{"id":22462,"date":"2021-07-14T11:24:35","date_gmt":"2021-07-14T16:24:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/?p=22462"},"modified":"2023-01-19T12:08:09","modified_gmt":"2023-01-19T18:08:09","slug":"chapter-11-date-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/2021\/07\/14\/chapter-11-date-night\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 11: Date Night"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Saturday, Thomas met Athena at the restaurant bar at the appointed time. The Estate Manor, Thomas noted as he took in his surroundings, boasted dark, heavy wood furniture, wrought iron fixtures, rich burgundy carpet, and dim lights. It could have done with a little more brightness; but it had its own character, Thomas supposed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Fairfax, how lovely to see you again,\u201d Athena said, brightening as she saw him. \u201cDo sit.\u201d She gestured at the stool next to her. \u201cIt\u2019s dreadfully stuffy, isn\u2019t it?\u201d she said knowingly, noting his gaze darting about the room. \u201cIt could do with a remodel.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s charming,\u201d Thomas assured her.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the bartender took Thomas\u2019 drink order, a familiar voice carried from the entryway: \u201c–but prototype pictures show that Elise was originally intended to be part of the Summer Sweet collection in 1986, but was replaced with Josephine, although her purse design was used for the 1988 Fab Fashions\u2026\u201d It was Tabby, of course, giving painfully precise information on My Little People history to her date\u2026 which was Toby, of course.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby made her way over, Toby in tow. \u201cAthena, you have your quarry well in hoof, I see,\u201d she said with a devilish grin, coming up at Athena\u2019s side.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe rabble they let in here is appalling,\u201d Athena said, turning and raising her eyebrows. \u201cI\u2019m joking, Tabitha!\u201d she added, rolling her eyes. \u201cNo need to glare daggers. Dr. Collins, how do you do,\u201d she added, inclining her head politely at Tabby\u2019s date. Toby replied in kind.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know you two would be here,\u201d Thomas said, perplexed. Watching Tabby on a date with his erstwhile school rival was not high on his list of entertainments.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t sign off on my social calendar,\u201d Tabby sniffed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOoh, the band is about to begin playing,\u201d Athena noted, turning to her date. There was a small stage where musicians were tuning up instruments. \u201cDo you dance, Dr. Fairfax?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA little,\u201d Thomas admitted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI seem to recall a trophy you displayed prominently,\u201d Toby spoke-up, a mischievous glint in his eyes. \u201cFor a waltz competition, I believe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh?\u201d Athena\u2019s eyebrows shot up inquiringly and she looked at Thomas intently. \u201cDo tell!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It was not a talent Thomas had cultivated in recent years. \u201cIt was a long time ago,\u201d he said sighed. \u201cMy mom signed me up for dance lessons, and I participated once in a junior dance competition. That\u2019s all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby smirked while Athena gazed at Thomas with admiration, and he had not intended to encourage the business mare\u2019s interest.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWere you in the All Mestruna Dance League?\u201d Athena asked, leaning in closer. \u201cEast or Northeast division?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEast. Tanzen Academy,\u201d Thomas said briefly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOooh, that’s quite a good school. Very elite.\u201d Athena was clearly impressed. \u201cWhere did you place in the competition?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUh\u2026 second place in the waltz category,\u201d Thomas reluctantly revealed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cReally! That is quite an accomplishment!\u201d Athena regarded him with deep respect.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid you compete, Athena?\u201d Thomas asked, hoping to steer the conversation from himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was in try-outs my senior year,\u201d Athena said, \u201cbut due to extraneous circumstances, I didn’t make it past the preliminary round.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe means she wasn’t very good,\u201d Tabby interrupted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI came down with measles.\u201d Athena gave the pink unicorn an imperious look before gesturing for the maitre d\u2019, who came over with alacrity. \u201cWe will be joining the dance,\u201d she stated. \u201cHave hors d’oeuvre brought to our table when the number is done. You know my preferences.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, Ms. Ainsworth,\u201d he said with a respectful bow.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are those who say that Misty Hollow is too small to bother with,\u201d Athena said as they glided around the dance floor, \u201cbut I grew up here, and I find that the country atmosphere is just what I need to rejuvenate between business meetings.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have a widespread customer base?\u201d Thomas inquired politely.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yes, from Whitebridge to Golden City to New Pony,\u201d Athena stated proudly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo you employ others, or is it just you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have five employees. I like to keep it small, to maintain personal client relationships,\u201d Athena said smoothly. \u201cHow are you finding your staff? Tabby, Strawberry, and I go way back,\u201d she added, \u201cso you can trust me to be discreet with any revelations you might share.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas wasn\u2019t sure about her reasoning, but responded vaguely with, \u201cStrawberry is efficiency personified, and Tabby\u2026 well, Tabby\u2026\u201d He frowned as Tabby and Toby in a cozy booth came into his line of vision. \u201cThere is never a dull moment with her around,\u201d he finished, diverting his gaze from the distraction.