Are they always like this?
He tilts his head from side to side and I can’t quite interpret his answer.
Say something.
“So, where’s the place you’ve found?” Harry asks with an excited smile, encouraging the conversation back on track.
Nel and Jake share another smile, a joke we’re not in on, yet. “Well,” Nell says slowly. “We already tried the trains to and from London, it’s less than an hour to my studio. It’s picturesque, nice little two-bedroom house with parking.”
“Sounds great,” I say, genuinely excited for my friends.
“Yeah, but we’re just a little worried about the neighbours, seem a little rowdy.” Jake frowns, toying with a Brussel sprout.
“Ooh, drama,” Rhiannon says with a little excited wiggle in her seat. “Tell us more.”
“Really dodgy looking family right up the street, three delinquent kids.” Jake looks at Nel for confirmation and she nods with a serious face.
“They have a crazy eight-foot inflatable snowman out the front of their house,” Nel says, pulling a worried face.
I frown. “We have a large inflatable snowman.”
“And they sort of insinuated they expect us to babysit,” Jake says, screwing his face up.
Harry and I share confused expressions.
Dad chuckles. “You know, for two intelligent people, you two are quite slow on the uptake.”
“What?” Harry says, rather dumbly.
Something clicks and I sit back in my chair, wide eyed. “Oh my god!”
“What?” Harry asks even more confused.
“You’re moving here?”
Harry’s head snaps to me and back to Jake. “You’re…? Is that true?”
“Yes, brother,” Jake laughs. “Our offer on 220 Pear Street was accepted three days ago and if all goes well, we should be moving in the spring.”
I can see the tears welling in Harry’s eyes as he stares at two of his favourite people as they smile back at him with love. My husband doesn’t like to get emotional in front of people, so I throw him a bone. “Harry,” I breathe with forced wonder. “We have babysitters for life.”
“And they have a second bedroom, we can send the kids to them,” he whispers back. “We can walk around our own house naked.”
I laugh, along with the rest of the table and Lucas and Oscar make fake heaving sounds. “Oh guys, we’re so happy for you.”
“Thanks,” Nel says. “We’re really excited.”
“I bet,” Mandy says. “New beginnings, they’re exciting.” I catch her eye and wink at her. She gives a grateful smile in response.
“How wonderful, you’ll all be so close,” Mum says.
“I can’t wait,” Lucas says with a bounce. “Uncle Jake has the good PlayStation games.”
“Sshh, bud,” Jake says out the side of his mouth and I shoot him an unimpressed glare.
“Have you been letting my babies play those violent shooting games?”
“No!” His voice says indignant, but his shifty eyes say we’re going to be bringing this up again later.
