The Strawberry Heart Read online

  THE STRAWBERRY HEART

  Finella Vane

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty One

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Chapter Twenty Five

  Chapter Twenty Six

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty One

  Chapter Thirty Two

  Chapter Thirty Three

  Chapter Thirty Four

  Chapter Thirty Five

  CHAPTER ONE

  Almost every evening since she moved in to her apartment six months ago, when Anselle got home from work, she would walk up to her neighbor’s door and pause. She would listen for the sound of ‘the girl next door’ in the kitchen. Most nights, like that night, she heard the sounds of dinner starting to be prepared; pots or pans being removed from cabinets and plunked down onto the counter or stove or food processor set in motion and sometimes the quiet sound of a knife chopping. Normally, she would listen for a few moments then move down the hallway to her flat. She would step inside to begin what had become her nightly routine.

  Step# 1: place briefcase on coffee table

  Step# 2: remove suit jacket

  Step# 3: drape jacket over the back of sofa

  Step# 4: get a beer out of fridge

  Step# 5: open sliding doors to balcony

  Step# 6: step through doors

  Step# 7: stand at rail or sit on patio chair

  Step# 8: listen and wait

  And normally she would wait for the aromas of her neighbor’s dinner to come wafting over on the spring breeze through the open sliders. That night she was in for a surprise. She stopped, like usual, at the door but was shocked when her neighbor threw the door open. Anselle stared wide-eyed at the brunette in front of her, “Oh…um…..I…uh…sorry.” Even though she was startled by this strange turn of events Anselle closed her eyes and inhaled the inviting aroma of grilling steak, the smell rich, comforting, warm and mouth-wateringly delicious.

  “Hey!” the brunette was more excited than surprised to find the blonde girl at her door but thought the girl looked adorable with her eyes scrunched closed and inhaling.

  Anselle was startled again and blushed; she quickly opened her eyes and turned her head to the voice, “Hey, yourself.”

  “Niav, Niav Wallace. It’s nice to finally meet you. Sorry if I scared you.” the girl formerly known as ‘the girl next door’ said holding out her hand.

  “Anselle Kelly, nice to meet you too,” she shook the offered hand. Anselle eyed her neighbor up and down. She was a little taller, a little leaner, with golden brown eyes and chin length, curly, brown hair. The face was very friendly, the smile was warm and was that an Irish accent? Anselle couldn’t help but smile back. “Um, aren’t you going to burn your steak?” That part came out without Anselle meaning it too and a hand flew up to cover her mouth.

  Niav’s smile broadened, if that were even possible, as she chuckled “I just took it off, it’s resting so the juices redistribute back throughout the meat. Are you new to London, then?”

  That was definitely an Irish accent! “I moved in here a few months ago but I’ve been in London since university. I’m from New Zealand originally.”

  “I saw you moving in. I’m sorry I didn’t say ‘hi’ sooner.” Niav flushed and looked away.

  Anselle noticed the taller girl’s color change, “It’s okay. I’m glad we’re meeting now. Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure. Anything.” Niav smiled again.

  “Are you a chef?” Anselle was sure she was right.

  “No,” Niav replied. “I just really love to cook,” she mentally kicked herself for not putting two steaks on the grill but she didn’t know that that night would be the night she would finally work up the courage to meet her neighbor. “My grandparents cooked my parents are both really good cooks so I guess it runs in the family. The kitchen is my favorite room in the house.”

  “I’m a mess in the kitchen,” Anselle confessed. “I can barely work the coffee maker and the microwave”.

  “Microwave!” Niav gasped in fake horror, hand over her heart, “You’re killing me!”

  Both women laughed and Anselle opened her mouth to speak again but was interrupted by a beeping sound emanating from further inside the apartment. “That’s my timer; don’t want to keep a good steak waiting. It was really nice meeting you”.

  “You too” Anselle replied, “enjoy your steak”.

  Niav turned to go but she stopped and spun around, “if you’d like some cooking lessons sometime just give me a knock. I mean it, anytime”.

  Anselle didn’t have to even think about it but she didn’t want to sound too eager so she said, “I just may take you up on that. Thanks”.

  With a smile and a wink, Niav turned again and disappeared into her apartment letting the door close gently behind her.

  Anselle knew she’d take Niav up on the offer. She even knew that if the offer hadn’t been made she would’ve figured out a way to bring the idea up sooner or later (preferably sooner) herself. She marched down to her door but didn’t bother going through every step of her nightly routine, there was no point but she was quite happy with the reason why. The blonde girl did the first three steps and was just about to do the fourth when she realized she was starving. She took her mobile out of her pocket, brought up her contact list and pressed on ‘Lisa’. When the call was answered Anselle said, “I need steak. You’re coming with me. Meet me at Gina’ in 30.”

  “Um, okay, but when we get there I want to hear all about it,” Lisa laughed into the phone. “See you in 30.”

