Quint took off his cap and sat beside me on the bench as we looked at an abstract painting.
"I'd love spending my free time doing something else."
"If you haven't found it, we'll just wait till his death bed. I am sure he'll flaunt about his business there."
"It's not about that, told you I'd already come to terms with it. It's about him keeping someone."
"Even in his deathbed...a mistress?"
"Male, I think his kid from someone else."
"Shouldn't you be happy about it?"
Morr people fighting for something allowed for mistakes to happen. Even though allies will be made but there was always in-fighting. In-fighting has always been the greatest way of defeating families, that was unless they found out and ganged on you. But Quint's cousins are hella stupid.
"Why are you here?"
Change of topic...again. When it came to topics on his family, he always chose to keep it under wraps but I have ways of finding out.
"Appreciating art."
And waiting for the movers to finish loading our stuff into the lorry. I'd thought talking at Rashid's would take time, now I was keeping busy with this.
"I thought they would put these pieces up during opening week for those new students."
"There are scouts around."
"Did Rashid and Kristoff put..."
"You know Rashid, he isn't interested in being scouted for anything. Wants to freelance same to Kristoff. Infact Kristoff is still asleep as we speak."
"At his place?"
"Yeah, don't go start drama with him. He has a plane to catch this evening. Promised some students to help them film something at a fishing village."
"I don't want him arriving sick, he has things to manage when we head there next week. I really hope we're heading there. The break is nice but I need things to kill my thoughts."
"Book three tickets for the day after tomorrow."
"Really?"
Looking at his expression, one would think he had been promised a holiday, or been invited to a party. I shouldn't have let him manage some things. But it's great, I can now have enough free time to attend to...moving.
"You going to the main house?"
"The butler is the one going there. Once done here, I am going to throw Taffy out. He can't expect to hog him a whole day and even at night."
"Why is he hogging him?"
"Boys day or something. Eating in, soaking in bathtubs, movie marathon."
"Are they soaking in together?"
"Don't start."
It wasn't the first time, I had been out one weekend called Blane and he chose face timing, I saw him in the tub with Taffy...Nicole was also in the room in just a bathrobe. The spare bedroom has a lot of Taffy and Nicole's clothes.
My reaction at seeing it wasn't that Taffy was in the tub with him washing his long hair, my problem had been they had a whole female in my bathroom eating noodles from a cup while music was blasting in the background.
I was happy to know she was taken and they took each other as brothers. But still, that was my bathroom. Yes she'd been in the guest room and was just asking about something they had refused to tell me about, but still...ahhh!
"When will you have someone?"
"Don't ask."
He'd stopped sleeping around which I think is great but seeing as even Rashid was trying his hand at it...
"I guess when the time is right. You promised to show him off to Blane."
"I am bi- I could date a woman just fine."
"I know. But I am pegging it on a guy."
In reality,I don't know when that day would come. He was the type that thought settling down was a duty. But I recall that day up in that temple when he'd said he held hope he'd meet someone from his past, someone who'd left just like that.
All this while I've been trying to look for that person but not that much. It was a long time ago when he was still a kid, between then and now, a lot could have changed. He wasn't the same go lucky kid, the person could also be different, way different.
"How long are you going to look at this painting for?"
"Want to look around?"
"Yeah! Wasn't it the reason you called me here?"
"I didn't want to sit waiting alone."
"Touche' thought it was a date."
"Date it is, want lunch after, shopping, a movie at the theatre?"
"No need, I promised someone not to touch what is his, I'll keep that promise."
"Friends also go for dates."
I've seen those two do it, Blane also goes to dates with Rashid and he has enough fun that I at times get jealous. Before we also went on dates. Eating, drinking, visiting the shooting range, the circuit. It had been fun then but now all I could think of is work and the person at home who I am hoping is fine.
I opened the door and the lavender was too much. Looks like they had chosen to clean up as well.
"Hey!"
"Hey baby. Where's Taffy?"
"Went home, his mom wants him to help with something."
"How was your day?"
I hug his waist and peck his neck as I look at the pot he was stirring...not again.
"Was okay...we cooked."
I can see that, the scent was good but their cooking skills were the most minimal on this planet, tasted it...not going there. I really don't want to hurt him, he took his time, together with his friends time.
"Dad gave us instructions on the phone."
"Dad?"
"Your dad and Taffy's dad. We were on video call, they also made the same dishes."
Should I ask Jennie if they were dead yet?"
"We tried it, it was good. The beef is cooked this time so the stew is perfect, the pasta might be overcooked, we didn't want to mess it then the sauce and the vegetables are okay. Taffy carried some to give Barnard."
Okay, so when there's food poisoning it will be a family affair...good to know.
My dad doesn't cook, I've never seen him cook before. He was a huge critique. I recall while I was learning to cook, he was the one testing. His words were harsh and brutal, ready to kill in just one blow.
But, I really don't want to hurt him.
He helped me serve a plate then stood there eagerly watching. I gulped hard, this could go both ways, but help me heavens. I dug in, sweating fork and spoon picked up some pasta...not bad, a little soggy but it was okay, enough salt and butter unlike the previous burnt but uncooked or the salt mine...huge improvement.
Then the stew...cooked. Does my dad really know how to cook, and even teach it, where was he when we were kids? The only problems were the blanched vegetables...they were bitter but this was good.
"How is it!"
"Perfect! I'll take seconds."
"Yay!"