Ian
Present
Iopen the door and the sound of Mum’s laughter lifts my mood immediately. A night at home with the family is just what I need. I close the door behind me and peek into the kitchen where Mum is crying with laughter over something Ryan has said.
“Hey, what’s going on here?” I ask, grabbing a carrot from the salad on the counter.
“Oh nothing, your brother was just telling me about the last time he got pantsed on the field.”
“What a show,” I tease and he punches my shoulder.
“Where’s Dad?”
“He’s setting the table in the dining room. Today’s a good day,” she smiles and my heart fills with hope.
Maybe all isn’t lost.
“I’ll go and see if he needs a hand, seeing as Ryan doesn’t look like he’ll be off his arse anytime soon.”
I grab some glasses from the counter and take them through to the next room. My father is setting down the napkins and cutlery, in seemingly good spirits.
“Oh, Ian!” He looks up at me. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I just got here.” I put the glasses down and notice immediately that my father has set the table for five. Maybe it’s not the awesome day Mum expected after all.
“Er, Dad?”
“Yeah, son?”
“You’ve set too many places.”
He looks at me for a second before looking back at the table. “There are five place settings,” he says looking at me again. “There are five of us.”
“No, Dad, there are only four of us here tonight.” I try to be delicate, not knowing how this conversation is going to end.
He shakes his head and goes back to what he was doing and I decide to let it go: there’s no point upsetting him over this.
“I’m going to the kitchen to get drinks. What would you like?”
“Half a glass of wine’d be great.”
I go back into the kitchen just as the front door opens in front of me.
“What the fuck?”
“That’s how you welcome me back?” Nick says, throwing his bag to the ground.
“Nick…”
“Oh, I see you still remember my name.”
“You ugly son of a—”
“Nick!” my mother appears behind me. “Oh my God, you’re here!” she brings her hands to her mouth.
He opens his arms and she runs to him and dives in. Nick squeezes her tightly and lifts her off the floor, making her squeal in delight.
“I told you there were five of us,” my father says calmly behind my back as he goes over to my brother and my mum.