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019re right; she always has been a sore trial,\u201d Athena agreed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe mentioned that you went to school together?\u201d Thomas prodded. If he was shamelessly exploiting this opportunity to learn more about Tabby, he didn’t let it bother him too much. After all, Athena had forced him into this.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTabitha attended summer sessions at Whitesun Academy as a filly,\u201d Athena clarified, \u201cand spent senior year there. As much as she cared to attend, that is. She never really figured out how to apply herself to anything\u2026 except for terrorizing me.\u201d Her lips curved down in disapproval.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas looked at her inquiringly. \u201cWhy the animosity?\u201d he asked, hoping that Athena\u2019s side of the story would illuminate the reasons for the feud where Tabby had clammed-up.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe gave me one look and pigeon-holed me as a spoiled rich snob,\u201d Athena complained. \u201cSo tell me, who is the snob? She looked down on me for my hobbies. Well, opera and high fashion are just as credible as hers, playing with dolls!\u201d she scoffed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are difficult times in our formative years figuring out self-identity,\u201d Thomas said, sounding wiser than he felt. \u201cWas Strawberry in your class, too?\u201d The receptionist didn\u2019t strike him as the private school type. But then, neither did Tabby.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStrawberry\u2019s family\u2019s business caters desserts at my mother\u2019s social events,\u201d Athena explained. \u201cShe and Tabby often tagged along to play with me. They were inseparable then as they are now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The dance ended, and the couple took their seats and placed their orders. Athena was a skilled conversationalist, and Thomas appreciated her breadth of knowledge on local happenings, but he kept getting distracted by the pink unicorn across the room…\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Athena followed his gaze at one point and smiled knowingly. \u201cYou <\/span>like<\/span><\/i> her,\u201d she stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWh-what?\u201d Thomas stammered, snapping his attention back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour assistant. You fancy her,\u201d Athena clarified. \u201cNo, don\u2019t deny it; I\u2019m very astute in this area–in all areas, really,\u201d she added as an aside. \u201cBut matchmaking is my speciality.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEven if–and I\u2019m not saying you\u2019re right,\u201d Thomas said hastily, embarrassed that he had been so obvious, \u201cshe already seems to have someone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTabitha doesn\u2019t care for Toby, not like that.\u201d Athena waved a hoof in dismissal. \u201cShe seems devoted to him for some reason, but she\u2019s not in <\/span>love<\/span><\/i>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t possibly know that,\u201d Thomas said incredulously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid you don\u2019t know much about mares in love, Doctor,\u201d Athena said, surreptitiously watching the other couple. \u201cLook at the way she leans away from the table; her eyes are darting around, and she\u2019s looking at everything but him; she\u2019s constantly sipping at her water glass to avoid conversation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEven so, you haven\u2019t taken into account how she feels about me.\u201d This to-the-point conversation had taken Thomas by surprise, but he wasn\u2019t sure he could really trust this new acquaintance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, there are some things you\u2019ll have to figure out for yourself,\u201d Athena said sweetly. She pushed aside her plate and reached into an attache case at her side. \u201cNow, I did, in fact, bring you here to discuss business, not just analyze your love life,\u201d she smoothly transitioned. \u201cI\u2019d like you to consider supporter benefits in the diamond tier\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Athena and Thomas were still engrossed in conversation when Tabby and Toby took their leave of the Estate Manor. They looked natural together, Tabby mused with some pangs of regret. Thomas could hold his own with Athena\u2019s ilk, where the empty compliments and polite nothings would always trip Tabby up.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not that Toby was lacking in social graces, and he still put up with her\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

They talked about interesting cases at work, Tabby\u2019s upcoming garden plans, and staffing challenges at the hospital. They carefully avoided the unvoiced question heavy in the air–<\/span>where do we go from here?<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At Tabby\u2019s doorstep, there was a significant pause. Tabby stood facing him but glanced downward, considering the next move.<\/span><\/p>\n

Toby was the one within reach, with nothing objectionable to his character. And Thomas (because her thoughts always circled back to him) had just chided her the other day for pushing ponies away. What was she missing by skirting around relationships?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTabby, I\u2026\u201d Toby started.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before he could continue, she leaned forward and kissed him. It was impulsive, inexpert, done more to convince herself that this was right, than her being emotionally invested in the action.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Toby looked well-pleased with himself as she drew back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re going to be very happy,\u201d he murmured. \u201cI’ll make sure of it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If there was a tiny voice in the back of her mind saying this was a lie, Tabby ignored it, and let him kiss her again.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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