2020-05-31 - Morning Meeting - Noelle and Sajani

Noelle Snow opened her eyes and stretched against Chris.  He gave her a bit of a hug, but didn’t wake.  They’d spent a good deal of time making love, being Saturday night.  Weekends gave them more time without Blaze, who spent the night with Olivia and Daisy.  She smiled to herself and got out of bed carefully, so she wouldn’t wake Chris up.  Using the bathroom, she slipped into a pair of pajama shorts she kept in Chris’s dresser, grabbed an APD tshirt that Chris himself had worn the night before and padded quietly out to the kitchen to put on water for morning tea. 

Sajani felt the warmth of Patrick’s chest on her back and let herself bask in it. She considered some fun ways to wake him up. They had some delightful mornings after amazing nights. But her bladder was winning over her desire and she inched away from Patrick and tiptoed to the bathroom. She could always pee and come back to him. As a just in case she slipped on her nightgown that she left here and pulled on her panties from the night before. Both had been discarded on the floor beside the bed. She made a beeline for the bathroom and closed the door in case Chris as about. So far she hadn’t had a morning run in wearing pajamas or less. After she washed her hands she came back out and saw a petite woman with brown hair in the kitchen in a long t-shirt. She was pretty sure she had been seen and unless Chris’s life had dramatically changed, this had to be Noelle. Sajani sheepishly tiptoed into the kitchen “Hi. Good Morning.” She whispered in an odd awkward double greeting.

Noelle turned at the sound of water running and, for a minute, thought it was coming from Chris’s bathroom as the two bathrooms shared a wall.  But then a woman with dark hair came out of the bathroom she knew also opened into Patricks bedroom and she turned quickly to hide her biting her lip.  She’d thought Patrik was working, but apparently she was wrong.  “Good morning.”  she replied softly, reaching for another cup.  “Would you like some tea?”  she finally looks over her shoulder.  “It’s Sajain .. right?  I’m .. well I’m Noelle.  Obviously.”

Sajani giggles “Yes I’m Sajani. Funny way to meet. I’d love some tea. Thank you Noelle.” She looks unsure what to say next.

Noelle couldn’t help but laugh, softly.  She sets the second cup beside the first and pulls out two tea balls.  “Yes ….  It is, but we got to meet, finally.“  She puts tea in the balls and sets them in the cups.  “I .. we .. didn’t know you were here.  We … I .. didn’t … well … hear you.”  she and Chris usually had quiet sex, but she’d assumed that, being a childless couple, Sajani and Patrick might not be.  She pours the hot water over the mesh balls in the cups.

Sajani smiles and then flushes a bit “Uh...well….quiet night I guess…” she clears her throat. “What kind of tea is it?” In truth she and Patrick weren’t always quiet at all but they had been experimenting with silent sex, giving each other other cues, watching each other’s faces. It had been almost painfully hot. Then Sajani says almost like a question “We didn’t hear you either? Were you out for a while? “

Noelle beams.  “They’re the best kind, if you ask me.”  Having a child she, of course, didn't want to wake him up, but when she could make noise without that worry she realized that keeping silent added a kind of excitement that drove her wild.  She stirs, watching the tea steep. “Black tea with mint.  I’m kind of a mint junkie.”  she shrugs.  “We went to the late movie, so .. maybe we got bak … 11:30 or so.”  She turns now curious.  “What time did you guys get in?”  now she is curious … who was probably in the sheets when the other came in?

Sajani flushes a bit “We went out for dinner at the 10 Alarm walked on the beach…..maybe got  in around 9 and watched some movies in Patrick’s room.” In truth they had talked about movies, but watched not a single one. “Mint is nice.”

Noelle nods.  “So you two were … when we got back ….”  she smiles sweetly.  She likes Patrick and is glad that he has someone, and is assuming the sex is just as incredible.  But she notices the blush and moves on, at least for now.  “I love it.  I’ve got about five kinds at home.  Come wintertime I just bring the plants inside.”  the smell of the mint is coming through and she stirs a little more.  “There’s sugar and stevia.”

Sajani clears her throat a little and nods. Noelle was totally guessing it. Now she focuses on the plant conversation “My mother was the gardener in our family. I can barely keep a fern alive.” She looks curious about the sweeteners “Tell me about Stevia….”

Noelle laughs.  “If you can kill mint, I might believe you, because it takes a special talent to kill a weed.”  She removes the tea balls and slides a cup over to Sajani.  “Stevia is a natural sweetener.  They process it enough to make it granulated but … it’s natural enough for me.  I’m not one of those vegans completely against processing foods.”  She takes a small box of stevia packets.  “It’s not for everyone and has a bit of an aftertaste, but you get used to it after a while.”  she also moves the sugar packets to the counter as well.

