‘Nora! Look, Una, it’s Nora. Hello, Nora,’ said her dad, switching off the radio.
‘Hi,’ said Nora, wondering if this slightly smug feeling was how they felt when they’d caught her doing something she shouldn’t as a child. Like the time she’d tried to make a cake on her own and redecorated the kitchen with flour.
‘We were just…’ Una flinched and guiltily checked her clothing was straight, which Nora found even more troubling than their singing. What had been going on here? Nora didn’t want to think too deeply about that.
‘Do you remember the conversation we had about you letting yourselves in and that the key was only for emergencies?’ asked Nora.
‘And it is an emergency,’ said her mum, lifting her chin. Ali nodded.
Nora lost her smugness. ‘Why, what’s happened?’
‘I am making punjena paprika and sogan dolma for the fete and I need your big serving plate.’
These were traditional Bosnian dishes, a variation on the theme of stuffed vegetables, and her mum’s versions were always very tasty. ‘OK. In that cupboard,’ said Nora, pointing behind her dad. ‘But what’s the emergency?’
‘That. That is the emergency,’ said Una, getting frustrated. ‘Do you think I can cater for goodness knows how many people without a plate to put things on?’
Nora looked to her dad for some signs of sanity but he was busy trying to put the ladle away without being noticed. ‘Other than that, there’s nothing wrong?’ Nora needed to check.
‘You are still single but other than that…’
Nora glared at her mother. ‘Being single isn’t an ailment.’
Una pouted her disagreement. ‘No male company then?’
Nora was about to say no but she stopped herself. ‘Actually I have lots of male company, thanks. In fact, I spent all day yesterday with a man.’
Her parents were silenced but only for a moment. Hermum narrowed her eyes. ‘You took time off work for a man?’
‘Yes, I did,’ said Nora, warming to her little game. ‘We went to Skegness. Had a picnic on the beach, played badminton, went for a swim and ate ice creams walking back to the car.’ The last part made her chuckle at the memory of Jay trying to eat his with Bruce walking backwards in front of him in the hope of Jay dropping some– and causing Jay to trip up every couple of steps.
It had been such a great day. She always had a good time with Jay. An image of him striding out of the sea made her feel a bit funny until she remembered him falling over, which made her laugh again. Her parents were now looking a little concerned. ‘He’s lovely. We had a great time.’ She folded her arms.
‘That’s good,’ said her dad. ‘I’m pleased for you.’
Una waved his words away. ‘She’s not said who it is yet.’ Her mother mirrored her folded arms, which made Nora uncomfortable.
‘I don’t have to tell you,’ said Nora.
‘It’s not a relationship,’ said her mum, with a shake of her head. ‘I know these things. Come on, Ali, where’s that plate?’
Her dad began rummaging in the cupboard.
Nora was irked. ‘Hang on. It could be a relationship. It could be a very serious relationship. I am capable of having those, you know.’ There was another memory of a topless Jay– what was going on there? She couldn’t unpack that right now as she was preoccupied withconvincing her parents that she was potentially in a relationship when she wasn’t.
‘We know you are capable,’ said her dad. ‘Any man or woman or non-gender binary person would be lucky to have you.’ His political correctness was a work in progress.
‘Thanks, Dad.’
Una shot Ali a look and he stuck his head back in the cupboard in search of the big plate. ‘You are playing games, Nora,’ said Una, with a disheartened shake of her head.
‘I did spend the day with a man,’ said Nora. She wasn’t backing down yet.
‘I believe that,’ said Una. ‘What I do not understand is how you have not yet found your prince charming. What is it you’re looking for, Nora?’
It was a question that had more of an impact than she was expecting.
*
