Page 4 of That One Moment

Sage: So? Have they arrived yet?

Sage:Jamie!!!! I’m bored. Tell me!!!

Me:They’re here and I think I’m in love.

Dots appear on the screen to indicate Sage is replying and I wait, tapping my foot on the linoleum floor until her message pops up.

Sage:WTAF Jamie? In love with who? Also, send photos.

My fingers hover over the keyboard as I try to think up what to say to my best friend. I wish she was here right now to knock some sense into me. Isn’t that what best friends are meant to do? Stop you making a fool out of yourself in front of new people?

Me:Okay not in love but fuck me, Sage, he’s incredible. He’s got this messy black hair that I want to run my fingers through and a smile that lights up his entire face and…well I don’t know much else about him but I want to know everything.

Me:Oh God, I sound pathetic. Ignore what I just said.

Sage:We’re gonna have words when I get back. But aren't there two of them?

Me:The other one is grumpy and rude and nothing like his twin.

“Jamie!” My mum calls from the dining room and I grab the tray of drinks and head to sit at the table with them.

“So, Jamie,” Duncan starts, “Your mum says you’re studying to become an architect?”

Finishing my sip of soda, I nod before answering. “That’s the plan. I love the design process. I’d love to create something that is eye-catching, eco-friendly and affordable. The type of building people look at and think, ’wow I could never afford to live here’ but then surprisingly, they can.”

“That’s very noble of you,” Duncan says, tipping his wine glass towards me in a toast. “I hope you achieve that goal. Your mum tells me you have a good head on your shoulders where schooling is concerned. Just like my Cooper.”

My eyes land on Cooper whose cheeks are a pretty shade of pink, but his smile is wide with enthusiasm.

“You’re going to be a teacher? Is that right?” Mum asks. That doesn’t surprise me one bit. I can still remember my very first teacher, Miss Baker. She smelled like soap and she wore these bright dresses everyday of the week, dresses that reminded me of pencil crayons. Her smile was large and her eyes kind. I study Cooper closely and I can see the same kindness in his blue gaze.

“Early years, yep,” he says proudly. “I enjoy working with kids. I spent last summer as a holiday club assistant and while it was exhausting, it was incredibly rewarding too.”

“That’s sweet,” my mum says then turns to Caiden. “And what about you? Your dad says you’re a landscaper?”

He levels my mum with a face of stone, his blue eyes so similar to his brother’s yet devoid of any of the kindness you find in Cooper’s. “I’m surprised he told you that, he usually tells people I’m a glorified gardener. It is neither noble nor sweet.”

Duncan grunts but it’s Cooper who speaks up next. “Well, I don’t know about noble but, Caiden spent all of last summer working on the new pleasure garden for the assisted living residence in town. The residents love it. And he designed it all himself.”

“Hopewood Lodge?” I say, hoping I don’t sound too incredulous. I saw the new garden when I last visited my mum’s aunt, who has a place there, and it is incredible. Well thought out, taking into consideration the natural flora, the access to light and the residents who’ll be using it. It’s accessible for all, and useful, with a small kitchen garden on the east side.

“Huh, that’s impressive,” I say, looking at Duncan and then at Caiden. Neither say anything and there’s an awkward silence that fills the room. Thankfully, it dies the minute the buzzer for the oven goes off, and Mum and Duncan disappear to bring out the lunch. Cooper and Caiden turn towards each other, their heads tipped closely together and I watch them for a second. I find their dynamic fascinating - I’ve never met twins before but I guess I expected them to be so much more alike than they are. Maybe that’s a stereotype. I don’t know.

Mum and Duncan return and my mouth waters as the scent of roast beef and potatoes wafts through the room. Mum is a great cook - she puts a lot of care and effort into preparing meals and when she settles down at the table with us, I take her hand and squeeze it.

“This looks amazing, thanks Mum.”

“It really does, sweetheart,” Duncan says, as he starts dishing potatoes and roast beef onto his plate.

Duncan, Cooper and I dive in, taking huge portions, but Caiden on the other hand, merely picks at it, pushing the food around his plate, his lip twisted in disgust.

“Not hungry, Caiden?” My mum asks, and he shakes his head.

“No, I don’t eat this.” He gestures to the meat on his plate and my mum places her hand over her heart.

“I’m so sorry, I should have asked your dad what you like.”

Caiden rolls his eyes and it’s all I can do not to lash out at him for his rudeness. “He would actually have to know what I like then.”

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