Chapter Text
Anne sipped her coffee as she drummed her fingers impatiently on the wooden table. Even though the first cup of coffee of the day was her favourite, she still couldn’t relax long enough to enjoy it. Anne had always been antsy, a firm believer in not wasting time - if you could do something now, why put it off?
The mid summer sun warmed her face as it streamed in through the large kitchen window, it was still very early but the day was heating up already. As she ran through all the things on her mental to-do list, her phone chimed and interrupted her internal scheduling.
“Hm.” Anne hummed to herself as she opened up her calendar reminder.
‘Start writing fundraiser speech. Book appointment with Jones.’
Anne sighed and locked her phone, tossing it face down onto the table as if that would make the fundraiser magically disappear altogether. Anne knew it was necessary, her Classics department at the University was always under threat – which was preposterous to Anne because really, what was more important than learning about our literary history? Observing first hand how the very fabric of how we communicate evolved over time. Not to mention finding the absolute beauty in language, in its various different forms, in order to better express ourselves? This is why, every year, Anne would attend the University Fundraiser and do her best to convince some of the wealthiest investors to back her up. It wasn’t easy, she detested having to schmooze rich men, but it usually ended up with her department being supported for at least another year. What she didn’t mind, however, was the attention she got from their wives as she caught their stolen glances. Without fail, Anne would leave with a pretty lady on her arm, usually after a quick fumble in the toilets. She wasn’t proud of it, but well, it was all too easy. Women flocked to her in droves, who was she to turn them away? It probably had something to do with the fact Anne would turn up impeccably dressed every year. Always in a jet black suit that was perfectly tailored, rendering her irresistible to even the straightest of women.
She picked up her mug and downed the last of her coffee before standing up, grabbing her keys and slinging her work bag on her back. Her cleats echoed on the wooden floorboards that lined her hallway as she clipped the buckle of her cycling helmet under her chin. Wheeling her road bike down her front steps and onto the street, she took a deep breath. The air was warm but still fresh at this time of the morning, the perfect conditions for her cycle to work. Sliding her sunglasses on, she swung her leg over the black frame, clipped her feet in and set off.
It was a swift 25 minute journey to the University, well, it was at Anne’s pace. Never one to go easy on herself, she pedalled like she was competing in the Tour de France. A firm believer if you weren’t sweating, if your thighs weren’t burning, then you weren’t working hard enough. Anne arrived at work, like she always did, in soaked lyrca, sweat dripping off her face. She hopped off her bike and ended the recording on her smart watch, noting that she’d made it door to door in 23 minutes. She stretched her back with a proud grin on her face as she caught her breath. Instantly feeling cocky about shaving 2 minutes off her normal pace, she realised those after work sessions in the gym were beginning to pay off. At 42, Anne was in terrific shape and she knew it.
“Good morning, Dr Lister.” A shaky voice said behind her.
Turning around, Anne was met with one of her students blushing furiously as she walked past.
“Good morning!” Anne beamed as she nodded her head and strutted off in the direction of her office.
It was slightly unfair really, Anne knew the effect she had on some of her students and, of course she’d never cross any boundaries, but it was flattering to know she could still make hearts race. Her watch buzzed on her wrist, signalling she had 30 minutes until her first class. As she swiped the notification away, she saw her calendar reminder pop up behind it. Rolling her eyes, she headed off to the showers to get ready for her day ahead.
It was a lot of hassle, if she was being honest, it was near the end of term and Anne was snowed under with marking essays and offering extra support to her students. She could really do without spending a week writing her speech and thinking up ways to smooth talk people she’d really rather not spend time with if she had a choice. Plus, all her extra curricular training recently meant that her favourite suit didn’t fit quite right anymore. Her trousers were too tight over her muscular thighs, her favourite dress shirt was too snug around her biceps. Luckily, she had a great tailor who could fix this easily enough. With just a few adjustments, her favourite suit would be back to normal. Better, even.
The morning flew by, like it always did. Anne loved teaching, she was in her element challenging her students to think outside the box, to pick apart every single word on the page. By the time she slumped back in her office chair, half the day was already gone. Pulling out her phone, she dialled Jones’ number before biting into her sandwich. The phone rang and rang and rang, eventually with a click of her tongue, Anne ended the call. Finishing her lunch, she resigned herself to popping in to see him in person on the way back from work. It was only a slight detour, plus she hadn’t seen him in a while, it’d be a good excuse to catch up.
Anne only cursed this plan slightly when she was pedalling up a 10% hill in the thick summer heat to reach her destination. Her legs trembled as she neared the top, the road eventually flattening out as she pulled over to unclip herself. Locking her bike to a nearby lamppost, she headed to the black fronted tailors across the street. The bell jingled as she stepped inside, she was eternally grateful for the air conditioning currently blowing directly into her face.
“Afternoon, Jones!” Anne said loudly to the older gentleman across the room.
“Anne!” He sprang up from his seat. “Good lord, what state are you in! You didn’t cycle up that bloody hill? You did, didn’t you?” Jones rolled his eyes.
“Well, I wasn’t going to walk up it.” Anne furrowed her brow, what was the problem?
“Right, what can I do for you?” Jones knew there wasn’t any point in arguing, not with Anne Lister.
“Ah. Well. I have my annual fundraiser in a month and well, I need to book in for a refitting.” Anne smoothed her sweat soaked hair behind her ears, suddenly feeling a little vulnerable.
“No can do.” Jones shook his head. “I did tell you this last time I saw you, I’m retiring.”
