Page 14 of Right Place, Right Time
We make quick progress with the bedrooms. I carefully wrap up anything I’m taking for the shop that’s precious or delicate, while Adam puts everything else into cardboard boxes labelledPersonal,Sell,Donate, et cetera. Then we move on to some of the downstairs rooms.
While we’re carrying some of the full boxes through the house to stack in the hall, the doorbell rings.
‘Are you expecting anyone?’ I ask.
Adam nods. He puts down his box and hurries towards the entrance.
‘Great!’ he says, opening the door. I can’t see who’s there because the door is blocking them. But Adam pulls his wallet from his back pocket and produces some notes. Then he hands them to whoever is on the other side of the door, and in return is given three pizza boxes. ‘Cheers!’ he says, before kicking the door closed with his foot and spinning around. ‘Voila! Luncheon is served!’
‘You really didn’t have to do that,’ I say, putting my box down on top of his. ‘Kind though it is.’
‘What were we going to have for lunch, then? There’s nothing in the kitchen. Believe me, I’ve looked.’
‘I’ve actually brought my own.’
‘Oh, so you won’t have any of this delicious pizza, then?’ Adam closes his eyes and pretends to savour the aroma above the boxes.
Again I have to smile. Annoyingly, his constant quips and carefree attitude are actually starting to grow onme. ‘That depends on what you’ve ordered. If it’s only pepperoni, then I’m out.’
Adam grins as he carries the boxes towards the kitchen. ‘Come this way … and we’ll see if I was right with my guess.’
I follow him through to the kitchen where we both wash our hands, drying them on some clean hand towels I find in one of the kitchen drawers.
‘Shall we perch in here?’ Adam asks, gesturing to two bar stools at the end of one of the kitchen worktops. ‘The dining room seems a bit formal for pizza.’
‘Yes, let’s.’
‘Drink?’ Adam opens up the fridge. ‘I took the liberty of getting some in.’
‘I’ll take a water, please,’ I say, looking at the selection he’s chosen. ‘Sparkling.’
Adam nods and pulls out a bottle of sparkling water for me, and a can of Appletiser for him. ‘I haven’t had Appletiser for years,’ he says, carrying the drinks over to the counter and putting them down next to the pizzas. ‘But for some reason I just fancied it some. Right.’ He lifts the lids of the boxes one by one. ‘Like I said, I took a guess. We have a veggie supreme in case you’re a vegetarian, the classic Hawaiian – ham and pineapple – and a plain Margherita in case I got it all completely wrong.’ He looks hopefully up at me.
‘I’m not a vegetarian, but they all look lovely. Thank you.’
‘But they’re not your favourite, though, right?’ Adam asks.
‘Not my favourite, but I’ll happily eat any of them.’ I reach for one of the plates Adam has put out and help myself to a slice of veggie supreme.
‘What is then?’ Adam helps himself to a slice of Hawaiian and a slice of Margherita. ‘Your favourite, I mean.’
‘Tuna and olive.’
‘Tuna!’ Adam says, screwing his face up. ‘On a pizza?’
‘Yes, I happen to like tuna. And some would say that putting pineapple on a pizza is equally as bad.’
‘Don’t you like pineapple, then?’
‘I didn’t sayIdidn’t like it. Just that some people think it’s wrong.’
Adam smiles.
‘Have I said something funny?’ I ask.
‘No, not at all. I just like the way you defend yourself and what you believe in.’
‘Oh … well, thanks, I guess. It was just a pizza.’
