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She then turned the conversation to surfing, a guaranteed way to get the boys talking, leaving Jake to enjoy his Pyrrhic victory. In silence he devoured his meal. It was as good as it smelled but he wished it had been burned or undercooked or something. She made him feel so damned incompetent. The dining room, like the kitchen, had been transformed. She must have had the boys working like galley slaves all afternoon. Not that it would last long. Jake pulled these ungracious thoughts up short. Here he was with a clean house, electricity and dinner, and she wasn’t even looking for his gratitude. She’d done it purely to suit herself. He ought to enjoy it. He ought to, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was invading every facet of his life. Typical American, the original invader.
The phone rang and he left the table to answer it.
“Hi, it’s Moana. I’m just phoning to remind you about the party on Saturday night.”
He swore.
“I knew you’d forget! Look, Rob and I think it would be nice to invite Sass along, too.”
“She wouldn’t be interested.”
“Ask her.”
“You ask her,” he said gracelessly.
“Oh, Jake.” Moana sighed. He could picture her shaking her head. “Put her on the line then.”
Jake called out to Sass, “Moana wants a word.”
As he took his place again at the table he could hear her soft American intonations that conjured visions of large white Southern mansions with those mile-long, tree-lined drives that were always in movies.
“You’re inviting me out? That’s so sweet of you, I’d love to come.” She listened. “Yeah, it’s a cute little red car… A bit strange getting used to driving on the other side of the road… No, he hasn’t mentioned it… We’re having dinner right now…” She laughed. “No, I cooked… Yes, I can cook! What do you think I am?” She laughed again. Jake knew Moana was liking her more and more. Was this interloper going to bewitch everyone? Couldn’t they see? “Yeah, see you tomorrow night at the meeting… The boys’ parents will be there? Well, I’ll look forward to it. Bye for now.”
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