Sajani listens with curiosity. It was scientific after all and she liked that. “So are you vegan because of the processed food concern or the animal ethics concern?” She takes her tea and a stevia packet, now keen to try it and see “Thank you.” She offers for the tea and sweetener.

Noelle puts the stevia into her tea.  “Let’s sit.”  she nods to the dining room chairs.  “Actually my mother went vegan because she thought it would be best for her figure.”  she rolls her eyes.  “So I sort of got dragged along, but I did the research and it’s a good diet.  Not easy but not impossible.”  she shrugs.  “Blaze was born after the earthquake, so meat wasn’t all that available.  Since I could live without animal products, I did.  Me and Blaze.  Well … honey.  We eat honey.”  she smiles.

Sajani nods along and does go sit “Honey has a lot of health benefits, especially raw. So Blaze has never eaten meat or dairy? That’s impressive in this town. I mean I can only think of Sprouts as a place you could go out to eat…..” She ponders this and nods “Or just home cooking. Do you object to other people eating those things around you and your son?” She’s aware that her being over here a lot may put her and Noelle in some common spaces with food. “I don’t want to do the strong thing. I get the impression Patrick is quite respectful that way with Chris too.”

Noelle shrugs.  “It was a lot easier when we were cut off.  Even then I was dirt poor.  My mother lived with us till we came out of it, but … Christophorus basically got almost all of the goat meat and he had to wait till they stopped giving milk and breeding, so … “  she smiles to herself.  “Chris and Patrick helped me with my garden in the beginning.  I wanted to do it myself, but Chris insisted on helping me.”  she sighs.  “At the time I wasn't very open to that.  I wanted to be independent.”  she looks around the kitchen area, between the two closed bedroom doors.  “Chris said Patrick doesn’t really eat meat around him, but …”  she bites her lip.  “It feels like they eat less eggs and dairy since I showed up.”  she’s worried she’s forced them into her lifestyle.

Sajani shrugs “We all adjust for the people we love Noelle. And food is a connector. I mean everyone can eat vegan so that’s easy. And Patrick is just very patient and accommodating so I don’t think it’s a big deal. I have a lot of cousins and when we get together….though it’s been years now...there are so many food things, vegetarians, allergies…..picky eaters. If you can believe it, my cousin Priya hates curry…” She laughs “Every Indian parent’s worst nightmare. Thank god she married a white guy.” She thinks about what Noelle said about Christophorus “Do you work for Zabats?”

Noelle nods and then blinks.  “I .. guess.  Chris is .. my first love, I guess.  My last if I don’t screw it up with all my baggage.  So far, so good.”  she tips her head to the side.  “I don’t know Partick as well.  I’m … younger so … I wasn’t really on the dating radar for a while.  And then I was …”  she shrugs.  “Blaz put a damper on any kind of dating.  All I needed was him.”  she laughs at the idea of an Indian not liking curry.  “Does that mean you like it … but are with a white guy anyway?”  she teases a bit.  She likes Sajani.  Then she nods.  “I was a waitress … now I'm in the kitchen learning to cook.”  she hesitates.  “I’d like to go to school for it someday but …  I’m feeling funny about leaving once the ferry opens up tomorrow.”

Sajani gives Noelle a sweet look about Chris being her first love “Aww...and have faith Noelle. I’ve seen the look on his face when he talks about you. And of course your child had to be first priority….” She laughs about the other comment “Yes I like everything. And I love Patrick. He could be blue with orange stripes and I still would.” She’s enjoying getting to know Noelle a lot. “I love to cook too. And the ferry thing is weird. We’ve lost touch for three years. Our extended family in Langley….well we’ve had many reactions. Some thought we were dead. Some thought we were shunning them and now they’re all in a huff. Priya thought I was mad at her for 3 years! She had 2 children and I’ve never met them….I will need to go across with my father and see what we can repair…...do you have family on the mainland? Or here?” She really knows nothing of Noelle other than she has a kid and is Chris’s partner.

Noelle giggles.  “Some might like the blue … to tell them apart … but .. well…  I didn’t know for a while, but Chris was always the one helping me out and I started noticing differences with them.  Like Chris has a crooked nose, for one.  And his mole is more above the eye than under it.  He was in my face helping all the time and … now I can tell them apart pretty fast.  Usually by who Blaze runs to and attaches to first.”  her smile is dreamy.  Then Sajani moves onto the subject of family.  “My mother left for the mainland with the first ferry when we reconnected.  But that’s ok, cause she wasn't a big help anyway.”  she blows out a breath.  “My father is here.  He’s … not the nicest guy.”  and she leaves it at that, unless she’s pressed.

