Page 98 of People Skills

‘Did it?’ Graham says vaguely.

Hillary starts fussing with dishes.

‘Yes. It did,’ Ettie says, not ready to drop it.

‘Well…’ Graham shrugs. ‘Your mother and I have…we’ve physically reconnected recently.’

‘I’m sorry, you’ve what?’ Ettie’s voice has gone up about ten octaves.

I have my hand on the door handle. I should go and not look back. But a part of me now needs to hear the end to this bombshell.

‘We’ve reestablished physical contact. In a sense.’

‘What does that mean!’ Ettie is looking between her parents, frantically.

‘It means, we’re enjoying each other’s company again. Intimately.’ Graham puts too much emphasis on the last word.

‘Oh, Graham,’ Hillary says. ‘Please stop.’

James makes a disgusted noise and Xavier sighs.

‘Oh my god. Oh my god! You’re sleeping together!’ Ettie looks at James and Xavier. ‘Why aren’t you more outraged?’

Hillary gives me a help-me! look and I hesitate at the door.

‘Because we already knew,’ James says.

‘Knew what?’ Hillary says.

‘About you and Dad. Reconnecting.’

‘What do you know, exactly?’ Hillary says.

‘Oh, and no one bothered to tell me,’ Ettie says. ‘You two leave me out of everything.’

‘It wasn’t like that,’ Xavier says. ‘We were protecting the baby.’

‘Well, guess what, the baby likes gossip and being kept in the loop!’

‘What do you think you know?’ Hillary says, holding up her hand.

‘And how?’ Graham asks.

‘I saw the two of you,’ James says, and Hillary gasps, and Xavier, James and Graham and Ettie all start speaking over the top of each other.

Lana has moved to my side.

‘Should we make a run for it?’ she whispers.

Apparently I’m no longer the enemy now the family is fully imploding.

‘I was trying to, but now I think Hillary might need me.’

‘I thought Xavier might need me, but I’m getting the distinct impression he doesn’t,’ she says.

‘Are you driving back to Melbourne tonight?’ I ask.

‘I was hoping Xav might ask me to stay,’ she says. ‘I hate driving in the dark. And I really want to see Rex. But, yeah, I think I am.’