sam_mm (sam_mm) wrote in morningstar_mnr, @ 2009-09-28 19:40:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | jane, memphis |
Apt 107, Evening, Jane and Memphis (With guest appearance by Travis), Closed.
The last several weeks had been strange for Jane, partly because she had gone to work on the Sunday after the wedding to find Avery had been removed from her worksheet, and a very down at heart colleague was preparing to take him on. The general reshuffle of clients had in fact left most of hers intact, only giving her an extra in a Mr O'Connor on a Friday afternoon, and still having Monday off, although there was a note about switching that back to a Sunday.... She'd sighed, rolled her eyes and got on with the laundry and then the days had seemed to roll into each other, and she drifted by, hiding in the staff elevator, ducking round corners, even crouching behind her trolley to not be seen by the tenants. In short, she went back to being invisible, frightened of her own shadow, and desperately worried about everything.
She'd also spent a lot more time with Memphis and Travis, often taking up home-cooked meals and sharing them, and then on the weekends, having to have help with carrying all her dishes back down! It had been easy to spend time with them, they were safe, untainted by the violence that had erupted at the wedding, even though she knew Memphis at least was probably capable of it. The truth was, she didn't want to acknowledge that, didn't want to be scared of him, or Travis for that matter. Tonight found her outside their door with a roasted rack of lamb, potatoes, and all the trimmings for a really nice dinner, including an apple pie made with some very nice Apple Brandy she'd found in a little liquor store near the Foundry. She knew Travis was out, something he'd said about tonight the other day having lodged in her head, and she'd even bought a bottle of wine up with her, just a basic red, she really didn't know that much about it, and only hoped Memphis hadn't taken this opportunity to go out and do something else instead of staying in. She tapped on the door with one elbow, both hands being busy holding dishes and bags, and hoped he was home.
Memphis had been sitting on the living room floor, playing a car racing game when Demon went dog crazy and started barking. He paused the game and heard a tap noise. Probably wasn't Travis since he wouldn't knock and he left almost an hour ago on his date. So he got up and went to answer the door. Pulling it open he saw Jane, or parts of Jane around the dishes she was carrying with her. "Aww Jane, there isn't an army to feed tonight." He said joking with her as he took some of the load from her hands.
"I um, well maybe I got carried away? But, I know you like your food, and, I've been really busy today and all. I'm hungry too." Jane was quite relieved to have some of her load reduced. "I know you guys are fond of leftovers too, they make great midnight snacks or so I hear?" She smiled, and walked into the apartment, trying not to think about why she was really here, by concentrating on the food instead.
"Besides, just occasionally I think you guys deserve a feast, you really have been so good to me just recently, and good food is just, well it is at least something I can do for you guys."
Memphis chuckled. Jane always seemed to get carried away when it came to cooking. Especially when she was cooking for them. "Then you'd better have a good appetite." He said partially teasing her still. He did appreciate women that actually ate for a change, and he knew she valued appreciation of her labors. No food went to waste when it was good and brought to a couple of bachelors.
He set the dishes down on the counter in the kitchen, wondering if she'd need to use the stove or anything else before. If not he could get the table set, or they could be rebellious and eat in the living room. It was just the two of them and Travis wouldn't be any the wiser... "I like this barter system we've got worked out. Home cooked feasts for automotive repair."
"Although I don't need so much auto repair? I'm not a big driver as you know, just, once a week or so to the store mostly." Jane felt the dishes in the insulated bags, "I think this stuff is warm enough to eat, but, you might want it hot in which case, a few minutes in the oven wouldn't hurt?" She opened one of the other bags, and pulled out the bottle of wine, "I er, even bought some wine, it's nothing fancy, but, well, just occasionally a drink doesn't hurt right?"
"Repair and maintenance then." He said adjusting to what he'd said previously. Taking in everything that was spread out in the kitchen he thought she might've outdone herself this time around. "Wine is nice..." Especially when Travis wasn't around to pick on him for being a sissy or try to snipe some for himself. "Need a corkscrew for that?" He asked wondering if there were wine glasses in his cabinets.
"I bought one, just in case, and um, two glasses, because, I er, kind of knew that Travis wasn't gonna be home?" Jane blushed just a little, "But he can eat leftovers, I'm sure he won't mind?"