Sajani shrugs “I’ve always been able to tell them apart. I’m not bragging….just I don’t know. I’m actually a year younger….I skipped grade 7 so I didn’t know them really before junior high. The nose thing happened in grade 9. Hockey fight….it looked gross. But Patrick has this cowlick” She gestures to the spot on her own head “Your son is pretty observant for his age. I’m glad he likes Chris too...I’m sure that’s easier for you all.” She frowns a little about Noelle’s parents “I’m so sorry. Do you have any relationship with your father at all? And do you have other relatives? Aunts and Uncles? Grandparents?”

Noelle sips her tea and listens with interest.  ”Chris and his sports.”  she chuckles.  “I never noticed a cowlick before.”  she chuckles.  “Maybe I only had eyes for Chris.”  then she beams.  “Blaze has always absolutely adored Chris.  I … avoided it cause .. you know … that whole class thing and all that shit about Blaze and Olivia … me and Daisy being pregnant by the same ass at the same time.”  she blows out a breath and flows with the subject change. “If a relationship is being called a whore with a bastard son every time he sees us then … I guess.  And my mom has family but .. they were never close.  Now mom’s gone  so …  on with life.  Me and Blaze … and Chris.”

Sajani ponders Noelle’s words “You know it is interesting that you can be attracted to a tin and not at all their sibling...I mean no offence to Chris or you about Chris. He’s a great guy...but no. He’s not Patrick.” She nods “I did know about all that….” She admits regarding Noelle’s family dynamic with Blaze and Daisy and Olivia. And she looks horrified about how Noelle’s father speaks to her “Oh my god! What is WRONG with your father? That’s unbelievable…” She lets out a breath feeling so lucky she had the parents she got in life. Poor Noelle.

Noelle smiles a bit at Sajani’s anger on her behalf.  “My dad’s an ass hole.  Like I said … class difference.  We lived up on the hill but my father liked the Blue Door girls … he even had a thing with Daisy’s mom … it was a mess .. believe me.  One of the reasons I resisted Chris so hard was because of all that.  He’s a respectable man with a respectable family and a good job.”  she shakes her head, still finding it hard to believe they are in love.  “And I’m …. Not.”

Sajani frowns “I understand the whole social structure of the idea of class but it’s...for lack of a better word….bullshit...pardon me for swearing.” Sajani doesn’t normally do that but she finds lately she has been a bit more. Is it Patrick? “I mean especially in a town THIS size. If we’re going to adhere to that kind of nonsense.” She sighs “I’m not invalidating your feelings. I just don’t see the Peterson family as being so pretentious. Your Dad sounds awful….but you’re NOT him….or your mother. I guess it’s a double edged sword because in some ways a small town can be worse. You can’t hide from anyone’s preconceived ideology….seriously, ignore me while I lose a debate to myself…” she laughs.

Noelle nods along.  “Exactly.  I mean, come on .. The Rose family lived almost next door …”  she tightens her jaw and drinks half of her tea suddenly, her eyes dropping to the table.

Sajani stops laughing immediately at Noelle’s comment and looks compassionate “I know he tried to…..Patrick told me. Are you ok Noelle? I mean even an attempt like that can…..if you need to talk…” She offers.

Noelle looks up at the nes that Patrick told her what happened.  “I’m OK … “  she murmurs.  “And thanks for the offer.  It’s what we’re doing … right?”  she bites her lip.  “I didn’t know what to think that day …. And Chris … Chris …”  she is still stunned at his reaction, even though she knows it had to do with Avery.

Sajani nods slowly “I know…..I was Chris’s OT...that’s how Patrick and I reconnected. I knew he got into fights but that report shocked me….but knowing about you….and….” She hesitates trying to recall if Patrick has said Noelle knew about Avery. She had sworn Patrik she would tell no one and she would keep that promise in love and honour. “He’s come though it and you two seem stronger for it.” She redirects.

Noelle nods and reaches out, almost touching Sajani’s hand, but stopping short.  “I know about … her.”  she whispers, hedging her own bets and keeping her own promise.  She sighs.  “He said part of it was because of me, too.  Because .. he was going to rape me, too.”  she bites the corner of her lip.  “He defended me.  I mean .. yea .. he’s a cop … but … I think it was … more..”  her voice has lowered more and more and the last word is a whisper.

