11 the tablets - 1 (2/2)
The twins spoke at the same time, making me smile.
”I don't know.”
”Didn't see?”
”No. The lake is nice. And Catarina's cottage is so beautiful. As are Catarina and Nisha.”
”So, you're crushing on Nisha?”
”She's pretty.”
”That's neither acceptance nor a denial. Diplomacy. Nice.”
”Big words. I'm not sure I know the meaning.”
”So, you want to sell yourself short. That's definitely favouring acceptance. Is Nisha that pretty?”
”Yeah. So much that I can't find the right words. If she's hearing me, she'd be so embarrassed.”
”What about Catarina?” Jerry intervened.
”She's beautiful,” I answered with much less enthusiasm .
”That she is,” Jerry said pleased, like he was the one praised.
”I thought you said his mother was pretty,” Dia said.
”Yeah,” Pratt agreed. ”Why are you showing such a face for another woman? So, you're really like Dean said you are.”
”Shut up, the two of you,” Jerry scolded. ”Let's see what you have to say after seeing her.”
”Yeah, let's,” Catarina agreed, as she came into view.
”Wow,” the twins said together.
”I'm jealous,” Dia said.
”I'm curious,” Pratt said.
”Shameless,” Dia scolded.
”Rotten,” Pratt scolded back.
”Such cute kids,” Catarina said with a smile.
She handed me a mug of coffee, sipping from her own, as she looked at Jerry with a very different smile.
”Hello Jerry, how are you?”
Jerry froze at the question. His expression stopped all other conversation.
”What'd gotten into you Cat?”
”What were you thinking, sending a fifteen year old child all by himself?”
”Ignore the age. Does he seem like a fifteen year old to you?”
Catarina paused, like the question had merit. Then, she shook her head and continued.
”That's besides the point.”
”That's exactly the point,” Jerry argued. ”Let's get to the point, shall we. Made any progress on the long arc?”
Catarina looked at me, and smiled, before answering.