Abandoned but Not Alone (30 page)

~~~~~~~~~~

As Jason
carried Aviva closer to the kitchen, he realized his mistake. He should have
come alone.  Soft voices were emanating from their destination. It would seem
they would be having company for their midnight feast.

Opening the
kitchen door Jason and Aviva saw the room was occupied by Jake and Josh who
obviously also had their minds on food. Josh had his head stuck in the
refrigerator rummaging around, while Jake sat at the table looking directly at
them as they entered the room.

“
We have company, Josh.
”

Slowly
pulling his head from inside the refrigerator, Josh looked over at the couple
standing on the threshold of the kitchen.
“
Great minds think alike, come take a seat. I got to tell you
man, this fridge is stacked but most of it calls for someone with cooking
skills.
”
Josh commented with a
hopeful look in his eyes.

“
Jason, I think he means you.
”

“
Yeah right, like that
’
s gonna happen.
”

“
Well in that case our choices are: some
kind of casserole meaty thingy, I don
’
t know
about you guys but I
’
m not
really feeling that, I could rustle up some omelets, or I could make a load of
my world famous triple-decker sandwiches. The choice is yours fellow diners.
”
Looking around expectantly at the
others, Josh could once again feel the tension mounting between his brothers
and had no intentions of allowing it to take root. He wanted them to at least
try to be in each others company without the hostile looks and snide comments
which would lead to raised voices.

Noticing
the looks passing between Jason and Jake, Aviva slid from Jason
’
s back and padded over to a chair. Taking
a seat she looked at Josh who was currently wearing a look of resignation while
he waited patiently for a response of everyone
’
s food choice.

Quickly fed
up with their antics, Aviva rolled her eyes deciding to ignore them both.
“
I for one will not be eating anything
described as unappetizingly as a
‘
casserole
meaty thingy
’
, I don
’
t fancy eggs, so sandwiches it is
–
and as Jason and Jake appear to need
something with which to distract themselves,  I think they should make the
sandwiches
–
together.
”
Dismissing their looks of horror, Aviva
turned to Josh requesting a glass of milk as he still had the refrigerator
open. Her request was met by gagging sounds from Jason and Jake; both men turning
an odd shade of green.  Fascinated by their reaction, Aviva decided to push a
little further, wondering how green they could go. Glancing at Josh, Aviva saw
he was wearing a devilish look and only just caught his sly wink
–
she had a partner in crime.

“
Sooo...Aviva, how would you like your
…
milk
, hot or cold?
”

“
Oh Joshua, I really don
’
t fancy my
…
milk
hot tonight.  Normally, at this time of night, nothing would be
more pleasing to me than a glass of hot
…
milk
I really like the skin that forms over the top of
hot
…
milk
; I love
scooping it up and watching as it moulds and sticks to my finger.
”
Aviva said hamming it up for all she was
worth. Yes indeed, there was definitely a deeper shade of green.

“
Cold
…
milk
it is then!
”

Almost
quicker than the eye could follow, Jake palmed an orange and sent it flying
towards Josh
’
s head. His
hand shot out and grabbed the fruit out of the air, their freakishly quick
reactions stunning Aviva.
“
Hey, what
the hell was that for?
”
Josh asked
with mock innocence.

“
You know what it was for, you freakish
turd!
”

“
Hey, who the hell are you calling a turd?
”
Josh asked in mock annoyance.

Rolling his
eyes, Jake got up and walked to the fridge to begin extracting ingredients for
their sandwiches.

“
What about her?
”
Josh continued to whine, pointing an accusing finger at Aviva.
“
She was doing it too. I don
’
t see you throwing food at her head, or
calling her names.
”

“
That
’
s because he knows better, with that one act of restraint he
demonstrated that he
’
s not as
dumb as he looks.
”

“
So let me get this straight, all these
years and you thought you looked dumb, I
’
m kinda sorry to hear that, man.
”

“
I was talking about you, not me.
”
Jason threw back.

“
Well, seeing as how you look just like
me, I
’
d say I just won this
dumb-ass argument.
”
Jake said
grinning as he goaded Jason.

Aviva and
Josh exchanged looks of shared amusement, both thinking the same thought; this
was the first time Jason and Jake had been in the same room and had been able
to banter without it breaking into an argument.

“
As referee, I say Jason number two takes
the round.
”

All eyes
turned to the door as Steve strolled further into the kitchen; looking around
at the three men.
“
I leave you
alone for a day and your big ass brain works out a way to grow another you.