Memphis smiled, not having to worry about the wine glasses or corkscrew now. The only time they usually had wine with dinner was during Thanksgiving. "That was good looking out there. You're prepared for everything." He said wondering what else she'd prepared knowing that Travis was out.
Oh but she really wasn't, even thinking about what she was going to try and do later had her biting her lip and hoping she didn't start to noticeably shake. Still, it was nice of him to say, "Well, I do try and think of everything, I er, hate to disappoint, let people down. You know that."
She turned away and busied herself with opening the wine, and directing the food to be dished up. "If you're happy that it's warm enough, we just need to start dishing up really? I'll er, open this and then give you hand if you want?"
He opened cabinets and got out plates then utensils from the drawer including serving ones. He understood what it was like to feel like a disappointment but didn't understand why Jane felt that way. "Can't please everybody all of the time though." His mother's advice sounded odd coming from him, especially seeing as he wasn't relaying it to Travis.
Watching her he started to think that may just be the way she was. Always putting everybody before herself and never really being content with the way things panned out. He nodded. "Sure, but you don't have to if you don't want to."
More and more Jane felt like throwing up, running away, keeping everything so damn quiet you couldn't have dropped the pin, never mind heard it.... but, something kept her going, whether it was Jazz, or Cleo, or any combination of Sam, Shila, Andy, Mary-Ann with her endless cheerful self, or even the quietly controlled Miss Vale, she couldn't have said. But it was definitely connected to Avery, she was just not going to let his nasty words, and sheer selfishness beat her down anymore, and a part of that was letting the past go. Something she hadn't really done, even though the divorce was final, the settlements through (and safely invested), and all her legal documents changed back to Franklin from Anderson.
"It just, feels wrong if I let other people do it, like I have to do it? I know, I have issues, but, I'm kind of working on them?" Very slowly, but tonight was one hell of a big step. How much of her past she should reveal, how much she could reveal without falling apart, it all kind of depended on how Memphis reacted to stuff. That was something she couldn't predict.
Memphis might be a big, burly guy, but he had learned a thing or two in these years on his own. "It isn't a cowardly thing to admit needing help." He started, handing her a couple of serving spoons. "I've got some big shoulders if you think you'd need them too."
Jane looked up at him, blinking back the sudden rush of tears, she'd probably wind up crying later, but for now, she just smiled, "You're a very nice guy Memphis, is it any wonder I feel safe around you?" For her, yes, feeling safe around any man was a miracle, that Memphis, as big as he was, made her feel safe? More like the impossible had happened.
She concentrated for a minute more on dishing up the food, then turned back towards him, plates in hand, "Shall we go eat? I'm afraid I can't carry the wine and glasses as well as dinner, but, if you wouldn't mind?"
Nice guy was all Memphis seemed to be here recently. He had a momentary flash, thinking he'd be the crotchety old man with a grumbly dog again. But that was his own doing, having chosen his career over everything else. He smiled. "I'm glad to hear you say that."
When it came down to dinner he had two options - take in the wine or take the plates and let her carry the wine. Since he didn't know much about the wine, it might be easier to let her do that. "I'll take the plates if you get the wine."
Jane held out the plates, heavily laden with food, "Strangely enough, I'll carry the lighter burden I think," she chuckled, "just because it's easier?"
She waited until he'd taken the plates, then turned back to the side to pick up the bottle and two glasses.
Memphis chuckled. "Nothin' wrong with that." Setting her plate down in the place she usually sat in, he used the now free hand to pull out her chair for her.
Following him to the table she set them down and poured the wine before sitting down in her seat. "Well, I hope it's still warm enough, and um, dig in!"
He'd liked the idea of eating dinner in the living room, until they were already at the table. It was a bit much to be eating on the floor where he could easily be convinced to play video games. Maybe they could repeat this sometime, adding some candles in and reducing the overhead light? "It's better than the pizza I'd thought about ordering."
"Pizza is good though, when you're tired and not into cooking, I do occasionally order take out, prefer Chinese, but variety is still a nice idea." Jane cut into the food and then lifted her glass of wine to sip at it delicately. "Of course, sometimes, making the take out yourself is more fun than just ordering in, you can put what you want in it that way, and not have anyone else to worry about."
She set the glass down and picked up her silverware again, this time forking up some of the lamb and a little of the vegetables. It was still plenty warm enough, really it was, and she enjoyed the first mouthful.
