“Hey Big Brother. How’s it going?” She embraces me tightly, hugging me as if her life depends on it.
“Good, sweetheart, how are you?”
Jack stands up. “Good? Can you honestly say you're good?”
I sigh, and Maddie spins around to Jack. “Drop it. Jesus, you're like a dog with a bone. Leave him alone. He’s a grown man - he can do whatever the hell he wants.”
She turns back around to me and winks. Good to know I’ve got an ally.
I hug Mum and pat Dad on the back, so grateful that these are the parents that actually wanted us. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. When I think back to when we first moved in, the other two were too young to remember – I was so protective of them and so wary of anyone new, it took me a while until I warmed up to them, but they're as they are now, sweet, loving and patient - we couldn't have asked for better. Every day I thank my lucky stars that we ended up here. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up, but we had love, which makes us rich.
I go into the dining room and see the table is set for nine people. There are seven of us.
I turn to mum. “Who else is coming?”
She doesn't meet my eyes when she answers. “Oh, some friends that were at a loose end.”
I turn to see everyone watching me. An uneasy feeling settles in my stomach - something isn't quite right. “Why are you all watching me?”
No one speaks as Eli comes bounding over to me after his movie has finished. “Uncle Dec! Hooray, you're here.”
Robyn walks in behind him and kisses me on the cheek. “Hey, Dec. Eli has been asking to see you ever since, well, since the fire.”
“You were a superhero. You carried me out like the hulk through a burning building.” he exclaims
Robyn winces. She is most likely still having nightmares that her son was trapped and was in danger.
“Yeah, I did, dude. You good?”
“Never better. I have a superhero uncle now!”
I laugh, and Jack pipes up. “Gone are the days when he worshipped me - they lasted for, oh I don't know, six months.”
Robyn slides an arm around his waist. “Aw, you don't like not being the centre of attention, do you? Don't worry. I still worship you.” She kisses him, and he slides his hand up her arm and rests it on her shoulder.
“Thanks Danish, but I know you worship him too - he saved Eli.”
“Well yeah, and yeah, you're right I do. But you are my superhero every day.”
His eyes warm and the way he looks at her hits me right in the gut. I'm happy for them, but it reminds me of what I had with Sophie - did I look at her that way? I know how I felt - how I still feel. For the thousandth time, I feel like a coward.
The doorbell goes. “That'll be your friends, Mum. Shall I get it?” I ask.
She shakes her head and looks all flustered. “No!” She shouts. “Let me get it.”
I turn to Maddie. “What’s up with Mum?”
She shrugs but can't meet my eyes, there is something weird happening. It's like they're all in on a secret and I'm not part of it.
Mum enters the dining room with two people following her. It takes me a while to recognise them, and when I do, my heart leaps into my throat. No, it can’t be. Mum wouldn't do that to me...would she?
As they walk further into the room, my fears are confirmed. It’s Violet's parents. How the hell has this happened? How do my parents even know how to contact Violet's parents, and why would they?
Mum clears her throat. “This is Jerry and Sue, everyone. Dec, you remember Jerry and Sue?”
I nod, and even though I want to turn around and walk out, I go over to say hello. I lean in and kiss Violet's mum. It hurts to see how much Violet looked like her mum - one of the many reasons I avoided seeing them all this time.
“Declan, you look so handsome, and I don't remember you being so big,” Sue says to me.
