Page 44 of Coming Home to Wishington Bay
‘Are you expecting someone?’
‘Kind of.’
‘Gabe? What’s going on?’
He ran his hands through his hair and then brought them back to rest momentarily either side of his face, his pinkie fingers side by side across his mouth. Taking a couple of long strides towards me, he perched on the coffee table, facing me.
‘So, one time I was sat here with Gigi after I’d just come off a call with my parents, and I was saying to your grandmother how it upset Mum especially that all I seemed to do was work, and that I wasn’t going out and meeting girls and stuff. My brother’s marriage has been rocky for a few years and it wouldn’t surprise me if they had just been witness to another of my sister-in-law’s moments. She can be kind of a diva.’
‘I’d have thought if that’s what they were getting one end, they’d have been glad of the peace and quiet from you rather than more drama.’
‘I know. But they know me and I think that, as far as they can see, all I do is work and occasionally surf.’
‘That is all you do.’
He gave a head wobble that could have been a yes or no. ‘Not entirely true. I went out last night.’
‘Yes,’ I said, laughing. ‘With your parents! I’m pretty sure that doesn’t count. They’re obviously hoping you’re taking women to fancy restaurants, not them.’
‘Exactly.’
‘OK. So, I’m still not getting why you’re all wound up. You’re kind of stealing my thing here. I already called dibs on getting worked up about stuff.’
He flashed a smile at me and my body, with absolutely no consultation with my brain, gave it right back.
‘The thing is, although I knew I was fine, it upset me to think that my parents were worrying about me, thinking I was working too much, and not dating.’
‘Again. Hate to point out the obvious. You do work too much and you don’t date.’
‘Not the point.’
‘Kind of the point.’
‘Will you shoosh a minute?’
‘Did you seriously just shoosh me?’
His expression was half exasperation, half amusement. ‘I did. And I’m pretty sure I’m going to pay for it at some point but can you, just for a moment?’
I sat back, crossed my arms and gave him a look my grandmother had at times called ‘sassy’.
‘So, condensed version. They were upset. I was upset that they were upset, so Gigi came up with the brilliant plan of an imaginary girlfriend.’
‘Oh, Gigi,’ I said, tilting my head at her photo. ‘I’m assuming I’m allowed to un-shoosh now?’
‘Is that a word?’
‘Obviously.’
That look was back.
‘I’m still not seeing the problem. Just say she’s abroad on business. Or … on holiday cuddling orangutans in Borneo. I heard the Wi-Fi there is pretty sketchy so it’s totally understandable if you couldn’t get through to her on Skype.’
‘Yes,’ he said, pointing an index finger in the air. ‘See, ordinarily that would be a perfect explanation.’
‘Ordinarily?’
‘Yeah. Things are a little more complicated than that.’