What happened to that one; don
’
t tell me
one of your equations were incorrect?
”
Steve
quipped raising his chin in Josh
’
s
direction.

“
Where the hell have you been, I
’
ve been calling you all day!
”

“
Sorry man, I had a few things to work
through, that can wait
–
what
’
s going on here?
”

When it
became obvious Jason had no intentions of replying, Jake and Josh stepped
forward, hands extended and introduced themselves. Steve immediately recognized
their names; although somewhat reclusive the Kingdoms
’
were well known and respected in the hotel business.  He also
recognized the similarities in the men
’
s and Jason
’
s last
names. Knowing Jason as he did Steve knew it wasn
’
t the right time for in depth explanations on how it came about
that these men were in the house with the paraphernalia of what looked like the
making of sandwiches spread out on the counter. His inquiries would have to
wait until he got Jason alone as he could see much had transpired in his short
absence.

“
I could eat something
–
please tell me the thought didn
’
t enter your heads to get Jason to
prepare food.
”
Steve
laughed taking a seat beside Aviva at the table.

“
If staring boy over there can make
sandwiches, it can
’
t be that
difficult!
”

Looking
over at Aviva Steve mouthed
‘
staring boy
?
’
  Shaking her head Aviva mouthed back
‘
long
story
’
and turned back to watch as Jason and
Jake began putting together the sandwiches. Josh joined them as they all
watched; chins resting in their palms, fascinated as the filling of the
sandwiches grew and grew. Aviva lost her appetite. They were actually competing
with each other to see who could fill their sandwiches the most. Mumbling under
her breath, she quickly finished off her milk, grabbed an apple from the bowl
on the table; wished the room as a whole goodnight and left before she threw up
the contents of her empty stomach.

Returning
to Jason
’
s room, Aviva finished
off her apple; she got into the shower. Rubbing lotion all over her body she
brushed her teeth and got into bed. Hearing Jason enter the room not long
after, she decided to feign sleep so she wouldn
’
t be tempted to cuss him out on his childish behavior. After
using the bathroom, Jason settled in beside her pulling her into the contours
of his body, readying himself for sleep.

Aviva was
strangely restless, sleep evading her.  Different thoughts ran through her mind
in quick succession, Hope was followed by Steve, was followed by Jake, Jackson,
Josh and of course Jason. Her thoughts were a kaleidoscope of interchangeable
images refusing to maintain the same shape even for more than a moment.

“
If you
’
re going to keep moving around, keeping me awake, you may as
well tell me a bit more about yourself. I want to know everything about you.
You mentioned your mother had passed away, and that you don
’
t have the best relationship with your
father, if you don
’
t mind, I
’
d like you to fill in the gaps.
”

“
We do seem to be doing this the wrong way
around, don
’
t we?
”

“
What do you mean?
”

“
Normally people meet, date and find out
about each other before ending up where we are now.
”

“
Do we feel right, Angel
–
being here together, like this?
”
Jason stretched his body to look at her
face as the moonlight flowed through the window casting a silver glow over the
bed where they both lay, reposed in each others arms.

“
Yes, we do feel right, but
…
it scares me, this thing between us, it
’
s happening too quickly, Jason.  Don
’
t you think so?
”

“
No.
”

Aviva
waited for Jason to expand on his monosyllabic answer; when he didn't, she
pulled herself up onto her forearm to get a better look at his face in the moonlit
room.
“
That
’
s it,
‘
no
’
, that
’
s all you have to say?
”
She was a little put out at his blas
é
answer to what was, for her, a very
serious question.

Looking at
her with a raised eyebrow, Jason
’
s
expression grew serious as he realized how concerned she was about their
budding relationship.
“
Not all
relationships start in the conventional way, some
–
for example, yours and mine, are more organic and there
’
s nothing wrong with that.
”
Pulling her back down so that she was
resting along his chest, Jason held her face steady so she was able to see the
sincerity of his expression.
“
I know what
I want Angel and I want you and me
–
together.
”
Her expression of uncertainty remained
unchanged.  Jason realized his current tact wasn
’
t getting through to her so he decided on a promise, a promise
from her.
“
I
understand you think we're moving too fast, so, will you make me a promise
–
will you do that for me?
”

“
If I can
…
what is it?
”

Smart lady
Jason thought with a smile,
“
I want you
to promise that you
’
ll give us
a chance. We have something here, Angel and just because our getting together
is unconventional; your thinking not mine; doesn
’
t mean we don't have a chance of longevity.
”