Page 33
“It’s like New York City, only smaller and cleaner,” said Georgie.
Oliver downed the last of his ginger ale and parked the wine glass on his desk. “I’ve never been. Maybe once I’ve conquered Toronto, I’ll give the Big Apple a try. I’d love to see Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night at the MoMA.” He reached into one of the open boxes on his low file cabinet and broke off a crunchy corner from a chocolate chip muffin, the nervous knots in his stomach all but gone. “Work’s been pretty full-on, so I haven’t seen much here. Except raccoons. Lots of raccoons raiding garbage cans and eating pizza slices at night.”
Georgie smiled. “You’ve met Toronto’s unofficial mascot, then! I love those scrappy little bandits and how they take over, rummaging, stealing, eating.”
“Their social life is definitely better than mine. I usually collapse on the sofa after work or catch a late film. The apartment I’m renting on Carlton is above the cinema.”
“Ahh, you’re staying at The Maples,” said Georgie. “That’s why you’re a Golden Griddle regular!”
Oliver winced. “A lapsed one.” He bit into the muffin cap and enjoyed the abundance of chocolate chips.
“Hey, we’ll always welcome you back with a grin and a warm stack of chocolate chip pancakes.” Her gaze fell to the piece of chocolate chip muffin in his hand, her lips plumping into a cute pout. “I can sense a theme here. Seems like you’ve been missing out.”
Seems like I have! Oliver grinned as she popped a chunk in her mouth and chewed, a closed albeit sassy smile on her face. “Maybe I’ll swing by this weekend. Fuel up before going on my search for Toronto’s best record and book shops.”
Georgie’s brows rose mid-swallow. “The World’s Biggest Bookstore is a short walk from your apartment.”
“World’s biggest? Really?”
“Uh…yeah?” Georgie’s uncertain tone dissolved into a laugh. “I dunno if that’s true, but it is massive. Has two floors and something like 65,000 square feet of books. It’s a few blocks south of you on Edward Street, a stone’s throw from A&As, HMV, and Sam the Record Man. You can’t miss ’em, especially Sam’s. Look for the huge spinning neon records a block north of Yonge and Dundas, east side.” Georgie demolished the remaining piece of the muffin.
“I think I’ve seen them on late night TV.” Oliver licked a blob of chocolate from his bottom lip. “During ad breaks, whirling behind people shouting into a microphone.”
“Oh, those are the Late Great Movie bumpers on Citytv!” Georgie grabbed a second serviette from Oliver’s desk and wiped her hands. “My friend Kaitlin does those. She has some wild stories.”
“I’d believe it. Some of the people they film are completely smashed.”
“Welcome to Yonge Street on a Friday night.” Georgie laughed as she balled up the napkin. “Just make sure you stay off the ‘Vomit Comet’ if you’re out late.”
“Er, the what?”
“The all-night bus on Yonge. It ain’t pretty.” She discarded the serviette in her lap. “Actually, this might be a good time to…” Leaning over, she removed something from her tote on the floor. “I know it takes time to get the feel for a new place…I thought this might help.” Georgie straightened and presented him with a book called Toronto Then and Now. “From one history nerd to another.”
Oliver set down his muffin. “Aw, look at that!” He accepted it gladly and flipped through, spotting old cinemas and grand hotels on its pages. “This is wonderful. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I know Toronto is young compared to London or Stockholm, but at least this way you can see where we’ve been and where we’re headed.”
“It’s perfect,” said Oliver. “I’ll dive in tonight.”
Georgie’s eyes zeroed in on something lying on top of a pile of reports. “Oh, that’s cute!”
Setting down his book, Oliver glanced across his desk at a narrow piece of blue and gold cardboard bearing an illustration of an Egyptian pharaoh’s sarcophagus with the phrase ‘Close the cover and I’ll see you tomb-orrow’ emblazoned across it. A tassel of brown yarn hung from the top end. “It’s a bookmark. The gift shop’s stocking them.” He held it out to her. “Would you like it?”
“Yes, please!” Grinning, Georgie smoothed the ruffled tassel. “All my books are riddled with ticket stubs and subway transfers. Thanks so much!”
Her easy manner and seemingly genuine reaction made Oliver even more fond. How could he not be? Georgie didn’t have to do any of this. She didn’t have to be sat across from him on a Friday night when more enticing opportunities awaited beyond the museum’s antiquities and brittle dinosaur bones. If only he could offer a consultancy fee instead of a two-dollar bookmark to show his appreciation and gratitude. He sat forward in his chair, eager to make a friend and ease the gnawing loneliness that filled his days and nights. “What other places around Toronto would you recommend?”
Her radiant gaze danced across his office. “Now that’s a dangerous question! I’m warning you, once I start, you won’t be able to shut me up.”
Which wasn’t a bad thing. The more Georgie talked, the less Oliver would have to talk about himself.
“Go on, then,” he urged, picking up his pen again.
“Well, if you’re hungry there’s the Queen Mother Café, Sai Woo, Indian Rice Factory, Pasta on Duncan, and St. Lawrence Market. Swiss Chalet is great, too, if you’re craving rotisserie chicken. Their Chalet Sauce is sooo good, I could drink it.”
Oliver cocked his head.
“I could! Really.” Georgie continued, “For snacks, you can’t go wrong with Kernels Popcorn, especially the Double Butter and”—Georgie gestured to the open box on his desk as he scrambled to write down all the names she’d mentioned—“mmmarvellous mmmuffins. Nobody bakes ’em with large crunchy tops like they do.” She wound the bookmark’s tassel around her finger. “I can’t believe you remembered.”
