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“You hinting at something?”
“Like father like son.”
“I don’t behave like that anymore!”
“Yeah, tame dad.”
I grab the ass I’m itching to get my hands on. “Stop being cheeky.”
Rhys reaches out to me, babbling. Seven months old and he’s sitting and interacting a lot more, which I think Sky finds easier. Like he became a person, his strong personality difficult, but counteracted by smiles wrapping us around his little finger.
Sky’s mum appears in the doorway, dressed in a long skirt and smart shirt, accompanied by an unimpressed look. Sometimes I see expressions on her face that match Sky’s, and occasionally I’m subject to her matching forthrightness. Good thing I’m used to that particular family trait.
“Sky, leave that.”
“I told her, but she won’t listen.” We don’t want a lot of people in the house, but Sky’s family and the band members stay with us. Ella rushes into the room shrieking Rhys’s name. He turns his head and reaches out to her.
“Can I play with him?” she asks. “Quinn is in the garden. Can he come?”
Just turned seven years old isn’t quite grown-up enough for me to feel happy handing him over, so I follow Ella into the garden. Quinn and Ruby sit on a blanket stretched out in the quieter lawned area.
Ruby’s long, scarlet hair is clipped from her face, shoes kicked off next to her. As ever she’s dressed in her own style, a black dress with roses matching the colour of her hair and lips.
I place Rhys next to Quinn who leans over and hugs him. Ruby laughs. “She’s a bit over-affectionate with people. I think she missed seeing him.”
“I heard she’s walking now.”
“Yeah. First birthday next month and she’s already on the move. Handful.”
Quinn’s dark curls and brown eyes make her the image of Jem, and she already gravitates towards music. If their personalities are similar, I’d hate to imagine what he’s facing in the future.
Ella sits and drags Rhys onto her lap, her hair falling forward as she grabs nearby toys and attempts to persuade him to play. Rhys throws a plastic block at Quinn’s head whose shocked look turns to tears.
“Rhys!” I call. “Sorry.”
Ruby shakes her head. “All good. They’ll hug and make up soon, usually do.”
“Hmm.” I cross my arms. Yeah, I can do the kids thing, but only with mine. Others? Not comfortable.
“Jem around?” I ask.
“With Liam.” She points in the direction of the large room at the back of the house, where we’ve spent year after year together kicking back watching TV or listening to music. “Cool. You okay to watch them?”
“Sure. Karen wants to come cuddle them all so I’ll be with you soon.”
Chatter from inside the house drifts towards us, and I can understand why Ruby’s happy where she is. “This is bigger than I thought,” I say.
“Yeah. Full on celebrity thing. You surprise me.”
I rub my head. “Yeah. Guess.”
Taking a last glance at the three kids, I head off to find my friends.
They’re where Ruby said, in the large room dominated by the expensive entertainment system, plush recliner chairs around. The three gravitated to their usual spots, talking loudly above the music they play.
“Hey, hey, it’s the man himself,” says Bryn and lifts his beer in salute. “Hostess with the mostess.”
“Funny, Bryn. Where’s Avery?”
