Bonus story : More than just colleagues : Part 6 : At Patrick's House

Patrick stepped aside from the door to let them in. As soon as Aldric crossed the threshold, he briefly looked around the interior. Several framed photographs hung in the entryway, a bookcase occupied part of the living room, and the smell of marinated meat drifted in from the kitchen. Music was playing somewhere in the main room.

Patrick closed the door behind them before pointing to a piece of furniture near the entrance.

— You can leave your things there.

Aldric took off his shoes and lined them up against the wall. Emma did the same, then opened the bag she was carrying.

— We brought a few things.

— You didn't have to.

Emma took out two bottles of artisanal juice and handed them to Patrick.

— These are from me. I got two different ones because I didn't know which you'd prefer.

— Thanks. They look great.

— And these, Emma said, gesturing toward Aldric, are from him.

Aldric handed him the two gift boxes.

— You really didn't have to, Patrick said...

— The rules of etiquette recommend bringing a gift when one is invited to someone's home.

Patrick opened the first box.

— Coffee?

— An assortment from several different origins. Since your precise preference is unknown, this option reduces the risk of error.

Patrick gave him an amused look before opening the second box.

— And barbecue spices.

— Lucas and Karim indicated that you enjoyed this activity.

— You questioned Lucas and Karim about what I like?

— Yes.

— He probably conducted a comparative study, Emma said.

— Indeed.

— I shouldn't even have asked...

He placed the two boxes and the bottles on the piece of furniture before turning to Emma.

— And welcome, by the way. I'm glad you came.

— Thanks for having me.

— From what I've just learned, it was mostly Lucas who invited you.

— That's true.

— Sounds like him.

— I CAN STILL HEAR YOU!

Patrick briefly closed his eyes.

— And he still hasn't learned to mind his own business.

Aldric watched Patrick as he returned to the kitchen. At work, their team leader always wore reinforced trousers, safety shoes, and a T-shirt in the company's colors. Here, he wore faded jeans and a gray T-shirt. His hair was slightly less tidy, and a dish towel still rested over his shoulder. More surprisingly, he was quietly humming along with the music as he checked something in a saucepan. Emma followed Aldric's gaze.

— You're staring at him.

— I'm observing him.

— That's exactly what someone staring at a person would say.

Patrick turned around from the kitchen.

— Everything okay?

— Aldric is just discovering that you exist outside the depot.

Patrick smiled.

— Happens to a lot of coworkers.

Aldric walked over to the kitchen. Several dishes had already been prepared on the counter. A salad filled a large bowl, marinated vegetables sat in a dish, and several pieces of meat rested near a door leading to the garden.

— Did you prepare all of this yourself?

— Almost. Lucas brought the bread, and Karim brought dessert.

— In that case, the organization appears complete.

Patrick placed a hand on the counter.

— You can also just say it looks good.

— It looks good.

— Thank you.

— Finally! You're here! Lucas called out.

He crossed the living room toward them before looking at Emma.

— Hey, Emma! Glad you came. At least now I won't be the only one who has to explain things to Aldric when he takes something way too seriously.

— I do not systematically take things too seriously.

Lucas looked at Emma.

— See?

Emma held back a smile.

— I'm starting to understand why you invited me.

— Exactly.

The doorbell rang. Karim arrived carrying a large box of pastries and a bottle of juice. He greeted Patrick, then Aldric before turning to Emma.

— Karim.

— Emma. Nice to meet you.

— Likewise.

Lucas pointed at the box.

— What's that?

— Dessert.

— Yes, I got that. What exactly?

Karim placed the box on the table.

— You can wait.

Lucas looked up at Patrick.

— I don't understand why everyone here enjoys making me suffer.

Emma smiled.

— I understand why your group works, Emma said.

Emma fit in immediately. Aldric had wondered whether she would need time to find her place among them, but that concern quickly disappeared. Lucas spoke to her as though they had already met several times. Karim asked her questions about her work, and Patrick asked for her opinion on a plant that was dying near the window.

Before long, Emma was talking with Lucas about a restaurant they both knew, while Karim explained to Patrick why his son now refused to eat tomatoes whenever they were sliced into rounds.

Aldric watched all of this from the edge of the kitchen.

