Chapter 13: Coloring Book
. . .
''Too small.'' Mac muttered and placed a piece cut out from the news paper on a pile in front of him. Then he scanned another real estate listing with his eyes. ''In the Bronx...'' He said and looked at Jo. She was sitting next to him, on the carpet, with her legs crossed.
''Here.'' Jo told him and patted a pile of papers to her left.
''What's this pile called again?'' He asked, trying to hide a smirk that was creeping upon his lips.
''Wrong neighborhood, bro.'' Jo told him in a low voice and marked accent. ''You've already asked three times.'' She noted and he smiled to himself.
''I keep forgetting.'' He said and scanned the next listing. ''Too expensive.'' He groaned and was just about to place the piece of paper down on one of the piles when Jo caught his hand.
''But too expensive and perfect? Or too expensive but naaaah anyway?'' She asked.
''What difference does it make?'' Mac answered with a question. Then he looked down and counted the piles in his mind. ''I thought there was one pile for 'too expensive'.''
''There was. Until I divided it into two categories.''
''No wonders I can't wise up to this system.'' Mac murmured, but Jo didn't seem to hear him. She picked up one of the piles and looked at the pieces of paper.
''I've already had five 'perfect but too expensive'.'' She sighed, while she slowly scanned through each of them.
''And why exactly are you studying them?'' Mac asked making a face at her.
''To know how much I have to rob from the bank.'' She groaned and finally put the listings she was holding aside. Then she sank to the floor and lay on her back. She fixed her eyes on the ceiling and sighed. ''We're never gonna find the right apartment.'' She complained.
''Hey!'' Mac said and she turned her head to look at him, hoping that he had found some interesting offer. ''I thought being a grump was my role.'' He joked.
''I decided to fill in for you for a while.'' She said and turned her gaze back to the ceiling. He saw out of the corner of his eye how she closed her eyes, so he turned his head and watched her for a moment. Until suddenly she placed her hands on her stomach and said, ''I'm hungry.''
He couldn't help but chuckle. The sound caught her attention and she opened her eyes to look at him again.
''We'll go through those listings Ellie printed from the Internet and then I'll order you a big, steamy, pepperoni pizza with extra cheese. How does that sound?'' He offered.
''Lovely.'' Jo smiled at him and sat up. ''And what are you gonna order for yourself?'' She asked innocently and he laughed. Then he focused back on the advertisement he was reading.
''Where's the pile for 'perfect ones'?'' He asked, looking up at Jo and smiling.
''Here.'' Jo answered mechanically and showed him an empty place. But then she realized what he had actually said. ''Really? It's perfect?'' She asked with disbelief and moved closer to his side. She scanned the text with her eyes and he took a look at her, waiting for her reaction. ''Four bedrooms.'' She noted with evident sadness in her voice.
''Really?'' Mac asked and turned his gaze back to the listing. ''Damn, I didn't notice...''
''But despite that... it's perfect.'' She sighed. ''Cherry Tree Lane... It's right next to this small park, no?'' She asked.
''Yup.'' He nodded. ''Can't we put two of the kids together in one bedroom?'' Mac asked hopefully.
''But which two?'' Jo asked as she looked up at him. She suddenly became aware how close to him she was sitting, so she shifted slightly, moving away from him at the same time. ''Ellie has to have a separate room, as she needs to study.''
''Can't Rick and Lily share a bedroom?'' Mac asked again.
''They could... now. But later?'' Jo asked and he nodded.
''Yeah... So still, nothing in the 'perfect ones' pile.'' He sighed and reached for another listing.
After they went through every single one, the piles 'wrong neighborhood' and 'too expensive' were the biggest ones. In comparison to them the pile 'almost perfect' looked really miserable and the pile 'perfect ones' still didn't exist. Mac reached for the three listings that made up the 'almost perfect' pile and studied them once again.
''So... slightly too expensive, four bedrooms and the one in the building from the 40-ties.'' Mac summed it up. ''Which one should I call first?''
''The last one.'' Jo decided. ''I'll fetch us something to drink.'' She offered and rose to her feet, using Mac's shoulder as leverage. Once she returned from the kitchen with two classes of juice, Mac was hanging up.
''Already sold.'' He told her. She sat next to him and handed him a glass. ''Thanks. So which one's next?''
''Whatever.'' Jo sighed with resignation. She slowly sipped on her juice while Mac made two quick phone calls.
''Those two are still standing.'' He told her and she visibly livened up. She took a look at the two listings again.
''Damn... if only we had a little more cash...'' She cursed.
''We could afford it... if I sold my car.'' He said slowly. Jo looked at him and raised her eyebrows.
