Chapter Text
It sometimes happens that a woman is more beautiful as she ages, as opposed to in years prior. This was not, however, the case for Mika Anderson. It was only a few years ago that Miss Anderson had been a remarkably, undeniably, pretty girl. It was sudden and early, how all this bloom had vanished. Even at its peak, her father, David Anderson, had not found much to admire. He could now find nothing appealing in her features, faded and thin.
But these days, Mr. Anderson had many other grievances to occupy his mind. Anderson Toys had spun up many debts and the man was growing distressed for money. When his own father, the late Mr. Harold Anderson, had lived, there was moderation and economy, but with the man had died all such guidance. Now, Miss Anderson was left to mourn a grandfather, and Mr. Anderson was left to mourn an empire.
Swallowing his pride, he had turned to his daughter to ask, “Can we cut back? Is there any one way we can possibly cut back?” There was great discussion and deliberation among the family and their close friend, Mrs. K, who had been involved in their family affairs for decades. But only one conclusion was produced of it all: the Anderson family must, at least temporarily, rent out Anderson Hall. It would be a great fall for such a family, bearing that prestigious name, but it was a move still subtle enough that it would not attract much publicity. Attention to their deficits was much unwanted.
This decision most keenly affected the young Miss Anderson, the only family member who had taken up residence in the large estate after her grandfather’s death. She had previously shared the house with a few man-servants before, who had supposedly been inherited along with the estate, but all left after about a year into her inheritance of the mansion. Now, after four years of living in the estate on her own, Miss Anderson was hesitant to let open its doors again. It had been long ago that new faces had entered, and not to return.
The last bit of speculation was the question of who. Who would rent out Anderson Hall? Such a tenant would have to be Mr. Anderson’s equal. Too high, the family would feel patronized; too low, they would feel usurped. The tenant had to be just right, of just enough stature to be considered important enough, but not to pose any sufficient threat. Mrs. K had taken it upon herself to conjure up with a great list of applicants, and now sat in the Andersons’ sitting room, calling out these names to disapproval.
“Mr. Shepherd, do you think? A John Shepherd,” Mrs. K called out to no one in particular. She had long been sitting on one of the lounge chairs, looking out the window at the falling red and brown leaves of autumn. The warmth of summer bloom had passed; decay now ate at the greenery of Anderson Hall’s great gardens.
Before Mika could offer her opinion from beside Mrs. K, her father had already grumbled from across the room, “John Shepherd! Dear God, no.” He shook his head, “The man gambles like his life depends on it. He would surely spend away all his rent money. No, no. Shepherd will not do.”
Mrs. K pulled up the list again, searching the names with her pencil, “Let’s see… where was I? Oh yes, a no to Mr. Shepherd…” She quickly crossed the name off and began reading anew. “Oh, Anderson! A familiar name, a Mr. James Anderson!” The woman turned to where Mika sat, “Do you know him, Mika?”
Mika blushed, looking up from her fidgeting hands, having been long bored so far. It was the most colourful her cheeks had been in a long time. But once again, before she could speak up about her connection to the man in question, her father had already begun. He grumbled, “Oh, James. Yes, yes. He’s capable, that’s for sure… punctual, tidy, but a pain,” he said, considering the prospect. He continued, “This might appease him a bit. He's newly-married, from what I remember; probably why he’s looking to stay somewhere.”
“Newly-married…?” Mika thought to herself.
Mika knew of the tension between her father and James. Taking on her grandfather’s last name, James Anderson was considered the man’s unofficial protegée. His history before his arrival to Chicago was unknown to most. Of course, her father had been unwilling to cede his position as CEO to James, and so James took the position of CFO instead. Mika knew that while the men respected each other, they did not particularly like one another. However, she had always felt that this strain was specific to her father. Now, to discover that her old friend and roommate was married, without having been invited to the wedding, or even notified…
It weighed heavily on her.
“Mika?” Mrs. K was looking at her expectantly.
She looked back to her hands in her lap, which fidgeted relentlessly, “I… know him, but not too well. I would say we’re acquaintances. James is respectable, though.”
“Then it’s settled!” Mrs. Anderson exclaimed, slapping her hands on her knees and standing up from her spot on the sofa. “He’ll take up residence here with his new wife. Mika, you can keep to your part of the house; you’ll be in no one’s way there.”
All present ended up agreeing. A better match could not be made, and so it was decided: Anderson Toys’ new CFO, James Anderson, would rent out Anderson Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson had soon after left the house to return to their own, while Mrs. K offered to stay with Mika for a while longer. The latter kindly declined and set her mind on taking a walk in Anderson Hall's vast gardens while the air was still warm enough. Mrs. K, being a close friend of many years to Mrs. Anderson, and even closer with her daughter, had grown increasingly alarmed of Mika's regression into reservation. Any attempt to comfort the girl, she made, but usually to no avail.
As she walked in the familiar grove, Mika silently chastised herself for her transparency. She sighed, then murmured under her breath, “A few more months, and he, perhaps, may be walking here.”