Page 56 of The Side Road
Eventually, he asked, ‘How is Pete the Pig going?’
‘Fine. Would you like some more wine?’ She handed him the bottle.
He took it and placed it back on the table.
‘Anything else that you’re passionate about? Besides knitted pigs.’
‘Snood. I’m very passionate about him.’
Oliver smiled. He rubbed a thumb over his palm. The phrase ‘like pulling teeth’ came to mind. Their conversation was not flowing as well as the wine.
‘What do you like to do on the weekend?’ he asked.
‘The weekend?’
‘Yes. When you’re not at work?’
‘I work on Saturday.’
‘Okay. And on Sunday?’
‘The usual things.’
He waited.
‘Gardening, sometimes. Yoga. I walk Snood. Reading.’
She had a master’s degree in short answers. Again, she offered him more wine, which he refused. After she fussed with the serviettes, she stacked the plates and rearranged the cutlery. Then she excused herself and went to the bathroom.
When Mia returnedto the kitchen, Oliver was standing at the sink, washing the dishes.
‘You don’t need to do that,’ she scolded.
‘I didn’t see a dishwasher.’ He placed a clean plate on the drying rack. ‘Mia, what do you want?’
Surprised by the directness of the question, she faltered. ‘I’m not sure.’
With the dishes done, he drained the sink and shook the excess water off his hands.
She passed him a tea towel. After he dried his hands, he folded the towel and hung it over the stove rail.
‘What do you want?’ she asked.
He leaned back against the bench, crossed his arms over his chest, and considered her. ‘That depends on you.’
‘Why is it up to me?’
‘It’s not. But I asked you first.’
Her heart hammered inside her chest, but she held his gaze. She wasn’t going to look away. ‘Honestly, I don’t think this is going to work. It might be best if you left.’
He didn’t move. There was no indication he was going anywhere.
Emotion welled inside her. What was she doing asking a man she barely knew around for lunch? A man like him. Almost famous with a reputation. The entire meal had been torture. Did he see how out of her depth she was?
Standing with his back to the sink, he watched her. She lifted her chin. ‘Do you need me to show you the way?’
‘No. Thank you for lunch.’ He turned and left.
