Edited by Phil Anderer, with careful consideration and lots of patience.
***
Alice woke up early the next morning, sunlight streaming through the window, reminding her she had forgotten to close the curtains. Despite this, she had slept deeply and felt well-rested.
The previous night had ended cozily, with her and Frank cuddling on the couch until she drifted off. Frank had gently woken her with a kiss on the forehead, suggesting she move to her bed. Staggering down the hall, she had tumbled into her bed and slept soundly.
Throwing on her robe, she walked into the living room, half-expecting to see Frank with his coffee and newspaper. He wasn't there; it was still too early.
She stood on the balcony, lost in thought about the whirlwind of the past few days. Her life had transformed -- she was now living in a penthouse apartment, one of the fanciest in town, with new clothes, a new hairstyle, and essentially, a new life. Frank didn't seem eager to send her away. In fact, he seemed keen on her developing skills to become his assistant. She had resolved the day before to do everything within her power to impress Frank and prove she was worthy of his generosity.
Returning inside, Alice wandered around the living room. She hadn't had a chance to explore properly since her arrival. The main part of Frank's apartment was an expansive open space, with a huge horseshoe-shaped couch covered in brushed suede dominating the area. One wall was adorned with a bookshelf filled from floor to ceiling. Alice didn't recognize any of the book titles, which wasn't surprising as she hadn't been an avid reader. In school, she enjoyed reading age-appropriate books provided by the school, usually filled with stories about children her age. The only author she was familiar with was Judy Blume, whose books she found more realistic than others available to her.
A sudden thought struck her, and she scanned the room for pictures. Surprisingly, there were none. She had hoped to catch a glimpse of a younger Frank or gain some insight into his past. The apartment, while meticulously decorated, had no framed pictures anywhere. She contemplated asking Frank about this.
On the coffee table lay a large book, filled with magazine-like advertisements. Recognizing some high-end perfume and jewelry brands, Alice admired the beautiful pictures. The ads, mostly featuring items no longer sold, looked like they were from the 1970s or 1980s.
"Like them?" Frank's voice startled her from behind.
"Good morning, Frank," she replied, not looking up immediately.
"My life's work," Frank continued.
"You took these pictures?" Alice asked, finally looking up.
"Oh no," Frank smiled, "I created them."
Frank then tried to explain the world of marketing and advertising to Alice. The basics made sense, but she soon found herself lost in the details.
They had a simple breakfast of toast and coffee and Frank mentioned they had a busy day ahead. Alice wasn't sure what that entailed but was eager to find out.
At one point, Frank gave her a concerned look. "Do you have identification?" he asked.
Alice retrieved a tiny coin purse from her room, which held most of her prized possessions. She emptied its contents onto the coffee table: a tightly folded, yellowed, and worn birth certificate, a plastic card with her government identification number (obtained from a brief after-school job at a burger place), and a couple of rings that belonged to her mother, given to her by a nurse at the hospital.
Frank examined the eclectic collection on the table and decided to add another stop to their already busy day.
Picking up the phone, Frank made a call. "Morning Tanya, I need to see Bill this morning. Does he have some time?" he asked. "10:30 is fine, see you then," he said after a brief conversation.
Dialing again, Frank spoke to someone else. "Mr. Patel, please. Good morning, Val. Can I come and see you this afternoon? After 3:30?" he asked. "4 PM will be perfect. Thank you," he concluded after another pause.
The last call was to the front desk, requesting a car for the day.
Alice was instructed to get dressed and be ready to leave by 10.
Their first stop turned out to be Frank's lawyer, Bill. Frank explained to Bill that Alice would be staying with him for the foreseeable future but didn't provide further details. He handed over the two pieces of ID Alice had shown him earlier.
Alice understood this wouldn't be enough identification for some of the things Frank had planned.
"Our end goal is a passport," Frank said at the end of the meeting.
Alice was taken aback -- passports meant travel, and she hadn't ventured more than ten city blocks in any direction in her entire life.
Once Alice's ID was photocopied, they returned to the car. "Why do I need a passport?" she asked Frank.
"For a couple of reasons," Frank explained. "It's one of the best forms of ID, and occasionally, I like to go somewhere warmer for a week. Now that I have an assistant, it makes sense for you to come along."
Frank smiled, simply admiring the look of wonder on Alice's face. A week in Spain was routine for him; for Alice, it would be an entirely new world.
Their next stop was an electronics store. Frank informed the clerk that Alice would be doing some schooling and needed a computer. They quickly selected a laptop and a nice leather satchel for it.
"Busy morning," Frank announced. "Time for some lunch."
Lunch was at a place Alice would call fancy. She wasn't sure if it was a regular spot for Frank or chosen for her to experience something new. It was a Middle Eastern restaurant serving rice and meat wrapped around a large knife, a bit spicy but delicious.
Over lunch, they discussed schooling options for Alice. Frank learned she hadn't finished high school, being a few classes short. Alice made a note in her phone to investigate options for these classes later.
After a lengthy lunch, it was time for Alice to meet Frank's doctor. The car he had ordered was always ready after each stop.
Frank seemed to know the doctor well, as they interacted casually. Frank was told they'd be about an hour, and he should 'find something to do.'
The doctor introduced herself as Michele, or Dr. Bonnet, but asked Alice to call her Michele. She inquired if Alice had any immediate health concerns.
Alice hesitated to share. Michele explained that Frank had given her a little background: Alice had had a hard life, including time spent on the streets. "Alice, nothing you share with me will get back to Frank. This is private, between you and me," Michele assured.
Alice nodded in understanding.
"Let's start with some basics," Michele said. "When was the last time you saw a doctor?"
