"Rhodes tells me that you're a student, are you enjoying your studies?" Rhodes' mum, Eloise, asks me as I help her with filling the pastry dishes with pie filling. She's cooked an extraordinary amount of food, but then I guess there are a lot of people here.
"Yeah, it's pretty good, though I'll be happy when it's over," I admit, smiling over at her. She gives me a knowing smile as she nods her head in response. She looks so much like Rhodes, it's kind of crazy; same nose, same eyes, but completely different temperament. She's so warm and kind, wrapping me in the tightest and most sincere hug I've had in a long time. You know the type of hugs, the ones only mums can give that just fill you up and make you feel like everything's okay? I didn't feel this comfortable around Rhodes after our first meeting.
"And do you work?" she asks politely while I begin to place the sheet of pastry over the top of the pie filling.
"I work part-time at the bookstore on campus," I reply. It's not technically a lie. When I called my boss and asked her if I could keep working there, she was thrilled and said absolutely. I start back next week; I just need to tell Rhodes at some point.
"Do your family live in London?" Eloise asks after closing the oven door, checking on one of the quiches she has cooking away. It's nearly done; the aroma is intoxicating. Good old-fashioned home cooking, I can hardly wait.
"Uh, no, they don't. I moved there for university. Am I doing this right?" I reply, my attempt to change the subject off of my own family life. She walks over to join me after wiping her hands on her black apron and checks the pie.
"Yes, honey, that's lovely, thank you so much for helping me. I would have asked Bianca, but she's not the best in the kitchen," she giggles quietly before I look up and see Bianca bouncing Briella on her hip, her mouth agape.
"Excuse me! I can cook, it just so happens that my husband is better than me... whatever, I have a lot of other skills," Bianca pouts with a gentle smile, Eloise nods her head and grins beside me.