They Called Me the Spare Aunt, I Brought a Date novel · Chapter 3 of 24

Chapter 3: The Button Tin

Miles returns Gwyneth's overfilled repair tin and admits his own divorce without fishing for hers. Gwyneth gives him her number instead of another task.

Miles returned my button tin before dinner.

He held it out through my open doorway.

"You left this in the corridor," he said.

The lid was fastened with an elastic band.

"Did it open?" I asked him.

"I rescued everything I could identify," Miles told me.

"There's a small silver object I hope isn't medical."

I lifted the lid and found the missing cufflink fastener.

"It belongs to my brother-in-law," I said.

Miles glanced toward the other rooms.

"Should I be worried about tonight?" he asked.

"Mostly if your trousers require any repairs," I told him.

He looked down at himself.

I put the tin on the dressing table.

Miles was wearing a clean blue shirt without a torn pocket.

The new shirt had a price label hanging from one cuff.

I reached for the little scissors beside the tin.

He held his arm out, then brought it back.

"I can remove my own label," Miles said.

I gave him the scissors.

He cut the card free and caught it against his chest.

A white strip still hung from the buttonhole.

"That part too," I told him.

He examined it with some disappointment.

"I thought that was the finish," he said.

I laughed and stopped reaching to take the scissors back.

Miles removed the strip and handed me both pieces.

He hadn't tried to hide the mistake.

I was used to fixing things without making anybody notice.

Being allowed to laugh at one was surprisingly pleasant.

My phone rang on the bed.

Celia's name filled the screen.

I silenced it and closed the button tin.

The phone rang again before I could put it away.

"You can answer," Miles said.

"I know," I told him.

He sat on the chair by the window without another suggestion.

I picked up the phone.

"Gregory's missing a shirt button," Celia said.

"Which button?" I asked before I could stop myself.

"The important one," she told me.

I looked at Miles's properly fastened shirt.

He waited with his hands on his knees.

"The top one?" I asked Celia.

"The one near his stomach," she said.

"We have a family photograph before supper."

I looked at my scissors and the neat tin.

I'd be able to fix it quickly.

I would also be late for my own dinner.

"He can change his shirt," I said.

"That shirt goes with mine," Celia replied.

"Then put a jacket over it," I told her.

She stopped talking for a moment.

I could hear Gregory asking somebody where his jacket was.

"I'll bring the shirt up," Celia said.

"I'm leaving," I told her.

I put the phone in my bag before she answered.

Miles stood when I picked up my wrap.

"Would you like me to carry the tin?" he asked.

"I'm not taking it," I said.

He looked at the open handbag on the bed.

"Will the cone be joining us?" Miles asked.

I put a small purse inside the big bag.

Then I took it out again and left the big bag behind.

Miles picked up my wrap and held it for me.

"I was married," he said as I turned.

I stopped with one arm inside the linen.

"So was I," I told him.

"I heard somebody mention it downstairs," he said.

"It sounded unnecessarily thorough."

I pulled my other arm through the sleeve.

"They've had a lot of practice," I said.

Miles handed me my small purse.

"Mine didn't work either," he told me.

"I'm still hoping dinner might."

I looked up at him and smiled.

There was no helpful answer I needed to give.

We went downstairs together and met Gregory outside the dining room.

He wore a jacket over his open shirt.

Celia was trying to straighten his collar.

"There you are," she said when she saw me.

She reached for the small purse in my hand.

"Your kit's in that?" she asked.

"No," I said.

I took Miles's phone when he offered it to me.

I entered my number and gave it back.

Gregory held his jacket closed for the photographer.

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