8. Thomas
8
THOMAS
‘ W hat can I help with?’ Thomas asked Bligh in the kitchen.
‘You can peel the potatoes.’ Bligh pointed at the colander of potatoes sitting on the kitchen island.
‘No problem.’ Thomas picked up the potato peeler and got to work. He’d arrived at his sister and brother-in-law’s ten minutes ago. Bligh was in the kitchen making Sunday dinner and Marnie was in the lounge reading with the girls. ‘What’s today’s book?’
‘Sorry?’ Bligh looked up from the carrots he was chopping.
‘What are Wendy and Winnie reading today?’
‘Oh… some moral tale or other.’ Bligh laughed. ‘I think this one was about listening carefully to others so you can avoid hurting their feelings. Inclusivity! That was it. It’s so clever how authors can write a children’s story and squeeze in some morals. I really enjoy reading with them. I actually learn too!’
Thomas laughed. ‘Education and fun for all the family.’
‘That’s so true.’ Bligh nodded. ‘The girls are doing really well with their literacy and are flying through the recommended reading list.’
‘They’re very clever.’ Thomas smiled. ‘Just like Marnie.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Bligh placed his hands on his hips and frowned. ‘Don’t I get a look in?’
‘Of course you do! I know they get their intelligence from both of you. I just meant that Marnie has always loved reading and that she’s super bright. Unlike me. It was all about sports when I was growing up.’
‘You’re just as intelligent as Marnie.’ Bligh placed the chopped carrots into a roasting dish then added a few knobs of butter, some freshly chopped herbs from the pots on the windowsill and a sprinkle of salt. ‘You shouldn’t put yourself down.’
‘At school, I didn’t care about anything other than sports and I neglected my lessons when I could get out of them. It was all about football.’
‘Football was your thing and that’s OK.’ Bligh put the dish of carrots into the oven then washed his hands.
‘But where does it leave me now?’ Thomas asked.
‘At a crossroads, I admit, but there are lots of things you could do.’ Bligh placed a hand on Thomas’ shoulder. ‘You just have to believe in yourself.’
‘I’ve looked and I can’t find anything I want to do or could do. I don’t have the skillset or the qualifications.’
‘Perhaps it’s time to retrain then. You’re still young, Thomas. Thirty-one is just starting out these days.’
‘Yeah I know. I have time.’ He smiled but his stomach churned. Since he’d lost the ability to play football, he’d felt useless, like his purpose had been stolen away from him. Football had been his identity. At school he’d ignored the teachers when they’d said he could well have a successful career in football, but qualifications were important because they’d always be there. If anything went wrong with his career as a footballer, then he’d have something to fall back on. He’d laughed at them, been a bit ignorant at times, especially when his English teacher had tried to reason with him. She’d been a kind woman who’d gently tried to encourage him to work towards his exams. He’d laughed and told her they were pointless because he didn’t want to be anything other than a professional footballer, so what was the point in reading Shakespeare or learning how to write a persuasive speech? Now, however, he knew she’d been right about the importance of qualifications, and that his other teachers had been too. ‘I do like animals,’ he said thoughtfully.
‘Why don’t you enquire about volunteering at the vet’s then, or at the local rescue sanctuary? It would be a starting point for you to explore your options,’ Bligh said. ‘I know it’s taken you a while since the accident to start properly thinking about this, but you’ve been recovering physically and mentally. The fact that you’re talking about what to do next must show that you’re ready now.’
‘You’re very wise, Bligh,’ Thomas said.
Bligh shrugged his massive shoulders and laughed. ‘Well, I am almost forty.’
‘Forty and fabulous!’ Thomas grinned. ‘I hope I grow up to be just like you.’
Bligh guffawed and pointed at Thomas. ‘Just behave yourself, young man.’
‘What are you laughing about?’ Winnie was standing in the kitchen doorway, looking from her dad to her uncle. Her dark hair was in bunches, and she looked very cute in a blue dress with tiny white roses printed on the material. With their dark hair and eyes, the twins were like mini copies of Marnie. Thomas wondered if the new baby would be the same or if it would take after Bligh more.
‘Your uncle was just teasing me about my age,’ Bligh said. ‘He said I’m an old man.’
‘You’re not old, Daddy.’ Winnie went to Bligh, and he picked her up. ‘Don’t say that to Daddy, Uncle Thomas. It’s rude to talk about how old people are. My teacher at school said so!’
‘Sorry.’ Thomas shook his head. ‘It won’t happen again.’
‘Uncle Thomas looks like a pirate,’ Winnie said quietly, and Bligh’s inhalation was audible.
‘That’s not very kind, Winnie,’ Bligh said.
Thomas though, snorted with laughter. ‘A pirate?’
‘We watched a cartoon and there was a pirate on it, and he had curly black hair, a limp and a scar on his face just like you.’
‘From out of the mouths of babes,’ Thomas said. ‘I guess I do look like a pirate out of a cartoon.’
‘But you’re not mean like he was,’ Winnie said. ‘You’re a lovely pirate.’
‘Thanks.’ Thomas smiled. ‘I would hate to be a mean pirate.’
‘On that note, I’d better check the parrot.’ Bligh put Winnie down.
‘Parrot?’ Winnie frowned.
‘I meant the chicken.’ Bligh winked at her. ‘I wouldn’t cook parrot for Sunday dinner, would I?’
‘I hope not, Daddy. I wouldn’t like parrot for dinner.’
