Family Matters - Part 23-1

8/14/2019 Family Matters - Part 23-1

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-1Family Matters - Part 23.1

By Susan Evelyn

From the edges of conscious thought Nick heard the outer door open followed by the soft pad of quick

footsteps. He pulled on his jeans and drew a sheet over Junie. She turned a little and moaned somethingincoherent.

“That will be the cook with breakfast,” he whispered pushing the stray strands of hair away from her face.

“Don’t get up. I’ll see to it.”

Nick carefully closed the sliding partition as he stepped out into the main room. Following the appetizing

aroma of food to the kitchen he saw that the cook was setting out food on trays.

“Good morning,” he called hoping that he did not startle her.

She looked up bestowing a beaming smile on him. “Mr Nick. It is wonderful to see you. Your trip was

pleasant?”

“Yes, Sumi. Thank you for asking.”

“I was told to bring breakfast for two,” she said looking past him for the other person.

“That’s right. She is resting after the flight,” he said, not completely lying. “I will take the food through toher. You will have plenty of time to meet her later,” he added as he noted the fleeting look of

disappointment. “Any word on our luggage?”

“Yes. It is at the house. They were waiting for a more civil hour to bring it over.”

“Any time is fine. Thank you for breakfast.”

She gave him a courteous bow then playfully reached up to lightly pinch his cheek. “What have you beendoing to yourself? We will have to put some meat on those bones and colour in your face.” Whereupon she

took her leave as he chuckled shaking his head. She was a middle aged woman and having raised her

children had a habit of mothering all the guests at the house. Last time he had been there, she had taken adistinct liking to him, fussing over him like a favored son.

The food smelled wonderful. Neither of them had realised quite how hungry they had been and made short

work of breakfast. Once they had finished eating, their bags were brought to the house along with a private

envelope for Nick.

He introduced the staff to Junie, and showed her around the house and how to use the communications to

the caretaker’s cottage if she needed anything when there were no staff around.

“Although that won’t be for long,” he assured her, “There’s always someone doing something in the yards

during the daylight hours.”

She frowned a little wondering why the sudden rush to acquaint her with the place. Then she rememberedthe envelope that had been passed to him.

“You going somewhere?”

“Yes. I have been called to a meeting. I don’t know how long it will take. It’s a longish trip out there and

there’s a lot to catch up. You going to be ok? I could call someone to be here with you.”

“I can unpack and explore the garden,” she suggested.





becoming better acquainted with the house. As they had only just arrived that morning, the house was

immaculate and there was little for a housekeeper to do so Munu begged the afternoon off with the promise

to take Junie to the markets the following morning.

Sumi brought another tantalizing dish for lunch and regaled Junie with tales of Nick’s previous stay while packing the fridge and cupboards with basic food stocks, and something for the evening meal in case Nick

did not arrive back in time to take her out.

“Is that likely?” Junie asked feeling something cold grip her stomach as realisation of her isolation crushed

in on her.

“Can’t say, miss,” was all Sumi could offer. Seeing Junie’s eyes dim forlornly, she quickly added. “If he is

very late call the caretaker and me or Munu will come and keep you company.”

“That’s very kind of you,” Junie answered automatically, her voice still flat.

“Our pleasure, I assure you,” Sumi said in her motherly way. “Now, is there anything I can get you before I

go? Any requests for tomorrow’s breakfast?”

“Thanks. The food has been simply wonderful, and better than anything I could ask for. Munu said she

would take me to the markets tomorrow. I expect that will be fairly early so I don’t know about breakfast.”

“You must have something to eat before you go. You cannot walk around with nothing in your stomach.”Sumi was as insistent as any parent. “I will make sure breakfast will be here in plenty of time before you

go.”

Sumi gave Junie a little pat on the shoulder as she passed on her way to the door. With a smile and a

friendly wave she left with the reminder to call for anything Junie might want.

The house was suddenly very quiet, and very empty. Junie knew there was bustling traffic only a short

distance beyond the garden wall but strain as she might she could not hear it. Aimlessly she wandered intothe gardens and was immediately impressed at how cool and fresh the air felt and by the pleasing scents

that wafted lazily on the breeze. She followed her nose from bush and flower taking in the delightful smells

and the wonderful tactile senses of the leaves and branches. Merely circumnavigating the house took agood hour or more as she hovered insect-like from one flower to another.

Returning to the kitchen, she soon found everything she needed to make a cup of tea. She took it with her to

the closest sheltered verandah overlooking what must be the kitchen herb garden. She smiled to herself as

she sipped her hot drink remembering the many hours that she had played in another protected kitchengarden when she was little. The longer she sat gazing at the layout of plants and paths, the more she became

aware of a niggling feeling that something was missing but she could not come to any conclusion as to

what that might be.

Dissatisfied at playing mind games with herself, she took to wandering through the rooms with their thinly

partitioned sliding walls and highly polished floors. The layout was all too familiar yet altogether different

in its Spartan simplicity to the place where she had spent so much happy time with her parents. She mused

to herself that it had been a long time since she had thought of them both in such detail. Normally shewould avoid the thoughts, swerving from the deeper memories just in time to avoid contact.

This house was beautiful. It was not cluttered with garish gadgets and most modern technology was

carefully hidden inside cupboards or behind shutters, like the television and stereo unit in the lounging area.

A large sunken bath looked at first glance to be an ornamental pond and was refilled from hidden faucets.

The décor was simple but tastefully selected and of the highest quality giving a subtle impression of wealth

and family status. Her hand skimmed over artifacts that took colour into hidden corners or were placed to

soften the tendency towards sterility. She marveled at the delicate illuminations and scrolls that dotted the

walls.



Before she had had time to realise, night had crept across the compound and stolen into the rooms. The

house was even more beautiful in the dark with just a few lights to avoid walking into things spreading a

soft glow .

A shrill sound split the air. She jumped before she realised that it was her mobile phone. Quickly retrieving

it from the bottom of her bag, she was excited to hear Nick’s voice.

“We’re just leaving,” he told her and she could hear the soft burble of a well tuned engine in the

background. “We will be a few hours. Have something to eat now and I’ll bring some more with me. Have

you had a good day?”

“Interesting,” she answered simply.

“Are you on your own? Do you want someone to keep you company until I get back?”

“Good heavens no. I’m quite used to being on my own. I will be quite alright till you get here.”

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Family Matters - Part 23-1