Salmon

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Jess had to admit that Gid was a bit special. They’d been dating for 2 months now which was a record for her in recent times. Her previous longest since she’d split up with Andy was 6 weeks, and even that was two weeks too long. She seemed to have a radar for annoying little habits, she picked them up early and then couldn’t get them off her mind. But Gid was annoying habit free, or at least he kept them off her radar. He was handsome, funny, intelligent and he made love like an aeroplane. 

He must have been special because here she was sitting in his parents lounge, drinking terribly milky tea and being terribly polite.  She smiled and answered all the questions that were asked, while tugging at her skirt that felt like it was too short for purpose.

Jess had been expecting a very formal upper middle class household but there was a farmhouse quality to their surroundings. The place had a lived in feel, it felt like a home not a museum. Gid’s mum had a big red face that reminded Jess of a cooking apple. It was a kind face, but a no nonsense face. Gid’s dad was an older version of Gid, extremely handsome in a George Clooney type way, maybe Gid was a keeper.

‘Oh you seem so much nicer that the last girl Gideon brought back. ’ his mum said. ‘She was terrible, do you remember Ted.’ Gid’s dad nodded.

‘Victoria doesn’t like fussy eaters,’ Gid’s dad said ‘and that girl, what was her name, Gideon?’

‘Ronnie,’ Gid said glumly.’

‘Yes Ronnie, she was a fussy eater, she picked at her food like a fussy hen.’ Gid’s mum said.

‘I told you mum she had an eating disorder. She wasn’t well.’ Gid said.

‘Bunkum,’ his mother said, ‘there was nothing wrong with that girl that a good square meal wouldn’t solve.’

Gideon rolled his eyes and winked at Jess, he’d warned her about his parents.

‘Well I eat just about anything.’ Jess said, lying through her smile, but pleased to be getting one over on Ronnie.

‘Good because dinner is just about ready.’ Gid’s mum announced marching into the kitchen.

Jess liked Gid, she liked him a lot. Jess hated Ronnie, she’d never met the girl but she was jealous of her anyway. She was pleased Gid’s parents thought she was nicer than her. But Jess had a problem. Jess wasn’t really a fussy eater, she didn’t have an eating disorder, but she was massively allergic to salmon. One mouthful sent her running to the toilet. She looked at that damn fish on the plate in front of her, while Gideon’s mother’s words swam around her head. terrible girl, fussy hen, picked at her food. She had a choice, push the salmon to one side and be tarred with the same brush that had doomed Ronnie or eat the salmon and face the consequences.