He'd taken his taste when she talked, and concluded that this time Jane had really outdone herself. He'd never had something this good in his mouth before. He swallowed as he cut into the meat again, bypassing vegetables temporarily. "Mixing in your own creativity is always fun."
"Oh yes, even if it's just to change out an ingredient you don't like for one you do, it all counts." Jane smiled, and got busy with her dinner again. She was content to eat mostly in silence, enjoying the food, but just occasionally it helped her to know what people thought, "So, um, you like the lamb? I flavoured it with garlic and rosemary, but also a little soy sauce? I wasn't sure it would work, but it certainly seems ok to me. What do you think?"
Memphis nodded. Lamb was one thing he didn't have too often and though he thought he'd had it before, he couldn't quite remember. "I think it's good. Not too sweet and not too tangy, but an even mix of the two."
"Oh good, I'm glad you like it, of course, lamb can be a little bitty, but, I thought there was probably plenty here, even for larger appetites," Jane grinned, and sliced off a cutlet from her rack and picked it up, "like mine is today, honestly, I can't believe how hungry I am."
Of course the fact that she'd been cooking the food this afternoon and smelling it and had skipped lunch probably hadn't helped with that.
The dent in the dishes didn't seem out of place for usual dinners with Jane... Just Travis wasn't with them and that meant they had unconsciously made up for his absence. It could explain why he hadn't noticed the change in her appetite.
"If Travis wasn't out with friends there might not be any leftovers." He declared with a chuckle. "Appetites are good though."
"Mmmm," Jane nodded, her mouth full of lamb at the time, and just kept chewing, until she could swallow, "Oh yes, I agree, a good appetite is a blessing, and sometimes, unless you get lots of exercise, it can be a curse too."
He could think of exercise to burn plenty of calories... But suggesting it was entirely out of the question since it'd probably send Jane running in the opposite direction screaming. Instead he set his fork on his plate and pushed the nearly empty dish forard. "Mmm... Dinner was good." He said as he patted at his stomach.
"That can be a bit of a problem, but if you want a gym buddy I'll go with you." He said meaning it entirely. Working out in the gym was one thing that should be done in pairs for safety and health reasons.
"You've said that before, and I have to say if I keep eating like this I might have to. I told you they shifted the rota right? No more Mr Avery for me, instead I get to clean for a Mr O'Connor once a week, and he's awfully tidy, but I'm doing more on calls and in the laundry room so I still get to work just as hard." Jane smiled, "It keeps me fit all that housework. But, I should do something for fun as well, maybe I should take up the gym."
Memphis didn't hide the fact he was pleased about her rotation change. The less Jane had to deal with Avery, the better off she would be. "Sounds like an excellent change of schedule to me." He said with a smile. "Could offer up Demon and playing fetch with him in the park, but he chases the squirrels a lot."
"Well, that keeps him fit, and the squirrels of course!" Jane laughed, as she set her cutlery down on the now empty plate that had been full of food, "Oh I am stuffed! Shall we clear these away and then sit down for a bit? I can warm the apple pie in the oven in a little while once that enormous meal has gone down? Do you want some more wine?" She'd barely touched hers, but a large sip had her thinking that he might need a top up.
Cleaning up the dishes was one of those tasks that couldn't be bypassed... No matter how appealing the idea of lounging on the couch with her was. "Sounds like a plan though the pie could probably hold off for a while."
His wine glass was mostly empty, so he picked up the bottle and refreshed their glasses.
"Well, we can clear away this lot, relax with the wine, and then have the pie later, um, Travis is going to be out for a while right?" Jane only worried about him coming home while she was trying to explain stuff, and that would just really set her evening off wrong. "I'd hate to have to share the wine with him, what with him being under-age and all."
There was a guaranteed, surefire way to make Travis stay away. All he'd have to do is text the boy and there wouldn't be any interruption. "He should be out most of the night, but if you want I can make sure. Don't need you feeling guilty for sharing wine and contributing to the delinquency of a minor." Memphis told her with a wink.
"Well, we'll see how it goes huh?" Jane smiled, and stood up, gathering the plates and cutlery ready to take them through to the kitchen. "In the meantime, how about I wash and you dry?"
He nodded and followed her into the kitchen. "I'll even go one better and put away too." Which wasn't really one better since the one drying usually put away the dishes. He was always willing to do the drying since it saved his manly hands from being softened.
