Margaret Thompson glanced at Peter and Jayden from where she stood in the kitchen, armed with a knife and chopping board. She wondered what they were doing, sitting there for almost an hour now, staring at the BlackBerry that was on the coffee table. It looked as though they were daring it to ring, so intense they were at their task. The air was thick with tension and anticipation.
The telephone on the side table beside Peter shrilled out, causing the two men to jump. They glanced at each other. Peter ignored the ringing phone beside him that seriously demanded his attention and leaned closer to his BlackBerry. A second later, the continuous buzzing was starting to annoy the men. They both frowned at the damn thing and demanded it to shut up.
Peter said, “Mum, aren’t you going to get that?”
Margaret looked up, her green eyes peering above her spectacles at Peter, her red hair bright and glowing under the light. “I’m busy, Peter. Aren’t you going to pick it up?”
“I’m waiting for an important call, Mum,” Peter said, signifying that this could be a life-and-death situation.
“Well, your call must be very important, then,” Margaret retorted, shaking her head. She wiped her hands clean with a towel and rushed to pick up the receiver. Meanwhile, the two men turned their attentions back to the BlackBerry that refused to give any sign of an urgent incoming call.
“Hello, Margaret speaking,” she said, heading toward the kitchen. A short pause and then, “Hello, Alex dear, how are you?”
The two men snapped their heads up and zeroed in on the phone in Margaret’s hand. They both jumped up at the same time and rushed toward Margaret, who was oblivious to their eager advance and was chatting animatedly to Alexandra.
Peter raced up and intercepted his mother. “Mum, Alex?”
“What?” Margaret asked, clearly confused. “Of course it’s Alex. Wait! What are you doing?” she snapped as Peter tried to seize the phone from her hand. “Don’t you dare! I’m talking to Alex.” She shoved the phone away from him.
“No, Mum, this is important,” Peter begged.
“What is so important? It’s only Alex,” Margaret said, the phone up in the air and away from their reach. “Besides, I haven’t talked to Alex for ages.”
Pete snatched the receiver from his mother simply because he was taller. “Sorry, Mum, you can talk to her later.” He placed the receiver against his ear. “Alex? That you? It’s Pete here.”
“Oh! Hey, Pete.”
“So what is it? What’s your decision?” Pete asked as he eyed Jayden, who looked rather nervous all of a sudden.
“Look—um—I’ve been thinking—I’ve—I’ve decided to help Jay.”
Peter grinned and motioned a thumbs-up at Jayden, winking at the same time. Jay nodded and smiled.
Margaret saw Peter winking cheekily and shook her head as she went into the kitchen. She said loudly, “Why don’t you invite her over for dinner?”
“Who? Alex? Okay,” Peter said and then to the phone. “Great, Alex. Good decision. Listen, why don’t you come over for dinner?”
“Oh, okay. I’ll be there in a jiffy. Bye now.”
“Bye,” Peter said and hung up. The two men laughed.
Margaret saw and raised an eyebrow. She wondered if Peter was trying to set Alex and Jay up. She hoped so because that sweet girl deserved a fine young man like Jayden.
“She’s coming over,” Peter shouted to his mum.
Jay said, “I still haven’t forgiven you.”
“About what?” Peter asked innocently.
“About that lie. I’m not gay.”
Peter chuckled. “Hey, bro, I know you’re not, but it’s the only way to get her to change her mind. She feels sorry for you. You ought to be pleased with that.”
Jay took a seat and leaned back against the comfortable sofa. “Yeah, I suppose I should.”
* * * * *
CHAPTER 5