Page 41 of In at the Deep End

Owen laughed first. “This is getting ridiculous.”

“The courtroom,” Matt added.

“Roger Livesey.”

“Marius Goring.”

Owen pointed at him. “You’re cheating. Nobody your age is supposed to know this stuff.”

Matt grinned. “History degree. We get a lot of homework.” Then he gazed at the cases. “Now, do you want these on the shelves alphabetically, or random, so it’s more of an adventure when you come to search for one?”

He laughed. “Random. It could take us hours to alphabetise them.”

Owen watched as Matt began slotting the DVDs onto the shelves with surprising care.

He’s twenty-five. Where on earth did Jeff’s son acquire a taste for Powell and Pressburger?

Then again, maybe he shouldn’t be so surprised. What had Jeff said the day he came round with the casserole? Something about Matt having an old head on young shoulders?

Owen smiled. It wasn’t that Matt was interesting.

It was that he kept becoming more interesting.

“I’ve never had anyone to talk films with like this.”

Matt appeared surprised. “What about your husband?”

Owen gazed at the boxes. “Ben enjoyed films. But he mostly enjoyed watching me enjoy them.”

“I like him already.” Matt pulled another box to him and broke the tape seal. Then he frowned. “What’s in here?”

Owen peered into the box and caught sight of the handwritten titles. “Oh. I forgot about those.”

“What are they?”

“Home movies.” He lifted one. “Holidays.” Another. “Christmas.” Yet another. “Our honeymoon. Ben bought himself a camcorder, and then he transferred the movies from tape to disc.”

Matt took the cases from him, replaced them in the box, and carefully resealed it.

“I’ll leave those packed for now.” He grabbed another box, opened it, and in a heartbeat, a flush crawled up his neck and stained his cheeks. “Oh.”

Intrigued, Owen looked over. Then he remembered.

“Ah. Those.” The artwork on the covers featured a great deal of muscle and a notable lack of clothing, the titles almost as lurid as the images.

Matt handed him the box, eyebrows arched. “Those are… definitely not Hitchcock.”

Of all the boxes he could have opened…

Owen laughed so hard, he nearly dropped it.

Matt’s stomach chose that moment to give a loud rumble.

Talk about timing.

Owen got to his feet. “I think I’d better feed you.” He glanced at the DVDs. “These can wait.”

Matt grinned. “Probably for the best.”