Seize the Day - 9

Part 9

“I can do this!” Naomi announced to the mirror, “I can pretend I don’t care.”

She’d dressed and stood in her bedroom aware of the noises outside the door that told her that her housemates were awake. She was still reeling from Vincenza’s verbal attack the previous evening. Vin never saw bad in anything, so the fact that her words had been so harshly responded to meant that she’d been out of line. But she was fraught, emotionally on the edge and people snapped when they felt like that, didn’t they?

Taking a deep breath, she opened her door and headed downstairs.

Vin was giggling in the lounge to Bill retelling some story with all his charm and charisma but both froze for a moment as the door opened. It was rare that Naomi was up after the others, and to avoid the awkwardness, she gave a beaming smile.

                “Thank God I can smell coffee. Got such a long day ahead!”  Breezing past them, she grabbed a mug, then filled it, taking another moment to calm down. She did have a lot to do. Tomorrow was her nephew’s birthday, she’d been invited around to her brother’s house for Sunday lunch, so she needed a gift. What did you buy a three year old boy? She hoped that an assistant in one of the toy shops would help her out.

She was finishing her second mug, about to leave, when she heard someone come into the kitchen from the lounge. Glancing up from swilling out her mug, Naomi gave Bill her best smile.

                “What do three year old boys like?” She could see he was flummoxed by the question, it was the last thing he’d expected, but she quite liked that. “Ethan’s birthday...you know me, very unpractical! Don’t think his parents will appreciate paints!”

                “Don’t worry about what they think, get what you want. A heartfelt gift is far more personal than a random toy.”

She thought for a moment, then nodded, “You’re right, paints are what I think he’d like. It’ll crucify my brother, but then they’re not for him...Great! Thanks! See you later guys!”

Then with a smile, she walked out of the room as though she didn’t have a care in the world, and out of the house, leaving both her friends stunned.

Bill watched her go, frustration evident on every pore. Vincenza had told him about Naomi’s outburst in her attempts to fish for more information. One thing was clear, they couldn’t all go on living like this, tiptoeing around the big elephant that sat in their home. When Vin had told him about Naomi’s snappy comment, he’d taken that as a sign that she felt the same way as him, that there were as a chance to sort this out. He’d hoped that maybe it had been a sign that she was jealous, Vincenza had hinted that they’d presumed his disappearing act the last week was him sleeping with women. But the playboy life was over, he knew that. The thought repulsed him.

He needed to speak to her, be honest...for the first time in his life. But she’d left before he’d had chance to speak. Ruing his lost chance, he shook his head, then headed upstairs to change into his cycling gear. Frustration might give him that extra kick, who knew?

                “Hi Sara!” Naomi constantly felt inadequate next to her brother’s wife. She was stunning, tall, willowy with long blond hair, that was almost immaculate. Today she was breathtaking in a floor length strappy sundress, that despite it being late September, didn’t look out of place.

                “Naomi! I’m so glad you came! Nick has just dived to the shop. He always panics that there’s not enough of everything whenever we have a party! Come in. Ethan will be ecstatic to see you.”

Naomi shook her head as she followed her sister-in-law into the house. Her brother panicked? She couldn’t believe that. He was the most compose and calmly collected man she’d ever known, and the thought of him rushing off in a flap made her chuckle.

Ethan was pleased to see her, but five year old Callie was more so.

                “Aunty Yomi!” Since a child she’d struggled to pronounce her name, and no one corrected her now. Naomi loved the pet name, and loved that she still used it.

Squatting down she accepted the little girl’s hug, standing with her still wrapped around her she smiled at Sara, “I don’t visit often enough!”

Sara smiled, “we’re all busy, and Callie will never forget you coming to her dance recital a few weeks back. That made her day!”

Naomi loved her niece and nephew, but avoided their home more than was necessary because of the scorn of her brother, he was very vocal in his disagreement over her life choices, a topic they rarely discussed and definitely never agreed on.

But for the moment, she was with people who loved her, and she was glad to be free from the house, and the stresses it brought. She’d managed to avoid Bill and Vincenza since the encounter earlier, which was easier as Bill was cycling as usual, Vin was out with Ed, so she could put on cheesy movies and vegetate alone.

Saying that, she couldn’t have avoided them any longer, so she was more than glad of this refuge.

Following the family into the kitchen, she dropped her niece onto a  high stool, then at her insistence held her hand whilst she talked to Sara. Sara was a manager of a boutique, a small but exclusive shop that served the upper echelons of society. That week a few A  list celebs had called in, so she told Naomi all about it as she filled her a glass of wine.

Within half an hour Nick had returned, and several of their friends, and some of Sara’s family had arrived. Along with a clown! A man who entertained the children from the second he entered the house.

