Chef

by Throsby, Lynda

  “Can I ask what your parents do?”

  “They are both plastic surgeons. They have their own practice in the city and well, this being L.A., you can imagine how busy they are.”

  “Oh,” is all I manage as she links my arm again and we head around the massive house. We pass another building to the right. I glance over at it, and Evelyn must notice.

  “That’s the garage.” She shrugs.

  “Wow, that’s bigger than most houses.”

  “They have a lot of cars. Daddy is a bit of a petrol head.”

  We carry on walking, and out the back is the biggest swimming pool I’ve ever seen, complete with built-in cave and slide. I gasp and quickly try to cover it with a little cough, but I’m not sure I pull it off. Over behind the pool is another building.

  “That’s the pool house.” Again she shrugs but looks a little embarrassed. We walk past the pool, and there’s a lanai at the back of the house with an outdoor kitchen and stunning outdoor furniture. This is a completely new world to me. I feel out of place. I feel uncomfortable. I want to leave, but then that’s me judging her. She doesn’t act like she’s spoilt, and I would never have thought it if I hadn’t come here. She doesn’t drive a flashy car that I’ve seen. In, fact, I’ve never seen her drive.

  “Do you have a car, Evelyn?”

  She looks at me trying to gauge where this is going.

  “No. Well, yes. I can drive, and my parents bought me a car, but it just sits in the garage. I didn’t want it, and they didn’t ask me first. I like walking places,” she says on another shrug. She’s not stuck up or spoilt, which makes me fall for even more.

  We enter the kitchen where there is a lady pottering about and cooking.

  “Hey, Maggie, this is my friend, Theon. We have a computer project to do together, which counts towards our final marks. I’ll just grab some drinks and cookies.”

  “Hello, Eve. Hello, Theon. Nice to meet you. Don’t have too many cookies, Eve, your parents just phoned. They are on their way home, so you’re having dinner with them tonight.”

  “Ok, thank you. Did they say when they would be home?” She turns to me as she opens the huge fridge. “Theon, would you like to stay for dinner?”

  Shit, no, I can’t. I need to get back to Grandma.

  “Sorry Evelyn, I can’t stay too long. My grandma will have my dinner ready.”

  “They said they would be home for six,” Maggie says.

  “Oh okay, Theon, no worries. What time do you need to be home for dinner?”

  “I said I’d be back for six thirty.”

  We head through her house up the stairs to her room. I try hard not to let it show just how much in awe I am. Her room is huge. It’s at the top of the house in the attic. We move through it, I notice there are lots of sea turtle ornaments on some shelves, and posters on her wall of them, her bed is big but looks small in this room, which also has its own sitting area, we head to the back where she opens the door to a very large office with desks and computers. Not just one computer, oh no, she has two computers that I can see and four screens set up. We move to the biggest desk, and she wheels a chair over so we can sit side by side.

  “Evelyn, this place is amazing. You look like you have everything you need right here. I envy you,” I say looking down as I start getting my laptop and notebook out of my bag.

  “I know how lucky I am, believe me, I do. I just don’t like to flaunt it, which is why I never bring anyone home.” I look up at her in admiration yet again. She amazes me. She is the most beautiful girl I know, with her short auburn hair, her sparkly green eyes, and pixie-like features. She has a stunning figure, not too skinny like those cheerleader girls who I think barely eat. She is just amazing, but if I carry on thinking like this I may need to use the bathroom.

  “Will your parents mind you bringing me up here? Just not many parents would allow their teenage daughter to bring a boy up to their room to study.” Way to change the subject, Theon.

  “I’ve never brought anyone home before, but I don’t think it will be a problem. They are easy-going, and they trust me. I’ll check with them later when they’re home.”

  We brainstorm for the rest of the time. We have some amazing ideas working together, we bounce off each other perfectly, and I can’t believe how relaxed we are in each other’s company. But, it’s almost six, and it will take me a good half hour to walk home from here.

  “I best make a move, Evelyn, before your parents get home. I need to get home in time for my dinner.” I really don’t want to go. I don’t want to leave her.

  “Yeah sure, Theon. That was a great couple of hours. My head is full of so many ideas. I think we made a great start. You’re amazing with all this, and your ideas are truly remarkable.”

  “Ditto, you really know your stuff too. You amazed me. When you walked into the lecture theatre, I thought you had the wrong class.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Well, you’re not exactly a nerdy type, are you, Evelyn?” I can feel myself getting very red again, as I pack my stuff up and rush to the door without looking at her before she can question my comment

  “Right, I’ll see you tomorrow in class.” I rush for the stairs. I hope I can remember my way out of here, it’s like a maze it’s so big, and I didn’t exactly pay attention walking up here. With following behind Evelyn, my mind was elsewhere.

  “Hey, I’ll show you out. You look like you’re in a rush?”

  “Yeah, thanks, just need to get home.”

  “Do you want me to take you?”

  “No, it’s okay. I can run home, thanks anyway. I need my run, I didn’t get it in today, I was distracted,” I say with a small, shy grin.

  She distracted me.

