CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Corey
Whoever was at my door wasn’t going away, because the light raps continued for almost two minutes.
Nora left for a walk to digest her pizza only five minutes ago, though I’m pretty sure she only wanted to release a mountain of farts.
She’d been squeezing her legs and adjusting her position on the couch all evening.
Besides, she had a key, so it couldn’t be her.
‘Corey, honey? It’s me, open the door.’
My heart raced at the comfort of Mum’s voice floating under the crack of the door. My feet were on autopilot, and my hand gripped the brass handle and yanked the door open without a second thought.
‘Mum, what are you…’ my voice trailed off.
Her eyes were wide, and there would have been creases on her forehead if her tri-monthly appointment didn’t keep them away.
‘I’m so sorry, I thought you were Corey.’ Her gaze paused on the green hat she’d given me for my seventeenth birthday.
Of course, I wasn’t me. I adjusted my drooping shoulders and smiled, wondering if it would look strange to remove my hat now.
‘Mrs Flemmington, hello. Corey popped out for a few things. Would you like to come in?’
I realised what a terrible suggestion this was, too late.
Did I really expect Nora to arrive home and play her doting son?
Mum entered the threshold as though her steps might activate an alarm system, her eyes glued to me the entire time.
She wandered to the kitchen, placed her bag on the counter, and picked up my book How To Cheer Up Your Hormones.
Her forehead almost creased as she placed it back down and turned to the living room filled with evidence of our shitshow life.
She picked up the bra I’d flung over the back of the couch this afternoon with raised eyebrows before gently placing it down like fragile china.
Next, she admired the new painting of a kitten in a saucer Nora hung by the dining table to ‘bring more cheer’ to the place.
The aqua cushions on the couch, the black cat that stalked to my mother and wrapped itself around her legs.
‘Can I get you a tea?’ I offered.
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.’
I gave Nora a subtle nod while Mum glanced at Lucky meowing at her feet.
Nora released a sigh of defeat. ‘Sure, Mum. Sounds great, we’ll be there.’
Mum turned to me, a delighted smile taking up half her face. ‘You’ll need a floor-length gorgeous gown. Corey can take you shopping for something divine. He knows exactly what kind of dress you’ll need for the event.’ Then she turned to Nora. ‘Black tie, darling.’
Her mug remained untouched on the bench as she picked up her red handbag. ‘I’ll leave you two love birds alone, and I’ll see you then, six p.m. Don’t be late.’
Squished in the door frame as we waved goodbye to Mum one last time before the elevator doors closed, Nora knitted her eyebrows together in a sickening look that reminded me all too much of my father.
‘Now we’re dating?’ she cried. ‘I might have started tolerating you, but it doesn’t mean I’ll be sharing my bed with you. And there sure as hell won’t be any more kisses.’
My body tingled at the memory, her declaration hurting me more than it should have.
‘I’m sorry, I panicked when she asked. I couldn’t exactly say you were living here as a friend. She’d never believe that.’
Nora moved into the kitchen and picked up Mum’s full mug to tip down the sink.
‘First Paddy – who we’re lucky forgot about your revelation – now your parents?
Are you going to broadcast to the whole world we’re together, or something?
You could have told her I was between places at the moment, and you were helping me out.
Or that my apartment was being renovated. ’
‘Well, I didn’t because I didn’t think of that.’ My jaw tensed. Why was she making such a big deal out of this?
‘At least this way we can still see our families. Right?’ I waited for her to agree that this would be the best way forward.
She stomped her feet a few times then sighed. ‘Fine. You’re right. But I hope you realise it means we’ll probably need to hold hands occasionally.’ As she rolled her eyes, they paused on the sketchbook on the bench. ‘Also, want to tell me about what I flicked through in there?’
I rubbed the back of my neck, glancing anywhere but at Nora’s curious eyes. ‘I don’t know what you want me to say.’
‘I want you to tell me why you’re living under your father’s thumb when you can draw like that.’ She pointed to the black leather book on the benchtop. ‘Is that what you’re always doing with your notebook?’
When we swapped bodies, I knew there was no escaping Nora discovering the physical side of me, but my heart pounded as she figured out this personal side. I could handle her thinking I was a terrible businessman, but it would tear me apart to hear her pick apart something I’m passionate about.
Lying would be pointless now the truth was there in her hands, so I nodded and waited for her to continue.
She picked it up. ‘This is really good.’
She held out the landscape drawing of a house by the river my family had stayed in one summer during the holidays. I remembered the trickle of the water as I sat on the grass for hours, refusing to miss a single detail.
‘I don’t want to talk about it.’ I turned away from the picture.
She took a deep breath and cocked her head. ‘I know you were accepted to art school.’