''Mac... You love that car.'' She said.
''Jo, let's be honest. If I need, I can drive in your Toyota as well.'' He told her.
''It's manual.'' She said in a warning tone.
''So...?''
''I'm just saying.'' Jo shrugged her shoulders. Then she eyed him for a moment. ''Would you really do that?'' She asked, still not quite believing that he wanted to agree on giving up the car that was like a treasure to him.
''It's just a car.'' He said, but then sighed deeply and Jo smiled sadly at him. She reached for the other listing and studied it once more.
''Actually... we didn't consider all the options with this one.'' She said slowly.
''Four bedrooms.'' Mac reminded her and lifted his glass to his mouth.
''I know.'' Jo said. ''But how about... one bedroom for every kid... and one bedroom for us?'' She asked and Mac almost choked while drinking. He coughed twice and looked at her with his eyes wide open. ''We could take the biggest one.'' She added.
''One bedroom for us?'' He repeated after her.
''But two separate beds!'' Jo added quickly. ''Geeez, Mac, relax!'' She told him with laughter and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
''Would you really be comfortable with that?'' He asked as he eyed her skeptically.
''Well... why not?'' She hesitated. ''Would you?'' She asked him. ''Because if not then we have to find a way to get some extra money. Or keep looking'' She added and he looked at her with a frown.
''So actually you're asking me to choose between selling my car and sleeping with you... in one bedroom.'' He summed it up with a smirk and she rolled her eyes.
''If you put it like that...'' She said. ''So...?''
''Well, the choice is pretty obvious.'' Mac said, looking Jo in the eye.
''Oh, is it?''
''I only hope for one thing.'' He said, his voice suddenly softer and more quiet, making her move slightly towards him in order to hear him better.
''Yea?''
''That you don't snore.'' Mac added, finally giving up and letting a smile play on his lips.
''I certainly do not!'' Jo snorted and playfully punched him in the arm.
''Good.'' He said, his voice barely above a whisper. Their eyes remained locked and silence hung between them. Until it was violently disturbed by the door bell. Jo shuddered at the sudden sound and Mac quickly rose to his feet. He rushed to the door and opened it, standing face to face with Christine.
''Hi, Mac.'' She greeted him cheerfully. ''I'm sorry I popped by without any notice, but I was just in the neighborhood, making a delivery and I must have counted it wrong as I was left with two extra portions. And since it's your favorite risotto with green curry I thought I'd bring you some... and ask how you're doing.'' She jabbered in a single breath. Then she glanced over his shoulder, inside his apartment and saw Jo who was rising up from the carpet. ''Unless... I'm interrupting.'' She hesitated slightly.
Jo pulled her phone out of her pocket and pretended to check something, while she listened, curious for Mac's answer.
''Ummm... No.'' He said, trying to be polite. ''You're not interrupting. Please come in.'' He said and he moved to his side, letting her inside. ''We were just going to order pizza, but...'' He started, but broke off as he saw that Jo had just put on her shoes and reached for her jacket to take it off the hanger. ''Jo?'' He called her.
She turned around and looked at him, although her eyes quickly skittered away.
''Sorry, Mac. I just remembered something I should do. I gotta run.'' She told him quickly. ''But you two enjoy your company.'' She added, trying not to sound too bitter.
''But what about... our search?'' Mac asked, furrowing his eyebrows.
''Err... I don't know, Mac. I have to... think it over.'' Jo said. ''I'll call you tomorrow, OK?'' She asked, but didn't really bother to wait for his answer. She was already in the corridor, when she turned around and added, ''Don't forget to pick up Rick from school at 4.15 p.m.''
''I won't.'' Mac assured her.
''Great. Bye.'' Jo said and rushed towards the staircase, disappearing from his view.
. . .
''Do I have to eat those green ones, too?'' Lily asked for what seemed like the tenth time, pulling Jo from her thoughts. She turned from the window and looked first at Lily, than at the plate in front of her. She had eaten almost everything, leaving only two pieces of broccoli behind.
''Yes, you have to.'' Jo repeated.
''But I don't like it.'' Lily complained.
''You haven't even tried it.'' Jo noted.
''I don't like the color of it.'' Lily said, slightly poking the piece of broccoli with the fork.
''What's wrong with the color?'' Jo asked and moved closer, taking a good look. ''It's fine.''
''I don't like it.'' Lily repeated stubbornly to which Jo sighed.
''I tell you what. I'll eat one piece and you'll eat the other. Deal?'' She offered. Lily hesitated for a moment. ''Or do you want to eat both of them?'' Jo asked.
