DD's // SAUDADE

- SIXTEEN -

"Would you like some tea, love?"

James buttoned his blue shirt. He glared at the mirror and fixed his leather belt; it felt too tight around his waist. The man turned to Deera, who was holding a Channel compact mirror applying some lipstick. She pressed her lips together and smiled, loving this shade of red. The woman's eyes hugged James' silhouette as he sat beside her and kissed her cheek.

"That sounds nice, darling."

She brought her fingers through his hair, leaning her head against his. He smiled back and yawned. "You need a haircut badly, James...." she chuckled, but he just pulled away, rolling his eyes.

"I'll be right back."

Deetra nodded as he left the room, closing the door behind. He rushed downstairs and went straight to the kitchen. James faced his mother, who was cooking before he opened a cupboard. Sarah looked at her son as he grabbed two mugs and set them on the counter.

"Can I help you, dear?"

"No, I'm fine, mom. I'll just make some tea for Deeta and me."

He smiled, tilting his head before pressing the button on the electric water boiler. Sara turned to her son and grabbed his hand when he tried to touch it again. James looked at her as she held the two mugs between her fingers.

"Let me prepare it for you, sweetheart."

"Mom, you don't have to -"

"Oh, no, no, I insist!

"Okay then... Thank you, mom."

"No worries, dear."

As Sara was pouring the hot water in the mugs, James leaned against the counter with his hands holding onto it. He looked down; the only sound in the kitchen was the water hitting the mugs' bottom.

"How's Liverpool, mom?"

"It's nice, but you know that London was my favourite."

James laughed softly, still glancing down.

"Where's Fiona?"

"On the way. She'll arrive around seven; both her and Sebastian work till noon, so they started from Bournemouth kinda late."

"Oh right, she lives in Bournemouth... I forgot it...."

James rubbed his face with a groan. His mother glared at him with a small smile.

"How's work, James?"

James gulped and held his breath for a few seconds. He hated this lie. The one that he was a policeman in London going around catching the bad guys. Meanwhile, he was the bad guy.

"Just fine, mom. Thanks for asking, though."

"Your father is really proud of you, James. You know, knowing that his son risks his life serving the country. He can't stop talking about it...."

Sara giggled as James smiled awkwardly with half-opened eyes. It's been a while since he choked a cop out of his misery.

"I know, mom. He was the one that pushed me towards that career path."

"Do you enjoy your job, though? Do you like your workplace? That's all it matters to me."

Sara put her palm on James' shoulder, worrying about him. A smirk took over his lips as he nodded slowly.

"I love every second of it, mom. Especially when I catch sick people like paedophiles and rapists."

"Oh, these people deserve... death, not just jail time."