“You went where you weren’t meant to and got covered in plaster dust.” Vic shook her head. “That was your fault.”
I made a noise that should suggest I wasn’t going to talk about this anymore, especially when Seph and Georgia were there.
“How’s Rose? She seems okay.”
Georgia smiled and nodded, not looking anywhere as anxious as Seph did. “She’s okay. Not worried about the procedure – she won’t call it an operation – and doing everything as normal, just a bit slower.”
“Can you not have it done any sooner?”
Georgia shook her head. “It isn’t actually urgent, and we could wait – the specialist said that it wasn’t going to get any worse. But I want to get it out of the way for her sake and she can get on with everything without knowing there’s a procedure looming. She does get breathless sometimes and her growth has slowed. She’s really not putting any weight on either, so I think it’s best being now.” She looked around the garden for her. “I think she’s indoors with Margot and Kitty, probably getting one of them to redo her hair because my attempt won’t be good enough.”
“Lucy will be the same.” Vic looked disappointed. “My braids aren’t the best thing ever anymore.”
I watched Seph as they carried on discussing pre-teen daughters, his attention elsewhere rather than what they were saying. It wasn’t on anything that was going on here, either.
I moved away, tapping his arm so he followed, and headed down the side of the house where it was quieter.
“Are you okay?”
He gave me a nod that was solid. “I feel better now you all know.”
“Good. We’re all here for you.”
Seph smiled, one that looked genuine rather than forced. “I know she’s going to be okay.
“She is. Georgia seems okay with everything.”
His shrug was unsure. “She’s better than she was. Rose has been the best out of us. She’s enjoying herself today as well. She really likes being with her cousins.” He looked at me slyly. “I think she’ll be having another cousin.”
“You’ve lost me.”
“Ava’s not drinking. She didn’t drink the champagne before either. I think they’re having another.”
“Jesus. Eli must be mad.” I caught sight of him drinking a beer, his head where the cricket ball had hit looking like he had an extra penis starting to shoot. “Unless it was an accident.”
“Yeah. We’re not having an accident. Not when that twin gene is real.” He said it with a shudder. “I’m going to go round to the house tomorrow and have a look round. I want something to remember it by.”
“Fair enough. I think Claire’s going tomorrow too.” I suspected Claire would be there most days this week.
“So’s Payton. She wants the bedframe in her old bedroom and a wardrobe – the really ornate one that Mum and Dad got as a wedding present from some old client in Italy.” Seph scratched at his head. “I wouldn’t have minded that. Are you sure you’re not going to take anything?”
“Nothing off the top of my head.” I peered at him. He was still scratching his head. “Have you got nits?”
“Possibly. It’s been going round Luke’s class.”
“Fuck. Have you checked his hair? If he’s got them, he’ll have shared them out this afternoon.” I was starting to itch. I’d been fairly close to Seph too.
“I’ll go and get hold of him. Hold my beer.”
An hour later and someone had been to the pharmacy to get nit lotion – a lot of it – and the first floor bathroom had turned into something that resembled a sheep dip.
Strangely, the women were still outside, glasses of champagne or gin in their hands, while the men stunk of chemicals and had ears full of complaining children.
I surveyed my two boys who had damp hair that was a lot cleaner than it had been for a good few weeks. “At least you smell clean.”
Maddox made a sound that sounded like a snarl and ran off, probably to roll in mud.
Will rubbed his hair, flicking any water in my direction. I’d used the nit lotion on my own head – I’d been too close to Seph and various children to take any chances and it’d stopped me from itching at least.