‘Nor me,’ Thomas said.
‘Go and see if your mum wants a cup of tea, Winnie,’ Bligh said.
‘OK, Daddy.’ She ran through to the lounge.
Thomas picked up another potato and started peeling it. ‘I guess I’d better start digging then.’
‘What?’ Bligh turned from the oven with the large roasting tin in his hands. He put it down and peeled back the foil. Steam rose into the air from the chicken along with aromas of sage and thyme.
‘Digging for treasure!’ Thomas said and Bligh laughed.
‘Well, you can start in our garden if you like because the flower beds need weeding.’
‘Your wish is my command,’ Thomas said. ‘I’ll just finish the potatoes first though if that’s OK?’
‘That’s fine.’ Bligh grinned. ‘Treasure can wait.’
An hour later, they were sitting at the kitchen table with Marnie, Winnie and Wendy. They were tucking into roast chicken, roast potatoes, buttered carrots, tender stem broccoli, petit pois and sprouts. Every bite was delicious.
While they ate, the girls entertained them with stories about school and what had happened that week, as well as about their excitement about the village fair in three weeks’ time. Thomas always enjoyed having Sunday lunch with Marnie and her family because the food was amazing and the company was lovely.
When they’d finished, Marnie pushed her chair back, but Bligh shook his head. ‘No, you don’t, my love. You stay there and I’ll clear the table and get dessert.’
‘It’s fine, Bligh. I can help.’ Marnie went to stand but Bligh held up a hand. ‘You’re doing enough hard work growing our baby. You stay there and I’ll do it.’
‘I’ll help.’ Thomas got up and helped Bligh to clear the table and Winnie and Wendy helped too, carrying plates and glasses over to the island where Thomas loaded them into the dishwasher. Bligh filled bowls with lemon meringue pie and Thomas helped him to take them back to the table.
‘Goodness, Bligh, I’ll be the size of a house at this rate.’ Marnie rubbed her hands over her rounded belly and sighed. Pregnancy suited her with her cheeks full and flushed and her hair thick and glossy. Thomas knew Bligh took good care of his family and it made him happy to know his sister had married a man who truly loved her and their children.
‘And I’ll worship every inch of you, my gorgeous wife.’ Bligh took Marnie’s hand and kissed it.
‘Bleurgh!’ Wendy laughed. ‘You two are so soppy.’
‘They’re in love, Wendy,’ Winnie said.
‘Yeah, but they don’t have to go on about it.’ Wendy grimaced; her small nose scrunched up.
‘So young and so cynical,’ Marnie said, winking at Thomas. ‘I don’t know where she gets it from.’
‘Wendy has a boyfriend!’ Winnie announced suddenly as if it had just occurred to her.
‘Winnie!’ Wendy slammed her spoon on the table. ‘How dare you!’
Thomas bit his bottom lip hard as he tried to control the laughter that threatened to burst from him. His nieces were so young, but such characters. He knew it was because they were growing up with two awesome parents and because they read a lot. Sometimes, they were more like teenagers than six-year-olds.
‘You do!’ Winnie said. ‘I saw you with him in the yard.’
‘You did not. I don’t even like boys. They are yucky!’
‘You do so.’ Winnie nodded smugly.
‘Do not!’ Wendy looked around the table then her lower lip trembled. ‘It’s not true. I don’t have a boyfriend.’
‘She does!’ Winnie’s eyes were wide. ‘It’s the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me dog.’
‘So help me, dog?’ Thomas frowned. ‘That’s a new one.’
‘It’s on a cartoon,’ Bligh said muttered.
‘Of course.’ Thomas stuffed a spoonful of meringue into his mouth and chewed, trying to distract himself from his nieces’ faces. They did this at times, creating a gridlock where neither of them would back down. That was definitely something they got from their mum because his sister was an angel, but she could also be incredibly stubborn. If she made up her mind about something, there was no dissuading her. Marnie had to reach her own conclusions in her own time. It was the same with Winnie and Wendy.
‘Ooh!’ Marnie gripped her stomach and winced.
‘What is it?’ Bligh was out of his chair and at her side in an instant.
‘Just… a twinge.’ Marnie breathed slowly, rubbing the side of her belly. ‘Probably a fake contraction. Or wind.’ She smiled but her lips had gone white, and Thomas looked to Bligh to assess how worried he was.
‘Why don’t you come and put your feet up and see if it eases.’ Bligh helped her up and led her slowly through to the lounge.
‘We will finish this another time,’ Wendy said, arching a brow at her sister.
‘Indeed, we will,’ Winnie said. ‘Now let’s go and keep an eye on Mummy.’
Holding hands as if nothing had happened, they followed their parents through to the lounge. Thomas looked around at the after-dinner mess. While he was here, he’d just as well make himself useful. He’d pop the kettle on too and take a nice cup of mint tea through for Marnie. Hopefully, it was just wind and she’d soon be fine. He suspected she might also have exaggerated a little bit just to get the girls to stop arguing. At least he hoped that was the case.
He cleared the table, wiped it over and finished loading the dishwasher then put the kettle on. At least he had the skills to clean up and make tea, he thought. Perhaps he should ask Pearl if she had any work going at the café. It would mean he’d feel like he was doing something useful then, although it was the kind of venue where he’d have to be sociable and that didn’t always work for him. Nope, it was back to the drawing board. This summer, it seemed, was going to involve some serious soul-searching as he worked out what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.