Steven sat next to Andrew and ran his hands over the wood. As if trying to summon the past to help him with the present.
They chatted about Hanna and other things before the door opened and in came Naomie. As soon as Steven saw her, he knew.
She hugged their mother but kept her distance from him. Classic Naomie. Whenever she was in the wrong, she would shut down. It amazed him she’d even turned up.
“What’s this all about?” she asked as she took a seat next to their mother.
Clinging onto mother’s skirts for protection, are you?
Steven took a breath. All eyes were on him.
“I wanted to know how much you got paid,” he said.
“What?”
“A lot or a little? Why did you have to do that?”
Naomie had her defiant face on.
“I know you’re having a shit time,” she said. “If you’ve mademe drive all the way here for some paranoid delusion, then you’re out of your mind.”
Steven got his phone and pulled up the front page. He held it up to his sister.
“That photograph was taken on the grounds so don’t fucking play me.”
“Hey,” his mother said.
The anger gripped Steven.
“What’s this about, Naomie?” Andrew asked.
“I told you, he’s lost his marbles. I didn’t have anything to do with this.”
“You might not have. That weasel you’re going out with did. Admit it.”
Naomie didn’t move. She glanced from one family member to the other. Her silence proved her guilt.
“Naomie?” Andrew said. “Is this true? Did Kyle take that photograph?”
Her lip began to tremble.
“Oh, Naomie,” their mother said.
“It wasn’t my fault,” she exclaimed. “He shouldn’t be screwing one of his players anyway.”
The slap that came from their mother knocked Naomie for six. She almost fell off her chair and had to steady herself.
“You would choose that…that…that snake over your own brother?”
Naomie rubbed her cheek. “I love him.”
“Get out,” their mother said.
“You always take his side just because he has the cash.”
Their mother raised her hand again. This time Naomie leapt to her feet.
“No you don’t,” she said. “I’m an adult. You can’t treat me like that.”
