Chapter Text
“Professor, I’m here!”
Flora Reinhold manoeuvred herself and her bags in through the narrow front door and closed it behind her with a light kick. The buzz of the city evening that had followed her all the way from her flat was suddenly muted, and Flora stood on the doormat for a moment, her back against the door and eyes closed as she breathed in the cosy, familiar smells of the house. With a satisfied smile she carefully made her way into the kitchen, where a gentle warm light was beckoning her. She placed the bags down awkwardly on the dining table and felt their weight disappear, stretching her arms to the sides and letting out a relieved sigh, before popping her keys down on the kitchen counter and moving a few loose strands of hair behind her ear, which had fallen from her ponytail. Leaning down to remove her boots, her ears pricked to the sound of running overhead, accompanied by muffled high-pitched laughter which gradually got louder with the unmistakable patter of feet on a laminate staircase. Before Flora had finished removing her first shoe, a small girl in a pink towel-dress came running down the steps and across the floor towards her, leaving small puddles of water in her wake.
“Auntie Flora, Auntie Flora you came!” Katrielle squealed as she ran headlong into her, hugging her legs tightly as Flora stood and steadied herself, thankful that she had positioned herself by the table rather than by the doorframe like last time.
“My Kitty Kat, did you think I wouldn’t?” Flora teased, prising her girls’ arms from her legs and lifting her into a wet hug. Katrielle’s abundance of dripping curls clung to Flora’s shirt and face. “Have you just been in the bath, by any chance?” She laughed, setting the child down again. Kat nodded enthusiastically, then pulled on her towel dress as evidence. As she did so, a heavier, slower set of footsteps descended the stairs and Hershel Layton appeared, a folded pink towel in his hands and his orange jumper heavily patched with dark splashes. Flora chuckled, covering her mouth.
“Looks like you have had a bath too, Professor.” She grinned and Hershel Layton laughed politely, looking down at his apparel.
“Indeed, my dear.” He smiled, then turned his attention to Kat, who was dancing in the puddle of water that was forming around her. “Katrielle, darling, you have made Auntie Flora’s pretty shirt all wet.” Katrielle stopped dancing and looked up at Flora’s top, which was now damp around the neckline, and her mouth downturned into a concerned frown. The Professor calmly unfolded the towel he was holding. “Now, why don’t you come and finish drying off and put your pyjamas on, and then you can play.”
Katrielle looked around at the towel and then back up at Flora, before exclaiming, “Can Auntie Flora dry my hair? Please Papa? Please?” The Professor glanced at Flora, who grinned and nodded. Gleeful, Kat ran over and took the towel from him before rushing it back to Flora, who took it and laid it gently over the little girl’s head, rubbing it backward and forward and sending Kat into a fit of giggles. When she removed the towel, Kat’s hair emerged as a thick mass of damp curls, making her face look all the smaller and her sea-blue eyes all the bigger. Katrielle began to run around the kitchen with her arms in the air and cheering.
“Katrielle,” the Professor warned, “Pyjamas please.” With a cheeky laugh and without slowing down, Kat redirected herself up the stairs and disappeared. Now alone, the Professor came forward and gave Flora a hug.
“Good evening my dear,” he said, releasing her and putting his hand out for the towel, which she passed over. “How was work today?” He placed the towel on the back of one of the dining chairs, and Flora began to unpack one of the bags of shopping, placing the contents onto the table.
“Good, thank you, if a little quiet. I have been told my sketch of the Hyde Park thief has given Scotland Yard a good lead on his whereabouts, so that’s good news.” She placed a head of broccoli on the table, “I’m just excited for my next assignment now.”
The professor nodded his approval, failing to hide the proud smile that had etched its way onto his face, and moved to put the broccoli away. “It sounds as if you are doing well, Flora dear, and enjoying yourself which is music to my ears.” There was a moment silence. “And your new flat,” the Professor, his head in the fridge, probed with an attempt at nonchalance that fell slightly short of the mark, “is everything going smoothly?”
Flora stiffened a fraction but nodded, clearing her throat. “Yes, the Landlord paid a final visit the other day and sorted out a few last bits, but otherwise everything is fine.” She winced as she heard a thread of defensiveness surface in her tone.
“I’m glad to hear it.” The professor stood and smiled at her with genuine warmth, but Flora could sense a note of sadness in his response, and looking into his face could see it in the crinkle of his eyes too, though it was very well hidden. She had moved out of the Professor’s house six months ago to a cosy little flat an hour’s walk across London, to the tune of being closer to work. But deep down she knew that wasn’t the real reason. Flora’s cheeks flushed as this resurfaced in her mind and she looked away, attempting to distract herself with the shopping. She had felt overwhelmingly selfish leaving the Professor, especially with two young children about the house, but between them they had agreed it was a good decision and the Professor had been incredibly supportive. So why did she feel so bad about it?
