Yes Chef, No Chef - By Susan Willis Page 0,69
and traced a finger around the circular knobs in the grain of the pine table. It was obvious to anyone that the kitchen was hardly ever used because Jenny wasn’t a cook and had never been interested in food. She was more than content to eat out, order-in, or leave the cooking of meals to Greg’s limited skills.
He took a deep breath and because making apologies was something alien to him he knew he’d have to get it all out at once or he’d be sunk. “Look, Jenny, I had to come and apologise,” he said feeling as if the words were sticking in the back of his dry throat. “I was wrong to snap at you this lunch time because you were only trying to help, and I’m sorry.”
There, it was done and it hadn’t been so bad after all, he thought waiting for her usual flippant come-back but was surprised to see a sober expression settle on her pretty face.
“God, I wasn’t expecting that,” she said jumping down from the bench to sit opposite him. “I’m sorry too and it was my fault. I know I’ve got no tact whatsoever and you were right it’s none of my business but I’ve been looking out for you for as long as I can remember and it’s a hard habit to break. And because I’ve got no one else to fuss over…”
He looked confused and without thinking he retorted. “Well I didn’t ask you to look after me when we were kids?”
“No, you didn’t, but it’s all I ever got from mum.”
Imitating Lynne’s voice she mocked, “Look after your brother, Jenny, he’s only little and needs his big sister. Make sure nobody bullies him Jenny and take him with you, Jenny. She used to say it over and over again until I wanted to scream!”
He was gobsmacked. Jeez, if anyone had cause for resentment it was her and felt his face flush with shame at how he’d behaved. “Christ, Jen, I didn’t know any of that. I feel crap now and if it had been the other way around I’d have hated dragging my baby sister around in front of my pals.”
She smiled teasingly. “Oh, it wasn’t too bad – you were quite a little cutie at times,” she said and they both burst out laughing. “But from now on I promise not to interfere anymore especially where your girlfriends are concerned. Even though I did really like Katie.”
He saw her wistful expression and knew that she too missed her friendship.
“Yeah well, didn’t we all,” he said miserably. “But she ran out when the going got tough which I’m gutted about because I really thought she was up for the long haul.”
Jenny laid a hand on his arm. “Growing up isn’t easy, is it?” she said and looked past him chewing on her bottom lip. “Greg and I weren’t having an easy day off today. We’d been for results at the hospital.”
“What!” he cried out in alarm but she squeezed his arm reassuringly.
“It’s OK, don’t panic there’s nothing seriously wrong. It just turns out the reason we can’t get pregnant is because I’m reproductively challenged and for years we’d always thought it was Greg who was a little short on numbers, if you know what I mean?”
Tim’s mind raced, but she’d always said she never wanted children and couldn’t bear the thought of dirty nappies and sleepless nights. “But, I thought you guys didn’t want kids? Or at least that’s what you’ve always told everyone?”
Her pretty face crumbled and tears washed the same green eyes as his. “All a front, dear brother,” she uttered forlornly. “I try to hide the fact that I’ve failed at the simplest female task. I can excel at everything else in life and receive all the accolades and pats on the head from dad but can’t manage to get myself pregnant.”
He didn’t know what to say but knew actions would speak louder than words and wrapped his arms around her. She flung herself into his chest and sobbed while with one hand he stroked her back and with the other he twirled a finger in one of her curls just like he had done as a small boy. He wanted to scream with the unjustness of their situation. Here was Jenny and Greg, who would make fantastic parents but wouldn’t get the chance, and yet day after day there were thousands of babies being born who were neglected or abused. The intense feelings of protectiveness