To Shake One's Head

Miss Annebeth Smith almost snorted as Christian Sherton’s nervous fingers lit a cigarette and offered it to her. His weak, blue eyes shone with what could be friendliness, but she knew very well that it wasn’t. It was badly hidden anxiety- badly hidden fear. 1

“Thank you, Mr. Sherton, but I do not smoke.”2

“As you well know”… she mentally added. 3

Still, “Are you sure, Miss Smith?” the man gallantly asked, casting her a pleading look as he sat down on the old, leather couch- it was past its prime, the way its owner was.4

Annebeth merely shook her head, offering him a cup of coffee by a simple gesture- and uncomfortably sitting down as he shook his head as well. It was a simple gesture, but also the one that had always united them. Despite social differences, emotional differences, they had always, both, been the ones to shake their heads.5

It was something, the middle-aged woman acknowledged.6

Not much, but something.7

She was fifty-one, well past her prime in more than one aspect. Looked younger than she was, though- she was one of the few women for whom that so often used sentence really held the truth- but she was also one of the few women for whom it did not really matter. She’d taken care of herself, because her employers had always asked her to. 8

And because she had once been a beauty and still was- as she put it herself- a pretty ruin, it wasn’t hard for her to still look reasonably good. 9

“Miss Smith, have you any idea as for… how long…”10

She looked up to him, big, cynic grey eyes shining with understanding, a small smile on her lips as she politely coughed.11

“I do think the Doctor will inform us of your Aunt’s condition very soon, Mr. Sherton.”12

Christian simply nodded, finally acknowledging her superiority in this situation. Annebeth Smith had always been a rational woman, gifted with a savoir-faire that had always served her very well during her varying-in-length stays with many, all different-tempered Mistresses. Miss Smith, companion, servant and nurse at the same time, had always been the gem of their staff, the pearl on their household crown. 13

This, her last, employment had lasted for twenty-four years. It didn’t look as if it would ever reach its twenty-fifth jubilee, though.14

As soon as Dr. Mortimer entered, both Christian and Annebeth knew that it was over. The aged, wrinkled face of the Doctor finally told them the truth about him- he was a very old, helpless, and endlessly tired man. He shook his head, eyes dull through their piercing, electric blue gaze. 15

“I am afraid, Mr. Sherton, that Mrs. Holloway has just passed away. Heart failure- there was nothing still to be done.  Please accept my sincere condolences.” 16

Miss Smith observed the tall man with his red-greyish hairs through dark eyelashes- his gestures had gone from nervous to nothing less than automatic as he stood up and stretched his hands towards the Doctor in his usual, helpless manner.17

“Doctor…”18

“She has left everything to you, Mr. Sherton. Just made her will- Annie and I signed.”19

Annie was the kitchen-maid, and despite herself, Annebeth closed her eyes in relief. The cool disdain of the Doctor’s was easily to be felt, but all of a sudden, she didn’t care anymore. Nor did Christian- or so she thought. The tall man simply made a clumsy gesture and shook his head.20

“I didn’t…”21

“Of course you didn’t.”22

There wasn’t much more to be said, and without a word, the Doctor left. His not so well-meant condolences were all he left behind- except for the still, uncomfortable feelings of two people- a man and a woman. The man was standing- and after mere seconds, the woman was too.23

“Annebeth, I have…”24

“Leave it, Chris.”25

She almost bitterly smiled. What a sight they were indeed, a man and a woman, middle aged and long ago deprived of all feelings of love by their own stubbornness- yet with somehow, deep inside of them, the urge to do what they had planned to do so many years earlier. 26

Someone had to make the decision that was inevitable.27

And she breathed in and out again, shaking her head for the very last time.28

She could almost feel his tears as she closed the door behind her back.29

Forever.30

~The End~31