Jonny looked away having seen Jake perform many times before. He just couldn’t help himself given an audience and would turn into this big kid who delighted in making people smile.
“You two are good now?”
Scott finally getting together with Keren after ten years of them being each other’s enemy number one had jarred things between the cousins. No one had known it – apart from Rayah – but Jake had carried a flame for Keren from back when they were teenagers.
“Getting there. I feel bad because I know…” Scott looked around to check who was nearby. Jake had attracted a larger crowd, Zack and Alex joining it, probably to keep an eye of things not getting too out of hand. “I know he would’ve wanted what I have with her.”
Jonny shook his head. “Ray said he’d moved on from Keren. She thought it was more to do with everything changing. That sounds a bit girly.”
Scott remained still. He wasn’t the most open out of all of them, in fact, Will was more inclined to share personal shit with Scott and he’d only lived here a few months.
“What did she mean – changing?” Scott checked his phone.
Jonny ignored him. And didn’t pass comment. “Zack settling down and then you. She reckoned Jake was feeling a bit out of it?”
Scott shook his head. “Two of us are in serious relationships. The rest of us are still single. I think Jake’s doing his usual over-sensitive act. He’s probably worried that he’ll be left on the shelf. Oi!” Scott stood up, almost knocking over his pint. “It’s your round, Llama-lover.”
“They’re alpacas!” Jake had finished off his magic tricks and was now at the bar; a group of women had just entered, wearing what looked like Christmas jumpers with added tinsel.
“He didn’t deny the lovers bit though.” Scott sat back down. “I’m sorry about you and Robyn.”
Jonny laughed. “It was never serious. More just something convenient. Milo and Charlie are really good friends so it was easy.”
“And got the single women from Severton off your back?”
Jonny laughed and said nothing. He had a feeling that Scott had worked out the nature of his relationship with Robyn. They’d known each other too long.
They navigatedthe rest of the afternoon around the various office parties that were spilling out into the streets and bars of the city. Everywhere was ready for a break from work, it seemed and for most people out, they’d have a least a few days off over the Christmas period.
That wasn’t on the cards for Jonny. Tomorrow he was on call, which meant he would be having an earlier night than most of his mates, and then he was on shift on Christmas Eve, but he had Christmas morning off so he could be with the kids while they opened their presents. Most years, one of the sets of grandparents were there, especially if he did have to work. This time, both were away. Grace’s mum and dad were on a Caribbean cruise and his own parents were spending time with his sister who lived down south. She’d just had a baby boy and was finding it hard being a mum of two, especially seeing that the kids’ father wasn’t the most supportive.
He made an excuse and went outside, avoiding the Christmas crowds and finding a quiet spot in a courtyard. It was seven pm and the kids would’ve had baths and be in their pyjamas watching a Christmas film or playing a game. Whenever Rayah looked after them, she kept them to a pretty clear routine. Lots of fun and interactions, Charlie wasn’t allowed to hide in his room and play computer games and Sadie wasn’t allowed to dominate the conversation, and they did things together. They loved having her there.
He heard a shriek as the video call was answered, followed by a clatter and an apology. Harry. Quite possibly the clumsiest child to ever have lived.
“Are you in one piece?”
Rayah was on the sofa, dressed in pyjamas too, ridiculous ones with large rabbits on them. She’d be sleeping in his bed tonight, given that he wasn’t due back till morning.
“I think that was Charlie’s Lego creation that Harry’s just destroyed so Harry might not be in one piece later.” She held the tablet so he could see her, Sadie and Charlie. Sadie looked tired which meant she’d been physically exhausted after school. Charlie was snuggled into Rayah, looking tired too.
“What’ve you been up to? What’ve I missed?” He ached to be home with them. It was a feeling he was familiar with after all these years, and he knew that once they’d finished the call he’d be glad of the time where he didn’t have to parent.
“We made cakes and gingerbread people.” Sadie’s voice was sleepy. “And we went swimming straight after school. Rayah taught me to dive.”
“Safely, I hope?” Jonny couldn’t resist. Rayah diving into the tarn – the lake fairly high up in the Peaks – had ended in disaster when they were younger. Another misadventure of Rayah Maynard that he’d been involved in.
“Very safe. She taught me how to point my arms and what to do if something went wrong. And not to dive on my brothers.”
Jonny had a feeling he’d need to repeat that piece of advice at some point before they went on holiday next year.
Sadie’s eyes were almost closed; she barely stirred when Harry came in, looking like he’d been scrubbed clean.
“Harry, why don’t you tell your dad how you learned to put the washing machine on?” Rayah gave his middle child a sweet smile, one which suggested he’d been up to no good.
Harry squashed onto Rayah’s lap, just about small enough to squeeze on. “It wasn’t my fault.”
Charlie laughed. “He tried to drink the melted chocolate for the cake, Dad. It spilled all over him.”
