Chapter 5
Molly's Fun Day Off With Irene (morning)
Irene showed up at Molly's apartment and rang the buzzer. Molly wasn't expecting any company. She asked over the intercom "Who is it?"
"It's Irene. Can I come up?"
Molly pushed the buzzer and Irene came up and walked in with a bouquet of daisies and unwrapped them. She took out a pair of small shears and cut the bottoms of the stems on a slant and put them in water and arranged them. Molly used to see Jim do that with flowers. Molly wasn't used to having fresh flowers except the few times that Jim stopped over. They made the apartment so cheerful.
Molly noticed that this time Irene had arrived dressed more casually in a lovely bright yellow shirt and blue jeans and her hair in a ponytail. Light makeup and a touch of cologne and she looked fresh as a daisy herself.
"A little birdie told me that you have a day off today. Any plans?"
"Just shopping for groceries and a load of laundry."
"Can I tag along, Molly?"
"Why not."
Molly finished getting ready in a blue top and jeans and her hair in a ponytail also. She didn't do it often but felt compelled to wear a few drops of cologne.
She got her little utility cart that she used when she went grocery shopping and grabbed her purse. "I'm ready. Let's go. I have to use the cart today because I have to get cat food and cat litter so I need to use the cart today. That stuff can get heavy.”
The market was a short distance away. At the store they went up and down the aisles getting what was on her shopping list. Irene selected a few items and said “I’ll pay for these myself." Soon everything was selected and they headed to the checkout. After paying they walked back to the apartment and put the groceries away.
"Are the laundry facilities in the building or are we going to a laundromat?" asked Irene.
"In the basement. I just hope Mrs. Green hasn't hogged all the machines again." They walked downstairs carrying the laundry, soap, and dryer sheets. Luckily there was an empty machine. Molly loaded the machine and added the detergent and started the load. Mostly work scrubs and undies and socks. They went back upstairs to chat.
Molly had the small telly turned to the local news. A story came on about some shocking murder that just happened this morning and Molly joked "business is always booming." She looked at Irene blushing.
"Did Jim tell you that I work at the morgue? Shop humor. I have a bad habit of making awful comments when I'm not thinking about work and it surprises people some times."
Irene laughed. "I understand."
Molly made them both a cup of tea and opened the tin of biscuits that Irene had brought days before when she and Jim came to dinner.
When the weather forecast came on Molly said "Damn it's going to rain this weekend. Not that it matters. I'll be working a double shift both days."
"How did you and Jim meet" Molly asked Irene?
"We took a class together years ago and just remained friends. Jim is very sweet. He'll make someone a great husband someday."
Molly remembered Sherlock's comment about Jim being gay. She thought it strange that Irene might not have suspected that Jim was gay also. Molly swept that thought from her head.
"How did you meet Jim, Molly?"
“He was working at the lab, between jobs I guess, and we just started hanging out. He is very sweet and likes my cat even."
The news ended and a soap opera came on. “I never watch the soaps because I work weird hours and can't keep the stories straight.” Molly said. "What do you do for work or fun, Irene?"
"I work as a fashion consultant among other things. It allows me to travel. Maybe someday I might settle down" Irene replied wistfully. "I've learned several languages as has Jim. That's part of the reason he is interesting to talk to.”
"It sounds like you lead an interesting life."
“You could say that" Irene replied with a smile.
Oh my. That lovely smile Molly thought. Her voice is mesmerizing too.
They both walked downstairs to put the wet clothes in the dryer with the dryer sheets and walked back up stairs. Molly tidied up the cups and biscuit crumbs and walked back to the couch.
"Do you have any plans for later tonight" asked Irene?
"Not really."
"I have a suggestion? Let's go play Bingo. The early birds start at five o'clock and it's real close by. My treat. It might be fun to do something different for a change?"
"I'll be back in a little while to get you and we'll take a cab.”
"I'm looking forward to it. My mum used to go years ago and I haven't gone in a long time." Irene stood up and walked to the door. “See you at 4:30pm, Molly. Bye”
Molly sighed after she left. Irene is quite interesting she thought as she headed downstairs to retrieve her dry laundry.