Naomi sat in the back of the room with her wine and some peanuts and happily watched the party unfold, trying desperately to ignore the fact that the man in makeup was a bit on the creepy side.

Callie insisted that Naomi help them in the bath, and read the bedtime story, and it was after seven when she came back downstairs. Nick was sat on one of the kitchen stools, a tumbler of whisky in his hand, watching Sara as she moved confidently around the room, storing food in the fridge and cupboards.

                “Asleep?” he asked as she took the seat beside her.

She nodded, “Ethan before I started, Callie by page five!”

He smiled, “good job!” Reaching over he filled her empty glass with wine, “you staying for supper?”

There had been no animosity today, they’d got on well, so Naomi smiled, “I’d love to,” she glanced at Sara, “if it’s ok?”

Sara beamed, “we’d love it!”

They ordered in Chinese and sat in the dining room to eat.

                “So how’s work?” Sara asked. And when both siblings glared at her for venturing into the deliberately ignored topic, she chuckled. “You are both the same!! Nick, Naomi is an artist...get over it! Naomi, don’t be bullied by him!”

Naomi laughed, “well I have just won a big commission. Six books over the next three years. It won’t take up all my time, but the money is very good.”

                “That’s wonderful! See you were right to persist with this!” Sara grinned as Nick rolled his eyes. “Nicholas Beck! You hate being wrong, but maybe this is one time when you need to admit that Naomi knew best!”

Naomi spluttered over her noodles, and Nick looked equally shocked. Sara merely laughed, and carried on eating.

Nick didn’t mention her success again, but there was less animosity between them than normal.

                “Why don’t you stay?” Sara asked later as the two women washed dishes together.

Naomi usually made excuses, but today she had none, she’d even get chance to have breakfast with her niece and nephew.

                “Would I be in the way?”

Nick shook his head, “I don’t want to think of you travelling home alone Naomi, it’s after nine now.”

So she stayed.

They’d drank too much wine, and eaten too much rich food, all meaning that Naomi tossed and turned all night. She also missed her cute attic bedroom, as chaotic as it was, it was exactly right for her, the thought of leaving it was almost as daunting as the thought of leaving her friends. But nothing was safe or guaranteed anymore, and the thought of that still scared her. But Bill was acting as though she meant nothing to him and Vin was siding in his camp...it was a realistic future prospect. And it caused no end of nightmares for her.

But it was early morning light when she opened her eyes to see a pair of wide blue eyes peering over the bed at her...Callie!

                “Calista Beck! Are you creeping up in your Aunty?”

She broke into a huge toothless smile and Naomi covered her mouth in surprise, “has your tooth fallen out?” When the little girl nodded, Naomi grinned, “Wow! That must mean you are SO grown up!”

Callie nodded, “And I get to see the tooth fairy!” The gap in her teeth gave her a really cute lisp.

Naomi shook her head, “NO one sees the tooth fairy! She’s as secretive as Santa!” When Callie’s face fell, disappointment at the realisation she wouldn’t be witnessing the tooth fairy, she added, “but she will leave you a shiny coin...maybe Mama will take you out to buy something nice!”

Callie skipped down the stairs ahead of her aunt singing songs about all the chocolate and sweets she was going to buy...maybe not the best investment in the tooth fairy’s gift.

Half an hour later, after a fabulous breakfast time of chaos and kids, Naomi left, her regular offer of babysitting made, and politely acknowledged. Despite the frostiness, this had been the best visit to her older brother that she’d had in years.

The house was empty, but that was what she’d expected. It was Monday morning after all.  Turning on the stereo, she ransacked her CD’s, Bill was into rock music and classical - a bizarre combination, Vincenza loved electric Europop! Naomi’s choice of old school M.O.R.rarely got a look in, so she found an INXS album and blasted it out as she climbed into a bath. Submerged in the bubbles, she air-guitared along to ‘Devil Inside’ with Bill’s long handled loofah, for a moment letting her imagination drag her away from the moment, when she heard the doorbell.

Naomi had no intention of answering, but then she realised that her music was probably audible downstairs, whoever was at the door knew there was someone at home, and were leaning on the doorbell.

Groaning, kicking the neat pile of towels in anger, she wrapped her wet hair up into a pony tail, and dragged on her bathrobe. By the time she reached the door she was fuming, if this was another parcel of cycling gear that Bill had delivered because he ‘knew she’d be there’ she was likely to explode. With a grunt of displeasure she pulled back the door and scowled, only to be met by a laugh.

She took in the polished shoes, then up to the impeccably tailored suit, and finally to the face filled with humour. Miles Langley.