“I guess we’ve got a lot to catch up on,” he says as he pulls back and winks at me.
A laugh rumbles from my chest. “I guess we do.”
Finn says hello and helps them bring their luggage into the house. Knowing my mum, she probably bought the entire tourist shop full of knick-knacks and memorabilia.
The stairs creak from behind us as JJ descends. “Uh, Mum, Dad, this is my friend JJ. JJ, these are my parents, Andrea and James,” Finn introduces them.
He walks straight up to our mother and offers her a polite hug before smiling at her. “Hey, it’s lovely to meet you. Thank you for letting me stay over this summer, it’s been a lifesaver.”
My mother’s hand rests on JJ’s shoulder as she inspects him. “Oh, don’t be silly, JJ. We are a family who loves to share, who loves to get everyone involved. Once you step into this house, you’re a part of the family already.”
Then he greets my father. JJ places his hand out politely, but my father grabs it and draws him into a bro-like hug. We’re not very formal here, and my parents are certainly the type to put on a circus act.
I love my parents, but they’re definitely a lot different than normal parents.
Sometimes my dad likes to share stories of when he went travelling in the eighties and took crazy hallucinogenic drugs that changed his life.We’re that sort of family.
“So, what’s for dinner?” My father rubs his hands together and glances between Finn and me.
I hear my brother breathe out air with a chuckle. “Dinner? You’ll be lucky.”
My father launches at him playfully. “Cheeky sod,” he says with a chuckle.
“Shall we order in?” I suggest as I walk towards the kitchen to flick on the kettle.
“Yes,” Finn says. “Most definitely.”
My mum sighs exasperatedly and turns to my dad. “First night back with our children and we’re already guilt-tripped into getting a takeaway.”
“We raised them well,” he says under his breath.
I can’t help but smile. I didn’t realise how much I missed them until now.
My heart fills with love and the familiarity of being back home.
When my mum heads upstairs to get freshened up, I follow after her.
“Everything okay, honey?” she asks as I linger by her door.
I glance over my shoulder before shutting us inside her room. “Yeah, I’m doing okay,” I say. “Actually, Mum, there’s something I need to tell you. And I know you just got back, but I can’t keep it to myself.”
Panic covers her face. “What’s the matter?”
“It’s Finn.”
“What about Finn?”
I sigh and drag a hand through my hair. “He’s been drinking a lot. Almost too much. He tried to go to work drunk the other day, and at every party we attend, he gets almost blackout drunk. If he’s not careful, he’ll end up in the hospital.”
My mother blinks. “Okay.” She nods. “Are you sure he’s not just having too much of a good time?”
I shake my head. “He’s suppressing what happened with my accident,” I sigh. “And JJ has spoken to him about getting help, but I don’t know if he will, and I’m really worried about him, Mum. We need to do something before it gets worse. I fear it will.”
She’s silent for a long moment. “Oh god.” Her eyes close. “Thank you for telling me. I’ll talk to him and keep an eye on him.”
“He’ll probably be defensive and downplay the severity of it,” I admit. “But I know he needs help. He’s self-destructing and I’m scared.”
My mother steps forward and wraps her arms around me in a hug. “It’s okay. We’ll get him the help he needs if things get worse, but I’ll try to talk to him, see if he can open up to me.”