— What are you doing? Lucas asked.

— Nothing.

— You're observing again. It's getting worrying.

Emma turned toward him.

— He does that a lot.

— I know. At work too.

Aldric frowned.

— Observing one's surroundings is useful.

Lucas smiled.

— Even at Patrick's house?

— Particularly in a place I do not know.

Patrick looked up from the kitchen.

— As long as you don't start measuring the windows, I'm fine with it.

Emma burst out laughing.

— He might.

Aldric looked at the windows.

— They appear to be standard size.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Patrick shook his head.

— I take back what I just said.

The music changed. A more upbeat song began to play, and Patrick turned up the volume before picking up a dish of meat from the kitchen.

— Come on, let's go outside.

He opened a French door and stepped outside. The garden was surrounded by a wooden fence. A terrace occupied the space directly in front of the house, and a barbecue was already lit a little farther away.

— You have a beautiful garden, Aldric said as he looked around.

— Thanks.

Patrick placed the dish near the barbecue.

— That's one of the main reasons I like this house. I have enough space to work on DIY projects outside when the weather's nice and, most importantly, I can have barbecues without having to carry half my kitchen around.

Lucas immediately sat down on one of the terrace chairs.

— That's mainly why we agree to come over.

— You can leave if you want.

— I just sat down.

— So Karim was right, Aldric said.

— About what?

— You really do enjoy this activity.

— You doubted it?

— I preferred to verify the accuracy of the information before selecting your gift.

Patrick laughed.

— So is the file complete now?

— Almost.

— What's missing?

Aldric looked at the barbecue.

— The annual frequency of use.

— I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that...

They gradually began preparing the meal. Patrick took care of the meat while Emma cut the vegetables. Karim set the table outside, and Lucas attempted to help before being moved away from the barbecue.

— Why am I not allowed to cook?

Patrick turned over a skewer.

— Because last time you burned the sausages.

— They were grilled.

Karim spoke from the table.

— They were black.

— That's a shade of grilled.

— I think Patrick is making a good decision, Emma said.

Lucas turned toward Aldric.

— At least you support me, right?

— I do not possess sufficient information regarding your culinary skills.

Lucas shook his head.

— Even when you're not criticizing me, it sounds like criticism.

Patrick eventually handed him a basket of bread.

— Here. You can take care of this.

— Finally, a responsibility worthy of my abilities.

— Don't burn the bread, Karim called out.

— Why does everyone think I'm going to burn something?

Patrick and Karim answered simultaneously.

— Experience.

Emma burst out laughing.

They all sat around the table. The sun was setting behind the neighboring houses, and the air was still warm enough for them to remain outside. Patrick placed the last dishes in the center before sitting down.

Lucas looked over the table.

— All right. I'll admit you know how to host.

Patrick gave him a look.

— You had doubts?

— I always have doubts.

— And yet you come here often.

Aldric looked up slightly.

— Does Lucas really come here often?

— From time to time, Patrick replied.

Lucas took some bread.

— Of course.

Karim nodded.

— Me too.

— So you see each other regularly outside of work.

— From time to time.

Patrick served himself some salad.

— Not that often.

— But often enough to have already established this habit.

— Maybe.

Emma looked at Aldric.

— You're analyzing again.

— I'm trying to understand.

Lucas leaned toward him.

— You know we can just have a good evening without trying to understand why, right?

— I am having a good evening.

— All right. I'll take that one.

Lucas told a story about a client who had tried to dismantle a bed himself without removing the mattress. Patrick corrected the number of screws that had supposedly been broken during the process, while Karim added that Lucas had been unable to find an essential part even though he had been holding it in his own hand.

Emma laughed regularly.

— You really have a story for every piece of furniture.

— After a few years in the business, yes, Patrick replied.

— And we're only telling him the approved versions, Lucas added.

Patrick raised an eyebrow.

— What do you mean by approved versions?

— The ones where nobody calls a lawyer.

Karim put down his fork.

— He's making that up.

— I'm protecting the company.

Aldric looked at Patrick.

— Are there really stories that should not be told?

Patrick shook his head.

— No.

Lucas smiled.

— That's exactly what someone hiding something would say.

Emma turned toward Aldric.

