“You know it,” he chuckles as he walks us into the main living room. “How is Sara? Did she get back okay?”
“Yeah, she’s fine. She is happy to be back in her own bed.” I tell him.
After all my worrying about not being able to see her, I think I have spoken to her more now than ever. She is living vicariously through me and Max, or so she says. Only a fewmore days to go until we find out if we get to live together again. What I would give to get the opportunity to dance professionally in Paris with my best friend.
“I made tea,” Mum calls from the kitchen.
That’s when I notice Max hasn’t taken a seat; he’s hovering behind my chair. Like a damn bodyguard. My Dad must have noticed too, as when I look back at him, he’s eyeing Max warily.
“Is everything okay, Son?” He asks with a quirked eyebrow.
“Yeah, everything is perfect, actually. There is just something I’m eager to talk to you and Mum about.” He says with a confidence I don’t feel.
This can only go one of two ways. One, they’ll be extremely delighted that we have found true happiness. Or, two. We upset them with the news. But I don’t think I have ever seen them upset with any of us before. It’s not illegal, it’s not even unheard of, it’s justdifferent.
“Talk to us about what, honey?” Mum asks as she makes her way back into the room with a tray of teacups and a teapot.
Max waits for her to finish pouring out the drinks and sits down before he starts.
“I’m not really sure what the best way to go about this is. So, I am just going to come out with it,” he says, taking a breath before continuing. “I love Lucy.”
“Well, I should think so, too. She is your sister.” I cringe at Liz’s reply. My Dad is silent, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he looks between us. He knows exactly what Max was saying.
“No, Mum,” he leans forward to place a hand on my shoulder. “I aminlove with Lucy.”
“An-and… I am in love with him, too.” I add, stuttering over my words.
Time ceases to exist.
Everyone in the room is so silent, you could hear a pin drop.
Neither of them moves; I don’t even think they blink. They’re just staring at us both with wide eyes. Liz’s mouth is open so wide that she could catch flies in there.
It feels like an eternity has passed before Max breaks the silence. “So, we’re together now.” He states as a matter of fact.
“Like hell you are!” She roars in response. “You end this right now! I am not having this family being made a laughingstock of because you two decided to mess around.” She’s screaming that loud and high-pitched, I’m worried she might burst a blood vessel. She spins to face Dad, glaring at his still, silent form. “Say something!”
The longer he stares at me, the more I feel myself start to panic. My chest is rising and falling more rapidly with each passing breath. Tears well up in my eyes as he studies me. Not Max, just me.
“Dad. I love him!” I plead with shuddering breaths. “Please, try and see this as…”
“As what? He is your God damned brother! This isn’t normal.” Mum cries hysterically, fanning her face frantically with her hands.
“Try to understand how much we mean to each other. How much we have always been there for each other,” Max adds, his usual humorous demeanour long gone. His jaw is clenched, and the hand on my shoulder grips me tighter.
“Liz.” Dad finally speaks. His tone was kind but firm. He looks between me and Max before continuing. “Look at them. They really want this. We always knew this would happen.” He knew?
“It can’t happen, James! It’s not right!” She is starting to hyperventilate. The more upset she gets, the more my heart breaks.
“I never meant to upset either of you,” I choke out as I try to hold back the tears.
Max kneels in front of me and takes my face between his palms. His eyes bounce between my own, as if he’s searching for something deep in my soul. “We know what we are and what we mean to each other. It’s you and me, remember?”
I try to nod as he holds me, but my face scrunches up instead. My battle to hold back the tears finally failed. I gasp on the sob that makes its way out of my throat. Max pulls me into him so that my forehead is now resting against his.
“I love you.” He whispers the words quickly, as though trying to keep my mind here, with him.
“No!” Mum roars. “Get out of this house! I will not have either of you destroying this family!”
“You are the one destroying it, not us!” Max shouts back, his anger uncontrollable now. “How can you act this way towards us? Do we mean nothing to you? Does our happiness mean nothing to you?”
“Don’t speak to your mother that way.” Dad scolds, rising from his chair to glare at Max before turning back to Mum. “Now, Liz. This is a shock, but we will get used to…”
“No, we will not. It is not happening.” She marches over to the door and flings it wide open. “All three of you, get out! I will not be a part of any of this!” She points at Dad before continuing. “And if you agree with this, this, monstrosity of a situation, you can leave too!”
“Mum!” Max takes a step back. I don’t think I have ever seen her this upset before.
“Liz! Be reasonable here. You haven’t given them a chance to explain.” Dad says with raised hands, as if he is confronting an angry bear.
“All of you. Out!” She screams, before storming out of the room.
