Fern pretends to throw something at her sister and turns back to Rey. “Don’t listen to them, but also nerds are cool now, so there’s that. It gets kind of wild. We’re all quite competitive.”
“Do you have a big family?” Mum asks Rey.
“Big enough,” she answers, covering her mouth and swallowing whatever she was chewing. “I’ve got a big brother, my parents, and a bunch of aunts and uncles around the country. We don’t have a family game, but we gather for meals, and we’re fond of reading. We used to sit quietly together with a book each when I was younger.”
“Oh, that’s lovely. Do you have a favourite?”
“Mum’s a massive romance reader,” Fern adds, wiggling her eyebrows.
“A proud one.” Mum grins at Fern before she turns back to Rey.
“It’s hard to pick a favourite,” Rey says, “but I’d say Pride and Prejudice. I just admire Elizabeth’s self-respect so much.”
I’ve not read the book, but now I want to find out what she means. Does she struggle with that for herself?
Mum nods vigorously. “It’s a classic. I love it too. There’s a reason my first-born is called Mark, after all!” She winks, and Rey beams at me. It’s such a ridiculously cute reaction, it makes me laugh out loud. How is it my laugh sits so loosely with her?
Still grinning, I catch her eye, but her smile is gone. She knits her brow at me. Does she think I laughedather?
Mum continues, “I try to get these kids to read more fiction, but they’re all very boring.”
“I read,” James and I protest simultaneously and exchange glances.
Mum raises her eyebrows at me. “What have you read that is remotely emotional? I’ve only ever seen you read those old comics and your business books.”
I open my mouth to answer, and Violet cuts in. “No, he’s readThe Merry Adventures of Robin Hoodat least five times. I tried to get him into Sherlock Holmes instead, but no chance.”
“That’s not enough,” Mum says. “Do you have any outlets for your imagination, for your feelings?”
“Thanks, family. Do any of you recognise what I do for a living? It’s all about imagination.” I wave a hand towards Rey.
Rey, who looks oddly pale.
Her eyes are wide, staring at me.
Mum follows my gaze and leans in. “Are you okay, Rey?”
Rey’s eyes are stuck on mine, and I’m certain now.
She’s put it together.
Me.
The comments about Robin Hood. This family I’ve talked about.
Everything.
“I can’t believe it,” she mutters under her breath, and gets up, frantically gathering her things. “I have to go.”
“Oh?” Mum says, looking at her and then at me.
“Sorry, thanks for the food, and, umm, happy birthday,” she mumbles towards me but not meeting my eye again.
She starts down the hall, and I’m frozen to the spot.
“Was it something I said?” Mum asks, looking around.
I think it was something Violet said…
