I spent time applying paint to the side of my ute, with my new business name and phone number. Mum was busy putting together a new story that she hoped would sell as well as all the others. Amy was stuck behind her monitor for most of the day, only coming out for a quick lunch or a coffee. As I was technically unemployed until all the paperwork was done, and I received my first call, she did like to come out for a quick hug with her brother.
During that first week, Mum, Amy and I ate dinner every night before retiring to the veranda. I already loved the sound of silence, and having Mum and Amy to either side of me on the long couch was certainly a nice feeling. Amy already seemed to love snuggling into me, while I think Mum just loved the company. She’d head to bed earlier than us most of the time, seeming to love the sight of her two adult children getting along so well, though she mentioned she couldn’t remember any problem when we’d been growing up.
“We should hit the town one night,” I suggested to Amy, “See what sort of nightlife Grafton actually has.”
The suggestion made her chuckle. “I’m sure it’s not that exciting, but it would be nice just to sit in a pub for a few hours.” She glanced up at me, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight. “Are you taking your sister out on a date, Mark?”
“Well, I could always ask Mum if you don’t want to go with me.”
That earned me a gentle push. “Tease. And, yes, I’d like a night out, even if it is with my brother.”
It gave us something to look forward to during the week. I had my first job that week, one of Mum’s friends asking for her entire house to be painted inside and out, and decorated inside to give it a facelift. It was an expensive job, one she was more than willing to pay for. I had no-one working for me yet, so doing it all myself was backbreaking work, but once I’d built some collateral, and a regular stream of work, I’d certainly take on someone, more than likely an apprentice or two, and go from there.
I was worn out by Friday night, Mum ordering in a take-out, while I’d picked up a slab from the bottle-o so I had beer ready for the weekend. I was so tired, as I had much more to think about now that I was by myself doing everything, I was almost passing out on the couch outside, enough that even Mum was telling me to go to bed.
What surprised me was waking up at sometime early in the morning, around 2am after checking my phone, to find Amy snuggled up next to me. I checked to see that she was wearing her pyjamas, so that was something, and my shuffling around woke her up. “Do you mind?” she whispered.
“Nah, you’re okay. Wanted some company?”
“I thought you might, actually. Considering you wouldn’t have gone to bed alone for a long time…”
I wrapped an arm around her, feeling her snuggle into my side. “Well, I guess it would take getting used to. Has felt a little lonely, I can admit that.”
“I remember you never had a problem hugging me, even when at school and I was your embarrassing little sister.”
“You were never embarrassing, Amy. I was proud of my little sister. Certified genius compared to her brother.” That earned me a soft kiss on the cheek. “And she’s blossomed into quite the attractive young woman. Speaking objectively, of course. Not as your big brother.”
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