Bryce grinned widely, his big handlebar moustache wiggling. “You, young lady, know your breeds. Marie here is all Belgian and a fifth generation mare in our stable. I helped deliver her, and she’s my go-to girl when the temperatures drop but folks still want to see Victoria the most romantic way there is. Are you a breeder or just a fan?”
“My family had a rather large stable, many years ago. I grew up with carriages and sleighs and these beautiful beasts everywhere I went.”
“Well, then, let’s get you two up where it’s warm and allow me to take you back to a time when horse and carriage ruled this fair town of ours.” Bryce helped Ana up and then Jerry.
Ana got the two of them settled under the blankets, Jerry helping as he could. He looked around at all of the Christmas lights and light dusting of snow. It was beautiful, almost as beautiful as the young woman beside him. He snuggled in close, allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder. She did so, then leaned away and looked up at him, one eyebrow up.
“You are very quiet, my Sweet. Are you feeling well? You are not battling another headache are you?”
“No. I’m good, thanks. Tired, I suppose. Just happy to be here, with you…” With who? Oh, yes, Ana. “With you, Ana.” That was odd. For a split second he couldn’t remember who he was with. He must be really wiped out. Maybe they’d better skip the jazz club later and just get a good night’s sleep. As soon as Maury—no, Manny—had found out about Ana, he gave Jerry tomorrow off to rest up for the ball that night. Ana would probably have him working on the samba all day, but a day of rest would be good. Jerry drifted off, lulled by the under-blanket warmth, the rhythm of the carriage, and the bright conversation between Ana and Bryce as they passed places named “Mayor’s Grove” and “Chestnut Grove” in Beacon Hill Park. He didn’t even hear the clicking of the camera’s shutter as Ana did her best to capture Beacon Hill Park’s Christmas lights from the moving carriage.
THE CARRIAGE JINGLED to a halt and somewhere in the distance Jerry could hear Ana and Bryce having an animated conversation that seemed to be coming to a conclusion with Ana gushing her thanks.
“Oh, Mr. Smith, you are completely wonderful. Are you most certain about it? It will be on your night off.”
“Miss Ana, it would be my pleasure. Besides, I don’t think Maria would forgive me if I let you arrive at the biggest, fanciest ball of the year in the city’s most beautiful gown without a proper mode of transportation. I only wish we had a giant pumpkin for you to arrive in with your sleepy Prince Charming here.”
Ana kissed Jerry’s cheek, bringing him fully awake. “He certainly is that, Mr. Smith. He certainly is that.”
“Will you two be okay to get home?”
Jerry looked around. They were back where they started and not too far from the loft. “Um, thank you, but we should be good. I’m sorry I dozed off there. It’s been a long couple of days.”
“Not a problem at all, Jerry. Young Ana here was telling me all about it, although I suspect she didn’t quite tell me everything.” Ana giggled. “Now, I’ve given your young princess my card. She’s going to have you give me a call just after noon tomorrow so we can finalize the details. What you missed while you dozed, was that somehow I believe that the beautiful gown Ana showed me a picture of needs to be delivered to the ball in true style. Maria and I were supposed to be off, being senior members of the crew, but a yellow cab is just not going to cut it for you youngsters, so we will be suited up and ready to wow the elite of Victoria with you.” He climbed down from his high perch behind Belgian Maria.
“Wow. Um… I slept through quite a bit.” Jerry looked at Ana, who busied herself with folding up the blankets and stacking them neatly on the carriage’s rear-facing bench. “I guess I’ll get any and all details when we get home.”
“I suppose you will. She does love to talk, this one does. Made me look like a mime.” He helped Jerry down from the carriage; who in turn helped Ana down. As soon as her boots were on the path, she curtsied to Bryce. “A more graceful young lady, I have never met,” he returned. “Your parents raised you well, young lady.”
“Thank you, Mr. Smith. They would be very pleased to hear that you think so.”
“You two youngsters enjoy the rest of the evening. Jerry, good luck with the dance lessons, and I’ll talk to you shortly after noon to swap details.” He climbed back up behind Maria, and with a click of his tongue and a symbolic snap of the reins, they were off, back to their stables.
Ana slipped her hand into Jerry’s and squeezed. “You are the most wonderful man in the whole wide world.”
“This from the Grand Duchess who has charmed the top hat off of a carriage driver?”
“I am innocent of all charges.”
“You are a little imp. Now, I hate to rain on the parade of fun, but do you mind if we postpone the jazz club until next week? That little nap in the carriage helped, but I’m still a bit fuzzy around the edges and an evening on the couch is probably all I can manage. I can still give you an introduction to jazz, but it won’t be live, not yet.”
“Returning to the loft is most satisfactory to me, Mr. Powell. Where thou goest, so wilt I.”
“Then goest me home, please. I can walk just fine; I just can’t read street signs too well right now. My eyes are exhausted.”
“Home it is, sir.” She took him by the hand and led him back to the loft, where he paused to rest on the bottom step before making the climb up. Once inside, Ana took Jerry’s coat and hung it up. Gently, she escorted him to the couch and pushed him down onto it. A quick kiss on his forehead and she danced out of reach.
“I shall endeavour to cook you something mostly palatable to keep your strength up and then I hope to have you show me how to put my photographs on to the computer. To set the mood, I have put together what you in the wireless industry call a ‘playlist’.” With three quick keystrokes on the laptop, Ana had Ace of Base’s bouncy, infectious “The Sign” filling the space. She smiled at Jerry. “Not too loud?”
He laughed. “Not at all.” He leaned back against the cushions and watched Ana spin and twirl her way around the desk and into the kitchen. Some of her dance moves looked distinctly modern. “Don’t tell me you learned that from Pierre in 1917, young lady.”
“Ha! Not at all! Pierre would have appreciated modern music, but this is all YouTube!”
“I’m glad to see you’ve been putting the Internet to good use. Just don’t watch Honey Boo Boo or I’ll have to sell your book.” He winked at her when she stopped dancing at the threat. “Never.” She continued dancing, taking items out of the refrigerator, placing pots on the stove, swinging it all through the air in rhythmic arches and poses. When Ace of Base was done she froze in place, a domestic tableau. There was a beat of silence and then Ana put the bag of pasta on the counter as Roxette’s “The Big L.” started up. It was obvious she’d listened to the song a few times because when the band sang “Hey now, touch the sky” she was right on cue with a leap that took her straight up at the ceiling, leaving Jerry’s sweatshirt behind.
“Careful!” What was he saying?! She was a ghost! Her need to be careful was long past. With a quick flip, Ana landed her feet on the ceiling and proceeded to dance across it, lip-synching to the chorus while her hair and skirt floated around her in complete defiance of gravity. Jerry got to his feet and took Ana’s hands as she passed over the couch. Together the two of them danced around the loft, she, graceful on the ceiling, and he, plodding but uncaring on the floor, and their laughter nearly drowning out the music.
Roxette ended and Ana spun Jerry back to the couch and dropped into the kitchen just in time for ABBA to fill the loft, begging Jerry to “Take a Chance on Me”. By the time the song was done she had pasta in the pot of boiling water, sauce simmering on the stove, and was placing sliced French bread in the toaster oven.