  ***

  The critics described Gina’ Steak House as “upscale” but Anselle thought it was perfect and didn’t really see anything upscale about it. The dining room was small but the tables weren’t so close together that you couldn’t hold a private conversation. The upper parts of the walls were brick; the lower parts; dark stained wood. The bar was the same dark wood as the paneling, the chairs and booth benches leather cushioned and the tables covered in white linen. There was no meaningless, yard sale junk hanging on the walls like in a lot of the chain restaurants these days. The wait staff wore classic uniforms of white button-front shirts with black ties and black trousers and never sang Happy Birthday to any of the patrons. In Anselle’s opinion it was the perfect restaurant. The fact that it was owned by one of her best friends, she assured people, had nothing to do with it. Okay, maybe a little.

  Lisa stood waiting on the sidewalk outside for Anselle to arrive. They shook hands and hugged like the old friends they were and as Anselle reached out a hand to open the door Lisa asked “what happened?”

  “Why did something have to happen? Can’t I just ask one of my best friends to meet me for dinner?” was Anselle’s reply.

  Lisa didn’t fall for it for a second. “Come on, seriously? You never ask me or I should say tell me to meet you at Gina’ on a random Tuesday”.

  Anselle didn’t respond, only smiled, as they were led to their favorite booth acros
s the room from the bar. While still not answering Lisa’s original question she wasn’t completely silent as the two made small-talk until the waiter appeared to take their drink order. Lisa understood and patiently waited for Anselle to open up. She knew her friend well enough to know that she’d talk eventually and that right then Anselle wanted to keep her in suspense.

  The waiter returned with their drink order, two craft beers, and they placed their entrée orders. For Anselle; the grass fed filet with a side salad and baked potato. For Lisa: the rib-eye with mixed vegetables and steak fries. When the waiter walked away Anselle sighed “the girl next door was cooking steak and it smelled so good I got a craving for steak. It’s really as simple as that.”

  It was Lisa’s turn to sigh as she responded, “there has to be more to it than that. You’re forgetting who you’re talking too. I know you too well to think that’s all there is.”

  “Why?” Anselle asked and took a mouthful of beer.

  “Because. How long have you lived there, six months? I’m guessing that it’s not the first time she’s made steak”. Anselle shook her head as Lisa continued. “But today you found it necessary to have steak too. So, what else happened?”

  “I met her. She surprised me by opening her door when I was walking by.” Anselle said shyly there was no reason she could see to go into the whole pausing and listening thing she did every night. She knew she’d be teased about it relentlessly if she did.

  “Okay and….” Lisa realized that Anselle wasn’t going to give anything up easily and that she’d have to probe for information.

  “She was really nice. When I told her I couldn’t cook she offered to give me lessons.”

  “Okay and….”

  Anselle could feel the blush spreading over her face, “she’s, um…cute” she said turning away from Lisa and looking down at the table. She didn’t know why she was being so coy about it, Lisa was the last person who would ever judge her taste in cute girls.

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well? What’s she look like? What else did you talk about?”

  Anselle looked up and smiled, “she’s Irish, a little taller than me, big, brown eyes, dark, curly hair. You know, cute. Her name is Niav. She told me that she loved to cook.”

  Lisa pointed a finger at Anselle accusingly, “you’re smitten”.

  “No!” Anselle swatted the finger away.

  “Yes. Look at you. You can’t stop blushing. You’re definitely smitten,” Lisa chuckled.

  “I only spoke to her for five minutes”.

  “Who says you can’t be smitten in five minutes? It’s nice to see you interested in someone again. It’s been what, two years? You are taking her up on the lessons.” That last part was a statement not a question.

  “I’m thinking about it. I mean, you should smell some of the aromas coming from that apartment. I swear, if I could gain weight just by inhaling the scent of delicious food I would weigh 500 pounds.”

  They were still laughing when Gina came out of the kitchen with their order. “What’s so funny?” she asked sitting down on the booth bench next to Lisa after placing the plates on the table.

  “Anselle’s crushing on her neighbor,” Lisa told her before Anselle could open her mouth.

  “I am not!” Anselle shouted causing the heads of some of the diners seated near them to turn disapprovingly in her direction.

  “Anselle says she’s ‘dreamy’,” Lisa told Gina.

  “I did not,” Anselle shouted a little lower as she tried to kick Lisa under the table.

  Lisa and Gina burst out laughing at Anselle’s obvious frustration.

  “I don’t know why I’m still friends with you two. All I said was that she’s ‘cute’.”

  Anselle hung her head as her two friends continued to laugh, “Don’t you have something to do in the kitchen?” she asked Gina.

  Gina pulled herself together before sliding out of the booth, “yes, actually.” She then turned to Lisa, “call me tomorrow morning to fill me in”.

  Lisa nodded at her but Anselle said, “Wait. What? If anyone is going to call you tomorrow morning to fill you in it’ll be me.”

  Gina returned to the kitchen still laughing and shaking her head.

  After a few bites into their dinner Lisa asked, “So, how come you’re only telling me about her now?”

  Anselle was taken aback, “I told you. I just met her today.”

  “But you never mentioned the smells from her kitchen before.” Lisa raised her eyebrows. She knew there was more to the story she only had to find a way to worm it out of her friend.

