Page 11 of Summer, in Between
Dad explains to Paul that they’ll turn the space under the house, between our garage and the hill behind it, into a bedroom, living room and bathroom for Nonna, basically a built-in granny flat.He’s also including a cellar in the project and we’re all under strict instructions to call the reno exactly that, so Nonna doesn’t get wind of Mum and Dad’s plan to ‘future proof’ her life.
‘What?So Nonna doesn’t even know about this?’I say.‘Why the rush?Does it really have to happen now?’
‘Cat, you can see Nonna’s going to need us more and more.We need everything set up in case she can’t stay at home anymore,’ says Mum.‘Unless you want her to share your bedroom if she needs to?’
‘Nonna will outlive the zombie apocalypse,’ I say, and Paul laughs.‘I just don’t see why it has to happen this summer when there’s already so much going on.’
‘You’re a smart girl, Cat.You’ll handle it,’ Dad says.‘So, Paul, you in?’
‘Absolutely.’Paul nods, as enthusiastic as a golden retriever going for walkies.‘Bring it!’
‘Shall we do a quick tour?’Mum clasps her hands and a grin breaks across her face.
‘Let’s do it.’Paul stands and pushes his chair back in under the table.
‘Let me just finish this,’ Dad nods at his coffee.‘Cat, can you show Paul inside?I’ll meet you downstairs.’
‘Okay, so we’re here, this is the top.’I take a deep breath and tell myself this is decidedly not weird, flinging my hands around like a tour guide as I show Paul my house.‘We’re basically four levels because of the hill, right?This first one is the kitchen and dining room and laundry.’He follows me down into the living room.‘Those steps down there?That’s the parentals’ room, and if you turn to your right?That’s me and my brothers.’I point to what Dad calls the nosebleed section, the corridor that runs the length of our living room with our three bedrooms and the bathroom we share which is the bane of my existence.
‘Man, this is a nice house,’ Paul whistles.He turns slowly.‘So, what, it’s two, four, six stairs to each level?’
‘And the twenty-two from the garage to the balcony,’ I say.‘It’s one thing we’re not short of.’Between the stairs all over my house, the stairs up and down to the beach, the stairs at school and the stairs to get on the freakin’ bus, all I do, all day, every day, is climb stairs.Some days I get to the car, ready for school and realise I’ve left something in my bedroom, so back up I go.How don’t I have the knees of a geriatric?Funnily enough, the stairs are the only things Nonna doesn’t whine about when she comes over.She’ll spend an hour having a go at me about my hair, having a crack at Mum about working too hard, telling Dad off about not growing veggies, but she plows up and down the stairs without a murmur.
‘I can’t believe I get to work on this house.’Paul grins, looking around like he’s casing the place.
‘Hey, Paul,’ Dad calls us from the balcony.‘Do you mind if we take a rain check?Angela has to go pick up her mother and I have to go get the boys.’
‘Yeah, that’s sweet,’ Paul says.I follow him out to the balcony.‘I have a few things to do at home for the old man, but before you go, can Cat come to a party at the Gap with me tonight?’
‘Well, you’ll have to ask Cat,’ says Dad.Three pairs of eyes turn to me, one set almost doing cartoon-style loops out of the owner’s skull.No prizes for guessing who.
‘I don’t know.’I gesture vaguely at my notes on the table.‘I need to finish all this.’
‘Cat, you have all summer.’Mum shakes her head.‘You can have a night off.’
‘Come on, Cat, it’ll be fun,’ says Paul.‘A bit of work life balance for both of us, what do you think?’
‘Um, yeah, sure.’I’m as articulate as ever.
‘I’ll pick you up around eight-thirty?’
‘It’s okay, I’ll meet you there.’
‘No, Cat, you won’t be wandering along the beach alone in the dark,’ says Dad.
I could punch him.
‘So, I’ll see you here at eight-thirty,’ says Paul.‘What time do you need her home?’
‘Midnight,’ says Dad.
‘One thirty,’ Mum counters.
Paul laughs.‘Shall we meet in the middle and go for one?’
‘One is fine,’ says Mum, and now it’s Dad’s turn to receive herdo not challenge meface.
‘See you tonight, Cat, and thanks for breakfast.Nice to meet you, Mrs Kelty, I mean Angela.’He shakes their hands again, kisses me on the cheek –kisses me– and then he disappears down the stairs.
