Drawing a blank

Lauren grinned.  “Oh I know, do you have any idea how many people would love to have such a caring and considerate sister as me?  You really do have top tier sibling rankings with me in your life,” she replied in a tone full of sass.  She knew she hadn’t got away with dodging the question about their mother but she fully intended to dodge it for as long as she could.  “Hmmm…” She put on a thoughtful face and took another large bite of chocolate, which she had no intention of stopping eating despite the offer of food.  “We haven’t had Chinese in ages, let’s do that.  I’ll try not to go quite as mad as I did last time… your fridge can’t handle that many leftovers.”

“Really?  You know if you give me the numbers for these people who would love to have you as a sister I will personally call them and arrange it.  It would really be no trouble at all.”  He watched her face, well aware that something had happened but she didn’t seem to be reaching for a weapon or stamping her feet so he decided it couldn’t be all that bad.  “Chinese it is and no, I am limiting the order since I have no desire to eat Chinese for the next week and there is a limit to how much Holly would want too.”  Picking up his phone he began to dial the number, gesturing to her to give him her order quickly.

Cessily continued to twirl her hair around her finger nervously but her smile returned and she willed the redness in her cheeks to go down just a little now that she had eased at least some of the awkwardness.  “Thanks, I’ll probably come back if she shows up but until then I think it would be best if I avoided the underwear section,” she laughed nervously.  “Are you going to get your wife something while she isn’t around?  I assume that’s why she left you in this section alone.”

Eddie’s cheeks brightened as he suddenly realised the irony of where he was standing, particularly given the conversation.  “Oh erm.....no I think it’s far better for me to leave Holly to buy her own.....erm undergarments.  Not that I don’t appreciate what she does choose of course but.....perhaps I will just go and stand over.....over there by the towels.  It seems a safer place to wait.”  His embarrassment was radiating off him as he edged slowly out of the lingerie section without touching anything.

Seeing the expression on the man made Clara giggle a little–not at his expense but she hadn’t meant to freak him out like that. “You’re right. Maybe it’s fine. I’m sure it’s a great cute gift. If you leave it for a year, though, what are you going to give instead?”

Eddie looked back down at the box in his hand before he lifted his head to look at the woman again.  “I really don’t know.  Chocolate and wine are always a safe idea....or maybe some flowers.”

Lauren rolled her eyes at the nickname, realising too late that she couldn’t be seen as her head was still in the fridge.  The comment about their mother had her turning around, with a large piece of chocolate dangling out of her mouth.  “What makes you think I upset her?  Can’t a girl just want to come and see her big brother?”  She retorted, attempting to sound innocent but failing miserably.  She took another bite of her chocolate and laughed.  “Well, as far as I know we haven’t mastered Star Trek replicator technology yet, so it’s probably best you order in.”

Eddie’s expression was somewhere between an eye roll and a laugh as Lauren tried to pretend she could not have upset their mother.  “Lucky me,” he teased lightly at the idea she had come to see him.  His hand was already reaching for his phone before she even answered his question.  There was no real question in his mind if they would be ordering dinner.  “So what is it to be?  Pizza, Chinese, curry?

Cessily felt the heat rising in her face and knew it must be glowing as she stood there stupidly holding out a bra.  Why had she done that?  It was clear the stranger was just as uncomfortable as she was and she really couldn’t blame him.  “Right… purple… nice, yeah, it’s a nice colour,” she replied stupidly and her brain finally caught up with her so she scrambled to put the bra back where it had been hanging.  “Sorry, that was stupid.  Could… we maybe start again?”  She asked awkwardly twisting her hair around her finger.  “I’m Cessily and I promise I’m not a weirdo despite the last 30 seconds.”

Eddie swallowed hard before he let out a long breath as the woman put the item back.  He relaxed a little as she seemed to be every bit as embarrassed as he was.  With a nod he gave a slight laugh at her apology.  “Absolutely, totally from the beginning.  I’m Eddie and somewhere around here is my wife Holly as well.  She would happily give advice if you still want it.”

“Damn work, always getting in the way!”

Cessily felt her heart sink for just a moment when he looked down but it didn’t last and his head raised again before he spoke which filled her with relief.  She chuckled softly, feeling her face growing warm.  “That might be helpful, yeah,” she agreed, glancing around but not seeing anyone else nearby.  “Or, y’know… maybe a male opinon would be good to,” she added, throwing caution to the wind and holding out the sexy bra in front of her towards him.  “Thoughts?”

Eddie’s head turned, searching for Holly too and his heart sinking as he couldn’t spot her - both due to the fact she was clearly in the department store unaccompanied with a credit card and he was now stuck in the lingerie section with a very enthusiastic woman.  Turning back his eyes as she spoke he couldn’t stop his eyes moving between the bra and her chest.  “Oh...erm.....I mean I am sure it’s lovely.  Nice....erm color,” he stuttered as he turned away again.

“Yes?” Holly responds, deflecting the question for a second while she wonders exactly what transaction he’s questioning. 

“…Is this about the pot plants? Because they died a month after I brought them home, and the nursery refused to refund me for them”

Eddie rolled his eyes with a smirk well aware she was stalling for time.  He chuckles loudly as she mentions pot plants, unable to hide his amusement on that short lived project.  “No precious this is not about pot plants.  They are further down...but next time maybe start with less than $50 worth until you see how you can handle them.”

“The antique market? Oh man, I love those sorts of shops; you can really find some cool stuff there. But if it’s legit, usually there’s a certificate or something. Oh god, what if it’s haunted or possessed or whatever? So many of those old items have got some weird, creepy vibes.”

The tone of the conversation was making Eddie question more and more whether his surprise, supposedly cute gift was really a huge mistake.  “I really don’t think that this 50s minature bumper car is going to be haunted or possessed.  It’s not like it is a pendant that someone died wearing.  It has most likely just sat on a shelf gathering dust or shoved in a box until someone had a clear out.  But maybe I will just put it in a box and leave it for  a year or so and see if it appears to emit evil vibes just to be sure.”

“Look, I don’t want to judge your, well, judgment but… it feels super suspicious. Like, did you get that gift verified? With a certificate?”

“A certificate?” Eddie questioned in surprise. “No I don’t have a certificate but I bought it at the antique market and they have checked all their suppliers, or at least I thought they did.”

Cessily realised her mistake too late and her eyes flew wide open as she realised the person before her wasn’t her close friend.  “You’re… not Jess,” she murmured and hastily tried to hide the bra she had been showing off behind her back.  “Uhmm, sorry.  I didn’t hear you coming, thought you were someone else,” she said, looking down awkwardly.

Eddie’s gaze dropped to the ground as he rubbed his hands rather flustered, muttering, “No I’m not.”  After a moment he lifted his head and smiled warmly, “Holly is around here somewhere if you, you know need, need another female’s opinion.”