Page 64 of In the Long Run
‘When we get back from the Rail Trail, I want to take you out properly.Dinner somewhere nice or whatever else you prefer.Please say yes.’
He traces my lips with his thumb and follows the motion with his mouth.And when my tongue duels with his in a playful game, I can’t stop my happiness from bubbling out, infusing one simple word with a lightness I haven’t felt in a long time.‘Yes.’
24
KNOX
‘Wait, wait, Celeste.Slow down.What are you saying to me?’I sit up and rub the sleep from my eyes.Not sure how it formed considering I tossed and turned all night.
‘People from the council are here,’ she says down the phone.
That gets my attention.My gaze shifts to my watch.It’s just after eight.‘At Alizée’s?Now?Why?’
‘They had a report from the Department of Health.Apparently, someone has complained’—her voice lowers and I hear a door close—‘that we gave their whole family food poisoning and that we have a rat problem.’
‘What?’
‘So they’re here to investigate.’
‘On a Saturday?’I ask.
‘That’s what I said.But apparently, they were concerned enough to come out today.’
Shit.That’s not good.‘Okay, I’ll be right there.’
I rush through getting dressed, grabbing whatever is closest and easiest.
‘Where’s the fire?’Eugene asks when I dash into the lounge room.He’s up and dressed, sitting calmly on the couch with the notepad he’s using for all his cookbook recipes and holding a mug filled with – I sniff the air – coffee.
Telling him about Alizée’s would be a bad idea so I don’t.‘I’ve got to duck out for a bit.You good?Need anything?’
‘Where are you going?’Eug raises his eyebrows.
‘I, uh, I thought I might go and get some cake for Gen.’It comes out like I’m learning to speak English, beats of silence between my words.One, because it’s a cover story, and two, he for sure knows something’s happened with me and Gen.But I push on, adding gestures that make it seem even more like I’ve got something to hide.‘For our drive.Today.In case she gets hungry.’
Eugene lifts his mug calmly and watches me over the rim as he sips.He was unsurprisingly enthusiastic when I first floated the idea of the Rail Trail Fun Run to him.He was less enthusiastic about having Celeste crash here for two nights, but I’m not ready to leave him to fend for himself.Despite the great progress he’s made over the last few months, he still gets tired easily and finds doing household tasks difficult.
‘That’s a nice idea,’ Eugene says.And just when I think I’ve gotten away with it, he continues, ‘You know, if you wanted to spend more time together, you could probably take that baby monitor you hid under my bed to her place.Bet it’s within range.’
My hand hovers over my keys and wallet on the bench.‘How long have you known about that?’I ask, trying to gauge how annoyed he is.
Eug picks up his notebook and starts thumbing through it.‘About as long as I’ve known you’re not pretending anything with Genevieve.’
Cool, cool, cool.
‘Which one of them ratted me out?’I tip my chin towards Madeleine and Chouquette, who are sacked out on the floor next to – but not on – the new bed I bought them last week.
‘Madeleine found the baby monitor.But it was your eyes that gave you away with Gen.It’s good, Knox.I’m happy for you.’
Christ.We’ve kissed once and Eug’s acting like we’re about to get married.
‘I like it when you’re like this,’ he continues.
‘Like what?’
‘Enjoying life.Letting yourself have the things you deserve.’
It feels important to temper his expectations, probably because I need to rein in my own as well.‘Don’t get too excited.’
