1
Ianto was pouring over blueprints with a pencil between his teeth as he tried to reconfigure the kitchen given the setback with the splash back he wanted. He was on the verge of biting the pencil in two with annoyance when he heard feet shuffling along the hallway so he took a deep breath and removed the pencil as Stephen entered the office.
"Hey there love. You want to talk about the guest list for your Birthday?" Ianto asked, then frowned at the tepid response.
"OK, ah…been to see the house? The foundations are in, we have most of the wall frames in place." Ianto said of his favourite project, again a tepid response and Ianto knew there was a problem that he was not going to like as his eldest child fidgeted.
"Tad, when I turn 21 I get my inheritance, right? The Trust Fund is opened to me?"
"Yes love, your Mum set it up so you get half, half remains in trust until your 30th" Ianto replied, "A nice tidy sum for a house or something…why?"
"Any chance I could borrow a few grand now and pay you back? My pay is gone as soon as I see it and I've not been able to save what I need" Stephen was now looking furtive and Ianto felt alarm bells getting ready to chime.
"What for?"
"Does it matter?" Stephen was belligerent now, "In two months I can pay it back, right? No harm no foul. I know you have heaps. I don't want to ask Walter."
"But if I say no you shall?" Ianto reared back, this was something important. "So, you need the money but can't say why. You will get it from someone else if not me. You will pay it back after your birthday. It's imperative you have it now, it can't wait?"
"No" he sighed sadly, "Time is a problem."
Ianto stared at him long and hard, then went to speak but Stephen was rising from the chair, "This was a bad idea. You will be pissed if you find out later and hold it against me. I know you, your bloody love and peace Taddy Brain!"
"Fen?"
Stephen left as Ianto remained stainding behind his desk with the pencil in his hand and a look of total confusion.
What the hell had that been about?