''Deal...'' She sighed. Then she quickly speared a smaller piece with the fork. Jo smiled lightly and took the other piece. Before she took a bite, the doorbell rang. She went to the door and opened it.
''Mac? What are you doing here?'' She asked, surprised, as after her abrupt departure from his place in the early afternoon he was the last person she imagined to see now.
''I was just curious how your things went.'' He said casually.
''Hmm?''
''You know, the ones you remembered so suddenly.'' He explained.
''Oh, those...'' Jo nodded. ''I sorted them out. Kinda...'' She murmured. Then she glanced at him. He was watching her carefully and she was sure he was well aware why she had left.
''Jo... I know what you're thinking...'' He started, but she cut him off.
''Do you?'' She asked, sounding slightly more virulent than she wanted to.
''She showed up at my door completely out of the blue. We don't even keep in touch anymore.'' Mac explained calmly.
''Really? And she just decided to drop off lunch for you?'' Jo asked, disbelief evident in her voice.
''I have no idea what came over her.'' Mac told her. She eyed him a moment, finally giving up. There was nothing that could indicate he was dishonest with her.
''You don't even like green curry.'' She blurted out suddenly. He raised his eyebrows upon hearing her. Then the corner of his mouth twitched, as he tried to suppress a smile.
''You're right.'' He said. ''I don't.''
Jo leaned heavily against the door frame, not taking her eyes off him.
''I just need to know that you're as equally into all this as I am.'' She said openly.
''Yes, I am.'' Mac simply said.
''I mean... What we're going to do is completely insane.'' Jo said..
''I'm very much aware of it.'' Mac nodded. ''But at the same time it feels somehow... right.'' He said and Jo smiled lightly, knowing exactly what he meant. ''And... umm...'' He stumbled over his words, then glanced at her with hesitation, but finally decided that he had to say what had to be said. ''I can't really imagine putting myself into all this... with someone else.'' He finished, his voice getting more quiet with every word.
Jo's cheeks got a lovely pink hue in response and she ran her fingers through her hair, brushing it back. She wasn't sure how deep his words were meant to be, so she quickly decided not to invest them with any big significance.
''Well, of course.'' She answered playfully, lightly smacking his arm. ''Where would you find anyone as crazy as me.'' She said and he smiled at her, although somehow sadly.
''Do you think you can let me in now?'' He asked.
''Gosh... Sorry.'' She gasped, suddenly realizing that they were still standing in the doorway. The next thing her mind registered was a piece of broccoli she was holding in her hand. Without thinking she lifted it to her mouth and took a bite. Mac arched his eyebrow upon seeing it, but decided it was better not to ask.
''When Christine left I made a call and I set an appointment with a real estate agent. She said we can see the apartment today.'' He said, following Jo to the kitchen.
''Oh, which one?'' Jo asked, turning to face him, which almost caused him to bump into her.
''The one on Cherry Tree Lane.'' He answered, but then his attention turned to Lily, who squealed out his name. ''Hi, bunny.'' Mac greeted her back with a mushy smile. He slightly leaned over and kissed the top of her head. ''I thought we might pick up Rick from school and check it out on our way back.'' He continued, his serious and professional side showing up again. He took a look at Lily's plate and frowned slightly at the sight of only one, small piece of broccoli.
''Did I hear right? You've found an apartment?'' Ellie asked with excitement, entering the kitchen.
''Maybe. We have to go to see it.'' Mac told her.
''Are you going now?'' Ellie asked, addressing her question to Jo. ''Can I go with you?''
''Of course you can, hon.'' Jo told her with a smile.
''Cool! Where is it?'' She asked.
''It's only a few blocks away, near the park.'' Mac said, diverting his attention from Lily for a moment.
''Is it big? Will I still have my own room?'' Ellie asked, slightly worried.
''You will, you will.'' Jo assured her with a smile. Then she glanced at Mac and Lily, exactly at the moment when Lily lifted the fork with a piece of broccoli to Mac.
''Open up.'' She asked him quietly and he complied without even thinking twice, gratefully accepting the bite she offered him. Jo opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but she got speechless for a moment.
''Seriously?'' She finally uttered. Mac cast a glance at her and froze as he saw her face.
''What?'' He asked as he stopped chewing.
''Never mind...'' Jo sighed.
. . .
''But there's nothing in here.'' Lily said with surprise. She looked up at Mac, then at Jo.
''Ahh, but there will be.'' Mac told her, picking her up from the floor. ''There will be a big couch here... and a coffee table in the middle. Some bookcases...''
''And a TV?'' Rick asked.
''Yup, a TV as well.'' Mac nodded. ''A lamp in the corner and some curtains...''
