Parcel for you - Part 56

 

‘Thank you Cedric,’ Vanessa said through gritted teeth, ‘you really don’t have to do any more tidying. Go and relax for a bit.’

 

He ignored her comment and carried the bag of rubbish out to the wheelie bin by the back door. Vanessa lifted one finger to her lip and shook her head. ‘How does he know that it’s out there?’ she said in a low voice.

 

‘What?’ said Spencer.

 

‘The wheelie bin. How does he know it’s just by the back door? He seems very confident about,’ she shrugged, ‘I don’t know, moving around our house, finding the vacuum cleaner, getting stuck into the housework. It’s as if he’s been living here for months.’

 

‘He’s got x-ray vision. He can see everything, through doors and floors, through the curtains, cupboards and drawers, into your bags and through your clothes. I don’t know why you bothered getting dressed Vanessa.’

 

Vanessa pulled a shocked face. ‘Now that, I find very hard to believe!’ 

 

‘That’s what Crate said.’

 

‘Crate?....Oh yes, the gang leader,’ Vanessa said in a mocking voice. ‘I suppose we could test it, you know, put some items in a bag and ask him what’s inside...actually let’s not. I’d rather not know.’

 

Cedric came back in and opened up one of the kitchen cabinets. He removed a box of Shreddies and carried them into the lounge, along with his milk frother. Vanessa simply stood and watched. She didn’t like Shreddies, they were Annie’s and probably stale by now, she decided it was better to just let him get on with things, as long as he wasn’t hurting anybody. It could be worse, she thought but he’s not staying, one way or another, I’m going to get rid of Cedric.

 

‘I need to pop into work today, Spencer. Can I trust you?’

 

‘Trust me? Of course you can trust me. I don’t know what you mean, Vanessa.’

 

‘Well, I want to return from work and find that you’re still here, you haven’t left me again, the house is in one piece and Cedric is just being, I don’t know, like a normal guy. In fact, if you could make sure that he’s in his room charging before six o’clock, that would be perfect.’

 

‘I don’t think that’s very fair, he’s our guest of honour.’

 

Vanessa coughed. ‘If you say so,’ she whispered as she put on her shoes. She took a quick peek at Cedric through the lounge door just to check what he was up to. He had the milk frother held up to his face so that it jammed on his cheek and he turned and looked straight at her, unblinking. She felt his eyes penetrating the layers of her clothes and she blushed and rushed out to her car.

 

The man next door was out cutting his hedge. He caught her eye and shouted. ‘Hey your cat spent the night in my greenhouse last night!’

 

‘Oh, sorry, he’s been a bit funny lately. You know what cats are like.’

 

‘Must be all the comings and goings,’ he said, glancing towards her front windows, ‘upsetting his routines.’

 

Vanessa nodded and let out a pathetic little laugh as she retreated into the safety of her vehicle which played back within the confines of her head and made her hate herself. As soon as she began the drive to work, she wondered what Spencer and Cedric were getting up to. Would she come home to find other gang members hanging out in the lounge? 

 

On a normal day, she could trust Spencer to sit around listening to the radio, doing a few chores and visiting his usual boring websites, fact sheets about nature and how to play musical instruments. Now he could be up to all sorts with the mysterious Cedric at his side. She decided not to dwell on it. Whatever happened in her absence, she would deal with it when she returned home.

 

Spencer was a little bit in awe of his quiet friend and just let him get on with it, even when he suddenly got up and just walked out of the house. He tried to say something but it was unsettling dealing with someone who didn’t really respond to conversation. It was as if he had some sort of upper hand, silent power, despite being bullied by the gang. Spencer shot up and watched him walk down the street and out of sight.

 

He considered sending Vanessa an email on her work account but decided not to bother her, he’d caused her enough strife for one week and she was supposed to be getting him a phone. This would be the perfect excuse to pressure her; if she was going to protest about not being informed Cedric had left the house then he would simply respond with, ‘an email seemed too formal, a text would have been better but I couldn’t send one.’

 

It was a long day in the house by himself. Spencer was used to a bit of adventure now and social interactions. He found himself spending more time at the windows, watching people walk by. Charlie came home and kept him company as he dusted and wiped the kitchen surfaces, noticing that Cedric had put his milk frother on charge. He definitely planned to return but what was he doing out there by himself? 

 

He found himself experiencing some strange emotions, a combination of concern and jealousy. The time dragged, he watched Countdown, descaled the kettle and scattered some rolled oats on the patio for the pigeons. 

 

A couple of hours later there was a rapping on the window in the front door. Cedric stood waiting with his body pressed very close to the door so that he fell in a little bit as Spencer opened it.

 

‘Where have you been?’ he asked.

 

Cedric removed a packet of lasagne from inside his trousers and began to remove some other items from the fridge, butter, milk, cheese and tomatoes. ‘Cooking,’ he said without looking at Spencer. 

 

Spencer could only stand by as he spun around the kitchen at great speed, turning on the oven, opening drawers to remove knives and utensils, slamming them shut in a frenzy of activity. Charlie had left the house once more, heading for the neighbour’s greenhouse and Spencer was now feeling redundant. He looked forward to cooking for his wife in the evening but now he didn’t know what to do with those last few hours before she got home.

 

The smell of lasagne hit Vanessa’s nasal receptors as soon as she entered the hallway. ‘Wow, what’s that smell?’

 

It was true that her cooking skills had declined since Spencer came into her life and for the previous few days she’d been bored by the food she’d prepared for herself. Her husband was very good in the kitchen but whatever she was smelling was in a different league, it was like her favourite Italian restaurant, perhaps better.

 

She dropped her bag on the kitchen table and watched in awe as Cedric prepared a salad, dressed in the apron that Spencer usually wore. The lasagne was visible through the window in the oven, bubbling slightly brown on top.

 

‘Spencer?’ she called out.

 

‘I’m in the lounge.’

 

Vanessa found him sitting on the sofa playing battleships on his laptop, his face expressionless. 

 

‘Have you seen what Cedric is cooking?’

 

‘Yes.’

 

‘Doesn’t it look amazing?’

 

Spencer shrugged. ‘I suppose so. We won’t be eating it though, too creamy.’

‘No. I think I saw some plain pasta on the side for you two but I can have the good stuff. I’m so excited, it smells incredible and he’s hardly made any mess.’

 

‘Great.’

 

‘Erm, regarding his cartridge situation. Is there anything we need to do?’

 

‘I’ve already taken care of it. You need to order some more though, we’re going to run out soon with two of us here.’

 

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of a wooden spoon hitting a large metal saucepan lid, the soundwaves reverberating through the house.

 

‘Gosh, a gong! It must be ready,’ said Vanessa rubbing her hands.

 

The table was set immaculately with a little candle and a red rose inside a vase. Vanessa had no idea where the rose had come from but she didn’t question it as Cedric dished out a perfect rectangle of lasagne onto her plate with a spatula.

 

‘You did that perfectly,’ she said but he didn’t look at her. He was already spooning out some plain pasta for Spencer. ‘I didn’t think I had any lasagne.’

 

‘Cedric managed to find some,’ said Spencer. He thought out telling her about him leaving the house alone and somehow shopping for lasagne sheets but decided against it.