Double Lines

After we finished our drinks, Ethan kissed Tyler and me goodbye, saying he would bring dinner when he came home. I noticed immediately that he used the word ‘home’ to describe the apartment Tyler and I lived in, and it sent a wave of warmth through my body. Although it had only been a few weeks, barely a month, he considered my home his home as well! I don’t know if he had noticed that he had said it, but it secretly made me happy.

Ethan came home at the usual time, bringing containers of delicious-smelling food.

“That smells so good,” I commented, following him up the stairs.

“I went to the Sultan’s Table. Do you like Turkish food?” Ethan asks, turning around to look at me.

“I’ve never tried it,” I admit.

“You’ll love it,” Ethan says, setting everything on the dining room table. I walk into the kitchen to get the plates and cutlery, returning to see a colourful food display on the table.

“What is it?” I ask. Ethan smiles and starts pointing.

“We have mixed dips served with Turkish bread, falafel, lamb shish kebabs, izgara kofte, chicken pide, lamb pide and an Iskander beef plate. For dessert, we have baklava,” Ethan says proudly.

“Wow. It smells so good my mouth is watering. I’ll get Tyler, and we can start?”

Ethan nods, and I run upstairs to get Tyler, who has made a mess of the family room with his toys strewn everywhere.

“We start with the bread and dips,” Ethan states when Tyler and I sit down.

Dinner went well, and I’m proud to say Tyler gave everything a go and ate everything offered. Ethan explained that the restaurant he got the food from, Sultan’s Table, had a very authentic setup, with some tables cut low to the ground, and instead of chairs, you sat on cushions. This made Tyler’s face light up, and we made Ethan agree to take us there one time.

After dinner, we went upstairs to the family room watching a Disney movie while Tyler cleaned his mess.

“Yolanda’s no longer my secretary,” Ethan says once Tyler has fallen asleep on the couch between us.

“Why? What happened?” I asked.

“Well, we had that meeting with Mary from Human Resources, Harry, David’s personal assistant, Ghassan, who you met, me, David and Yolanda. Mary brought up Yolanda’s file; she’s already had a couple of complaints from staff, and then we asked her about what happened between her and you. Yolanda repeated her story about Tyler being out of control and you being rude. David questioned her about this, but she didn’t back down.

Until we admitted we have that area under surveillance. Ghassan showed her the video, with the audio playing. You could hear everything she said to you. Mary and Harry were shocked. Then David asked Yolanda if she knew who you were to him and who Tyler was to me. Yolanda burst into tears when we told her. She begged for her job; it was sad. She’s been put in the front reception with Willow to replace her, and Harry will be my secretary until Willow’s finished training her.”

“What will happen to Willow then?” I ask.

“She will be my secretary, meaning a pay increase for her.”

“Does she know?” I ask.

“No. We’ll tell her on Monday when we walk Yolanda down to her.”

“She’ll be excited,” I comment. Ethan nods.

“Anyway, my best friend and his girlfriend want to meet you. Adele, Declan’s girlfriend, suggested dinner next Friday night? Just us four? Is that okay?”

“Yeah… I guess. I’d love to meet your friends,” I smile.

“Good, I’ll let Adele know,” Ethan smiles, kissing my cheek before picking Tyler up to put him to bed.

We were going to meet Ethan’s friends for dinner, and I had already spent the last hour getting ready. I was nervous because although Ethan and I already had a child together, we’d only been seeing each other for a short time. Also, I have my period. I had put fresh period panties on after my shower, and I was on my fourth day, so it was light, but accidents can still happen, which made me just that little bit more anxious.

Looking at myself in my full-length mirror, I decide I’m ready and grab my kitten heels as I head downstairs.

Ethan wolf-whistles when he sees me, and Tyler gives me a big grin before running over and hugging my legs.

“You look bootiful,” Tyler says, looking up at me.

“Thank you, you’re now my new favourite,” I tell my son, picking him up.

“Hey! What about me?” Ethan asks, coming over and giving me a chaste kiss.

“Second favourite,” I reply, giving Tyler a wink.

We drop Tyler off at Melina and Davids with an overnight bag.

“Thank you for looking after him,” Ethan says as I hug Tyler.

