Marlene and Dorcas
Marlene hunched over her laptop looking out at the lake. She desperately wanted to go and walk along the shore, but she had to finish this chapter first. She couldn’t help but feel like she’d written herself into a corner and she figured that maybe if she got a big piece of paper and drew out her plan by hand she could—
The sound of the vacuum cleaner came from the other side of the door and she groaned quietly. Of course. She stood up from her chair and opened the door to the study, to be met with Dorcas’ back as she vacuumed the kitchen with headphones on. Marlene found herself unable to draw her eyes away from the sway of her hips as she moved. She slipped back into the study and closed the door behind her, leaning her head against it with a sigh.
Right as she was about to open the door again, loudly, make her presence known, and not stare this time, her phone rang. It was Amelia. Of course, it was Amelia.
Surely she wouldn’t be calling unless something major had happened? She groaned as she hit answer.
“Hello?”
“Hiya, Marls!” Amelia sounded cheerful and immediately, Marlene’s mood plummeted. “How are you doing?”
“How am I… doing?” She repeated. “I’m…” She inhaled deeply, shook her head and tossed her hair over her shoulder, lowering her shoulders and standing tall. “I’m well. How are you and Emmeline?”
“Marls…”
“What do you want, Amy?” Marlene slumped again and sat on the edge of her desk.
“I was wondering when you’re coming home. I know you only took a few days' worth of clothes.” Amelia said quietly.
“I have a washing machine. I don’t know when I’m coming back, honestly. I said I’d come back for Barty’s costume party on Christmas Eve but, I don’t know if I will or not yet. It’ll depend on—”
“Wait… come back from where?” Amelia asked.
“Um, Germany?”
“You’re in Germany?!” Amelia shouted and Emmeline’s voice was audibly in the background as she repeated it. “What the fuck are you doing in Germany?”
“Getting some space. Starting my book. Enjoying the peace. Grieving two relationships.” Marlene heard the shift in sound as she was put on speakerphone. “I’m in Pöcking, Emm. At the lake house.”
“Ugh, that old place? Did you really have nowhere else to go? Is that awful old woman still alive?”
“Tilda? Yeah, she’s still around. But, yes. Don’t expect me back for Christmas. I’ll arrange a date in January to come by and pack my stuff up once I know where it’ll be going.”
“But what am I supposed to tell my family? They’re expecting you on Christmas Day! My mum got you a personalised onesie and everything for the family photo.”
“Sounds like something you probably should have considered before fucking my sister, doesn’t it? There’s still a couple of weeks, maybe she can get a refund.” Marlene looked up and noticed the door open and Dorcas seemingly waiting to ask her something.
“They’re custom, Marlene! She can’t just get a refund!”
“Take a sharpie and write Emmeline’s name over the top then? I really don’t care. Now if you don’t mind, I have to go.”
“Marlene! Wait I—”
But Marlene had already hung up.
She looked at Dorcas and was about to ask her what she needed before she remembered the language barrier. She just needed to remember a few basic things from her AS Level German. She could do this.
“Was…” She paused. “Was brauchst du?”
Dorcas nodded approvingly, her eyes widening slightly. “Sehr gut, Marlene. Äh, dein Ofen ist im Arsch.”
Marlene looked at her helplessly, before Dorcas shook her head and retreated back into the kitchen. Marlene followed her and watched as she opened the oven, flicked all the switches and nothing happened. Dorcas mimed shivering and a smile broke across Marlene’s face.
“Kaputt?”
“Ja! Kaputt!” Dorcas laughed and Marlene’s heart pinged around her ribcage. “Ich habe es Bathilda erzählt. Sie wird dich anrufen. Du benutzt sowieso einfach die Mikrowelle.”
“It’s fine, I only really use the microwave anyway,” Marlene said with an embarrassed little shrug. “I’ll give Bathilda a call later. Thank you. Danke.”
“Kein Problem.” Dorcas smiled. “Ich gehe jetzt. Genießen Du Deine Pot Noodle.”
“Hey, I understood those last two words! My German must be getting better.” Marlene laughed, then handed Dorcas her coat from the back of the kitchen chair. “Bis Morgen, Dorcas.”
“Bis Morgen, Marlene.” Dorcas took the coat from her and as their fingers brushed, a spark shot up both of their arms. She shrugged her coat on, and smiled over her shoulder as she headed for the front door.