— I think you've found someone capable of making any conversation complicated.

— Lucas does indeed possess that skill.

Lucas raised his glass.

— Finally, some official recognition.

Karim then told them how his son had tried to convince his teacher that a dog had eaten his homework even though the family did not own a dog. Patrick explained that he had spent two entire weekends repairing an old dresser because he refused to throw it away. Emma talked about some clients who visited twenty apartments without ever knowing what they were looking for.

Lucas eventually asked Aldric a question.

— In your world, did you have barbecues?

— We cooked meat over fires. But the method was different. We did not have similar sauces or this type of equipment.

— Which do you prefer? Patrick asked.

Aldric tasted another piece of meat before answering.

— This method is more precise.

Lucas put down his fork.

— How do you measure the precision of a barbecue?

— The temperature is easier to maintain. The distance between the food and the heat remains stable, and the cooking process can be reproduced more easily.

Emma shook her head.

— Even a barbecue turns into a military method.

— I did not mention anything military.

After the meal, Patrick cleared the table before bringing out Karim's dessert. Lucas opened the box.

— Finally.

Karim slapped his hand away.

— Wait for the others.

— I was only going to look.

— With a fork?

Lucas looked at the object he was holding.

— Just a precaution.

Dessert sparked another round of conversations, and then the evening continued in the living room. Patrick pulled a board game box out from under the coffee table.

— Anyone want to play?

Lucas took a seat.

— Obviously.

Emma sat down next to Karim while Aldric examined the box.

— What are the rules?

Lucas burst out laughing.

— Bad start.

— Why?

Emma handed him the rulebook.

— Because in five minutes, you're going to know the rules better than we do.

— That seems desirable.

Patrick distributed the game pieces while Aldric read through the instructions.

— Can we play before tomorrow morning?

— There are two pages left.

— Read them while we play.

— That would increase the risk of error.

— Let him finish, Karim said.

When the game finally began, Aldric followed every rule. Lucas twice attempted to alter a rule in his favor. The first time, Aldric stopped him.

— That action is not permitted.

— Of course it is...

Aldric opened the rulebook.

— Page eight, third paragraph.

Patrick burst out laughing.

The second time, Lucas tried to move an extra piece.

— Error.

Lucas raised his hands.

— You were looking somewhere else.

— I possess peripheral vision.

Emma laughed.

— You never stood a chance, Lucas.

— I thought he was focused on Patrick.

— He's always focused on everything, Karim said.

The game ended with Karim winning, to everyone's surprise. Lucas demanded a rematch, Patrick refused to start another game that might last an additional hour, and Emma suggested taking a group photo instead.

Aldric looked up at her.

— Why?

— To keep a memory.

He looked around.

Patrick was still sitting with a cup of coffee. Lucas was still protesting his defeat. Karim was putting away the game pieces. Emma was already holding her phone out in front of her.

— Very well.

They moved closer together to fit into the frame. Lucas put an arm around Karim, who tried to push him away. Patrick stood behind them while Emma held out her phone. Aldric remained slightly apart until Lucas gestured toward him.

— Come closer. Otherwise people are going to think you don't know us.

Aldric moved a few inches closer.

— More.

He moved again.

— There.

Emma took the photo. On the screen, Patrick was smiling, Karim looked as though he was trying to remain serious despite Lucas leaning against him, and Aldric stood in the middle of the group beside Emma.

Lucas leaned over to look at the picture.

— Not bad.

Patrick nodded.

— Can you send it to the group?

— I'm not in it.

Lucas immediately took out his phone.

— Wait, I'll add you.

Lucas tapped on his phone. Almost immediately, Aldric's phone vibrated. He checked the screen.

Lucas added Emma to the group.

Aldric looked up at her.

— You are now part of our group.

— Apparently.

Lucas put his phone away.

— There. Problem solved. Now you can send the photo.

Emma opened the conversation she had just joined and shared the picture.

Emma sent a photo.

Aldric opened the conversation and looked for a moment at the five names displayed on the screen. The feeling was strange. A few weeks earlier, Patrick, Lucas, and Karim had only been his coworkers. Emma belonged to a different part of his life. He had never considered that those two circles might come together.

