What brings us together - Part 1 - 2. Chapter 2

It was just after five when Jordan received a text from Cameron saying he was in the foyer of the building. Jordan replied asking him to wait there. Within minutes they and Cameron’s bag were reunited, and Jordan was pushing a button to take them down to the building’s basement car park.

“You drive to work? I expected you would use a train.”

“Where I live isn’t serviced by train and the bus is OK but I like to have my car at work. Besides the company pays for our parking.”

“Perks of the job as they say.”

“Yeah, sort of.”

By now they were beside Jordan’s grey Lexus. He unlocked the doors, placed Cameron’s bag in the boot and after they were both seated Jordan drove them out of the CBD and across Anzac Bridge. Cameron wasn’t familiar with Sydney, so he didn’t know where they were driving. Still there was something familiar about the journey.

Cameron was distracted until Jordan asked about his day. He explained the morning was spent filling out forms, having most of the company’s procedures explained and being introduced to everyone in the office. They had given him the afternoon to search for somewhere to lease.

Jordan turned into the drive of what Cameron recognized as a very large 1930s California bungalow with its distinctive roof and front porch and cut glass windows. The walls were liver coloured glazed brick sitting on a base of Sydney sandstone. Jordan pressed the remote to activate the double door on the free standing garage, drove in, stopped and announced, “Well here we are. Let’s get inside and settle in while I organize something for dinner.”

Jordan pulled a bottle of white wine from the fridge and handed it to Cameron. “Here open this while I find something to cook.” Jordan went to the freezer while Cameron opened the bottle and looked for glasses.

“You OK with Tasmanian Salmon?” Jordan asked.

Cameron nodded. “Sure. Ahh where are the glasses. Don’t worry, I’ve found them.”

“The salmon steaks will take too long to thaw. What about prawn risotto?”

Cameron was amused. “Anything you cook is fine with me. Will you show me through the house.”

“What? Oh sorry, of course you’re an architect. You’re interested in houses. Come on I’ll show you around.”

They walked through the house and Jordan lovingly talked about it. Cameron paid particular attention to the house design and admired the period detailing that had been lovingly preserved, along with the modern features which harmonized with the overall concept. But still there was something else about the house that made Cameron like it.

“I can tell you know and love this house. What’s your history with it?”

“It was my grandfather’s house. My great grandfather was the owner/architect and a friend of his was the builder. As you would know the design originated in California, especially LA and Pasadena, before becoming popular in Australia in the 1920s and 1930s.”

Knowing he had Cameron’s attention he continued, “My grandfather grew up here and then lived here after he married. Dad and my uncle and aunt grew up here. They all have good memories of being children and adolescents while growing up here.”

“I spent a lot of time here being looked after by Grandma and also by Grandpa after he retired. I got to know the house inside out and grew to love it. My siblings and cousins just saw it as an old house occupied by old people. Grandma died five years ago and Grandpa last year.” Jordan’s voice cracked and he stopped talking.

Cameron was understanding and moved to comfort him, “I’m sorry for you Jordan. They obviously meant a lot to you. I’ll understand if you don’t want to talk about it.”

Jordan thought about this. He didn’t understand why, but if there was anyone he wanted to talk to about his feelings it was Cameron. He’d only just met Cameron. Was it too early to do that? He wanted to build a relationship with Cameron.

“Thanks for being concerned. Please, could I have a hug?”

Cameron smiled and pulled him into a warm hug. No words were necessary as they both melted into the embrace.

“Thanks, I needed that. Why don’t we talk while I cook.”

They walked back to the modern kitchen and picked up their glasses of wine. Jordan opened the container of Arborio rice and pulled a packet of frozen shelled raw prawns from the freezer. As he started cooking he started talking.

“I loved my grandparents and this house. Grandpa was successful and rich and he left his estate to us grandchildren. That’s me, my sister, and my three cousins. Everything was to be shared between us, but he stipulated that this house couldn’t be sold outside the family. The will had other stipulations, but they didn’t mean much because I wanted to live here.”

Jordan had caramelized the finely sliced leek and garlic and added the rice. He stirred the rice, coating it with the oil, leek and garlic. As he poured in the first of the chicken stock he continued talking while stirring the rice.

“I was the only one interested in the house. I’m the youngest of the grandkids and the others all have successful careers and marriages. They regarded the house as old and old fashioned and didn’t want it. They were happy for it to come to me so we could finalize probate. In the end they didn’t even want me to buy their share of the house because they were very happy with their share of the estate and pleased they didn’t have to worry about this old place.” He used air quotes as he said ‘old’. “You might have guessed they own very modern apartments.”