“Flora.” There was a softness to his voice that made Flora look up again, and she hoped that her guilty feelings were not parading themselves across her face. The professor came over and placed his hands gently on her shoulders, tilting his head slightly down to the side so that he could see her face. “I am genuinely happy for you, and proud of the young woman you have grown to be. Your father would be too, I’m sure.” Flora was completely unprepared for this, and she felt the sudden sting of tears welling in her eyes. The professor continued. “We just miss you, that is all. And you are only a stone’s throw away if you need us. There is nothing for you to feel guilty about. Nothing at all. You are making your own way in the world, and it is a joy to witness it.”
So, he had noticed. Flora felt the first few tears fall, and quickly turned into the Professor’s embrace, scrunching her eyes shut and burying herself in his shoulder, hugging him tightly.
“I know, Professor, thank you.” She sniffed loudly, laughing at herself, and the Professor stepped back, smiling, his eyes damp. Reaching into his pocket he took out a cream handkerchief and held it out. Flora took it with thanks, wiping her eyes and blowing her nose, as the Professor began unpacking the final shopping bag.
“I hear that Rosa has a fantastic meal planned this evening.” The change of subject was obvious, but Flora was grateful for it as she pocketed the handkerchief and began to fold the empty bags.
“When is she arriving?”
“About 6 ‘o’ clock I believe, so soon. I hoped Kat and Alfendi would be downstairs to greet her, she is very fond of them.”
Flora’s mind turned to Alfendi. “That’s right, I haven’t seen Al yet this evening. Is he out?”
“No, he is in, he has been in his room since he got in from school. I’m sure he will be along.”
As the Professor finished his sentence, Katrielle appeared at the foot of the stairs once again, now dressed in a lemon-yellow nightgown with a pink lace hem. Securely tucked under her arm was a stuffed teddy who, Flora thought it was fair to say, had definitely seen better days. With only one eye, a few sewn-on patches and its fur bordering matted, she was surprised that it was still the little girl’s favourite. And yet it was the first teddy the Professor had bought her after he had adopted her three years ago, and Flora knew that it meant a lot more to Kat than appearances showed.
“When is dinner?” She asked expectantly, the question directed at her father who lifted her up and settled her on his hip as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
“Soon, Katri, soon. We must wait for Grandma Rosa first, because she has prepared something special for tonight. Say, have you seen your brother?”
Katrielle’s face screwed up tight and she stuck out her tongue. “Yes. I asked him to play snakes and ladders with me, and he told me to go away. He said he was reading and was too old for snakes and ladders.” Flora bit back a chuckle as Katrielle’s dramatic flair kicked in and she mimicked Alfendi telling her to leave, wagging her finger at her teddy and miming baby talk. The Professor smiled patiently.
“Do you think you might go and fetch him please? Grandma Rosa will be here soon, and I’d like it if you were both down here to say hello.” Katrielle nodded and began to wriggle her way out of the Professor’s arms, rushing back up the stairs the moment her feet hit the floor. In silence Flora and the Professor listened with amused smiles to the brief, muffled conversation happening between the two children above them. A few minutes later Katrielle returned with a triumphant grin on her face, followed by a grumbling Alfendi, a book tucked tightly under his arm.
Now 13, Alfendi was growing into a rather lean, lanky teenager. His crimson hair fell in short waves about his angular face, wild and unkempt. A dangerous look in his eye suggested a he was formulating plan, while his dead-pan expression only revealed its seriousness. His yolk-coloured eyes too were intense, hiding a hundred thoughts and feelings behind a detached façade. He was in most ways the complete opposite of his sister, who had begun roll-playing dramatic scenes from films in the reflection of the fridge’s silver casing, her teddy her loyal co-star. The boy silently took a seat at the table, his headphones fixed stubbornly over his head, and returned to his reading. Flora, moving in his direction, glimpsed the title: ‘Within the Criminal’s Mind’. She sighed and shook her head fondly; she was sure that Alfendi would either grow up to be a fantastic detective, or the best criminal England had ever seen. Noticing her approach out of the corner of his eye, Alfendi’s eyes softened a fraction, a subtle change intended only for her to see.
“Hi, Flora.” Alfendi had never really cottoned on to calling her Auntie. Being in the middle of an 18-year gap between her and Katrielle, he saw Flora more as an older sister, and Flora found that she preferred this dynamic. The pair had formed a strong bond soon after Alfendi arrived with the Professor, and for a lad who struggled to get along with anyone, Flora saw their relationship as incredibly precious.
“Hi there, Al,” she smiled, and moved behind his chair towards the larder door, which was nestled into the corner under the stairs, squeezing his shoulder affectionately as she passed. Ducking into the cupboard, she called out to him, “How was school today?”
