Shopping
I decided to have a light lunch, breakfast was several hours ago, and I had burned a lot of calories since then. There was a little coffee and sandwich shop that I liked to eat in around the corner, so I thought I would go there. I entered the shop and looked for a table. It was crowded but there were several empty tables. I walked on into the dining room and to my great surprise there sat Stella. I started to turn around when I heard her call my name.
"Rachael, please join me," she said.
How did she know my name? I turned and gave her a little wave. She pointed to a vacant chair at her table, so I moved in that direction. Sitting down I said to her, "I don't remember us exchanging names."
"I am Stella, please call me that. I am the widow of someone I believe you used to know, Councilman Charlie Markham."
"Well hello then Stella, thank you for your kindness and I did know your husband before his untimely demise." I rejoined, "I am sorry for your loss,"
"Sweetie, it was no loss but thank you for the kind words. After our meeting in the sauna I did some research and learned who you were. I think maybe I understand why my husband spent so much time with you now. I appreciate your taking care of him. He was a terrible lover with me and I can be very sensual."
"I can attest to that, Stella. I would like to ask you a question if I may?"
"Sure darling."
The waitress came with Stella's lunch and asked me what I wanted to drink. I ordered a coffee and a menu.
"I saw Madame Silver this morning and she is in terrible straights. Someone is persecuting her to the point of harassment and I just assumed it was the Councilman's family. Who is riding her so hard?"
"Rachael, you know he was a bit light in the loafers, right?"
"I suspected as much."
"Well he had some very influential friend's downtown that shared his inclinations. They thought you folks at the brothel did him in out of some kind spite for his gender preferences. At any rate it's a couple of them that are staying on the mayor's back and the council. The police have enough to do so they get other city services to harass the Silver house whenever they can. I think they are trying to run her out of town."
"Well, they have succeeded. She is leaving as soon as she can."
The waiter arrived with my coffee and I ordered a small salad.
Stella had ordered something with seafood in it and I pondered where this conversation was going to go. I liked her, she was nice and our time in the sauna was great. I still wasn't sure how she felt about men.
The waiter brought more drinks and I settled into my coffee and waited. I wanted her to start this conversation, not me.
Stella looked over at me and said, "Did she sell the house?"
"No, it was taken from her by the bank when she couldn't pay back the loan she took out to pay for lawyers and court costs. She is working for the bank now renting rooms out until the bank finds a buyer."
"It seems to me that she had a really good business in that house before the demise of my late husband."
"She did," I replied.
"I wonder if it could be revived in our current climate?" Stella mussed.
"I doubt it, seems like everyone that shouldn't know does."
"Did you like working there?" she asked.
"To be honest it had its good times and its bad times. I really liked Madame though and we became close friends. I had some other friends too, but Madame and I were on a different page if you know what I mean."
"Is she really a man under her skirts?"