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“Hey, boy,” he says as Mum puts the tray on the table.
I turn to Saxon and Catie. He meets my gaze, unsmiling, challenging. He has a big mark across the bridge of his nose, and both of his eyes are already blackening.
Catie gives me a small, wary smile.
I hold my hand out to her. She looks at it, and then her lips curve up as she slides hers into it. I pull her to her feet and into my arms, and she hugs me and rests her cheek on my shoulder.
“I’m so, so sorry,” I murmur, rubbing her back. “I ruined your celebration, and I upset you and the babies, and that was unforgivable. I really regret it, and I apologize with all of my heart.”
“It’s okay,” she says, her voice husky. “It was just so horrible to see you angry with each other. I love that you’re best friends. Bros for life, right?”
“Bros for life,” I repeat, looking over her shoulder at my brother. He meets my gaze, still glaring, but a little mollified now I’ve apologized to his girl.
She steps back, and I go over to him as he stands up.
“Double trouble,” I say to him, which is what Dad has always said about us in the past.
He huffs. “You’re an arsehole.”
“Takes one to know one.”
He gives a short laugh.
“How’s the nose?” I ask.
“It fucking hurts.”
“I really am sorry.”
He sighs. “Yeah I know.” He opens his arms, and we have a bearhug.
My throat tightens as he refuses to release me for a moment. We’ve been together since we were in the womb. I guess it’s no surprise that we’ve experienced the best of times and the worst of times together.
When he releases me, I can see he’s choked up, too. I don’t comment on it, instead saying, “I’ve brought you the presents I should have given you last night. You first.” I give Saxon his.
We all sit, and Mum hands out the coffees as Saxon tears off the paper. She winks at me and ruffles my hair as she passes, so I know she’s forgiven me.
He screws the paper up with one hand as he examines the box and laughs. It features eight LEGO superheroes in a frame, and it says, “Daddy you are…” then, “Stronger than, cooler than, quicker than, mightier than,” and so on above each corresponding hero. At the bottom, it states, “You are our favorite superhero!”
“I love it,” he says, smiling. “Thank you.”
I grin and hand Catie two presents. “For the babies,” I say, tapping one, “and that one’s for you.”
Cheeks flushing, she opens the babies’ one first. It’s a pair of white baby onesies. Both have line drawings of computer keys, and one says ‘Ctrl + C’ while the other says ‘Ctrl + V’, meaning ‘copy and paste’, a nod to the fact that they’re identical twins, as well as that she’s about to start a degree in computer engineering.
She laughs. “Aw, they’re fantastic. Thank you.” She picks up the second present, giving a shy smile, and opens that too. It contains a square velvet box, and she lifts the lid and studies the contents.
It’s an oval pendant, made from white gold, engraved with a picture of a mother holding two babies. Twin diamonds decorate either side.
“It’s a locket,” I explain. I show her how to open it to reveal the hollow in each side. “You can put a photo of each twin. Or one of the twins together, and one of Saxon, whatever you want.”
She looks up at me, eyes wide.
“I had it made especially,” I say awkwardly. “You don’t have to wear it if you don’t like it, but—”
She presses her fingers to her mouth. “I love it,” she squeaks. Then she bursts into tears.
“Shit,” I say to Saxon, “sorry.”
