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“They’re nice,” I agreed, unable to stop my lips from tipping up at her enthusiasm as she danced around my kitchen, pulling out bowls and mugs and glassware.
“Okay. So. I had no idea there were quite so many options for flatware,” she said, pulling open the drawer. “I kind of went with my gut on this one. Well, my gut and my very strong feelings about medium-weight cutlery and really rounded big spoons. Like how are you supposed to get soup on those shallow, oval spoons?” she asked, rolling her eyes at the entire flatware industry as a whole, it seemed. And it made that damn smile spread wider.
“We’ve also got pots and pans and bakeware and… oh all the spatula type stuff. And storage containers. I also did a small stock-up on your pantry. Just to have the staples in the house. I mean, you didn’t even have peanut butter or jelly, and how are you supposed to follow your midnight cravings for PB&J if you don’t have the PB and the J?” she asked.
“That is some sound logic you’re working with,” I said as she twirled back around to start stirring away at her different pots.
“Oh!” she said, spinning again, spoon raised. “I have a very serious matter to discuss with you.”
Great.
I knew buying an old house would be a money pit. Was something leaking? Leaning? Rotting?
“Televisions,” she said, making a choked laugh escape me.
“Televisions?” I repeated.
“Listen, I can’t claim to know everything about men, but I do know that you all tend to be very…”
“Particular?” I supplied.
“I was going to say ‘anal,’ but, sure, let’s go with particular… about your TVs. So I didn’t want to take that on myself without consulting you. I did have a little input about one for the living room. And that mostly being that investing in a framed TV might be a good bet. Just so the thing doesn’t jump out at you from the wall. It would look like art when it’s not in use.”
“I can get behind that idea,” I agreed.
“And what’re your thoughts on TVs in bedrooms?” I asked.
“I have no problem with them,” I said, shrugging. I mean, most of the time these days, I didn’t have time for TV. But I liked the idea of being able to catch up on something in bed rather than in the living room.
“In every bedroom?” she asked, and I wondered if she was struggling settling in because, you know, it was a new place with new sounds and another person right down the hall. Maybe she thought a TV would help her feel more comfortable.
“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “I think if someone is staying here, they’d feel more at home knowing they could turn on a TV.”
“Okay. So… do you want to pick out said TVs, or do you want me to do it?”
“Honestly, honey, I don’t know shit about what makes a TV good or not,” I admitted, shaking my head. “I figure if the picture looks good at the store, that’s a winner. You can handle that too, if you don’t have too much on your plate.”
“Nope. I can do it. I passed a place today, actually, so I can just go back there. Now, anything else you want in particular? I have been saving some design ideas for the main areas of the house, and I took some pictures on my phone from some of the stores I went to.”
“Speaking of that,” I said, nodding. “Did any packages come?” I asked.
“Oh, ah, yeah. I put them in your office. I hope that’s alright.”
“Babe, it’s fine,” I said, knowing there was a little strain in my voice, but I wasn’t sure how else I could stress to her that, with her job, she kind of had to be all over the place. “Give me one sec,” I said, going into the office, finding the box I was looking for, opening it, and bringing it out to the kitchen, pulling out a smaller box, and holding it out to her.
“What’s this?” she asked, frowning as I held it out.
“A new phone,” I said, watching her wide eyes shoot up to my face. “You can’t do this job with a spiderwebbed screen like that,” I said.
“You got me a new phone?” she asked, sounding a little choked up. And, sure enough, her eyes were swimming a bit.
I grew up with sisters. Two of ‘em. And a ma. Cousins. Aunts. I knew a thing or two about emotions. And I didn’t freak the fuck out at the sight of tears. But there was a strange… I don’t know, tugging sensation inside when I watched her pull her sleeve over her hand and wipe at her cheek.
“Take this out of my first… few paychecks,” she said, taking it from me with both hands like it was something precious.