"Yes, well, you know I kind of sort of expected you to do that anyway, I mean, your dishes at any rate, mine can just go in a bag for when I take them home." Jane grinned, "Or three bags like last week?"
With a chuckle he got out a dish towel and set his glass on the counter beside the sink. They could just keep her dishes here and tally it out at the end of the week as easily as he could separate them out now. "If you wanted, you're always welcome to bring the ingredients up and use my dishes."
"Yes, but then I'd have Travis leaning in and tasting all the time and you'd probably get less dinner." Jane chuckled, and ran the hot tap for rinsing as well as to fill the bowl. She started washing plates and dishes, rinsing each one before placing it in the drainer to the side.
Memphis plucked the dishes out of the drainer and rubbed them dry then put them in the cupboard, one at a time. This way took longer and let her get more washed before he was waiting to dry. "Maybe it'd be me and not Travis. Then you'd have to swat my hand."
Jane laughed, "I don't think I'd dare do that, besides, you'd hardly feel it! Now, the other way round, I might need the ER!" She started on the cutlery, placing that in the wire mesh drainer compartment after she'd rinsed that too. "Of course, I can't see you even thinking of doing that, and certainly not that hard, but, oh dear, not helping am I?"
"You might be surprised. Mom used to swat us all if we got into her cooking pots and then we stayed out, for the most part." He said as he slid the towel over a plate. The idea of him swatting her didn't even cross his mind because he wouldn't do it. "I wouldn't ever swat you, Jane." He said as he turned from putting the plate away.
Jane looked up, the last of the knives slipping through her fingers and into the bowl of water, as she paled slightly, "I kn-know you wouldn't, b-but you'd b-be su-surprised how many wouldn't th-think twice about d-doing it."
She looked down again and fished for the knife in the water, finding it and washing it carefully before rinsing it and placing it in the container with the others. She didn't dare look up again, concentrating instead on each of the remaining utensils until each was clean and set to drain.
He listened patiently, wondering if it was the incident with Avery that caused her to stammer so. With swift movements, he folded the damp towel and laid it on the counter by the drainer, then leaned against the counter beside her. He knew all too well that some men wouldn't stop to think twice about the woman they assaulted, be it verbally or physically. He needed to know that she understood he wouldn't hurt her.
"I wouldn't do it myself and I want you to know that. It isn't the proper way to convey anything helpful and men that abuse women are just cowards." His voice stayed steady but his eyes became a little darker as he spoke. Hopefully she wasn't scared of him and he didn't even consider the option until after he'd spoken.
Jane tipped the bowl, turning off the tap, the cutlery had been last to be washed, and it wasn't until the water had drained away that she looked up, "I know, which is, you have no idea how much, very reassuring." She smiled faintly and reached for the towel to dry her hands, "I think maybe we should leave the rest and go sit down?"
Memphis was relieved to see she hadn't cowered away. She hadn't taken his words the wrong way and she didn't think of him as a threat. He knew his size and colorfulness didn't help when it came to the convincing part, but he really wasn't a bad guy.
"We can most certainly do that. I wonder if the game system shut down yet or if it's still paused?" He asked with a smirk, having not turned it off before dinner. "I'll save it and turn it off though, not make you watch me play a silly car racing game."
"Thanks," Jane was a little distracted, she'd started, now she had to carry on, and finish, and she wasn't entirely sure she was up to that. "Although I sort of prefer those to the fighting games, to violent for me they are."
She picked up her wine glass and took another sip, then turned for the doorway before looking up at him again, "I don't know what you guys see in those games, i really don't, but then, maybe that's just me?"
He grinned. "You haven't been a witness to me and Travis playing racing games." There had been many nights, all be it not recent ones, where the boys stayed up playing to see who could crash the best. Memphis even went so far as to drive the wrong way around the tracks just to head on crash.
"Least they're games and not out in the street racing." He said reasonably as the screen flashed yes, it had saved the progress. Setting the controller out of the way he turned off the machine, then the television. "Just an unwind and pass time thing."
