Page 44 of Spring Awakening

“Sure, but they take a few years to establish. If you under-planted something annual, you’d have colour while you waited.”

“I should have brought my phone for notes. Would you want to come to the garden centre with me? You could help me pick the right colours.”

“Yes!” Miriam says, with a little hop. “If we go this weekend, I have some vouchers.”

“We can get lunch. Have you seen the size of the scones they sell? It’s criminal.”

Miriam laughs. “Do you think Zach will live here long enough to see the peonies?”

Mali’s taken aback by the question, but the answer doesn’t come before she hears the doorbell ring. Her heart drops. The only person it’s likely to be is Devon, and she’s not sure how to have a polite conversation with him when he sold his mother’s washing machine and Zach’s face greys out whenever he’s mentioned.

“More guests?” Miriam asks, with a smile.

“I dunno. Let’s go see, because I think I’m cold to the bone. Maybe it’s Devon? The only people who ever turn up to my house are my parents, but they rarely knock or use the doorbell.”

When they get back in the house, Mali does, in fact, see her parents. Her dad is frozen, staring in awe at Zach, who is clearly trying to shake his hand, but it’s no use. Her mum walks around him with a scoff and pulls Zach into a hug.

“So good to meet you!”

Her dad finally snaps out of it. “Oh, good, yes. Very good. We are big fans.”

Zach smiles. A small blush comes to his cheeks, and Mali wishes she could take a photo without looking like a stalker loser.

“Mali has mentioned,” he replies, with a small laugh.

“Speak of the angel,” her dad says. “Hi, Mali-Ali.”

“Hey,” she replies, a small furrow to her brow. Why did they knock, and why are they here? Sure, usually they turn up and she throws the kettle on, but she has a guest right now.

“Sorry,” her mum says, looking sheepish. “We didn’t know you were entertaining! We just popped in to say hi, but we’ll catch you another day. Hi,” she says to Miriam. “I’m Zamina, and this is Mosi. It’s lovely to meet you.”

“Hi. I’m Miriam, Zachariah’s mum.”

Her dad gasps, like Mali thought he would.

“Have you eaten?” Zach asks.

“No, but we won’t intrude!”

“It’s not an intrusion. Please, sit,” Zach says.

Her parents need no further encouragement. Mali smiles and grabs a spare chair from the back room. She’s always wanted a large family, one that turns up out of the blue, and it’s not a big deal. This isn’t quite her family, not entirely, but it counts for right now. Zach and her dad pull the dining table more into the middle of the room while Miriam and her mum pour drinks. Smiling, Mali stands to the side and takes a photo… or twelve.

Zach brings a blanket from the living room. “Mal, is it okay to use these?”

“’Course,” she replies, and he drapes the blanket over his mum’s shoulders. Then he rounds the table and does the same for Mali. His fingers brush against her neck again, but she’s not sure why. She has no hair for him to untangle.

“The house is really cute, Mali,” Miriam says. “The garden too! What’s the building at the back for?”

“Thank you.” Mali smiles. “I have a list of things I want to do, but I’m pretty happy with it right now. The building I guess is like a big studio?”

“Didn’t we decide their son lived in it, Ali?” her dad asks. He’s hovering near Zach, waiting for a moment to ask for anautograph or accidentally touch him or something. The most unserious man.

“Darling,” her mum starts, waving her dad over. “Let Zach dish. You can interrogate him later.” Her dad frowns, but ultimately moves to sit down.

“What things do you want to do?” Zach asks, piling the serving dishes with food. He either didn’t notice her dad or didn’t mind. Or a secret third thing—he did notice and he’s pretending he didn’t mind.

“She has a list, Zachariah,” her mum starts.

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