8
CHRIS
"A carpenter, how interesting. I have friends who work in construction; working on building sites, house extensions, roof alterations, and stuff like that." Chris stopped himself from saying anything more. It wasn't for him to accidentally out Lee or any of the other guys if Frank knew them. "Are you that kind of carpenter?"
"Yes." Frank gave a slight nod and looked down at his empty mug.
"I'm never sure whether furniture-fixers, cabinetmakers, and joiners call themselves carpenters as well." Chris picked up his cup and took a sip.
"I do make furniture as well, but not for sale, as a hobby. It's quirky stuff that I like, but other people don't see it in the same way." Frank didn't look up as he spoke.
"You think people don't appreciate your efforts?"
"I know they don't. They mock my tables with too many legs, the chairs with one arm and a built-in lamp, and that sort of thing. It was a huge bone of contention with my last girlfriend. She thought I wasted my time and money hiding out in the shed. ‘I saw something nasty in the woodshed,’ she'd frequently say."
The quotation made Chris smile. "And how long have you lived on Cold Comfort Farm?" he asked.
Frank's head shot back, and his eyebrows rose. "You know it?"
"My other dearest friend, who happens to be my housemate, is an actor. I can't say I know every play he's been in, but I do remember Cold Comfort Farm and that famous line."
"She was a bitch about my hobby, but I must admit it made us both laugh." Frank leaned forward and hissed the words dramatically, "I saw something nasty in the woodshed."
Chris sputtered on his tea and laughed along with Frank. "The woman who just left, was she your ex?"
Frank nodded.
Chris sipped his tea and wondered how long Frank had been single. Was it just a matter of minutes? Was it any of his business? He decided not to ask. Already, Chris knew far more about Frank than he'd revealed in his profile. Chris deduced Frank wasn't out to many people, and that was why he didn't want his face recognizable on the internet dating site.
And on top of everything, Frank worked in construction.
Chris had heard enough about the macho male-dominated environment of building sites to know it was a different world. One largely devoid of out LGBT people. A workplace inhabited by men stuck in the last century according to Lee. Lee was one of Chris's closest friends and a scaffolder. Perhaps it was different for carpenters.
"What brings a nice man like you to a place like this? Shouldn't you be at work?" Chris asked.
"I'm skiving off today, to be honest. What about you? What brings you here?"
"I've done some work in the studio this morning, and of course, I could have a cup of tea in there. It's just good just to get a change of scenery." Chris ran his fingers across his iPad. "Thought I'd check out whether I had any messages."
Frank’s fingers fidgeted. "I thought I needed to shake things up a bit in my life."
Chris stopped strumming and traced around the edge of his tablet instead, Chris said, "The same thing here. I definitely need to shake up a few things in my life, hence joining this site today."
After glancing around at the other patrons, in a low voice Frank asked, "You only joined today?"
Chris nodded. "Yes. How long have you been on it?"
"All of about four hours." Frank looked at his watch. "Maybe more, it's later than I thought."
"What a coincidence. Sounds like fate that we met then, doesn't it? As this wasn't even arranged." Chris open his arms, indicating the two of them sitting at a table together. "So if fate has brought us together, we can't fight it. What would you like to do next?"
"I've no idea." Frank looked surprised by the question.
"Do you have plans for the rest of the day?"
Very slightly, Frank shook his head.
"What were you planning to do with your ‘sick day’ before you met me?" Chris brought up both hands to use air quotes.
Frank cocked his head to one side. "Well, it was a bit spontaneous joining the site. I hadn't expected to meet anyone. I was thinking of drinking beer and going to the cinema, by myself, to get lost in some action film."
"I love going to the cinema midweek in the daytime. There's usually hardly anyone in there. A few times I've had the screen to myself." Chris hoped that didn't sound too suggestive, as if he were aiming to get Frank alone in a dark room. Although obviously, that was the end goal.
"I can't recall the last time I went to watch a film in the daytime. Is that something you often do?"
"Not often. I am my own boss, so I do keep odd hours. Not that everyone who is self-employed works strange hours, but I do. Sometimes I end up in the studio twenty-four hours or longer. I can work through the night, and even fall asleep there. I have to set up reminders on my phone. Otherwise, I completely lose track of the day and time. Like I've lost track of your question. What was it?"
"Do you often watch films in the daytime?"
"Oh, yes. Yes, on TV. It's been ages since I went to the cinema. Do you mind if I join you?" Because Chris thought that sounded like exactly the sort of shake up his world could benefit from too.
At least if they were going to watch a film, it meant they were doing something together, which may help Frank relax. He seemed skittish, like a timid animal who was curious but could so easily run away. His short sentences, lack of conversation, and general demeanor gave the impression he was tongue-tied by nervousness.
Sitting in the window seat where they were in full view of passersby possibly didn't help matters at all.
"That would be fine. I have no idea what's on." Frank began to tap on his iPad.
Chris placed his hand over the top of Frank's. "Why don't we just be spontaneous, take a chance. Let's head on to the cinema and see what's on when we get there. If the times don't work out, and we have a long wait, we can always visit another café."
"I can do that. And to be honest, I am a bit hungry."
"If we get there when a film is just about to start we can eat an indecent amount of popcorn and go eat proper food after."
"It sounds like a plan," Frank agreed.
"Impulsive, reckless, not working to a timetable. Welcome to my world." Chris winked.
They finished off the tea and left the café.
"My car is just over there. Shall I drive?" asked Chris.