"True, but, I guess I just never had the chance to get into them, I er, was too busy doing other things and making stupid mistakes." She settled on the sofa, and curled her legs up, her pumps staying on the floor neatly. It was a measure of how comfortable she was around Memphis that her shoes came off at all, running barefoot had never been a preferred experience, especially over rocky ground, but even knowing she'd only have to run indoors, she would still have kept her shoes on. It was habit, except for here and in her apartment, and sometimes at Jazz's place. She looked over towards Memphis, "I um, I wanted to er, try and explain a few things? I mean, I know others, and, and possibly you, think I'm er, a little crazy, but, there, there are reasons for why I'm like I am. I just, I wanted to try and well, explain them."
She trailed off a little, fairly sure that all she'd just managed to do was confuse him, and herself, beyond knowing what was going on. She sipped at the wine again, trying not to gulp it down, but to just, keep her mouth moist with it. She wasn't sure if she should just carry on talking, or look over and check he was still awake first. Somehow, she thought it might go easier if he fell asleep.
Memphis could see how being busy with other things didn't leave room for games. Life got hectic and the simple pleasures got forgotten. He was going to offer up teaching her, but she continued on and interrupting wouldn't be nice, so he listened.
He didn't understand fully what she was trying to explain, but he wasn't going to stop her. His face showed the confusion because he didn't think she was odd. Maybe more cautious or reserved than anybody he'd met but not odd. "Well, my ears are open and I'll listen. Whenever you're ready."
Jane took another sip of the wine, and swallowed hard, she took a deep breath, held it for a few seconds, and then exhaled, still thinking. Then she looked up, "I guess I'm ready now. Which is why I chose tonight, why I waited until I knew Travis wouldn't be around. See, I hadn't even left High School, he's already in college. I never went to college. We were married right after I graduated." She paused, took another sip of the wine, and continued to explain, about her parents deaths, the will, everything, the words, the attitude, the separate rooms, the hurt and confusion. She told him about the punches, the strangleholds, and the other women, and she did it all in a clear, calm voice. Right up until the last.
"It was, an accident, I don't know why he was so upset, but, when I told him I was pregnant? He just went berserk. I tried to get away, made it onto the landing, but, he tripped me, pushed me down the stairs, I fell so hard," her voice broke, and tears slid down her face, "I lost the baby, and I could have died, but, I knew then, it was, I had to get away."
She was so close to the end now, she didn't dare stop, "I waited though, until I was fully healed up, well, physically anyway, and then, I was hiding money, just little bits, ten bucks here, five there, I found my passport and driver's licence, and I hid those as well, I picked up everything I really could not live without, which wasn't much, just a few changes of clothes, some toiletries, and one day, right after he left for work, I pulled all this stuff together, packed a single hold all, and just, jumped in the car and drove away." She looked over, having not really looked up once, "You wanted to know how I got here? I drove south out of San Diego, sold the car for cash at a cheap seedy car lot, bought the cheapest car they had that ran, and kept going. I made it into Mexico, and stopped to change cars again, less paperwork there, and it was cheaper still."
Another sip of wine, "I learned how to change tires, spark plugs, how to fill the things up with fuel cos there are a lot of no service stations out there! I could already clean and cook so I worked as chambermaid, kitchen staff, I waited tables, pulled drinks, anything that paid cash, and I kept moving. Never more than a few days in any one spot, just in case, I zig zagged my way across northern Mexico, and finally came up into the US again just as far east as I could get, and then, I followed the roads north. Until I wound up here."
Memphis listened to her as she spoke. He remembered asking her a long time ago how she'd come to live and work here at the manor. She'd said it was a long story and he vowed to not doubt her the next time she said something was a long story.
He wanted to hold her when she talked about her accident. It didn't sound like an accident to him at all. Such a horrible thing for a woman to have to go through, and it only showed better what type of man she'd married. But she was young. She probably didn't think much about that then. Listening to her made him realize that she was cautious for a very simple reason. As much as he hadted to know there were lowlives out there that abused women, Jane had found one. Had been married to one and had concieved a child with him. She'd also walked away from him.
"You're right, that was a lengthy journey." He said after she'd finished her retelling. "But you're here now and don't have to worry about anything that horrible again." His mind flashed to Avery and the fight at the wedding, then her scarcity. From what Memphis had heard about the man, Avery wasn't any picnic to work for and it must've put Jane back into a bad frame of mind when she was around him. He laid his arm across the back of the couch and wondered if he'd ever scared her. There was no way to know unless he asked, so he exhaled and found himself apologizing instead. "I'm sorry, Jane. For what you've gone through, had to get past, and if I've done anything to scare you in the past." He did mean it too, he hadn't meant to scare her if he had previously and knowing what she'd been through only made him feel worse if he had.
