The Twins by J.S. Lark

Author:J.S. Lark [Lark, J.S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2020-08-18T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter 34

2019

‘Come in, come in. Get in the warm.’ Jonny holds the door wide with one hand and the small holdall of Lucy’s belongings in his other.

Later on, when she’s settled in, Michael is going to collect more of her belongings from their flat so that she can stay here for as long as she wants to.

I want her to stay here forever, tucked tightly under a mother’s wing.

‘Sit down,’ I order, pointing at the sofa. ‘I’ll get you a drink. What would you like?’

She obeys my order because I know she’s exhausted herself just getting out of the car and walking in. I see her fingers moving the fabric on the sleeve of Michael’s coat where she’s gripping his arm tighter. ‘Hot chocolate, with all the extras. The way you used to make it for me after school at the café, Mum.’

‘I’ll have to pop down to the café and get some whipped cream and marshmallows, then,’ Jonny says as he puts her bag down beneath the coats. ‘I’ll go now. Any other treats you want?’

‘A slice of one of Stan’s delicious bacon and tomato quiches for my lunch.’

He comes across the room as Lucy drops onto the sofa, leans down, and kisses the top of her head, then brushes a hand over her hair. ‘Not my quiche?’

‘Sorry, Dad, Stan’s are better. I used to love it when you brought a leftover quiche home for tea.’

‘He’s making my recipe, remember,’ his fingers mess up her hair. Then he looks at me. ‘Do you want anything?’

‘We could do with milk.’

‘Can I make myself a coffee?’ Michael asks me.

‘Milk, cream, and marshmallows.’ Jonny lifts a hand, the keys rattling as he takes them out of his pocket. ‘See you later,’ he says as he opens the door and leaves.

‘I’ll put the kettle on so you can make your coffee,’ I say to Michael.

I walk over to join them on the sofa once the kettle is boiling and sit on the left side of Lucy. Michael is sitting at her right. ‘While you’re waiting for your hot chocolate, what do you want to do?’

‘Shall we put a boxset on?’ Michael suggests to Lucy.

I didn’t ask you.

‘Good idea.’ Lucy reaches to the coffee table to pick up the TV controls and Michael gets up to make his coffee. They spend the next ten minutes scanning through what’s on offer and debating what to watch.

When he sits back down, she leans into him. As we watch the TV, his fingers stroke through her hair.

I curl up my legs at the other end of the sofa, holding my ankles. I feel awkward. I want to hold her.

She’s asleep when Jonny comes through the door an hour later. I look over at him as he shuts the door quietly. Now Lucy is home and Jonny is happy, there is such a sense of family in this house; it’s as if it has a heartbeat in the walls. But I wish Michael wasn’t here. He’s spoiling things. He is not part of our family.

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