“We have him all the time, Linc,” Melina replies, smiling.

“Yeah, I know. But that was before I knew who Tyler was to me,” Ethan replies, making me smile and feel warm inside.

“I love you, and be good,” I tell Tyler, kissing his cheek.

“Okay, mummy,” he smiles.

“Be good, buddy,” Ethan says, playing with Tyler’s hair and making him laugh.

“Thanks again,” Ethan says, taking my hand. David and Melina nod and walk us to the front door.

“We’ll see you tomorrow,” David says.

The restaurant Ethan drives us to is in the centre of Brunswick, in the upmarket part of the city. Ethan drives to the front of the restaurant, where a group of people in uniform stand. Ethan stops in front of them, and two run up and open the door for us.

“Thank you,” Ethan says, handing the guy who opened my door his keys.

“Wow,” I say under my breath as Ethan takes my hand. This is nothing like I’m used to, but Ethan takes it in his stride like it’s normal.

“Hello. I’m here for the Norcrest reservation?” Ethan says to the maître D.

“Your party is waiting at the table,” the maître D replies, indicating with his and the restaurant.

“Follow me,” the maître D says. Ethan places his hand on the middle of my back and steers me after the man.

We walk through the restaurant, which is dimly lit for intimacy. The maître D leads us toward a table where I see two people sitting. When they see us, they both smile and stand up to greet us.

“Mikaela, this is my best friend, Declan, and his girlfriend, Adele,” Ethan introduces. Declan smiles at me, and Adele moves forward, enveloping me in a hug.

“I’m so glad to meet you! It’s about time. You’re all Lincoln talks about!” Adele smiles, taking a step back.

“Hi,” I shyly respond, squeezing Ethan’s hand for reassurance.

We sit opposite Declan and Adele, who continues to smile across the table at me.

“So… how long have you known Ethan?” I ask. I already know the answer for Declan, but I’m not very good at small talk, so I thought I’d start somewhere.

“I’ve known Lincoln since Kindergarten. We’ve been best friends ever since Lincoln stole Hannah’s markers,” Declan says, smiling.

“Uh, that was you, if I remember correctly,” Ethan states.

“Nah mate, that was all you,” Declan chuckles. I smile with Adele at Declan’s response.

“And how long have you two been together?” I ask Adele.

“Two years. We met at a charity function for the homeless,” Adele says.

“Oh,” I reply. I’ve read about those types of charity fundraisers. They charge two hundred and fifty dollars for dinner, raising money for people who’d be lucky to get a three-dollar meal. It doesn’t seem worth it.

“How do you know Lincoln?” Adele asks.

“We met at university,” I reply, “and then again almost two months ago.” Adele nods, and I have a feeling she already knew that answer, too.

Our waiter introduced himself, handing us our menus and telling us the night’s specials.

“While you decide, would you like some wine?” Robert, our waiter, asks.

“Yes. Can we please have a bottle of Marques de Murrieta cast ygay bl,” Declan asks.

“Certainly, sir,” Robert replies, leaving us to browse our menu.

I open my menu and try hard not to gasp at the prices. There are four courses, with the final cost coming to two hundred and eighty dollars per head.

“Are you okay?” Ethan whispers to me.

“It’s just so expensive,” I whisper back. Ethan chuckles.

“Just get whatever you want. I’m paying,” Ethan says, squeezing my hand.

“Everything okay there?” Adele asks, noticing our quiet conversation.

“Everything’s fine,” I say smoothly.

Adele told us what she was having, and me, not knowing what the words on the menu meant (one item in the first course is k’gari spanner crab, fennel, globe artichoke and pollen. What is pollen? Is it like the stuff that gets stuck on bees legs when they visit flowers?). I asked the waiter for the same thing Adele was having.

“You’ll love it,” Adele smiles reassuringly. I nod, hoping she’s correct.

“What do you do for a living?” Adele asks me after we’ve ordered our food.

“I’m a special needs teacher,” I reply.

“Oh? That sounds interesting. Do you enjoy it?”

“Yes,” I smile, “it’s emotionally hard work, and you’re on your feet all day. But it’s rewarding. I love it,” I say, even though I’m sporting a bruise on my arm from one of my kids who had a meltdown during the week.

