Unsure of how this "Roy" would hear such a delicate bell, they followed skeptically until reaching the woman's sunny, yellow kitchen. It was an octagonal room cluttered with bake-ware and it smelled like warm apples and cinnamon. So difficult was it to be on edge in this haven, Kiri and her mom gratefully sank into the offered chairs before popping back up in a rush- "How rude of me!" Mrs. Kiri's Mom exclaimed, "I haven't introduced my daughter and I! This is Kirina and I am Adelaide... Now stand straight, sweetie. We are so grateful to make your acquaintance."
Kiri's mother often stood out due to her proper English here in the dead south, where folks spoke tight-lipped slang as if (well many of them were, in fact) holding chewing tobacco in their mouths. Having practiced by reading Anne of Green Gables to her daughter for countless hours, she had all but eliminated what Kiri thought was a rather pretty Russian accent. Kiri herself was a second-generation American, and despite how much she fought it, she had picked up a light drawl from her peers. At least she resembled her mother in looks, she thought wistfully. At times when she cursed her longer nose and ghostly white skin, her mom would pinch her chin and say "Do you wish to hide your family's face??" And after spending much time just the two of them, she was becoming rather proud of being a spitting image of this tough and classy woman.
Rummaging for something in the cupboard, the old woman hardly noticed Adelaide's hurried introduction and waved them off. "Sit, you silly thing! By the looks of it, you've had quite a tumble!" She chided as she pulled a cutting board and towel out to remove the source of that heavenly smell- a spice cake- from the oven. Satisfied, she brought over two coffee mugs, a pot (outfitted in a sweet knitted kitty-cozy) and plopped down two fat slices of cake. Kiri felt so spoiled she could cry, and dove in with both hands- ignoring the extreme temperature. This cake was of the special-yet-hazardous variety that can make one attempt to shovel another piece into one's mouth prior to swallowing. Kiri was about to attempt just that when a sudden feeling of electricity raised the hairs on the back of her neck, and reddened her cheeks.
"Ah, Roy! We've got some guests who are in need of hospitality. Their car is a little ways up the road with a busted tire- surely you could come to the aid of these lovely ladies?"
"Sure thing, Lady" replied a smooth, low voice.
Huh?!
"Oh that's my name. My name's Lady" the old woman explained.
"How charming!" Her mother replied.
Finally managing to swallow the now cement-like cake, Kiri all but slapped the crumbs from her cheeks and spun around in her chair.
Oh! He hadn't moved an inch!!
Distantly aware that her mother and the woman-with-the-cake ("Lady" or whatever) continued chatting, Kiri felt unable to drag her attention back to the conversation.
There stood in the doorway a tall and slender silhouette. His broad shoulders filled the door frame and he ducked his head slightly to avoid hitting it. Backlit as he was by the afternoon sun- Kiri couldn't quite make out facial features, though he seemed to be staring right at her! His gaze had an odd and exciting effect- she felt both rooted to the spot, and tempted to flee.
"Ahem." The background chatter halted with her mother's keen attention, and just like that, the spell was broken. The young man spun on his heel and strode out the door in only a few long steps.
Embarrassed, Kiri turned back around to attend to something that was now very interesting on the hem of her dress. As the two older women exchanged silent laughter, Kiri attempted to blink away the handsome silhouette that was etched into her corneas.