March 20th 2016

"Where are you?"

"Out."

"Well, yes, I know that. I've been ringing your doorbell for the last five minutes."

"Why are you at my house?"

"I thought we could hang out. I brought wine and dessert and The Phantom of the Opera on DVD."

"Sorry, I'm not there."

"Obviously. I even pressed my ear to your letter box to see if your phone was ringing inside and you were just avoiding me."

"Why would I be avoiding you?"

"Oh, um... I don't know, but you might be."

"I'm not."

"Good to know."

"Was there anything else you wanted?"

"Where are you?"

"I'm out."

"Yes, where?"

"I'm having afternoon tea."

"Nice. In Claridge's?"

"At Connie's, actually."

"Is that a new place? I've never heard of it before."

"Daniel?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm at Connie's. As in, your grandmother, Connie."

"You're with my grandmother?"

"Yes."

"Is there anyone else with you?"

"Nope, just us two."

"You're there unsupervised?"

"I think I'm old enough to go out without adult supervision."

"Not with my grandmother!"

"You have a problem with me being with your gran?"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

"God knows what she's going to tell you! Why are you even there?"

"I'm interviewing her for the article."

"You could have asked!"

"You'd have said 'no.'"

"For good reason! What has she told you already?"

"Nothing I didn't already know."

"Is she around right now?"

"Yes."

"May I speak with her?"

"... She's shaking her head."

"I'll come over, you know."

>

"I was with you last weekend, Soph. Tell her that."

"She already knows, Daniel."

"Then tell her to stop being so dramatic."

"I happen to like her dramatics."

"Matches your dramatics, probably."

"Exactly, we're kindred spirits."

"I hate it that you're with my grandmother."

"Suck it up, Daniel."

"Is it just my grandmother you're interviewing, or will there be other people too?"

"Others, too. I've got a lunch date with both Elias and Evelyn for this week and I'm meeting your brother at some point."

"Samuel?"

"Do you have another brother I don't know about?"

"No, thank God. Just... with Samuel, be careful. Since the last time you two met, I've sensed that he's going to chase you. He thinks you're off limits to him after that bedroom remark you made, which naturally, makes you all the more appealing to my brother."

"You don't have to worry about that. I think I can handle your brother."

"Yes, but I rather wish that you didn't have to 'handle' him in the first place. He should know and understand boundaries. Especially, where you are concerned."

"As touching as this is, it's also a little condescending. Like I said, I can handle your brother."

"Ok, I'll back down. But, if he even dares look at you the wrong way, I'll throttle him. Understood?"

"Yeah, fine. So, was there anything else you needed? Connie was just about to explain to me how you got that scar on your stomach."

"Ok, look, with that-"

"Whoa! Don't you tell me. I want to hear it from Connie. You can confirm or deny tomorrow."

"Well, with the tall tales she says about me, I'll be denying everything she says."

"We'll see. You should have a little more faith in your grandmother."

"God, I hate that you two are together. Alone. I should come over."

"No!"

"But, Sophie-"

"If you come over, I'll leave straight away. Your grandmother and I are having a lovely afternoon, hanging out, and you are not about to ruin it!"

"Is she at least being nice to you?"

>

"Yeah, Daniel. She's always nice."

"She really isn't."

>

"Tell my grandmother that I really don't care if she can or cannot hear me."

"That's rude."

"But true."

"Does't... like... his... grandmother... shows signs of... disrespect... general dislike... for the elderly... especially those with... hearing impairments-"

"What are you doing?"

"Writing notes for my article. Why'd you ask?"

"You're seriously going to say that I'm disrespectful to my grandmother and have a dislike for the elderly with hearing problems?"

"That's how it seems to me."

"Sophie-"

"I'm kidding, Daniel. But you should adjust your attitude."

"You've spent too long with Connie."

"Please, I haven't spent enough time with Connie."

>

"She's too fond of you."

"To be expected. Everyone loves me!"

"Well, there's no denying that. Fine, you can continue your interview with my grandmother. And I'll allow you to interview Elias and Evelyn, but when it comes to my brother, I want it to happen in a controlled environment with plenty of other people around. He's less likely to seduce you if there are others in the room."

"I'll arrange it so that it's at my office. I'll have Kizzy sit in with me. He'll be more likely to go for her than me anyway."

"How so?"

"She's tall, blonde haired, blue eyed and looks like she belongs on the catwalks in Paris. Everyone looks like a slob compared to Kizzy. She's the prime beef steak and everyone else is the McDonald's Saver hamburger."

"Good analogy, but you're the prime beef steak, too, Sophie."

"No, I'm-"

"To someone, you are. Don't think differently."

"How did you get so charming?"

>

"Did she just mention my grandfather?"

"Yes. Why?"

"No, nothing, it's just... after he died, she stopped talking about him. I, uh... I better go. Hey, Soph?"

"Yeah?"

"Try and see if she's willing to talk a little more about my grandfather, will you?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Thanks."

"No worries."

"I better let you get back to it."

"Ok."

"Oh, about the wine, dessert and The Phantom of the Opera-"

"Tomorrow night?"

"It's a date."

"..."

"Not a date, but a date...

"..."

"You know what I mean. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Ok. Bye, Daniel"

>

"Bye, Sophie. And, uh, bye grandmother?"

"Later, alligator."

"In a while, crocodile."