“What about you?” I ask.

“Here we go,” Declan smiles, making Ethan laugh.

“I design bags. You know the brand Five?” Adele asks.

“Yes,” I reply. Five is a bag brand that is very fashionable right now. And expensive. Each bag runs between three hundred and eight hundred dollars.

“I’m the designer and owner of the company,” Adele says proudly.

“Wow. That’s amazing,” I gush. And it is. I’ve never met a real-life designer before.

“What about you? What do you do?” I ask Declan.

“I work with my dad. He owns the Norcrest Hotel chain,” Declan says.

“Oh,” I reply. I shouldn’t be shocked, I shouldn’t. I know Ethan comes from money, but he’s so down-to-earth and relatable that it’s easy to forget. He doesn’t act snobby at all. But then, both Declan and Adele don’t act like they come from money either.

One by one, our meals come out. Each plate is surprisingly small, well-decorated and delicious.

“I’m just going to the bathroom,” Ethan says after we finish our desserts, kissing me on the cheek.

“Okay,” I say as I watch him go.

Once Ethan leaves, Adele leans forward, and I know I will be questioned.

“Why do you call Lincoln, Ethan?” Adela asks.

“I know his first name is Lincoln, but he was known as Ethan at university. I guess it stuck,” I explain.

“I told you, Linc’s family have this tradition of using their middle names at school so they don’t get recognised,” Declan adds. I looked up at him; I didn’t know that. I just thought it was something rich people did. I guess I’m silly to assume that.

“What do you think about Lincoln?” Adele then asks.

“Uh, I like him,” I reply.

“Like him as in like him, or like him as in really like him?” she then asks.

“Adele,” Declan warns.

“Come on, he’s my friend too. I just want to know…”

“I like him as in really like him. He’s… great,” I gush, thinking, “Ethan is kind, caring, passionate, thoughtful, down to earth. He’s everything. I’m very lucky,” I add.

“I like you. I think we’ll be good friends,” Adele says, sitting back.

“Mikaela?” Declan asks after a pause.

“Hmm?”

“Do you remember me? From university?”

I look at Declan. He’s a handsome guy with dark blonde hair, styled short on the sides with a quiff—a business-style haircut. Nice eyes. But no, I don’t remember him. I shake my head.

“No, sorry.”

“I was that bartender, you know, vodka and lemonade? You wanted something chocolate to eat, and I suggested a volcano cake? It was at a bar?” Declan fishes. I think, and then it hits me.

“Yes! The hot, sexy bartender!” I laugh. Adele gives us both a look.

“He described himself to me as the hot, sexy bartender. I remember thinking how arrogant he was at the time! Declan was the one who suggested I move into the dorms at university after I finished with my ex. Man, that seems like a lifetime ago,” I say, thinking of what led me to that bar. Funnily, I’m not sad about what happened that night. Noah and I had been over weeks before his proposal, and it wasn’t until that night that I finally realised that.

Ethan came back and sat next to me, wrapping his arm around the back of my chair.

“Mikaela is telling us about the night she met Declan. Apparently, he told her he was a hot, sexy bartender,” Adele smiles.

“Did he? You never told me that,” Ethan says, looking at Declan.

“Yeah. It didn’t work, though. She wasn’t interested,” Declan pouts, making me giggle. Adele just shakes her head and smiles.

“What are you doing next Saturday?” Adele asks me as we stand at the valet, waiting for our cars.

“Oh, Tyler has Little Kickers,” I reply.

“What’s that?” Declan asks.

“It’s football for toddlers,” Ethan explains.

“Well, can you and Dec take him? That way, I can have Mikaela all to myself, if that’s okay, Mikaela?” Adele asks.

“Sure,” I reply.

“Good. What time does Little Kickers start?”

“Nine thirty.”

“Okay, Dec and I will come over to your place, and I’ll take you out for a girl’s day. It’ll be fun!” Adele says eagerly. I nod in agreement. Declan’s car pulls up, and Declan and Adele say goodbye, Adele promising to text me during the week.

“I haven’t made a mistake agreeing to go out with Adele?” I ask Ethan as their car drives off. Ethan laughs.

“No. Adele’s lovely, you’ll be fine.”

- edited