“Okay, Dad, I get the picture,” Callum interrupted hastily. His attention was diverted by Mikayla, coming back from the car with a music dock under her arm. She plugged it into an external outlet just near where they were sitting, blue toothed her cell phone to it, then watching her brother carefully, pressed play. Callum swore at her as the first strains of a One Direction hit splitthe air.
She grinned mischievously. “Just jokes.” She quickly flicked through her phone, found her seventies playlist and pressing play, slapped Callum on the back as she grabbed a beer from the icebox and moved away to her seat next to Juniper and Leah. William found their byplay hugely entertaining but felt a frisson of alarm as Mikayla bent her head to Juniper’s and they quickly engaged in an intense conversation, shooting him glances every now and then.
“They’re talking about you, you know.” Rafe gestured with his beer bottle.
“I’m aware.” William looked away, turning the sausages absently. He could only imagine what they were saying. Leah, for her part, seemed to be more focused on playing with Billy as he sat in her lap than listening to the conversation. He was grateful for that small mercy, at least. Then he saw Juniper nod enthusiastically and look over at him, a beatific smile lighting up her face. Well, it wasn’t terrible, whatever it was, he thought as his heart thumped hard against his ribs and he smiled back at her.
He flipped the burger patties, listening idly as the conversation around him turned to the upcoming football season, surprised to find that they were all Sydney Swans fans. Usually, when he traveled south of the border, he was the odd one out, since most Victorians barracked for one of the local teams.
“I think this might be Franklin’s last season.” John leaned back further in the chair, taking a swig of beer.
“Yeah, you might be right. Not sure who’s around to step up once he’s gone,” Callum said thoughtfully.
John chuckled. “We’ll be right for this season at least. I reckon we’re looking the goods for a finals berth.”
“Cheers to that.” Rafe leaned over and clinked his beer bottle against John’s.
“If we do get in, you guys should come up to Sydney for a game. We’ve got a corporate box at the SCG.”
As one, John, Callum and Rafe turned to stare at him then John’s face split into a wide grin. “I’ll hold you to that offer, son.”
William laughed. “See that you do.” He switched the barbecue off and moved the sausages and patties onto a wide tray, taking it over to the makeshift table. “Lunch is up,” he called, stepping back as everyone came over, grabbing plates, napkins and cutlery before descending on the table. The flow of chatter never stopped as they all piled their plates with bread rolls, garden salad, potato salad, sausages and meat patties and settled into an informal circle to eat their lunch. It was all just so easy and relaxed, such a far cry from the types of gatherings his parents arranged. They were usually formally catered and nearly always used for networking. You’d never see anyone take something from someone else’s plate, like Mikayla was just now doing to Rafe, or a toddler having a minor meltdown because his mother demanded that he eat something green, like Billy was doing, or someone eating lunch while sitting in their lover’s lap, like Violet was doing with Jasper. There certainly wouldn’t have been any Led Zeppelin blaring. Observing it all, William recognized that he loved every second of it.
“Is there something wrong with this meat?” Mikayla asked loudly.
William started. “I don’t think so, why?”
“You’re the only one not eating it.”
“Oh, right.” He piled up a plate and took the empty chair next to Juniper.
“All good?” She asked, rubbing his arm.
“Yep,” he replied with a smile.
She looked at him for a long moment, then seemingly satisfied with what she saw, turned back to make sure Billy was eating his lunch.
Once lunch was finished, Mikayla leaned back in her chair, stretched her arms above her head and declared, “I’m stuffed.”
“Me too,” Nora said. “I could have a nap right now.”
“No time for that, Mum! We gotta work off lunch.”
Rafe groaned. “You’re joking.”
She slapped him on the thigh. “This is hardly a joking matter.” Then she jumped to her feet and strode off around the edge of the cottage.
“She’s not serious?” Callum sighed.
William looked at Juniper inquiringly, but she just shrugged. She didn’t know what was going on either. William was even more mystified when Nora and John picked up their chairs and walked off. John paused, before rounding the corner of the cottage. “Violet, Jasper. You’ll want to bring your chairs.”
More than curious, everyone rose to their feet and followed. William laughed when he saw Mikayla stepping away from her car with a football under her arm.
“I’m the first captain. I pick William. Rafe, who you got?”
“Why does Rafe get to be captain?” Callum protested.
“Oh, okay then. Leah, you can be captain. Who you got?”