  “I don’t know. I guess it just never came up.” There was no way she was ever going to mention inhaling aromas on the balcony. Ever! Right?

  Lisa eyed Anselle suspiciously, “And just how do you smell these aromas anyway?”

  “With my nose, idiot.” Anselle smirked, “ha, ha…one point for me.”

  “Uh, clever.” Lisa rolled her eyes, “Come on, spill it.”

  “Okay, one day after work I got a beer out of my fridge and went onto the balcony. I’d had a bitch of a day. I wasn’t out there for long before I smelled something. Turns out that Niav opens her balcony doors when she cooks and that was where the smell was coming from. I don’t know what she was cooking but it smelled divine. Happy now?”

  “Is that all? What’s the big deal about that? In any case, I’m glad you finally told me. I hope it works out for you.”

  “Lisa, I just met the girl. It’s not like she asked me to marry her or anything.” It was Anselle’s turn to roll her eyes.

  “Well, then here’s to potential somethings,” Lisa said as she raised her beer.

  “Potential somethings,” Anselle repeated as they clinked their bottles.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Niav had noticed the blonde girl outside on previous nights but she didn’t go out herself. She never went out there herself, ever. She could only open the door to let the heat out of her kitchen. Then one night, out of the corner of her eye, she saw her neighbor lean over their shared railing and sniff the air, close her eyes and smile. Each night after that the brunette would catch the blonde doing it again and again. Wednesday night Niav made baked flounder Florentine but Anselle didn’t go out onto the balcony. Niav couldn’t tell if any lights were on in the apartment and she hadn’t heard her neighbor coming up the stairs or making any noises so she assumed (correctly) that her neighbor wasn’t home from work yet.

  Thursday night Anselle was home at her usual time but she didn’t pause in front of Niav’s door as she usually did. She went right into her apartment, put down her briefcase, took of her jacket, grabbed a beer out of the fridge and went out onto the balcony. Niav’s doors were also open but she wasn’t outside. Anselle inhaled deeply, ‘something Italian’ she thought. A few minutes later she heard her name being called. Niav was standing between the open slider doors and motioning for her to come closer. Anselle noticed that she was breathing very heavily like she had just run a marathon.

  Niav smiled, “hello neighbor.” She wanted to say ‘missed you last night’ but she held her tongue. Instead she decided to ask “would you like to join me for dinner? It’s pasta with a Bolognese sauce and a side of spinach.”

  Anselle looked at Niav’s face with her big brown eyes and wide grin and she found herself saying “I knew I smelled Italian. I’d love too. I have a bottle of red wine somebody gave me as a gift should I bring it?”

  “Absolutely, I’ll meet you at the front door.”

  Anselle found the bottle of red wine on top of the fridge, dusted it off and remembered to grab her house keys before heading out the door. Niav was already waiting with her door open. She stepped aside to let Anselle in. As she closed the door she said, still panting, “Let me give you the nickel tour. This is the living room,” she gestured broadly and took a deep breath. They both knew that their two flats had the exact same layout. Niav put a hand on the small of Anselle’s back and gu
ided her forward, “over there is the kitchen and dining area and over there,” gesturing with her right arm, “is the bedroom and bathroom”. She held out her hand.

  Anselle looked at her quizzically, “what?”

  “I’m waiting for my nickel, you know, for the tour.” She tried to keep a straight face but failed when she broke into a smile.

  Anselle put the bottle of wine into Niav’s open hand, “I’ll have to owe it to you. I’m good for it, I swear. And if I don’t get it to you; you know where I live.”

  “That’s right. Don’t try to skip out in the middle of the night or anything I’m a really light sleeper and I’ll hear you.” Both women laughed and Niav turned to go into the kitchen. “Have a seat at the table, dinner’s almost ready.”

  Anselle sat down at the dining table and watched Niav move around with an easy grace, from stove (checking and stirring) to the cabinets and drawers (for plates and utensils) to the dining table (to set it), back into the kitchen. She brought out a basket of dinner rolls, a butter dish, corkscrew and the wine, the last two items she handed to Anselle before returning to the kitchen, “would you please?”

  “It’s the least I could do.” Anselle took the proffered items. While Anselle tried to open the wine bottle she glanced around the apartment again, the dining area and kitchen had the same ceramic tile but Niav’s seemed more worn, in the living room and hallway there was carpeting while Anselle’s had hardwood floors and a few area rugs, the walls were painted a warm ivory color the same as her. Niav had a sofa and two club chairs in chocolate chenille while she had a sofa and loveseat in brown leather. Niav’s television was a little larger but still a flat-panel like her. The appliances in Niav’s kitchen were older and look well used but Anselle’s appliances were newer stainless steel and looked like they have never been touched.

  With the bottle successfully uncorked Anselle poured the wine as Niav returned to the dining area. “Everything is almost ready. I’m just waiting for the water to boil.” She took the chair across from the blonde and picked up her wine glass for a sip. “This is good. It should go well with the Bolognese. You said it was a gift?”