Sajani exhales and takes Noelle’s hand, since she was reaching and hesitant “Avery.” she says sadly “I’m glad you know, not what happened to Avery of course...that’s horrible.. I couldn’t break my promise to Patrick.” She looks pained for Noelle “That must have been terrifying. I’m so sorry. And yes it was because of Avery too….but Noelle….you know Chris loves you right?” She lowers her head and tilts it making intentional eye contact.

Noelle takes her hand.  “I promised Chris, too.”  she admits and then she sighs,  “I know … he says he has since high school .. when yea .. it would have been a little weird, so i’m glad he waited but still.  Who waits for someone for years and years when they duck and dodge and are just plain rude to them at every turn?”  it makes no sense to her.  “But … I’m glad I finally stopped being so scared to talk to him … and when I did it all fell into place like it was meant to be and it feels like we’ve been together for years instead of weeks.”

Sajani has to laugh “What is it with those two? Patrick asked me out in high school...it didn't happen but he waited for me too. And I also feel like Patrick and I are old and new at the same time. That’s too funny Noelle, sweet and beautiful and funny.”

Noelle has to laugh also.  “Maybe it’s a twin thing?  I don’t know.  I hope it stays beautiful.  I just get .. scared.  Does that make sense?  But Chris is patient with me that way and he keeps proving he loves me.  I can't deny it anymore.”  she sniffs and sips more of her tea.

Sajani smiles “It makes perfect sense to me.” She sips and then says “Well I’m glad we met...even in pajamas….”

Noelle giggles.  “I’m glad too.  And it could have been a LOT stranger.”  she laughs.  “Thank god we all close doors around here.”

Sajani was sipping her tea when Noelle said the thing about stranger and closed doors. She laughs and sputters it out at the same time.

In the meantime Chris has woken up and rolled over reaching for Noelle, only to find the bed too cold and empty. He sighs and gets up, pulling on a pair of light grey cut off sweat shorts and lumbering towards the door of his room. He could hear giggling and he tilted his head and opened the door, and then cranes around to see Sajani and Noelle having tea together.

Patrick reaches for Sajani and finds her missing.  He sits up and stretches, then reaches for his grey sweat shorts.  Standing he moves to the bedroom door and slides it open stepping out to see Noelle having morning tea with Sajani.

Noelle ses Sajanis sputter and figures that would embarrass her beyond reason.  She beams and hears the door open and looks up.  Not only Chris, but Patrick are standing in their separate doorways.  They are identical … well dressed identically.  She looks at Sajani and starts cracking up.

Sajani wipes at her face with the back of her arm and then looks between the two bedroom doors and has to put her tea down before she completely loses it with Noelle and almost falls off her chair laughing.

Chris looks at Patrick and then their women folk and then looks down at his shorts and sighs “Motherfucker…” He mumbles.

Patrick exchanges looks ith his brother, then looks down at his shorts at the same time.  Unintentionally, he looks down at his shorts and, in unison with his twin grumbles.  “Motherfucker…”

Noelle leans into Sajani as the twins move and speak in unison.  She can’t help it.  They are being so ….  Twins.

Sajani howls with laughter at the double swearing. Finally she catches her breath and just says “Ok just stop talking….we can barely breathe over here……”

Chris just looks at Patrick like he’s been betrayed by their biology and genetics and flips him the bird.

Noelle tries to catch her breath, even though it isn’t made easy by the twins … twinning.  “Do
You guys want breakfast?  I think I can manage….”

Patrick rolls his eyes and moves to Sajani.  “We didn’t do this on purpose, I swear.  Sometimes it just happens.  I promise you have the right twin.”  and he leans in to kiss her deeply.

Sajani giggles “That’s exactly why it’s hilarious.” She pretends like she’s checking his mole and nose and cowlick and kisses Patrick back.

Chris snorts “Oh now he’s just showing off…” He moves to Noelle “I’ll help you make it….but we can’t be outdone by that..” he head juts at Patrick and Sajani and then tries to scoop Noelle up and kiss her while carrying her, making sure her legs face away from everyone since she’s wearing his t-shirt as a nightgown.

Noelle laughs and half screams as Chris picks her up for the three foot trip back to the kitchen.  She tries to kiss him the whole way and when she is finally on her feet, she kisses him softly.  “We didn’t hear each other last night, so who knows who is outdoing who.” she winks at him.  “So what other twin tricks do you two have?  Oh …”  she seems to have an idea.  “Video games, maybe?

