Page 110 of Black and White, Twice the Might

The boys come sliding into the kitchen, dressed and laughing.

“I call that a draw,” I tell them.

“It probably was,” Enoch agrees, practically bouncing to my side to see what I’m making. “Fruit again?”

“Gah,” I hear Xander say, as he flops down onto a chair.

“I’ve actually made porridge, and the fruit is toppings for said porridge.”

“Porridge, really?” Xander jumps up and goes over to look at the bubbling saucepans. He picks up the spoon and gives it a stir. “We’ve not had porridge in forever.”

Enoch moves to the larder. “I’ll grab the jam, then set the table.”

I chop the last bit of banana and add it to the dish. “Thanks.” I carry the dish over and see the boys sat waiting eagerly. I laugh as I go back and bring the saucepan over and put it down on some mats.

Sly walks in, just as we start dishing the porridge out. “Just what we need, it’s freezing outside.”

I pass him a bowl as he sits down. “What was delivered?”

“Two chairs, the rug, Xander’s blinds, and a few other bits,” he replies, adding some fruit to his bowl. “I’ll read the blind instructions later and see what I need to put them up.”

Xander smiles at him. “Thanks, Sly.”

“After breakfast, boys, can you help me start taking the boxes to my workshop?”

“We can do that, Eb,” Enoch says brightly.

“I was going to do some work, but there’s more shopping that we need. Once you guys have helped Ebby, do you want to come shopping?”

I silently laugh. There is no way my brothers will turn down a shopping trip.

“Of course, we’re coming,” Enoch replies, scraping his bowl.

“Yeah, we might find more stuff for our rooms,” Xander says, licking his spoon.

“And maybe some more clothes,” I comment.

“We’ll have fun and see what’s about. It’s a giant mega store, so it will cover pretty much everything,” Sly says.

I shake my head at him and pull my phone out of my pocket, and after finding the list I need, I send it to Sly. “I’ve just sent you my shopping list. If you add what you and the boys need, you’ll be able to stick to it.”

Sly nods, looking serious, but there is mischief in his eyes. “Sure, we can do that, sweetheart.”

He so doesn’t mean that. “But first we’ll tidy the kitchen and start taking boxes down to my workshop,” I say, standing and starting to collect the empty dishes.

In no time at all, the kitchen is tidy, and my younger brothers start helping me carry my boxes down to the workshop.

CHAPTER 45

Isigh as I walk into my new workshop and put the last box on one of the worktops. I can’t wait to get everything washed, cleaned down and put away. I put in a large chocolate order yesterday, which should be here in a few days. I’ll need to check the dates on the flavourings I have, in case I need to reorder some. But that can wait. First things first. I need to wash and disinfect every surface, shelf and appliance.

I start in the room on the side. It will be perfect for keeping boxes, bags, lolly sticks, gold foil wrapping, greaseproof paper, ribbon, and so much more. I might invest in new ribbons, stickers and boxes with “Cadenbury Town Chocolates” written on them.

I fill a bucket with hot, soapy water and start washing everything down. Once it’s all dry, I’ll disinfect everywhere.

I wonder how Sly and the boys are getting on shopping. The shopping list is large, but if they stick to it, everything should be fine. I laugh at that thought. Sly will go off the list and probably buy things he likes and thinks we might one day need. He’ll also spoil the boys. We both have a hard time saying no to them. We want to make up for their past, so we do spoil them. Theonly thing we are strict on is schoolwork and healthy eating, something that’s been lacking lately.

As I wash the walls down, I think about how much our lives have changed in such a short space of time. In a month, we’ve moved into our very own house, been adopted by the Stone family, found Enoch’s calling as a vet, and made new magical friends.