While we’d been talking, she’d sat down, staring pensively out the sliding glass door that opened onto a deck. She suddenly laughed, “I’m so silly. Why did I buy a house? An apartment would be cheaper.”
I smiled slightly; Paige’s sudden mood and subject changes always bewildered me a bit. She shrugged and leaped upright, “Well, since you’re here, I might as well put you to some use. How does dusting the living room sound to you?”
I groaned, “Paige…”
She just laughed, producing an old-fashioned feather duster and tickling my face with it. I leaped back, “Gross! That thing is probably filthy.”
She handed it to me, along with some Windex and paper towels, “Do the windows too.”
I sighed, “You always put me to work when I come here. Have you ever heard of hanging out? Or relaxing?”
She grinned at me, “Ok, I’ll let dinner rot then.”
“Ok fine, fine,” I grumbled, heading into the other room, “What are you making anyway?”
“Shepherd’s pie.”
There was a loud clatter as I dropped everything I was holding.