Shaking my head, I eye him like a petulant child. “You raised them,” I jokingly accuse.
“That’s debatable,” he replies, grinning proudly. “I could smell the sausage from outside. It looks great, darling.” He dips his finger into the batter and licks it, closing his eyes appreciatively.
“It’s almost ready,” I reply. “Cam…Tan…Why don’t you two stop being little sods and make yourselves useful by setting the table.”
In no time, we’re sitting down at the high-top table and devouring the feast of pancakes, sausages, fresh fruit, and jam. I am certain we are all probably internally musing over what they would taste like if our mum actually made them for us…just once.
BOX OF SECRETS
Hunched over the workshop counter, I rub the sanding block against the dark Philippine mahogany, smoothing the surface and wiping away the excess sawdust. With every touch, I grow more and more excited about the fact that I’m nearly finished with the final one. It feels good working with my hands. It’s therapeutic. In the past I’ve only worked on the books and the appointment side of Theo’s business, C. Designs. Theo’s talents cannot be disputed, but I’ve since found that I too have some abilities I wasn’t even aware of.
Theo comes strolling into the workshop. “Hey…Marisa just went down, so I think Leslie and I are going to turn in early. She’s knackered from all the wedding shite. Are you making more?” he asks, gesturing to the keepsake box in my hands.
“Uh…yeah,” I look down awkwardly, rubbing my hands down my navy T-shirt covered in sawdust. My tattered work jeans don’t look much better. It’s been three days since I last saw Vi and instead of calling her like I want to, I’ve been keeping myself preoccupied.
“Are these for Vi, perhaps?” he asks knowingly and adjusts his glasses while inspecting the three I’ve already completed. After I finish sanding the one I’m currently working on, they all just need to be stained and varnished. I shrug and his brows rise knowingly. “Want to talk about it?”
Shaking my head dismissively, I reply. “There’s not much to talk about. Except for the fact that I sort of agreed to do this ridiculous countdown challenge for Doc, but it’s a horrid idea.”
“Why is that?” Theo grabs one of the metal stools. He drags it up to the counter and sits down.
I pause what I am doing and reply, “It just is, all right.” I glare at him, annoyance dripping from my features as I grab my leather cuff and nervously unsnap and re-snap the clasp.
“Easy, sport…No need to get testy. If it’s a bad idea, why are you working on more boxes?”
“I don’t bloody know.” I stand up straight and toss the sanding block on the counter in a huff. Leaning back on the opposite counter with my arms crossed I continue, “Maybe I’m just trying to be a nice bloke for a change.”
Chuckling, Theo replies, “That doesn’t sound like you.”
“No, it doesn’t.” I slice my hands through my hair and then scrub them down over my face. “I’m just feeling confused by her. She’s so good, you know?”
Theo balks. “How do you know she’s good? What do you actually even know about her?”
My eyes find his. Christ, he’s right. I hardly know her. We sort of went from cake to suicide in two seconds flat. I know sod all about her and I feel like a proper jerk for just now realising. “I guess I don’t know that much, but that’s part of the stipulation of the challenge.”
Theo rises. “Well, I don’t think it’d hurt you to get to know the girl a bit if it helps you finish your mission. You’ve never been one to back down from a challenge, mate.” He touches the box closest to him and smirks. “And look, you went to all this trouble.”
I eye the four keepsake boxes wistfully as Theo makes his way back up to the flat insinuating in no uncertain terms that it would be wise if I stayed down here for a bit longer. Living with Theo and Leslie has been good for me, but it’s not ideal. I basically bear witness to them falling even more in love with each other every day as they tackle happy family life, fussy baby and all. It’s a lot of fighting and making up and me taking long walks to give them space. I definitely need to find a place of my own…and soon. But I’ll feel a lot more confident with myself if I can get through Doc’s challenge first. His approval means so much to me.
Seizing hold of my brief moment of bravery, I shoot Vi a text. To my surprise, she agrees to my request even though it’s already after nine. I quickly get all my supplies ready and wait on bated breath for her arrival.