She sat next to me on the floor and for a moment there was silence. Of course, we could always count on Keira to make things more awkward.
“So,” she pointed her chopsticks at the screen, “what’s Eli like in bed? I hear good things.”
I glanced at Maia. “I think you’re going to regret sitting down.”
“No, I’m not.” She giggled and launched into a full breakdown of her on/off relationship with Eli West.
I tucked into my food, letting them compare worlds, clubs and kinks. I listened to Maia talk in a way she never had when we’d lived together and she’d felt too guilty to join in, knowing that she was living a lie.
I realised Maia was lonely. Without family, without friends. I realised too that I wasn’t angry anymore and the duo Keira and I had had going on our whole lives was now a trio.
Sweat beaded along my hairline as Sid and I worked on the ten foot tall structure. The first two days of work had been filled with worry that I’d designed it wrong. It was too boring, too rigid, lacking any of the whimsy of a fairytale. Sid had told me to trust my own process and by Friday afternoon, I realised he was right. Now covered with moss, draping ivy and a variety of pink and purple flowers, it was something out of a dream.
I held my necklace, my thumb rubbing over the glass.Look, mum! Look what I made!
I snapped a photo and sent it to Alfie. I frowned when I didn’t receive his usual instant reply. I was trying not to be needy but it was hard.
There was still no word on who was threatening us with those pictures, or if there was then Alfie wasn’t telling me. I was suspecting the latter but for just this week, I didn’t care. I had shit to do and if Alfie wanted to handle this without involving meuntil it was necessary, I was going to let that lie until next week when this project was over.
By the end of the day, the sculpture was finished. The crew were packing up on their side of the grounds. Sid and I sat on the grass underneath our tower, sharing a bottle of champagne that I’d ordered to celebrate with. Maybe the celebration was premature, we still had a week to go, but the hard work was done and we needed the lift.
“Sid, you’re a superstar. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“I think we make a really good team. By the way, I’ve been thinking over your offer about making these things for weddings? I’ll do it in the interim but honestly, I want to make that show that your man suggested. I want to be the behind-the-scenes guy helping you plan, design, build gardens, sculptures, whatever. I want to help you teach people about it. What do you think?”
“I think the thought of it scares the crap out of me.” Now didn’t seem like the right time to be putting more of myself online but I didn’t want to say that in front of Sid.
“That’s fair. I think we should make a – what do they call it – a pilot episode? Get a camera, get an idea for a video, a short fifteen minute thing and put it together. If we don’t like it, we don’t post it. I think we could do it though.” I bit my lip, thinking it over. I wanted it badly, I was just nervous. “You said you wanted to get through this project before you thought about it but this is practically over, so will you at least promise to think about it now?”
I took a big gulp of champagne. “Yeah, I’ll add it to my list of life changing decisions I need to make.”
I arrived at my old home at seven on the dot. I stepped through the gate as I had thousands of times and was met on the path by Ryan who barrelled out of the door and directly into my arms.
“Hello, trouble.” I kissed his head. “I heard we’re having spaghetti?”
“Yeah. Worms.”
Natalie and Riley followed out after him. My sister was wearing a dress I’d never seen before and Riley looked strange in his dress shirt.
“Hey, you both look nice!”
“Thanks. And thanks for babysitting. We could use a night out.”
“My pleasure. I miss hanging out with him.” It was true. Going from seeing my nephew every day to once every other month had been really hard over the last few years. I felt guilty that I hadn’t spent more time with them the last few weeks while I’d been here. Between everything, I’d been too distracted. Selfish.
Putting my own thoughts aside, I waved them off and went into the kitchen to heat up our dinner.
“Auntie Lo, will you draw pictures for my stories after we eat? Mum said you’re really good at drawing because you draw gardens and if I ask nicely you might help me.”
“I’ll do my best but you have to call them illustrations if you’re really going to make a book out of it.”
“Yeah, illustrations!” He held his collection of papers in his hands, held together by staples and string. Natalie had bought him a proper notepad and a binder, he even had a laptop to work on but he preferred his own messy method. “There's a writingcompetition for under twelves. Mum said I can enter it if I take it seriously.”
“If you take it seriously then the others don’t stand a chance.” I stirred the bolognese, waiting impatiently for the sauce to heat up. My stomach was rumbling.
“Okay, we’ll eat but before I help with your story, I need you to help me with something.”
“What?”