Jordan added more stock to the rice. “Enough about me for now. How was your day?”

“Unbelievable! I’m going to love working there. I told you about this morning being paperwork and getting to know everyone.”

Jordan nodded. “All standard stuff you would have expected.”

“I know but it was the atmosphere. They expect quality work and outcomes but were still friendly. At lunch time the boss told me to bugger off and find somewhere to live.”

“And did you? Find a place to live that is.” Jordan’s eyes were laughing.

Cameron understood the playfulness and decided to play it straight. “As a matter of fact, I did. The finding somewhere to live bit anyway. I haven’t got my head around the geography of Sydney yet but judging by some of the landmarks we passed the apartment is around here somewhere.”

Jordan was attending to the risotto and added more stock. “Nice place?”

“Sure. It has a wonderful view down the harbour to the harbour bridge. The agent was very keen to keep pointing that out. Otherwise, a normal two bedroom apartment, but there was something about it that just made me want to live there. The agent said she would need to contact the owner to get his approval before she can sign the lease. She thought it would be straight forward because I have good references.”

Jordan was not at all thrilled by this news, but before he could say anything his mobile started ringing in the next room.

“Cameron, can you keep stirring this while I answer that phone. Add more stock if you think it’s needed. No, add some of the white wine instead of the stock.”

Jordan walked into the next room to answer his phone. Cameron couldn’t hear the conversation as he attended to the risotto. It was a short conversation and Jordan returned. He came up behind Cameron, put his arms around his waist and looked over his shoulder, “You’re doing a great job there it’s getting close to ready. Hypothetically, what would you do if your landlord refuses to lease the apartment to you.”

Cameron stopped stirring the risotto. “Unfortunately, I suppose I’d need to find somewhere else to live, but why would I be refused. My references are good.” He looked at Jordan. “You’re a lawyer. Could I fight if that happened?”

Jordan released his hold and took the wooden spoon from Cameron and continued stirring. “I suppose you could of you really want to.”

Cameron was about to speak but Jordan held up the wooden spoon and stopped him. “But, before you pull me into giving legal advice, hear me out. Your landlord is refusing to sign the lease, at least for now, because Cameron, it’s my apartment. Rather than have you lease my apartment, I’d prefer for you to live here with me in this house. But if you don’t want to live here, I’ll sign the lease.”

Cameron’s face lit up. “That explains it! I’ve been trying to work it out.” This wasn’t the sort of response that Jordan was expecting, and his confused expression confirmed it. Cameron continued, “It’s your apartment and you lived there until recently.”

Jordan still couldn’t see where this was going. “Yeeesss.”

“I’ve been trying to work out what it was about the apartment and here that made me feel so comfortable. Now I know. It’s your smell.”

“Hey, I keep myself clean. I shower every day.”

“I know. I helped you shower this morning remember.” Jordan did remember and his body responded to that memory. Cameron leaned over and sniffed Jordan’s neck. “And I love your smell.”

It took Jordan all his willpower to add the coconut milk, still frozen green prawns, sliced snow peas and dill to the risotto rather than molest Cameron on the spot.

Cameron continued, “Your apartment and here, have the same comforting smell. It’s not just you it’s the stuff you use: your shower gel, your deodorant and even your cleaning products. They all add to the smell of a residence. When you live there you become used to it and stop noticing, but someone arriving fresh can notice it.”

“Before you started on about smells I was trying to say I’d like you to stay here with me.”

Cameron grinned before he dramatically thrust his right hand over his heart, sank to his knees and equally dramatically implored, “Oh it now seems the evil landlord has refused me shelter and I’m homeless on the frightening streets of this big city. Kind sir would you be willing to provide safe haven for this poor homeless waif?”

Jordan burst out laughing and soon they were in a laughing embrace.

Jordan turned off the hotplate. “This is ready. Please get a couple of plates out of that drawer and I’ll serve this up. Another glass of wine would be good too.”

They sat at the table in the large kitchen with their meals and glasses of wine.

“Cameron, I know I shouldn’t be trying to block you leasing my apartment, but the truth is I really want you to be here with me.”

Cameron tried unsuccessfully to suppress his giggles and revert to his previous dramatic character. “Oh kind sir are you planning to take advantage of this poor homeless waif? I throw myself upon your mercy.” The giggles surfacing didn’t help.

Jordan was trying hard not to laugh. “There are other bedrooms if you don’t want to share with me.”

