As soon as I enter the front parlour, Allan stands. He looks older, tired too, but a very slight smile graces his face which for him means he’s happy.
“Heidi, you are looking well,” he offers. The way he talks is without nuances. I know he’s had issues in the past due to people not getting a read on his mood, but I’m well and truly used to it. I’d be more worried if he was acting animated.
I break our usual tradition of only shaking hands and reach out for a hug. These triplets are changing my physical needs, and since it’s been a day already, I’ve given up trying to defend my reasons.
Allan locks up in his discomfort, but he takes a step closer, his hands patting me on the back. No one could argue we’re not trying to find our way. Margot was definitely more touchy-feely than Allan ever was.
We both get awkward when our hug goes on too long, but we break apart and the slight tension he was holding falls away. He looks a lot more comfortable when he sits down and we have the table between us.
I take my usual seat, on the left of where Margot used to sit. The front parlour is one of the smaller dining rooms, but it has the best view of the bird aviary which is why my mother always sat in the centre chair.
“Did you see the Blue Jays are nesting? If she were here, Margot would insist we sit out there despite the weather or the hour so we could hear their tittering.”
“We can sit out there if you want, Allan,” I offer.
“No, no.”
Before I can say another word, Millie appears in the doorway with fresh pots of coffee and juice in her hands.
There once was a time where I’d jump to my feet to help, but both Allan and Margot reprimanded me until I stopped doing it. Millie though, helped me understand the reason while letting me know in her own way that she really was over the moon to serve us.
“Millie was telling me you have kittens,” Allan says, breaking the quiet while she fills our glasses and coffee cups.
My eyes flare, and I look to her, but she’s biting her lip to stop a smile, and to apparently neither acknowledge nor deny Allan’s statement. “I do. They’re strange.”
And they are—their ears seem to be growing, and their lack of fur is endearing as well as being a little off-putting. But also, I meant the whole concept of pet ownership is strange.
“I never could see the benefit of having an animal around the place. People have them sleep next to them, which is even stranger. Most domesticated species still have the capacity to harbour viruses and or bacteria.”
“There is that,” I offer, going to help myself to some freshly baked croissants and fruit like we normally share, but Bobby rushes in with a plate for me.
“Miss Heidi, enjoy.” He grins as he places a small terrine in front of me, lifting the lid without explanation.
Immediately, I can smell the familiar spices along with Kai’s maple scent wafting up, making my stomach grumble. Bobby’s expectant smile is confirmation that this is what Kai was busy doing. How he got into my kitchen is another matter.
“A new recipe?” Allan asks.
“Life is always full of wonderful surprises that appear from out of the blue,” Bobby answers with a cheeky wink at me from behind Allan. “What about you, sir, would you like your boiled eggs now?”
“Yes, that would be good.” Allan says before he looks to me. “Heidi and I need to run through a few things, so if we can have some privacy, please.”
Instead of pushing for answers, I focus on eating. The first bite of my baked egg breakfast is an explosion of deliciousness in my mouth. Fresh herbs along with the spices the triplets use a lot of in their cooking. Slicing further into the dish, fresh tomatoes and a sharp vinaigrette spill out of it.
Breakfast passes easily, and Allan and I chat about what he’s been researching while we keep things friendly. The second he puts his spoon down, our plates are collected by the staff, we’re offered more refreshments, and then we’re left to talk.
“You came alone?” Allan asks. It’s weird he does because it’s plain to see I am alone. He’s usually not so wasteful of his energy when something is so obvious.
“I thought it best.”
“It’s edifying seeing you thinking about what is good for you.”
“And that means?”
“It means nothing more than what I said.”
I hum, not quite believing him.
“I read the deed you had Pack Lowly sign. I commend you on the simplicity of it, while I’m somewhat shocked on their part they signed. Obviously, what they choose to do or not do is on them and is not a reflection on you. Legally, it was a solid document made better with the inclusion of the limitation periods. Referencing those clauses in the Executive Summary was smart on your part. All it did on their side was highlight their ineptitude.”
