No words needed.
* * * *
They found a small bistro off the main high street and settled at a table. Once they had ordered their food, Leonard went to use the bathroom. When he returned, he found Adrian ending a phone call and looking pleased with himself.
“That was Tom Bradford. Toni doesn’t hang about, does she? Anyway, he wants to meet me in person next week. They have a big project coming up during July and August in somewhere called Herne Hill in London. Do you know where that is?”
“Are you serious? Herne Hill’s pretty much around the corner from me, a fifteen-minute drive.”
“Convenient, then?”
“Very,” said Leonard, unable to help his smile. “So that means you’ll definitely need somewhere to stay. This day keeps getting better.”
Adrian winked and nodded, and once again, Leonard couldn’t help the feeling of light optimism filling him, of things finally coming together in his life.
* * * *
When they got back at two-thirty, they unloaded the ottomans and kitchen equipment into the house. Adrian unpacked the gadgets while Leonard took his time to arrange and test the new items on the work surfaces. Once they had finished, Adrian put himself to use doing manual tasks like unloading the dishwasher, cleaning, vacuuming floors and changing bedclothes—the kind of things Leonard assumed he did for himself at home.
Everything felt domestic between them, the way they went from one task to the next without speaking, the way they carefully worked around each other. Now and again, neither of them could resist pulling the other in for a kiss or a hug, or purposely brushing up against the other as they squeezed past. By four, most of the significant chores had been completed, and Leonard could sense Adrian’s restlessness.
“I know it’s a bit early, but what do you want to do for dinner tonight?” asked Adrian.
“Well, for a start, I don’t fancy cooking,” said Leonard, arranging cutlery in one of the kitchen drawers. “Not that we’ve got anything here to cook, anyway. Do you want to go out and eat? Feels as though we’ve done the Manor Inn to death.”
“How about a takeaway on the terrace and then an early night? I can drive into Llandrindod Wells and pick something up. I can also pop into the superstore and stock up on wines and beers. Any preference for food?”
“I honestly don’t mind.”
“How about Chinese takeaway. What dishes do you fancy?”
“Okay, you should know I’m pretty boring when it comes to Chinese takeout,” said Leonard. “If I was on my own, I’d probably order my staples of crispy spring rolls, sweet and sour chicken balls in batter and special fried rice. It’s what I call my comfort-food coma. So get whatever else you fancy.”
“You’re kidding me, right?”
“Too boring?” asked Leonard.
“No,” said Adrian, shaking his head. “Not at all. It’s just, that’s my usual order.”
“Better double up then, knowing what your appetite’s like.”
“Hey, I need the energy,” said Adrian, digging out the keys to his truck. “I know it’s only four, but if I go now, we can heat up the food when we’re ready to eat. Do you want to come along for the ride?”
Leonard chuckled at Adrian. He sensed the remaining menial jobs, like deciding where to store placemats and tablecloths and cookware, as well as polishing furniture, did not appeal to him. Although he would gladly help with the more fussy house chores, Leonard could tell he was happier ripping up floors and knocking down walls.
“No, you go on. Give you something to do. I’m going to finish up in the kitchen and then give the dinner table and dresser a good polishing before sorting out the chinaware I’ve brought. Once that’s done, apart from buying some pictures and hanging them, that will finish the living area off nicely.”
As he readied to leave, Leonard dragged him into a hug and a kiss that lasted far too long. Eventually Adrian pushed him away with a chuckle, Leonard feeling his lover’s arousal matching his own.
“Good call,” said Leonard, standing in the doorway. “Otherwise you’d never leave.”
“Won’t be long. Call me if you think of anything else we need.”
Leonard closed the front door and heard the engine start up and move away. With his back to the door, he sighed and smiled to himself. They worked well together. Adrian would not have been happy polishing furniture and wiping plates. Leonard, on the other hand, found those kinds of tasks therapeutic, not just cleaning but arranging and adding the finishing touches to a room.
He had only just applied a coat of wax to the top shelf of the dresser when his phone rang. He dropped the rag onto the table and saw Adrian’s name on the screen display.
“Lenny, are my house keys there?” came Adrian’s voice before Leonard had a chance to speak. When he looked over to the kitchen island, he saw the keys lying there. “I picked up my phone and car keys, but I think I left—”
