Page 44 of Don’t Tell Me Who To Love

Aisha moved closer. She picked up the butterfly-shaped piece. “This is clever.”

“It’s supposed to be a spiral. I’ve never worked with—”

“I love abstract. It allows for imagination to explore possibilities.”

“What do you see?”

Aisha inspected it closely. “Freedom. Movement. Expression.”

Gabi widened her eyes. She hadn’t thought about jewellery that way before but now, she couldn’t not see it, and it brought the piece to life even though it had a long way to go before it would be finished.

“If you turn it like this, it’s almost two hearts overlapping,” Aisha said. She put the piece back on the table and stared at Gabi.

Gabi’s core throbbed. “We’re moving into the apartment on Friday,” she said. “Would you like to come and see it?”

Aisha released Gabi from her gaze and Gabi sipped the tea, grateful for the chill.

“I can’t on Friday.”

“Saturday?”

Aisha shook her head. “Monday evening?”

“Paella?”

“I love paella.”

“Nana makes the best.”

“You have her talent.”

Gabi spluttered. “Ha. I don’t know about that.”

“I do.”

Gabi’s stomach fluttered. She wasn’t as good a cook as Nana, but she had thrown together a few Spanish omelettes over the years. They were perfect for a hangover. “Monday it is.” She ripped a scrap of paper from a packet, wrote down the address, and handed it to Aisha.

Aisha turned towards the door as it opened and slipped the note into her skirt pocket. She sipped her tea and smiled at Matías. “Thanks for the tea,” she said.

“Freshly picked this morning and made this afternoon,” he said and headed towards Gabi. “How did you get on with the spiral?”

Gabi held up her effort, her cheeks burning hotter than a welding iron. “It’s a start,” she said.

“This is very good. Very good. A little more pressure to the wood before you stretch will help keep the shape you are aiming for.”

Gabi wiped the perspiration from her lip.

“She has a good eye,” Aisha said.

Matías turned to her. “Yes.”

“You were looking for someone to help you,” Aisha said.

Gabi shook her head.

Matías rubbed his chin and frowned. “I was.”

“Don’t hesitate because she is a woman, Matías.” Aisha slapped him on the back and laughed. “Women are equal to men, you know.”

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