Page 80 of Exchange of Heart

Tea makes nothing better but at least I’d have something to do.

‘No, thank you.’ She twisted the large diamond ring on her finger.

As I opened my mouth with another suggestion she’d probably say no to, Nora finally arrived home with the body my mother had unexpectedly dropped by to see.

‘You got a cat?’ she asked before Nora had even closed the door.

Nora glanced at me for a moment before graciously transforming into the doting son I needed her to be. ‘Hello, Mum. I did. His name’s Lucky.’

Mum pointed to me. ‘And are you living with a girl? You introduced us to Nora at dinner, was that why you brought her?’

I wanted to grab her shoulders, shake her, and yell, I’m Corey, Mum, and I’m so far out of my depth. I need you. Instead, I kept my mouth shut as Nora offered me a sympathetic smile.

‘I am,’ she replied.

Then, Mum did something I’d never expected. Her lips lifted into the kind of smile you see on faces at weddings, at the birth of a child, a job offer. Pure, ecstatic joy.

‘Oh, Corey.’ Mum’s arms wrapped around Nora as a spike of jealousy shot through me. ‘That’s such fantastic news.’

‘Oh, really?’

Shut up, Nora.

‘I mean, thanks.’

‘I just want to see you happy, and being in this place all alone, working all day with your father, well, I want you to have some joy in your life, too. That’s actually why I popped by.’ Mum walked to the counter where she’d placed a box. She lifted the lid and pulled out a book. ‘I was clearing out the spare room and found this.’

Nora opened the book as I closed my eyes. I remembered every drawing inside. It had been my escape during my last year of school. The only thing that allowed me to flee the reality that in a few short months, I’d spend every moment ’til death like Rapunzel, locked on the top floor of Zealy Insurance, praying something would save me from that prison. Her mouth opened as she looked up from the page and into my eyes. Like, really into my eyes, past the smoke and mirrors I projected, and deep-dived into who I really was.

‘I don’t want you to ever forget what you’re capable of.’ Mum took Nora’s hand in hers for a moment then dropped it. ‘Now. Shall I make us all a cup of tea?’

Yes. I needed that warmth to heat the shock settling into my system like ice.

The roaring kettle and clink of mugs filled our silence.

‘Earl Grey or English Breakfast?’ Mum asked, pulling out an English Breakfast for Nora; the tea I always have.

‘English, thanks.’ My voice wasn’t much more than a whisper.

‘So, does this mean you’re, you know, together?’ Mum tried not to allow a smile on her face until she heard the answer.

‘Yes,’ I replied before Nora could.

Nora looked as though I’d announced we were having a baby. Despite Mum’s joy, I’d be pushing it to say I lived with a girl I wasn’t dating.

‘How long have you been together? I had no idea when you brought her over, though I’ll admit I’d hoped.’

‘Oh, I guess, ah, I wasn’t too sure how Dad would take it. I know he wouldn’t want any distractions in my life.’ Nora tried for one of my casual shrugs, but her stiff shoulders told me she was well out of her depth.

Mum’s hand fluttered through the air with a dismissal wave. ‘That man doesn’t know the meaning of life.’

Caught off guard at her comment, I accidentally snorted, much to my mother’s disgust. A lady should never snort. She handed a plain blue mug to Nora and placed the ‘Spread this’ mug Paddy had gifted me for Christmas last year on the bench in front of me. The spreadsheet wrapped around the mug had the formula for my birthday in one of the columns, and his in another. I drank from it whenever I needed the comfort of a friend and he wasn’t around. Even in another body, my mother managed to bring me comfort without realising it.

‘I have another reason for my visit, I must confess. The animal shelter we donate a large sum to each year is having an auction on Wednesday evening, and I want you there to show some support. I know it’s last minute. Everything was so busy last Friday at dinner that I forgot to tell you, but your brothers are coming too.’ She turned to face me. ‘You must come too, Nora. You’ll love it.’

‘Oh, I don’t know—’ Nora began.

‘There will be dancing, those blue cheese-stuffed dates you love, it will be wonderful. You might even find yourself bidding for some gorgeous pieces. And don’t worry, our normal Friday dinner will be cancelled this week.’