“Fine.” He nudged one earphone behind his ear and paused, eyebrows furrowed and his finger hovering over the page corner. “Got sent home early.” His gaze was concentrated on the book page as both Flora and the Professor spun around to look at him. Flora glanced up past Alfendi to Layton, and it was clear that he had not been aware of this until now. Even Katrielle’s performance took on a quieter tone, sensing the room’s sudden stillness. Layton quietly put down the tea towel he was holding and took the chair next to Alfendi, folding his hands and leaning low over the tabletop so that he could see his son’s face.
“Why did you get sent home early?” He asked softly. Flora heard the concern that laced his words, however if Alfendi also heard it, he did nothing to relieve it. He merely shrugged and turned to the next page in his book. After a few moments of silence, the Professor tried a different route.
“I was at the University all day today, but I didn’t receive a call. What’s more I saw you come in at 4, as you always do.” The worry in his voice grew, and there was fear there too. Layton placed his hand on Alfendi’s shoulder. “My boy, where were you this afternoon?”
Alfendi shrugged his hand off and growled. “Doesn’t matter. Forget I said anything.” Flora stayed quiet, knowing that Alfendi had clammed up again and was unlikely to say anything more, but her heart ached as a she watched the Professor quietly sit back and then get up, his eyes still on his son. Alfendi had replaced his headphones and had propped the book up so it covered his face. For the briefest moment, the pain, worry and tiredness of caring for the boy displayed itself across the Professor’s features. It had not been an easy 7 years, and losing his parents the way he did, Flora was not surprised that Alfendi could be such a difficult child. She admired both of them for not giving up. The Professor’s gaze flicked to her watching him, and those feelings were stashed safely behind a sad smile. As he walked back to the sink, Flora followed him, placing an arm around his shoulders. She felt him tense up at the surprise contact, then relax, his face turning to hers.
“He does appreciate everything you do for him; you know that right?” She reassured quietly, aware that Katrielle had grown bored of the fridge and was sitting on the stairs, playing with her teddy but almost definitely listening. The professor nodded and looked over his shoulder as Flora dropped her arm.
“I know that my dear, I know. It’s just hasn’t been a good day today. We’ll get through.” He inhaled deeply, as if trying to cement the thought in his mind, then looked back down and smiled at her upturned face, placing his hand on her shoulder. Suddenly there was a loud knock on the door. The Professor laughed as Katrielle went running for it like an over-excited puppy, shouting Rosa’s name. “That will be Grandma Rosa!” He said loudly, the announcement clearly aimed at Alfendi, and made his way over to let her in.
The door opened to a short, cheerful woman with greying hair and a large smile, a bulging hamper in her arms.
“Hershel! I’m sorry I’m late,” she bustled in and handed the basket to the Professor, “I’ve got a roast lamb joint in here, just out of the oven. Careful, it’s hot! It should be fine on the side for a few minutes while I finish preparing. Did you get the vegetables I asked for?”
Layton nodded.
“Thank you, Rosa, you are too kind.”
“Oh, don’t be silly Hershel. It’s my pleasure.” She grinned cheerily at him and patted his arm, then turned to Katrielle who had been jumping at her since she came through the door. “How’s my little Kat doing, eh?” she cried, lifting the laughing little girl and pulling a face, “oh, you’re getting heavy!” This made Katrielle laugh even harder, and as Rosa lowered her down, she ran back through to the kitchen. The professor gestured after her in the direction of the kitchen door and followed Rosa through, setting the basket on the table.
“May I offer you a drink Rosa?” He asked politely. Rosa waved her hand at him, spying Alfendi.
“No thank you, dear, I had one just before I left.” Sidling up beside Alfendi, she tousled his hair and kissed his cheek. “Good evening, Al.” She said, undeterred as his wiped the kiss off his cheek and grunted. Spotting Flora in the corner, her eyes lit up and she waddled over, arms outstretched.
“Ahh, Flora dear!” she cooed, taking her by the hands. “How beautiful you look this evening.” Flora blushed and thanked her quietly.
“How are you this evening, Rosa?” she asked.
“Very well, thank you my dear.” They exchanged smiles, then Rosa turned back to Katrielle who was still hopping around her feet.
“Grandma, Grandma! Do I look beautiful too?” She called, spinning around in her nightgown. Rosa tousled her hair as well.
“Of course you do, Katrielle, very beautiful.” This seemed to satisfy the little girl, who promptly disappeared back into the living room. Rosa chuckled, then rolled up her sleeves. “Right,” she announced, and opened the pan draw. “Dinner should be ready in about ten minutes. Hershel, dear, would you mind getting Kat to set the table? And Flora, honey, see if you can dig out some glasses.”