Yet she was now sitting in Patrick's garden, laughing at Lucas's jokes, talking with Karim, and had just been added to their group chat as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

The evening ended shortly before midnight. Karim was the first to announce that he was leaving, explaining that he had to get up early the next morning to take care of his son. Emma checked the time in turn before picking up her jacket.

— I'm going home too.

— I'll walk you to the metro, Aldric said.

— No, stay.

— I don't mind.

— I know. But you can stay a little longer with Patrick and Lucas. I can get home by myself.

— Are you certain?

— Yes. Enjoy the rest of your evening.

She gave him a smile before putting on her jacket. Aldric eventually nodded.

— In that case, let me know when you get home.

— Promise.

Karim, who was finishing putting on his shoes near the door, looked up.

— Are you taking the metro?

— Yes.

— I'm passing near the station. I can walk you there if you want.

— Thanks, but I'll be fine. I just told Aldric I'd rather go home alone.

— All right.

He turned toward Patrick.

— Thanks for the evening. And for the barbecue.

— Anytime.

Karim shook Patrick's hand, said goodbye to Lucas, then Aldric.

— See you Monday.

— See you Monday, Aldric replied.

He gave Emma one last wave before opening the door.

— Good night, everyone.

Karim left the house, and the door closed behind him.

Emma put on her jacket and checked that she had not forgotten anything. She then turned toward Patrick.

— Thanks for the evening. It was really nice.

— My pleasure. And now that Lucas knows my address by heart, I imagine it won't be the last time.

— I already knew your address, Lucas protested.

— That's not reassuring...

Emma laughed before saying goodbye to Lucas, then turned toward Aldric.

— I'll send you a message when I get home.

— Very well.

— And you're staying a little longer.

Aldric tilted his head.

— I'll stay a little longer...

Emma gave him one last smile before leaving the house as well. Aldric watched the door as it closed behind her.

From the living room, Lucas announced:

— All right, I'm staying another ten minutes.

Patrick checked the time.

— So half an hour.

— Ten minutes.

Patrick's prediction proved more accurate. Nearly thirty minutes later, Lucas was still standing in the entryway with his jacket on, continuing a conversation he had already announced was over three times.

— All right, this time I'm really leaving.

— You said that fifteen minutes ago, Patrick pointed out.

— Yes, but now I have my shoes on.

— You already had them on earlier.

Lucas ignored the remark and held out his hand to Aldric.

— Have a good night, knight.

Aldric shook his hand.

— Good night, Lucas.

— See you Monday. And don't be at the depot twenty minutes early.

— I am not usually twenty minutes early.

— Nineteen, then.

Lucas turned toward Patrick.

— Thanks for the barbecue.

— My pleasure.

— Next time, I'll bring something.

Patrick opened the door.

— Next time, start by asking me before inviting someone.

Lucas smiled.

— But you like her.

— That's not the point.

— So I was right. You could thank me.

Patrick pushed him toward the hallway.

— Out.

Lucas burst out laughing as he walked away.

— Good night!

— Good night.

Patrick closed the door behind him. Aldric looked around. For the first time since the beginning of the evening, he was alone with Patrick.

Patrick returned to the living room and began collecting the few glasses left on the table. Aldric picked up two before he could and carried them into the kitchen.

— You can leave those, Patrick said as he followed him. You're a guest, remember?

Aldric placed the glasses beside the sink.

— The evening is over. Therefore, I am no longer a guest.

— Of course...

Patrick gathered the bottles while Aldric cleared the table and carried the remaining glasses into the kitchen. When the counter was clear again and Patrick assured him that he would take care of the rest the next day, Aldric retrieved his jacket.

— Thank you for the invitation.

Patrick closed a cupboard.

— Thanks for coming.

— The evening was pleasant.

— Thanks.

They left the house together. Patrick needed to take out a bag of trash, so he accompanied Aldric to the entrance. The night was quiet. Most of the windows in the neighboring houses were already dark, and only a few cars still passed at the end of the street.

— Aldric?

— Yes?

— Could you come by on Sunday? I could use a hand with something.

— Of course. What time?

— Ten?

— I'll be here.

Aldric inclined his head before heading toward the street.

— Good night, Patrick.

— Good night.