Mum’s loud voice grates at my nerves, screeching instructions at Elana in her usual demanding way. Guilt gnaws at me. I should have been here to help. Elana’s going to make me regret this.
“No, Elana. Baste it, or it becomes too dry. Oh, just give it to me.” Mum turns to me as I open the door. “About time you showed up to help, this dinner is for your boyfriend after all.”
“If it were up to us, we wouldn’t be having this meal tonight. Or any night.”
Elana looks at me with bulging eyes, silently telling me to just shut up and help.
I relent and ask, “What do you need me to do?”
Mum wastes no time in dragging me into the kitchen, wrapping an apron around my waist.
The food is ready, the table is set. Elana and I sneak off to get dressed. Elana rolls her eyes and smiles, saying, “Your boyfriend just had to make a scene.”
“I know, he’s so weird.”
“No, that was amazing, like out of a story book,” she beams, “I wish someone would proclaim their love for me like that.”
“Can the two of you hurry up!” Mum screams at us.
Elana grins at me when there’s a knock at the front door, smiling coyly, we head back through to the living area. Mum runs a hand over her clothes, smoothing them out before opening the door wide, with a big grin.
“Oh, it’s just you, Wyatt.” Mum has never sounded so disappointed to see him, it makes me chuckle.
Behind Wyatt, Myles appears, standing awkwardly, unsure of whether he should invite himself in or not. I lift my hand to wave him inside just as Mum spots him at the door.
“There you are. Welcome Myles. Come in, come in.” Mum ushers him inside.
Myles walks through the door, freshly shaven, wearing a charcoal grey shirt, the sleeves rolled up, showing off his toned arms. And thankfully wearing trousers.
“Thank you, Mrs Kohan, I brought a bottle of wine. I hope that’s okay?” Myles smiles, handing it to Mum before walking to me, kissing my cheek with his hand around my side, squeezing gently.
“Hope you’re hungry, we’re having roast chicken tonight.”Mum grins.
“My favourite,” Myles answers, and I can’t tell if he’s just being polite or not. “Can I help with anything?”
“No, no, everything’s under control, Elana, Wyatt, come help set the food on the table, please.” Wyatt protests but snaps his mouth shut, sensing the already tense atmosphere.
Mum grabs Elana by the wrist tugging her towards the kitchen, and she pouts at me before being dragged away. I show Myles to a seat, he takes my hand on his lap, rubbing his thumb along my knuckles, reassuring me.
Elana and Wyatt lay the feast on the table.
“This is quite the spread, Mum, can we spare all this?” I ask. Mum squints her eyes, and I can hear her voice inside my head telling me to be quiet. Myles nudges me under the table. “I mean, this looks great, thank you.”
We are going to be eating leftovers for days.
“It smells delicious, Mrs Kohan.”
Mum smiles at his compliment.“Thank you, Myles. Please, everyone, dig in.”
Wyatt narrows his eyes at Myles, taking on the protective big brother role while he fills his plate.Luckily, Elana breaks the awkward silence. “Tell us about yourself, Myles.”
“There's not much to tell, I moved here about eight months ago, I grew up in Eilia but fancied an adventure,” Myles says.
He picks up a forkful as Elana questions him further, “What about your parents? Siblings? Why choose my sister?” I toss a pea at her; she jumps to avoid it. Myles watches us and laughs.
“My parents are dead, and I’m an only child. I was raised by my uncle. He was a blacksmith; he taught me the trade. I’ve been travelling for a while, looking for something special.” He glances towards me. “Or someone.” He takes a sip of his wine. “And as for your sister, I was besotted the first time I saw her, something told me I needed her in my life. I kept trying to find the courage to talk to her but fell short every time. As luck would have it, I was passing when Misty lost her shoe.”
I cover my face with my hands. “That was the most horrific night ever, I couldn’t get out any words. Utterly humiliating.” Wyatt nods in agreement, and I scowl at him.
