Page 35 of Something Old

Leora comes through carrying a dish of bolognas with crunch cheese grilled on top. Damn it smells so good.

She sets it down on the table.

I don’t wait to let her dish up for me because I don’t want her to do me anymore favors than she already has. Just now she will be expecting things in return.

Standing up I take the spoon and dish up for her, then myself.

“Thanks.” She grins, taking a seat.

We eat in silence for a while - me trying to figure out how to start a conversation with someone I don’t know at all - who is living in my house - her with a watchful eye on me.

“Do you like it?” She asks.

“It’s incredible.”

I eat faster than I should because while I am enjoying the food I am not enjoying this shared moment. It’s too much.

I asked her how her day was and that was pretty much all the conversation I can handle with her.

She is now chatting away about the recipe and how her grandmother handed it down to her father and he taught her when she was young and how much she loves cooking like it’s an act of love - and on and on and on.

Watching her while she twirls spaghetti onto her fork, looking down at her plate, I notice again how beautiful she is. Her face is lit up with enthusiasm as she shares this story with me, even though I am not really listening.

She’s animated and cheerful.

She makes it look easy - to make conversation - to be relaxed.

I sigh and lean back in my chair.

“Thank you, Leora, that was good. I am going to head up and shower and then call it a night.”

“Oh, wait, um - before you go—”

She reaches under the table, to the empty chair next to her, and pulls up a box.

It’s wrapped in black satin paper with a black ribbon around it.

It’s not big. But it makes me incredibly uncomfortable.

“I bought you a present.” She smiles, handing it over the table to me.

I stand up and take it from her, letting my arm hang at my side, gripping the gift in my hand.

I never know how to react when someone gives me a gift.

“Thank you - good night.” I turn away from the table and hurry from the room.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Leora

Igiggle as he hurries out of the living room. He is one of those people who gets super awkward when they receive gifts. I think I almost saw him blushing now. He looked nervous. He couldn’t get out of here fast enough.

I think he’ll take it up to his bedroom and open it in private.

But I am one of those people who loves to watch people’s expressions when they open gifts. I love to see their faces and if I made the right choice.

I thought long and hard about what to get him and after a little bit of snooping in his room this morning, I found his watch collection. A very impressive selection of rare watches - and so I hunted down a very rare, limited-edition watch - from his favorite brand. I know it’s his favorite brand because more than half of the watches in his collection are that brand.

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