"Oh you," Jane smiled at him, "you haven't scared me, not at all, and considering you're definitely broader than John, and about as tall? That's going some. I, er, can't really go near Mr Deacon, he's like, too much like John. It's, uncomfortable."
She shifted in her seat, and looked down, "I think it's because John was tall and blond, but, there was a sort of well, air about him as well. I was very young, very innocent and very, very stupid."
He smiled at knowing that he hadn't scared her. There were a few times during their cooking lessons that he thought she had seemed a bit intimidated. Now it made more sense to him. On a reassured chance, he laid his arm on her shoulders. "Being young and innocent doesn't make you stupid. Just means you did some learning the hard way."
"It nearly killed me, the learning, but, I'm just, a little wary of people now, it's hard to be able to trust anyone. Takes a long time." She wanted to relax, to not have to worry about it, she wanted to feel safe, but for some reason just now she felt very nervous, probably the retelling of everything. "It's taken so long, just to feel like this is home, that I have friends, and, and to get my divorce and everything? I just, I needed time after that to resettle and regroup?"
"Eventually all wounds do heal. They just take time." He told her, confident in the soundness of his advice. He wanted to hold her close to him, to let her know that she was important to him, but would that send her away? "I hope your attempt at running away solved that problem for you. Jazz and I were both worried about you and I'm sure some others around here were too."
"I know, Jazz still ribs me about it occasionally, but, I didn't run away this time, at the wedding? I stuck around, and it wasn't so bad?" Jane smiled, and then did something truly unusual. She shifted a little, and leaned towards him, almost hesitantly, but, she did wind up settled up against him, if a little tense. "I um, er, applied for a job at the day care centre too. I'm not sure I want to wind up cleaning for Avery again, thought I'd try something a little different?"
He still felt bad that he wasn't outside with her at the wedding when everything went downhill. Memphis contemplated what to say, but wound up just thinking for now. He smiled at her and shook his head. "No, you didn't run this time. I'm sorry though, for not being outside with you. I feel like a putzy date and a lousy friend for not having been outide." He knew that didn't change the actions of others, but he could have changed his own. Things would have been different that was for certain.
"It might be similar, cleaning for cranky kids that don't put their toys away and cleaning for Avery." He said with a chuckle. "But then again, kids don't have extensive vocabularies." He said in response to her new job venture.
Jane was reassured, he seemed happier about the new job possibility than she'd thought possible, and it gave her more confidence. "I know, but they do have extensive mess making capabilities, and being able to maybe start giving them a positive start? To help them to play and learn? I think I'd like that, a lot." Jane relaxed more, relieved that nothing untoward had suddenly happened. It was strange to feel someone else's warmth behind her, the fear such a sensation had once caused not being present, it was, not unsettling as such, but, nice.
Memphis nodded. "Most definitely. Especially if the kids here are anything like the mess making duo my brothers used to be." Since there was a twelve year age difference between Memphis and his brothers, Memphis had become a secondary babysitter. After he'd taken the proper courses and certifications, that was. "You could teach the kids the pick up game. Everything in it's place and a place for everything." He said optimistic that with Jane as a teacher the kids would learn proper organization without a doubt.
With her curled up next to him, Memphis wondered if he should leave his arm around her shoulders and be content there or if he could get away with convincing her to stay for a while. Maybe watch something on television. This was comfortable to him and something he'd wanted to do with her for a while now.
"Mmm, become the House Fairy, who hates mess and prefers a tidy playroom?" Jane chuckled, "I could do that I guess, but, I'll have to fit in with whatever the current scheme is there of course, and that's if I get the job. That's not guaranteed of course, there will no doubt be other applicants? Probably better qualified ones at that."
His arm around her tightened as he hugged her close for a minute. "I'm sure they wouldn't turn down the idea." He said with a chuckle. Productive ideas usually didn't get shot down and if there was a question in her interview about what she planned to bring in as an asset, there was one answer at the least. "Don't be selling yourself short already, Jane. There might be other applicants sure, but there are always recommendations to factor in."
Jane smiled, then chuckled, "I can always hope right? Plan and hope, the two things that usually can get me through stuff, if I can just remember to use them, rather than run and hide?"
