A Room With A View

Chapter Forty-Seven - Elena

November 18, Saturday

"Ooh look!" Elena said, her nose pressed against the cold window.

She heard Joshua rinse out the wine glass, and lumber over to join her.

"At what?" He raised his hand over his eyes, blocking out the reflection of the kitchen lights, and stared out into the dark.

"They're kissing," Elena gushed.

"What?"

Elena pointed to Brian's window on the twelfth floor. Madeline's bushy hair was obscuring Brian's face, but Elena was certain she could see a scarlet flush staining the tips of Brian's ear.

"El. I am not going to watch our neighbors through the window. Especially if they're kissing." Joshua shuddered.

"Well then how are we supposed to learn all the Watley gossip if don't check up on people every now and then?" Elena asked. She tore herself away from the window to look at Joshua.

She wished she hadn't.

He was gaping at her with such a complete look of bewilderment, it made Elena feel like she had done something wrong. Which she hadn't. Technically it was Brian's fault for having left his shades open. Plus, Elena's book club was meeting on Wednesday, and the ladies would be expecting an update on the love life of the Watley's young protégé. Elena couldn't give them the juicy truth of Charlene Mica Proibo--that was Brian's secret to spill--but at least she could provide them with this.

Joshua shook his head, his expression clearing, and reached for the dish towel Elena still held in her hands. She'd forgotten it was there. She'd been in the midst of folding laundry and been about to give it to Joshua when she'd caught sight of the light in 12F.

"You're right," Elena said, dropping the towel into Joshua's outstretched hand, "we shouldn't just be watching them. We should be cheering for them." Elena turned back to the window.

"Wohoo!" she shouted, "Go Brian!" She thrust a fist into the air.

Joshua's fingers wrapped around Elena's wrist like a claw.

"Are you crazy?" he hissed, pulling her arm back down.

Elena pursed her lips in annoyance. "No," she said primly, "just proud and congratulatory."

"I fear for the twins. You'll be the mom lurking in the back of the movie theatre on their first date," Joshua said.

"No," Elena snapped back, "I won't be lurking, I'll just be politely sitting directly behind them in case either one needs some support."

A smile crawled its way across Joshua's face. "Don't ever change, babe." He draped an arm around Elena's shoulders and pulled her back toward the kitchen.

But before they reached the sink, the doorbell rang. Elena and Joshua closed their eyes at the same time.

"DOORBELL!" Jeremiah screeched from his bedroom at the top of his lungs.

Elena cut a look at Joshua. "I thought you put the boys to sleep," she whispered, though the damage had already been done.

"I-I did," Joshua mumbled to his feet. Which meant that he very much did not.

Elena sighed. "Well, you go get the door while I put the twins to sleep."

"Back to sleep," Joshua countered under his breath.

Elena turned to him. "I beg your pardon?" she asked, her hands on her hips.

The doorbell rang again, making Elena's teeth rattle. Jeremiah screamed from his bedroom. Elena could hear Isaac giggle in response. Great. They were both awake.