“Well,” I mutter, “good to know you’re both still essentially feral.”
Jamie peers around me immediately.
“Where’s Heath?”
Straight in.
Beyond them, Sophie is standing in the hallway with a tea towel over one shoulder and the expression of a woman who has already broken up three fights and wiped something unidentifiable off a wall.
“There he is,” she says. “The elusive traveller.”
I disentangle myself from nephews and carry my bag inside.
“Hello to you too.”
She kisses my cheek distractedly.
“Noah, stop pushing your brother. Jamie, socks.”
From the living room comes the relentless gunfire noise of a video game.
Matty.
“Hi, Phil,” he calls.
Leaning slightly, I catch sight of him on the sofa, headset on, controller in hand.
“Hi, Matty.”
Sophie shuts the door, checks behind me, then returns her attention to me.
“Where’s Heath?”
“He’s not here.”
“I can see that.”
Jamie tugs my sleeve.
“Did he die?”
“No.”
“Did you lose him?”
“No.”
Sophie points to the kitchen.
“Boys. Crisps.”
They disappear at speed.
She folds her arms.
“He’s not dead, he’s not lost, and yet there is no hamster.”
I take off my coat.