“Right, but you always say that and you never do, so…”
“Except this time I am, really.”
“Ah.” Anne’s heart sank. “When?”
“In two weeks. My bookings have been stacked since I announced it, everyone wants everything doing at once. I’m really sorry, mate. I can’t help you out on this one.”
This was all Anne needed, to be stressed about her attire, to have to go traipsing around the shops of Halifax to find something new at short notice. Nothing off the rack fitted her, she was too tall, too slim in places, too full in others. No, this would be a nightmare.
Never one to show her hand, Anne nodded with a neutral expression on her face.
“I can give you a recommendation if you like? It’s a new place, just opened across town. It’s family run, they’d been living overseas but came back to Halifax for some unknown reason. I mean, really? If you’ve set up shop in Italy - the place with the best food, weather and wine, why on earth would you come back to Halifax?” Jones rolled his eyes dramatically. “Anyway, they had a shop out there for years, they know what they’re doing.”
“Hm.” Anne answered noncommittally. She wasn’t sure if she could go to someone else.
“Oh don’t be so stubborn. Here, give them a call.” Jones handed Anne a card with their details on. “Maybe go soon though, if you’re in a rush, I think they’re going to be overrun when I finally close my doors.”
Anne smiled and patted him rather hard on the back. “Let’s go for a drink to celebrate you getting old? Give me a ring when you can fit me into your busy schedule!”
“Old?! Get out, right now.” Jones laughed as Anne turned and walked back out onto the street.
She squinted at the rectangular card as the bright sunshine reflected off the gold lettering. She noted the address was only about a 10 minute cycle from here, all downhill too. Might as well go and check it out, if it looked a little dated from the outside, well, she didn’t have to go in. Anne fastened her helmet back onto her head and set off, relishing in feeling the breeze against her body as she picked up speed.
From the outside, Walkers didn’t look like it belonged in Halifax. It would’ve been more suited to a city, like Manchester or Brighton. It was elegant but modern with non gender specific window displays, which was intriguing. Anne bit her lip in anticipation as she reached for the door handle, taking a deep breath as she stepped inside.
The place was immaculate. Everything was minimalistic and sleek, a far cry from Jones’ old fashioned place. Anne stepped further into the shop to have a closer look when she locked eyes with a petite blonde woman flicking through a folder of fabrics. Anne smirked, she was probably waiting for her boyfriend, maybe her fiancé? Anne wasn’t above a bit of harmless flirting, especially when she clocked the way the blonde woman raked her eyes over Anne’s lycra clad body before snapping her head back down to continue browsing through the folder in her hand. Maybe she was picking out the fabric for her boyfriend’s wedding suit? How delightful.
Anne licked her lips. “Good afternoon.” She said in her gravely voice, shooting the blonde one of her trademark looks.
The woman’s blue eyes sparkled just for a second before she smiled widely back at Anne.
Anne triumphantly opened her mouth to ask her name when the blonde interrupted.
“I’m just in the middle of something, wait here?”
Internally Anne scoffed. That was a bit bossy? Asking her to wait, unless she meant to get rid of her boyfriend and get Anne alone. Hmm. Interesting. Anne was just running through the possibilities in her head when she watched the woman walk to the counter and retrieve the phone that had been left on the desk. The wheels began turning in Anne’s head.
“Hi Chris, sorry to keep you waiting.” The blonde woman said down the phone. “Yes, we do have that fabric in charcoal grey. I can do that for you no problem.”
Oh.
Anne bit her lip, a very slight blush crept over her face.
The woman smiled in her direction before ending the call and wandering over back to where Anne was apparently frozen to the spot.
“I’m so sorry about that, how can I help?”
“Well.” Anne suddenly felt foolish. “I need to get a suit refitted and my tailor, who’s retiring, well he gave me your card.”
“Jones?”
Anne nodded.
“He’s a little devil, I told him I’m on my own over here and my books are already overflowing.” The woman chuckled, she wasn’t being unkind, she was just teasing.
“If you’re busy, I understand, it’s just, I’m in a bit of a pickle really. Well, I mean…” Anne was rambling, she never rambled.
“I’m sure I can help.” The blonde woman smiled kindly.
“So this is your shop?”
“Indeed it is. Ann Walker, nice to meet you.” Ann bowed her head slightly as she said it. Why? She had no idea. Her thoughts were racing.
“Ah. I’m Anne too!” Anne answered, a little too over enthusiastically.
A beat of silence hung between them before Anne heard Ann audibly inhale. Interesting.
“Well, I assume you don’t need your lycra refitting.” Ann meant it as a joke but well, her throat became instantly dry as she shamelessly let her eyes wander down Anne’s toned body. “Do you have your suit with you?” She managed to ask as she recovered.
“Now that would’ve been useful, wouldn’t it?” Anne laughed sheepishly. “Perhaps I could book an appointment and bring it in?”
Anne couldn’t be sure but she thought she saw Ann raise her eyebrow just a fraction at her words as she fished out her booking diary.
“Now, when’s your event?” Ann asked as she flipped through the pages.
“Exactly a month from today.”
Ann nodded silently as she retrieved the biro that was nestled behind her ear.
“I can fit you in either tomorrow same time or Friday morning?”
Anne smiled. “Tomorrow it is.”
“I look forward to it.” Ann smiled shyly before looking back down and scribbling it in her diary.
“Until then, Miss Walker.” Anne winked as she left the shop and stepped back out into the summer heat.