‘How’s it going?’ I asked, bracing myself.
‘We’re having ice-cream for dessert. Apart from that, I think it’s going okay.’
It certainly looked a lot better than forty-five minutes ago.
‘We’re nearly finished here. Do you want me to keep an eye on anything while you get changed?’
Isaac gave me a sharp glance. ‘I am changed.’
I made no attempt to hide my cringe. ‘I told you before, that outfit is awful.’
‘I like it. It’s comfortable.’ He tugged on the yellow and white towelling top. ‘More to the point, Connie understands fashion and style. She’s got excellent taste.’
‘That’s precisely the problem.’
He opened the oven door and checked the chicken, his way of informing me the conversation was over.
‘Isaac, it’s not you! If it was, you’d have been wearing pastel stripes years ago. You can’t go changing who you are for a woman.’
‘But that’s exactly what I’m doing. Isn’t that why I’m paying a chunk of your rent for the next three months? So I can change. For a woman. Now, I’ve got a lot still to do, none of which includes arguing with you about what I’m wearing.’
‘Okay. If you think it’s so cool and stylish, then ask Connie if she likes it.’
‘Ask if I like what?’ Connie said, suddenly appearing behind me. ‘Hey, I came to see if you needed a hand. Oh, hi Isaac. What an… interesting choice of outfit.’
‘Hello Isaac. I like your costume!’ Wilf said, squeezing past his mum, still hovering in the doorway. ‘Is it for the Chimney Cup?’
‘Yeah… it was a… thing… Arthur and Elliot… so. I’m going to quickly get changed and then we can eat. Jessie, you are going somewhere else, aren’t you?’
‘Excuse me?’ I said, mouthing the A-word at an angle Connie couldn’t see.
‘I mean. Um… in case anything confidential comes up in our meeting, would it be okay if you didn’t mind, um, not being in the kitchen?’
I offered him my most sugary smile. ‘Of course. I had every intention of giving you your space. And feel free to send Wilf through once he’s finished eating. There’s a television programme we’d like to watch.’
‘Actually, I’m not hungry. Can I watch it now?’
‘Wilf, Isaac has spent ages cooking us a lovely dinner,’ Connie said, a note of warning in her tone.
‘We don’t know if it’s lovely or not. You said that Isaac was a terrible cook and you hoped he’d make the smart move and order a takeaway.’
Isaac, who had been about to leave, stopped and gave Connie a look. One eyebrow raised, the corner of his mouth twitching. It was an expression I’d seen him use on countless women over the years, and it rarely failed to elicit the desired response. Which was, in most cases, for them to fall that little bit deeper for his charm.
Connie froze for a split second before smothering an embarrassed smile as she bent down to ensure Wilf was listening. ‘Either way, we’re going to sit down politely at the table, eat what’s on our plates and say thank you before and afterwards, because that’s what polite guests do, isn’t it? The sooner you stop arguing and we can start eating, the sooner you can go and watch the droids.’
‘Give me two minutes, buddy, okay?’ Isaac said.
‘Okay, buddy,’ Wilf sighed.
I left my brother to his second non-date.
* * *
It was quarter to nine when Connie tumbled into the living room, her face contorted with panic.
‘I’m so sorry, I’ve just seen the time. Wilf should have been in bed ages ago. Come on, get your coat. Here’s your shoes.’
Arthur, who had come to join us half-way through episode two, pressed pause on the remote.