Cameron immediately broke character. “Jordan, there is no way I’m sharing this house with you and not sharing your bed.”

“Or sharing our bed.” Jordan grinned and corrected.

They finished their meal and Jordan stood to take away the plates. “No let me do that.”

“OK. You do that and I’ll cut up the fruit I’ve got in the fridge.”

Again, they sat at the table in the kitchen, this time with their bowls of cut up papaya, strawberries, and blueberries.

“Would you like ice cream with the fruit?”

“No thanks.”

“Cameron, something is nagging me. As a lawyer I’m very wary of coincidence. But, think about this. I go into an arcade I’ve been into maybe three times before in my whole life and you go into the same arcade for the first time in your life a short time before I do. I see you and know I want to be with you. But you are from Brisbane and applying for a position in a firm that does very different work from what you have previously done. You are offered the position, and we spend a wonderful night together.”

“I don’t know where you are going with this. It certainly was a chance meeting and you’re right about what happened, especially the bit about the wonderful night.”

That comment warmed Jordan and encouraged him, “I suggested you spend the weekend with me hoping that you will stay longer than the one night you booked in the hotel and we can get to know each other better. Weirdly you have the afternoon off and decide to look for your own accommodation but of all the apartments available you choose the one that I own and until recently, lived in. Even weirder we discover this while we are here together.”

“It surely is a strange series of coincidences.”

“Yeah maybe it’s just a lot of strange coincidences, but I have this weird feeling that something else, maybe call it something like fate, has brought us together. While I’m overwhelmingly delighted about it, I’m curious about what it has planned for later.”

“Can that include another night in bed together?” That broke the tension and lightened the mood.

Jordan’s face lit up, “Somehow, I think that is included. Even if it’s not, I think we can include it.”

Jordan was hoping for an early night with Cameron when fate seemed to throw him a curved ball. His phone rang and displayed his mother’s ID.

“Hi mom. How are you?”

“I’d be a lot better if you called more often and told me what is happening in your life.”

Jordan grinned to himself. He and his mother had spoken every evening that week, except of course for last night.

Already knowing the answer, “What are you calling about, mom?”

“Oh yes, do you realize how long it’s been since we had a family barbecue?”

Jordan did know. It was the weekend before last. Just two weeks ago.

His mother continued, “It seems like ages, so I thought that it’s about time we had another one. How about Sunday lunch? We can all catch up with each other and find out what’s happening in our lives. Oh, I just thought of something. Why don’t you invite your friend from Brisbane. I’m sure he’d enjoy a barbecue lunch and meeting some of the locals, as it were.”

Cameron watched Jordan roll his eyes and reply, “OK mum, I’ll see you on Sunday and I’ll let Cameron know he’s invited.”

“Good dear, I’m sure we’ll all make Cameron feel very welcome.”

“Thanks mum, Love you. Bye.” He ended the call.

“Obviously a call from your mother. So, why the sour look?”

“It’s just what I didn’t want to happen.”

“You’ve lost me. What do you mean?”

Jordan was reluctant to answer and let his breath out in a long sigh, “Dad’s obviously told her I spent last night with you and now she wants to meet you along with the whole extended family.”

Cameron was surprised, “Did you tell your father that you slept with me last night?”

“Not quite. Dad’s very smart, like very smart, and equally observant. When he saw me arrive this morning with your bag he very quickly deduced we had done more than just sleep together last night.”

“So why don’t you want me to meet your family? Are you ashamed of me or something?”

“Ashamed of you! Shit no. No never. It’s the family I’m concerned about. They will want to know everything about you. By the end of the barbecue they’ll probably know everything down to the brand of toothpaste you use. And mum will smother you while doing it. I didn’t want to expose you to that until . . .” The sentence hung, unfinished.

“Until what?”

Jordan, who was not usually lost for words, stumbled. He paused and let out another long sigh as he tried to formulate what he wanted to say, into words. “Cameron I know we only met yesterday but I want this . . . . whatever this . . . . this,” he paused and took a deep calming breath, “I want our relationship . . to be serious and lasting and loving and . . . . and I had hoped that I’d know you felt the same before exposing you to the family lion pit and risk having you running away.”

Cameron took Jordan’s hand, “Let me assure you Jordon, that if I ever feel I have to run away from them, it will be straight to you.”

It only took a moment for Jordan to understand the full import of that comment and respond. “So you do feel the same about our relationship?”

A happy chuckling smile lit up Cameron’s face. “Yes, of course I do, and now how about you show me your bed.”

Jordan corrected, “No! I’ll show you to our bed.”