It was strangely easy to just sit, relaxed and at ease, without the panic and doubts, and that helped Jane to just feel so much better about it all as well. "So, I have to ask, are you about ready for dessert?"
He didn't want to move at the current time, so he sighed. "That means moving and I kinda like this arrangement here..."
"Mmmm, but, what would Travis think if he came home and found us here like this?" Jane smiled, totally unwilling to move just then herself, "I know he likes my food, but what about me in general?"
Memphis grinned as he silently hoped the boy stayed out all night after all. "Don't know what he'd think. Maybe he'd say it's about time and go back out?"
"Maybe," Jane relaxed a little more, and sighed lightly, "I just, maybe I worry too much about just everything, but, I don't want him to feel like I'm intruding or anything."
"Worrying about what others think is hooey. You should just worry about what you want and go for it." He said to her. Moving quickly he pulled Jane into his lap. "Do you feel like you're intruding?"
Jane squawked a little in surprise, but then shifted a bit to get more comfy and leaned back against him. "Um, only when I remind him to tidy up a bit? Or do the dishes? But, he is old enough to know he should be doing them, and maybe I might be over-stepping there?" Jane grinned, knowing Travis was plenty able to tell her so himself, but had so far only teased her about her neat-freak ways and how he wasn't converting to them ever. "At least he's friendly and funny about it. I don't feel so bad when I remind him because he does manage to make me laugh normally."
Memphis shook his head. "Common areas and dishes are one thing, his room is entirely different. It's not overstepping to me." It just made Memphis realize that he had gone through the same phase in his own life and sooner or later Travis would grow out of it. Probably around the time he decided to actually grow up. "Mmhmm... He is good for a laugh on a regular basis."
"He's not even a bad kid though really, is he? I mean, sure teenage boys get into a bit of bother, but, he seems pretty calm right now, and he does study too. I er, caught him at it, he did try and make me promise not to tell you, but, I just smiled and went back to the kitchen to finish the dinner." And so far she hadn't told, but now, it just felt right, "That was the night you were late back? I went to ask him if he knew where you were, cos dinner was going to spoil otherwise, and you turned up about five minutes later."
It sounded like something Travis would do, try to bargain with her so Memphis wouldn't find out. He smiled as he wondered if his brother was finally realizing the adults were generally right about tidying up. "I think he asked about going out with Amarie that night. Something about that girl has him doing things he doesn't normally do." Not that it was bad thing, it just wasn't what Travis usually did.
"Amarie's not a bad kid either, she's been doing some responsible stuff herself, getting a job and everything." Jane chuckled, "She does have some attitude, but then, what teenager doesn't? I think they're good for each other in some ways. Could be so bad, but hopefully they'll stick to being good."
"Yeah, here's to hoping they had their share of chaos with that sniper thing a couple years back." He told her as he realized that she was still sitting in his lap and she seemed entirely comfortable about it.
"How's your share of chaos going? Had enough recently or are you up for a little more?" He asked with a smirk, wondering if she'd consider his thoughts of kissing her as chaotic or not.
"Me? I'm er, much calmer since they changed all my jobs round, no more Avery means no more stress and tension, because everyone else is just so much nicer." Jane smiled, "I've been offered all sorts of things though, from advice on my hair, to cups of tea, and in one case, the lovely lady offered me afternoon tea! Then proceeded to tell me how to flirt, so I could bag myself a rich husband." Jane chuckled, "I, er, I'm not sure I need or want one of those, but, just occasionally some company would be nice. The kind that isn't paying me to clean."
He couldn't help but laugh at the idea of another lady offering Jane flirting tips to land a rich husband... She was spending time with him and he didn't pay her to clean the apartment, so that fit into her idea, didn't it? "I can do that. We already do, kinda. I mean you're not my maid and we've gone out to the movies and stuff." Just nothing past a friendship level had happened between them.
Jane looked down, and wondered why she hadn't moved yet, but, she was kind of lonely still, and it didn't hurt to have friends, and if that friendship developed into something more, well, she trusted Memphis right? Jazz was sure he was ok, or she would have said something, Jane was sure about that. But then there was Avery and the complete lack of anything even remotely called intelligence that was going on there! But still, she looked up a little, and very briefly at that, "I just, you know, we do kind of? But, I don't know, am I ready? I don't know how to tell and if I get it wrong, I could, well, someone could get hurt?"