Patrick isn’t looking as Chris picks up Noelle, but blindly gives him the finger anyway.  He arches his brows, as if suddenly realizing why both women are in nightclothes first thing in the morning.  “Nope .. every last one of the nopes.”  it doesn’t bother him that he and his brother were possibly making love at the same time, but it’s not a subject he plans to linger on.  At the mention of video games, however, he perks up a bit.  “That is here I am the superior twin.”

Chris wiggles his brows at Noelle and laughs. Then he sees Patrick’s finger in the air out of the corner of his eye and hears the rest “Superior my ass…..what are we playing? We can have instant oatmeal and eat while we play…” Now his competitive fire is stoked.

Sajani  pulls back from Patrick and shakes her head at Noelle “You had to say it. What do you play Noelle? We should challenge the boys…” She suggests “They’ll lose trying to outquip each other…” She jokingly predicts.

Patrick snorts.  He’s not AS competitive as Chris .. but he is competitive WITH Chris.  “Bring it on.”  he challenges.  “But if you feed me oatmeal I will smear it all over your losing ass.”  he promises, hating oatmeal with a passion.

Noelle watches them with wide eyes, never having seen this very much with the brothers.  To Sajani she shakes her head.  “I don’t play video games.  Never could afford a console so .. “  she explains.  “But I’d love to watch them do …”  she moves a finger between them.  “Whatever this is..”  she looks at Chris, guessing that somehow he's made oatmeal a threat.  “Granola.”  she compromises.  “Nowhere near as many oats.”

Sajani looks amused by the brothers too “Yeah this is worth a watch over play. Make it interesting though boys...winner does the other’s laundry or all the dishes for the week or something...not loser...winner..” She has fun with a flip of what a wager might be.

Chris scoffs at Patrick “That oatmeal helped you, admit it…” He teases and then winks at Noelle “I was sobering up his sorry ass so he could actually have a proper date with Sajani...and well” He gestures around including Sajani “Here we are...the power of oatmeal.” He frowns at Sajani a little at her idea of a prize for winning.

Noelle shakes her head at the brothers and slaps Chris’s firm belly as he frowns at Sajani.  “Be nice.  I’d have for a cold front to roll in…”  she mock threatens.

Patrick smiles at Sajani.  “I like that idea.  You can make sure I get to work on time for a week.”  technically that’s only two shifts.  “And bragging rights for me … again.”  After Chris mentions helping to sober him up, he opens and closes his mouth a few times in indignation.  “ONE time oatmeal was useful!  ONE time!”  he protests and then looks at Noelle as if she’s an angel for her threat.

Chris holds Noelle’s hand to his belly looking forlorn “You wouldn’t? He pines like he might die without making love to her.

Sajani finds the whole thing still very amusing and gives Patrick a little shove “I’m thankful for oatmeal.” She looks down at her bare legs “And I need a few more clothes. Granola sounds good too in a second…” She walks into Patrick’s room and shuts the door to change.

Noelle looks up at Chris as he holds her hand to him and calls her bluff.  Opening her mouth she sighs and shakes her head and stands on tiptoe to kiss him, deeply.

Patrick rolls his eyes at his brother and her girlfriend.  “I’ll take the granola when you two are done.”  he calls over to them.  “Cause … watching here!”  he stares pointedly at them.

Blindly, Noelle twiddles her fingers in Patrick’s direction as she deepens the kiss, leaning back on the counter.  It’s really just to tease, but she makes a mental note for the next time she and Chris have the apartment to themselves.

Chris eagerly kisses Noelle back, probably too eagerly for them not being alone. He presses her into the counter and lets out a little “Mmmm..” ignoring his brother. Even the joke of Noelle rejecting his affections made him want them all the more.

Sajani comes back out in her cherry pink rolled up sweats and a black tank top. She has some teal coloured bra straps that are visible under the tank straps. She glances over and sees Noelle and Chris kissing and lets out a little “Aww.” And then she sees it just go on and looks away giggling “Oh my…”

Noelle presses into Chris, forgetting for a moment there are actually others about.  Then she hears Sajani and breaks the kiss, nuzzling into Chris’s ear with a whispered.  “Later.”  She looks around and blows out a breath.  “Okay .. We’ll make up some granola real quick.”  she mock glares at Chris.  “WITHOUT oatmeal in it.  And then you guys can play your game for us.”

Patrick rolls his eyes at his brother and Noelle, but isn’t looking away.  They’re cute together and he wants his brother happy.  And Noelle makes him happy.  When she breaks away and talks about oatmealless granola, he smiles and points to Noelle.  “This is the one, Christopher.  The one!”  he heads for the living room to set up the video game for the two of them to play.  He sees Sajani’s giggling and moves to take her hand.  She was cute and the one too … for him.