Page 112 of A Christmas Celebration
‘I mean it,’ he said.
‘You’re not being needy or presumptuous,’ I told him. ‘This is uncharted territory for me too.’
He nodded at that.
‘Well,’ he said, ‘you’re not being either of those things either. In case you were wondering.’
‘That’s enough chitchat,’ said Albert, drawing a line under our heart to heart. ‘Come and get back to work, Brodie. You’ll be moaning in an hour that the light’s gone.’
After another kiss, I took the lunch things back to the cottage, washed them up and made more tea and a flask ofcoffee. I was just about to carry it down to the studio when there was a knock on the door.
‘Delivery for Albert Price,’ said a woman in a high-vis waistcoat when I answered it.
‘Oh, perfect,’ I said, spotting the label. ‘Thanks very much.’
I was tempted to open the box, but thought it should be Albert’s treat.
‘That parcel you’ve been waiting for has just turned up,’ I told him as I reversed into the studio so as not to knock the tray.
‘Is that your bath chair, Albert?’ Brodie asked.
‘It must be,’ he said.
‘It is,’ I confirmed. ‘I read the label. I can’t wait to see it. I’ll come back and set it up for you tomorrow, if you like.’
‘Come back by all means,’ he said, ‘but Brodie has said he’ll put it together for me.’
‘Oh,’ I said. ‘Fair enough.’
‘Don’t pout about it.’ Albert smiled. ‘I’ve not turned into a misogynist who thinks reading instructions and putting things together is man’s work.’
Brodie’s head popped up again and he grinned.
‘It’s just that we’re aware that he’s got more time than you at the moment,’ Albert further explained. ‘What with looking after the hall and doing the deliveries.’
‘And,’ Brodie said, ‘I wanted to do something to thank Albert for letting me use his studio. I feel far more productive here than I ever did set up in Jack’s spare room. Not that I’m not grateful to my brother,’ he quickly added.
‘That’s fair enough.’ I happily accepted, because the arrangement would save me some time. ‘Right, there’s tea here and coffee. Please don’t let it stew. I’d better get back to the hall,’ I added, checking the time on my phone. ‘I should be safe now.’
‘From what?’ Brodie asked, stepping away from his easel.
‘Being talked into going up in the cherry picker to help string up the hall lights.’ I shuddered.
‘You could do that no problem,’ Albert said. ‘That thing’s as safe as houses.’
‘Says the man who is used to working hundreds of feet up in the air.’
‘Not hundreds,’ he corrected.
‘Well, whatever,’ I said. ‘I’d rather keep my feet planted firmly on the ground, thank you very much. How about you, Brodie?’
He didn’t answer and when I looked at him, he seemed to be in a daze.
‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking, lad?’ Albert then asked, turning to look at him.
‘I think I might be,’ he said. ‘It’s all a case of perspective, isn’t it?’
‘It could well be,’ Albert said thoughtfully.
