Chapter 5 – Deliverance

“Where is he?!” The women strutted into the room in fine form, throwing the doors open in the process.  “He was supposed to be here by now!”

The man behind the desk seemed unperturbed by this disturbance, never looking up from the work on his desk as he inquired into what had gotten the woman into such a fit. “And who precisely are we talking about dear?”

“Duncan! He was supposed to be waiting for me when I arrived this morning. And yet here we are ten past the hour and nowhere to be found!”  She continued her strut towards the translucent wall, not caring that the man behind the desk had never given his permission to enter. 

Irate beyond measure she crossed her arms as she stared across the city.  Almost as if she hoped from this height she could somehow scan the City and find the missing man.  

The City looked regal this morning, glistening in the morning sun after last night’s rain.  From this height you could almost see the trailing edges of the City. It wasn’t a terribly large city mind you, but It was incredibly dense, overflowing in undulations of towers and tenements, broken-up by pops of green that noted the existence of a park somewhere hidden beneath the folds of steel, glass, and concrete.  From here one could almost believe the cityscape below was one of pristine beauty….almost….

“I’m sure he just got tied up in a meeting or some other mundane task you sent him on.  After all it’s not unlike him to be late.” The portly man behind the desk turned the page.  His tone was one of indifference, as if the two of them had been through this routine time again.

“You make it sound like I’m overreacting.”  She snapped back, though her bite had lost some of its venom in the process.  Her eyes continued to assess the scene before her. Buying her time to muse about the delay, about the many delays that had led to this morning.  

As her mind began to wander a slight frown began to touch at her otherwise perfectly polished lips. And for a moment it seemed as if she would become lost in thought. 

 As if he could read her mind, the portly man behind the desk broke her reverie. Shattering the spell. “And what is it that has you in such a mood this morning?  It’s not like you to come stomping into my office growling like an old tom cat who just had his meal snatched from him?”

She turned from surveying her domain to find the portly old man leaning back in his chair and watching her with bespectacled eyes. His work seemingly forgotten for the time being.  

And with that look, the last of her irritation washed away.  She sighed in defeat.

She let her crossed arms fall to her side before bringing them up into a short shrug. As if to say “I don’t know and I give up” all at the same time.  Her flames deprived of fuel, she walked back across the carpeted office to collapse into one of the overstuffed chairs, hands massaging her temples slowly.  Her eyes closed.   

“Forgive me.  You are absolutely correct. I’m sure Duncan will be here promptly and with a good reason for his absence no doubt.  My apologies for disrupting your morning routine” She breathed deeply, before opening her eyes. When she did she found the man had swiveled in his chair.  Still watching her quietly, prodding her gently for further explanation without uttering a word.

Taking her cue, she inhaled deeply to steady herself before.  “Forgive me, it has been a rather trying few days, not just simply a trying morning.”

The man’s eyebrow quirked ever so slightly.  “Oh and why is that? I had thought you were headed to the hotel yesterday evening, I would have thought that would have provided ample distraction”

“You would be correct. And that was meant to be the case, but you see…”  As she was about to launch into an explanation of the evening’s debacle. She was interrupted by the portly man’s assistant who would had quietly shuffled into the room.

“Ah, Mrs. Avery?” She chimed in politely, but not without some force, “ My sincerest apologies, but you had asked that I let you know the moment Duncan were to arrive.  He is outside now and waiting.” 

“Is he?!” And with that the woman’s, Ms. Avery, mood seemed to change instantly.  The previous consternations seemingly all but forgotten as she extricated herself from the chair and straightened her blouse.  “Superb! Please let Duncan know I will be right there! We have quite the busy morning!”

The secretary nodded with a soft smile and made her way back out of the office, shutting the door behind her.  

“Well it seems this morning’s outburst was for naught.” The portly man said sardonically as if chiding the woman in good humor.

“Yes, well, I’m still irritated, but that can be addressed later.  Maybe over dinner. I will see you and mama for dinner tonight? Yes?”  She asked the question as she had walked around the desk to kiss the balding old man on his forehead endearingly. 

“Oh course my dear” He smiled “You know it is the highlight of my week.”  

“You say that every time” she laughed back towards him, even as she strutted towards the door. “One day I might even believe you.”

“Oh!” She stopped and turned back towards him.  “I almost forgot, Ms. Cavanaugh had asked that I bring this into you, it’s the morning’s mail.”

She placed it on her father’s desk. Where he sat still reclined, arms folded over his portent stomach.  “Ah, splendid, thank you my dear!” He leaned forward in his chair to shuffle through it as she waved him a quick goodbye, continuing her exit from the room.

“Give Duncan my regards!” He yelled after her as the doors closed, unsure if she heard his request or not. Laughing to himself, he watched the closed door for a moment, morning’s mail in hand, but seemingly gone the way of this morning’s work, forgotten.  He smiled after his daughter. Few outside the walls of his office would have recognized the person who barreled in this morning, but we all have our moments. 

Returning back to the stack of letters in hand, he noticed the top one was heavier than the rest.  He set the remainder of the mail aside and examined the hefty letter. The front was addressed to his persons, drawn in cascading elegant loops.  Turning the envelop over, he proceeded to break the waxy green seal, extricating the letter.

Unfolding the contents, he began to read.  “Dear Mr. Aquitaine…”