Thornton gave me one on top of his desk.

"Oh thank you," I took the book uneasy.

"Since there are three book why don't we discuss it over tea in three day's time?" Mr. Belmont put forward the idea.

As I was thinking of a way to get out of it Mr. Thornton surprised me yet again with a way to displease me.

"A book sounds more interesting than all these articles I've had the displeasure of reading," the editor agreed looking at the massive pile of papers on his desk.

"And you'd no doubt read it to judge it," Mr. Belmont said directed towards me.

"I uh..." I looked exasperated between both of them waiting for a positive answer and Mr. Thornton was quickly taking offense at my delay to say yes.

"In three day's time then." I agreed pressured by Mr. Thornton's answer yet the very moment thinking how he would take the fun out of a discussion.

"It's settled then," Mr. Belmont smiled and Mr. Thornton moved again still unsettled in his constant bad humor.

"Yes," I smiled again wanting to get out of the office

"Shall I walk you home Miss Stanton?" Mr. Belmont asked seeing my foot going back and forth on the floor.

"I would love the company sir but I am not going home. I actually just remembered I have to pass by the dear place you love so much, church and I would not force your hand."

"Well I can walk you to the doorstep any closer than that and God himself would show up to throw me out." I chuckled at his joke and when I looked at Mr. Thornton's severe face I stopped.

"Very well then to the doorstep sir, and I will mention you in my prayers."

"Kindly please."

"I'll try to do you justice."

"Justice? Heavens no. Flattery and groveling will be more useful don't you think so Tommy?" Mr. Belmont asked Mr. Thornton who was completely uninvolved in our jokes.

"Forgive me but I have a meeting," he responded wishing to get rid of us no doubt.

"Yes of course, we'll go." Mr. Belmont disliked the dismissal but was courteous nonetheless.

"Good day to you Mr. Thornton," I nodded.

"Good day Miss Stanton."

"Good day Tommy," Mr. Belmont said goodbye.

"Good day Belmont," he nodded in a cold manner.

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No part, character, names, plot, setting, conflict or resolution, point of view, theme or symbolism of this story may be replicated.

Copyright: All Rights Reserved to A. Sena Gomes.