“But it still ended up his and yours,” said Adrian.
“Ironically, it did.”
“So,” said Adrian, “I guess the crucial question remains. What does all this tell us?”
“What it doesn’t tell us is why Luke would take his own life. Putting personal items aside is the kind of action someone takes if they’re thinking about their future.”
“We definitely need to talk to Freya and Pippa again. Show them what we’ve found.”
“I agree. And maybe we can find out if Freya has a set of keys to the house.”
* * * *
Adrian found the simplicity of the old cooker’s controls soothing. No digital timers or confusing LED controls, no convoluted fan-assisted or conventional cooking options, just one large white dial for the oven’s temperature. Sometimes he agreed with his mother that modern societies had overcomplicated their lives with fancy gimmicks and gadgets they didn’t really need with features they spent hours trying to master—and didn’t need either.
Adrian showered before Lenny then set about food preparations. With everything cooking, he set the small table with a red and white paper tablecloth and matching napkins, items he had bought at the superstore. Even though he’d brought plates and cutlery from home, they had no wineglasses, so the bottle of chilled Chablis with the meal would be enjoyed out of glass tumblers, continental style.
With only the old fridge, the cooker and the sink in the kitchen, the space seemed ridiculously vast, but at least the smells coming from the oven made up for the lack of decoration. One downside to the old-fashioned stove was the solid metal door design, not glass like modern ovens, which prevented him from checking progress without opening the door and losing valuable heat. But he had cooked the recipe often enough to know when the food would be cooked.
They had shared many meals, but for some reason, this one felt special. Maybe because just the two of them would be sitting in the room, or perhaps because this would be their last for a few weeks.
“Okay, Chef, how’s it all coming together?” came Lenny’s voice as he rounded the corner. “Smells amazing.”
“Pretty good, all things considered.”
“That old oven must have been built in the seventies,” said Lenny as Adrian stood at the cooker, checking the potatoes in the saucepan. Lenny pressed his body up against him, put his chin on Adrian’s shoulder and kissed his neck. “I’m surprised it’s still working.”
“Us old things were built to last.” Adrian pushed his backside gently into Lenny’s groin. “Make yourself useful and pour me a glass of wine.”
Lenny moved away to the old fridge and pulled out the bottle.
“Next time I’m here, we’ll have a modern kitchen with fitted units, a long kitchen island, a huge oven and an even bigger fridge.”
Three weeks. Lenny had told him he’d be gone for three weeks because he had a motor show in Yorkshire and some Irish properties to view over the next couple of weekends. He had tried hard not to show his disappointment when Lenny told him. On the plus side, he could knuckle down and get the place finished without any distractions. Apart from a few odd jobs and unlocking the dresser, they had done very little this visit.
Except sex.
They’d had plenty of sex.
“Just so we’re clear. We’re going ahead with the downstairs shower room and the full upstairs bathroom, with a separate bath and shower cubicle.”
“Correct. All units and fixtures should have been ordered. If you think of anything else, let me know and I’ll give you a quick decision. I’ve got Toni’s and your invoices, so I’ll get those paid within the next couple of weeks.”
“You know, most of the clients I work for have at least a sixty-day payment clause. Fourteen days is unheard of in my profession.”
“Yes, well. You’re doing me a favour. And I’d like to think I’m more than a client.”
As Lenny poured the white wine into glasses, he caught Adrian’s eye and winked.
“And what do you think about Toni’s suggestion?” asked Adrian. A waft of heat blasted his face when he opened the oven door and checked on the food. “Solar panelling? You’ve definitely got enough roof space. And I can help her install them for you. It’ll save you a heap on electricity bills, even if it won’t mean getting off the grid completely. I just think it makes sense, if you’re not living here all year round.”
“I think it’s a brilliant idea. Sorry, I thought I’d already said so. I’m going to have to meet Toni. She’s done amazing work in the house. You both have. When I’m down next time, could we all have dinner together?”
“I’ll let her know. Maybe I can invite her partner, Jack, to join us,” said Adrian. Using a dessert spoon, he dished up the salmon and vegetables onto plates, ready to serve. “Can’t believe that next time you’re here, we’ll have pretty much everything finished. And then I’ll be out of your hair.”
Only after placing both plates of food on the small table did he meet Lenny’s eyes. While handing Adrian a tumbler of wine, and clinking glasses, Lenny asked, “And what if I like having you in my hair? What then, Ade?”
Adrian couldn’t help smiling at Lenny. He had been thinking along the same lines. They lived so far apart, but the last thing he wanted was for this intense connection to end.