  I would have run home from school like I usually do. I may not be a big muscled Jock, but my physique is pretty good for a nerd. I lift weights in the college gym then run home, but it looks like I won’t be doing that for a while. I’ll have to run in the morning, go to the gym, shower, then let my school day begin.

  We pad quietly down the stairs, not speaking. When we get to the bottom into the vast hallway, Evelyn overtakes me and heads to the front door.

  “Here, this way is quicker. I can’t hear any talking, so I take it my parents aren’t home yet.”

  We stand on the steps, and I’m just about to turn to say goodbye when a car rolls into the drive. Shit, I didn’t want to meet her parents, not yet anyway.

  The car is a Maserati, not that I know much about cars but the Maserati emblem of the trident on the front grill gives it away, I have no idea of the model. I hardly know anything about Fords or Chryslers never mind these expensive types of cars. It is a beauty.

  “Too late, Theon, you didn’t escape my parents, sorry.” She has a great smile, and it’s aimed right at me as I turn to her.

  “Hello, darling, what a nice surprise, having you here to greet us when we get home. I usually have to tear you away from your computer. Hello there, I’m Sonia, Eve’s mother and you are?” She reaches her hand out to shake mine — shit I’m sweating. I wipe my palm on my top before shaking her hand,

  “H-h-hello Mrs. Westcott, I’m Evelyn’s friend Theon. Theon Tourney.” I’m so nervous my voice is shaking. Just then her dad comes around to us. He eyes me suspiciously. I’m still holding Mrs. Westcott’s hand. I drop it.

  “Hello, darling.” He leans in for a hug and kisses Evelyn on the cheek.

  “I miss you, darling. I’m just glad we were able to get away to have dinner with you tonight. I want to hear all about your week.” He puts his arm over her shoulder facing me.

  “And who might this be?” he asks Evelyn looking directly into my eyes.

  “This is Theon, my friend from school. We’ve been paired to do a project together. We were having a brainstorming session.” Mr. Westcott puts his hand out to shake mine. I take his hand, stuttering again, “Nice to meet you s-s-sir.” Shit, I feel stupid.

  “Good to meet you too, The
on.”

  “Sweetie, would you like to join us for dinner?” Mrs. Westcott asks me

  “He has to get back home, mother. He’s having dinner with his grandma. I’ll be inside in a couple of minutes. I’m just saying goodbye to Theon.” I think that’s Evelyn politely telling them to leave us. Thank god. She’s good at reading me. She can see how nervous I am.

  “Nice to have met you, Theon,” Mrs. Westcott says as she heads inside.

  “You too, ma’am. Sir.” Mr. Wescott just nods, appraising me for a second, kisses Evelyn’s temple then puts his hand on the bottom of Mrs. Westcott’s back, directing her gently inside. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

  “Tense huh?” Evelyn says to me. I run my hand through my black mass of curly hair that needs a cut.

  “You could say that.” I laugh.

  “I must get going, Evelyn. Thanks for this. I had a great time. We seemed to get a lot done today, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “I agree. I love sharing my ideas with someone who understands and is as enthusiastic as me. Bye, Theon. See you tomorrow.”

  I turn and walk down the steps and out of the drive heading home. I have a definite spring in my step. As soon as I turn the corner at the end of the road I set off running. I can’t stop smiling when thinking about Evelyn as I run along the streets home. You would never know she comes from money, she doesn’t act like she does and that puts me at ease. I’m pretty sure she won’t judge me based on where I live, but it’s not info I will freely share yet.

  That was by far the best couple of hours of my life, and I’d say the best day of my life so far. There is no doubt I’ve fallen for this beautiful, unassuming girl. I can’t wait for tomorrow.

  Lynda lives in Cheshire in the UK with her husband Peter and cat Bailey also with two grown up daughters and an 11-year-old granddaughter.

  She runs a successful financial business with her husband. As a young teenager Lynda used to read horror books with a love for everything Stephen King and James Herbert. She has always wanted to write and even wrote horror stories at age 13.

  A little later she started reading Jackie Collins and Jilly Cooper and has always had a love of books. This then exploded with Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey as it did with most people, oh, and the introduction of E-Readers.

  In her spare time, she has a season ticket for Manchester City Football Club and goes to all the home games. Loves going to concerts and the theatre. She goes to the cinema at least once a week. Then when the weather is nice you can see her gliding down the road on her Harley Davidson 1200T motorbike. Travelling is also high on the agenda and her dream is to visit every state in the USA.

  I wouldn’t have done this without the help and support I got from friends and family.

  First to my Husband who made time for me to write by running our business and the continued support he gives me, encouraging me to carry on.

  My family and friends who read the book and gave me feedback.

  My Editor Claire Allmendinger for guiding me through and being patient with me, as always.

  Sybil Wilson from Pop Kitty for the amazing cover.

  Stuart Reardon again for being on my cover and to him and Peter for the cover picture.

  Cassy Roop from Pink Ink Designs for the fantastic formatting and making my words look pretty.

  Thank you to everyone who supports me and reads my words.