Homeward Bound

Homeward Bound Chapter 11

I took the cowardly way out and did some networking in what I had to accept as my room while stopping here. Networking meant that I texted Rosie with a few questions like time we would meet and if we would be eating there. She came back saying that we would be just socialising and the oak didn't make what she considered great meals, unlike the Brown Cow café. That meant I would have to reconsider keeping out of mum's way.

The other bit of networking was deleting unwanted texts that had been sent to me. I did consider blocking the number but then thought it would only encourage that person to persist. I took my time doing this and moving the rest of the puzzles for her to get rid of in the days to come. Thinking I'd done enough of being out of her way, I slunk with care into the living room, to find Tibbles intrenched on the entire sofa, looking like the Cheshire cat smugness. Don't count your chicken's, I thought, realising mum was watching pointless, which to me seemed very fitting.

'I'm not cooking,' she said, like she knew I was there.

'Fine, I'll sort something out,' I assured her, sliding into the kitchen and taking a look in the fridge.

'There is no bread out,' she called to me.

'You have bread still,' I replied, wincing that I sounded so mocking here.

'Well yes, your dad never liked rye breads and rice cakes that I have to suffer. There might be a few slices there.'

On looking I found what she was talking about. It was some of that packet bread that one toasted. I parted to bits and set about doing cheese on toast. I might have had scrambled eggs but she had used most of the eggs for her baking.

'How did you find David?' she enquired, now coming out and rummaging through the cupboards for her rye breads and some peanut butter.

'Very delightful. He asked me to go and see him tomorrow to finalise the food for the wake,' I boasted.

'Did he now?' she quizzed me with a small like mocking smile. 'About two was it?'

'Well, yes,' I confessed, frowning at her before I turned my attention to the melting cheese under the grill.

'He suggested the same to me, so we can both go and discuss it together,' she suggested smugly, which had me jumping as I stupidly caught my finger on the hot grill.

'Lovely,' I muttered.

'Oh and Matthew called, though I'm not sure why but he talked about some delivery he was suggesting,' she explained, while going back into the living room with her plate of goodies.

That left me wondering what he was playing at or did he not like the idea of mum knowing about us meeting for a drink or something else.

'I might have mentioned about us going on his delivery list,' I lied with ease.

'That sounds great,' she agreed, perking up a bit, as I sat at the table to eat while she went back to her telly.

With my snack done, I cleared up, washed up and dried my things up, leaving the water there in hope she would take the hint about doing her own bits instead of leaving them there. I returned to my room, where I changed into some skinny jeans, a less upmarket top and a padded jacket that I so loved. I forwent the makeup as that might give her ideas but brushed my hair out and put on some heeled boots. The days might be lengthening but it was still a little chilly in the evenings.

The knock on the door came just as I began to leave the room, shutting the door to keep Tibbles out.

'Who's that?' mum asked, getting up from her armchair.