Memphis reached his hand up and cupped her face easily, turning gently so she was looking at him again. He wanted her to know he meant what he was going to say. "You won't know until you try. We can take this as slow as you want." As long as she said she wanted to progress the friendship he could adjust to her.
Jane smiled, a little tentatively, a slight tension around her eyes, this was a kind of, no, a very scary moment for her, and she didn't want to mess it up. But, was she ready? He was right, she couldn't tell, and wouldn't know, unless she actually did something about it, and tried. "I, um, I er, I think, I no, I know I'd like that? Just, real slow, baby steps?"
Ut oh... She was hesitating and having a hard time with her words again. It didn't sound good at first, but she had agreed to small steps. He wrapped his arms around her as he smiled. "Deal. How about we start with something fun on Fridays and dinners together on Sundays?" It wasn't far off from what they had been doing over the past months, just more compressed.
Jane began to relax again, she'd made the start, and it hadn't hurt, wasn't even remotely scary now she'd taken that first step, and she smiled, "That sounds good, am I cooking the dinners or are they going to be, um, family ones?"
Even though she had been cooking family dinners for them all on a regular basis, Memphis wondered if she'd think it was too much too soon. "We could work together and it'd be up to you on the family part." Being in the kitchen with her was something he'd become used to and rather enjoyed during the lessons.
"I like to cook, and if both you and Travis are learning, then, family dinners in the kitchen sound like fun." Jane couldn't help chuckling, was there room in the kitchen for all three of them? Mostly she remembered they ate at the table in the dining room when there were three of them..... it wasn't important though, wherever was fine, so long as they had a laugh and Travis washed up!
Cooking dinner with her in the kitchen would mean Memphis could bump into her from time to time and blame it on the closed in spaces, or he could reach around her and not get swatted for improper actions. It was surely a good idea in his mind. "Too many hands in the kitchen could get crowded though..." He suggested. "Maybe we can leave Travis out sometimes."
"Maybe," Jane smiled, her mind busy wondering what sort of meals she could cook for days when Travis might not be there, and how sometimes, just sometimes, it might be very nice to cook a meal for two that would be more than just food to eat... It had been a long time since she'd even had to think about food in that way. "I think I'd like that too. But, not every time? We should be fair and let him learn some things too?"
He nodded, agreeing that Travis should learn too. "Sounds like a good plan." As he vocalized his thoughts the apartment door opened and Travis walked through. Hopefully Jane didn't get all nervous and anxious about this, Memphis thought, still holding her on his lap.
"I'm home and you're... Nevermind. Going to my room don't tell me what you two do afterward." He said with a grin as he kicked off his shoes then went to his room, closing the door behind him.
Memphis looked at Jane and shrugged lightly. "Well, there's one question answered for you."
Jane had blushed a very bright scarlet, and frozen still, as if by keeping her face down and being still would make her invisible. She kind of wanted to run, but Travis' reaction hadn't been anything like what she had thought it might be, and that alone had her thinking, what else am I over-thinking? So she didn't move, but after he'd gone again, she couldn't help the twitching of her lips, that soon became a chuckle, "Oh dear, does that mean he doesn't want dessert do you think?"
He leaned forward and rested his forehead on hers. "He said to not disturb him, so I guess not."
"Oh good, more for us!" Jane snickered softly, and leaned back a little, "I think I could really polish off a large slice of Apple Pie right now. Shall we?"
Apple pie... She was finding a lot about his favorite things that was for sure. "I like apple pie. Even think there's some vanilla ice cream in the freezer." Pie and ice cream both was an ultimate win to Memphis.
"Well then, I think we should definitely get up and go eat in the kitchen? I can warm the apple pie, and ice cream would be great with it, I did bring some cream I think? But ice cream would be better." Jane grinned, and shifted so she could stand up, "Um, you might have to let go first?"
He had been comfortable with holding her so it barely registered to him that his arm was still around her. He looked at her and cleared his throat. "Sorry, my bad. I was comfortable and kinda forgot I might have to let you go to get up." He withdrew his arm though, and waited for her to get up.
Jane didn't rush to get up, but she wasn't too slow about it either, just, casually stood up and headed for the kitchen, "So, did you want the pie warmed or left cold?"
Standing and stretching, he smiled. "Warm, always. Especially going with ice cream." Then he followed her into the kitchen to give a hand, just in case she needed help with something.