''Blinds.'' Jo corrected.
''...or blinds.'' Mac smoothly changed his mind. He peeked into the next room.
''And here?'' Lily asked.
''Here will be a big desk... Divided in two parts. One will always be neatly cleaned up, while the other will be a total mess...'' He said and Ellie burst with laughter.
''Hey!'' Jo yelled from the kitchen. Lily looked at Mac and furrowed her little eyebrows, as she didn't understand.
''You'll see...'' He told her.
''And where will be my room be?'' Lily asked with excitement.
''I don't know... This one...'' He said as he opened the door to the next room. ''Or this one.'' He said pointing at the room across the corridor.
''I want it to be pink!'' Lily exclaimed happily.
''Pink... of course.'' Mac nodded. ''And you, Rick?'' He asked the boy, who was following them around, staying slightly behind.
''I don't know... Navy maybe?''
''I think navy's too dark, buddy.'' Jo told him, entering the room. ''How about some nice shade of blue?''
''OK.'' Rick agreed. ''But no girly stuff.'' He warned.
''Sure thing.'' Mac laughed.
''Whoa! This one is awesome!'' They heard Ellie's voice coming out from one of the rooms, echoing off naked walls. ''I got dibs on this one!''
Led by curiosity, Rick left the room and went in the direction from where Ellie's voice was coming.
''Do you want to see it, too?'' Mac asked Lily.
''Yeah!'' She nodded. He put her on the floor and she ran after her brother. Jo looked at Mac and smiled. She moved to the door as well and Mac followed her, his hand automatically finding its way to the small of her back.
''Wow! It has a balcony. Cool!'' Rick said at the same moment when Jo and Mac peeked into the room.
''Ellie, what color do you want on the walls?'' Lily asked.
''Violet...'' Mac heard Jo whisper and smiled as Ellie gave Lily exactly the same answer.
''And here's...'' Mac said, opening the door to the room at the end of the corridor and letting Jo inside.
''The biggest bedroom.'' Jo nodded. She looked around. ''It's actually quite big.'' She noted. ''And it has the entrance to the terrace.'' She said, looking through the glass door.
''Yes. It's connected to the living room by the terrace.'' Mac told her.
''Convenient.'' Jo said. Then she turned to face him and she smiled.
''So, what color do you wish for, as everybody is picking the one they like?'' Mac asked, smiling back at her.
''Teal.'' She said without hesitation. She couldn't help but laugh, watching his smile turning into a frown.
''Teal? What the hell is that?''
''It's like the sea. Something between blue and green.'' She explained to him, still laughing.
''Couldn't you just say it that way?'' Mac asked. They heard Ellie, Rick and Lily running through the apartment.
''And the living room?'' Lily asked cheerfully.
''Yellow!'' Ellie exclaimed happily.
''And the kitchen?'' This time it was Rick who was asking.
''Orange!'' Lily squealed.
''How about the bathroom?'' Rick and Ellie asked simultaneously and started to laugh.
''Red!'' Lily picked out the color again.
''Red?'' Rick repeated after her with hesitation. ''A red bathroom?''
''So green.'' She said.
''Or blue!'' Ellie threw out.
''One green, one blue then!'' Rick exclaimed.
''So I guess they have it all planned already.'' Jo said, nodding with her head towards the noise they were making.
''It seems so.'' Mac nodded. ''Like the sea...'' He repeated after her, slowly walking across the room ''I like it.'' He agreed. ''Just no girly stuff!'' He added with a smirk and enjoyed how Jo laughed even more.
''Hey! It's my bedroom, too!'' She told him with a mock grudge and crossed her arms on her chest.
''Fine.'' Mac rolled his eyes. ''Just not too much.'' He asked with a smile. Jo smiled back at him, but then she suddenly got serious.
''Do you think we will agree on how to decorate it?'' She asked with slight hesitation.
''Of course...'' Mac said. ''I'm sure you will pester me until I give up and agree on everything you want.''
''I like this kind of agreement.'' Jo said with laughter. ''But no, Mac, seriously.'' She shook her head. ''It'll be your bedroom as well. I want you to feel good in here.''
''I'm sure I will.'' He told her. ''Regardless of the design.'' He added quietly.
. . .
A/N I bet you didn't expect an update so quickly, did you? ;) Huge thanks should go to UrbanMuse as she:
1) reminded me in her review to the previous chapter of some idea I had (which I instantly had to use, giving up on sleep completely one night);
2) was so nice again to correct it and did it in a flash!
Thank you for all wonderful reviews for the last chapter - as you can see it really can boost my muse.