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“So this one guy was off his face, and he had this massive row with this girl. Jess said it was his girlfriend. They’re the coolest couple in their school. Then she got off with someone in front of him, so he jumped off the flat roof into the swimming pool.”
“Seriously? Did he die?”
Emma stepped back and giggled. “No, of course not. Jess and I were preparing to use our lifeguard skills on him, but he was completely unharmed. Everyone thought he was so cool, but it was a real dick move. When he got out, he ran from the party, shouting that he would buy fireworks and celebrate being single. I’ve no idea what happened to him after that.”
“He’s probably in a ditch or riding a rocket to Uranus,” Lucie replied, rolling her eyes.
“Isn’t that what Fern in your year said when the teacher asked about her Christmas holidays?”
“No, she said she was riding a guy’s anus, but the teacher pretended she heard differently. She heard right, though. Her face was bright red!” All it took was one look at Emma to set her off laughing. It was a silly joke, but remembering that moment, how the teacher’s voice hitched as she said Uranus, got her every time.
“Riding a guy’s anus? Who says that?” Emma’s laughter was bubbling over now. “And to a teacher, oh my God.”
Their parents looked back at them with their eyebrows raised.
“I know,” Lucie whispered. ““Fern, how did your Christmas go?’ ‘Oh, you know, Mrs. Titcombe, I was riding a guy’s anus. Yours?’” Lucie held her hand over her mouth, but guffaws flowed out between her fingers.
“She said it to Mrs. Titcombe? The woman who still wears Victorian blouses? Amazing!” Emma was laughing so hard she’d bent double while still walking into the restaurant.
“What are you two laughing about?” their mum asked as they stepped through the door and waited for the server. “And stop bending over, Emma. This is not the time for your silliness. Your dad won’t like it.”
Lucie smirked but kept her mouth closed as Emma righted herself. There was still a cheeky glint in her eye.
The server reached their family, and as she guided them to their table, Emma pointed to the mural on the wall next to them. “Dad, Lucie and I are having a debate, and we can’t remember what order the planets come in. What’s that one next to Saturn? It’s famous for its ring or something.”
“Saturn is famous for its rings,” he replied flatly. “It has seven rings.”
Lucie hid her smiles behind her lips, unable to keep in the laughter for much longer, but Emma didn’t stop. “Interesting. I guess you can never have enough. But tell me about the other planet with rings, not Jupiter.”
“Ah, you mean Uranus,” he said, stopping them in the middle of the restaurant. Lucie held her breath to stop the laughter bubbling at her throat. “Uranus has many rings, and the inner rings are narrow and dark.”
Emma opened her mouth as Lucie glared at her to be quiet. She knew what was coming. “So you’re telling me that Uranus has a narrow and dark inner ring?”
That was it. The laughter was uncontrollable. Tears streamed down their faces as red splotches appeared on their dad’s face.
“How dare you embarrass me. I wouldn’t expect anything less from her,” he replied, pointing at Emma. “But you, Lucie. This holiday is a treat, and you are showing up your mother in front of the whole café. She’s been looking forward to this holiday for a long time, and she doesn’t need to have it ruined by two silly little girls who find rude things funny. Now sit down and shut up.”
Emma smiled as they sat, but Lucie felt the heat of shame creeping up her face. Everyone in the restaurant had heard him. She sat in her plastic-covered chair and fought the tears brimming in her eyes.
Chapter Four
Silence descended on the group. Occasionally Emma nudged Lucie’s foot under the table, but she ignored her, refusing to make eye contact.
Her dad huffed and puffed next to her.
“Stop being silly, Lucie,” her dad said, eventually returning to his reprimand. “You’ll have to manage people having a go at you when you’re a lawyer. For goodness sake, child. Now sit up straight and stop being a baby.”
I’m not a child.
Lucie let out a noisy burst of air as she wriggled in her seat. The familiar pain that came from wearing shorts in the summer and sitting on plastic while sweaty made her squirm as she leaned back further.
“I don’t want to hear any more about parties either. Weren’t you and Jess swimming last night?” their dad replied.
He didn’t care what Emma got up to. It was as if he’d stopped trying to make her behave when she hit thirteen and rebelled at his every request. Allowing her freedom was a deal they were both happy with. Lucie got all the pressure of being perfect instead, but she didn’t resent Emma, far from it. She wanted a taste of that freedom just once.
“Technically, we were swimming, but not at the local pool,” Emma replied with a shrug.
“Well, you can’t take Lucie. Even if the others wanted her there, she’d find a way to ruin it.”
