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Noise from the hall alerts me that someone is entering the house. Although it’s not just someone, it’s a crowd. The motley crew no doubt.
“We’re having a barbecue,” my dad informs me.
“Are we?” I frown.
“Yeah, to welcome Violet.” My dad gives me a curt nod.
I eye him suspiciously. “Am I being ambushed again?”
He winks. “Maybe.”
As he says that Hunter and Eden with their triplet boys toddle in. Then Ella with Fraser, who has Mason in his arms. Along with Jacob and Owen.
My yaya and grandfather appear next. I place my half-eaten apple on the work surface and I’m on my feet in an instant to welcome my grandparents.
My yaya smacks a kiss on my forehead, then ruffles my hair. “Love always finds a way. See? Your grandmother is always right. Now I need to cook.” And she’s off.
My grandfather goes straight over to Thea. “C’mon, you wee rascal.” He lifts Thea into his arms, and she squeals with happiness; she’s such a happy baby. “And you too, you wee bit of fluff.” He lifts Pom-pom up next. “Maybe we should use you to clean out Thea’s ears.” That would work; he does look like a cotton swab.
Violet pushes herself to her feet and greets everyone in her usual cheerful voice, hugging everyone and charming them all with her questions about their lives. She remembers everything about everyone and always manages to make people feel special.
I’ll never get tired of that or her.
Jacob and Owen wave.
“We’re on drinks.” Jacob points to the champagne bottles that have appeared from nowhere. They make themselves at home and pour drinks for everyone. They both spent hours here growing up and they know this house like it’s their own.
“You good, Linc?” Fraser tilts his head in Violet’s direction.
“Never better.” I grin. “Thanks for helping with the ambush by the way. Although you and Hunter are shit at assembling furniture. I’ve had to realign all of the screws and readjust the squint drawers you haphazardly put together.”
He snorts. “We only had a few hours to move Violet in; give us a break.”
I laugh but hold out my hand for him to shake. “Cheers, man. For everything.”
Jacob and Owen hand everyone drinks.
Archie and Hamish burst through the back door.
“Linc!” Archie yells, laughing. “Zac and Caz are doing The Sex on the grass!”
Oh, dear fuck.
This is normally a conversation we have together when we are alone. Archie and I do have a laugh and giggle when our garden tortoises get a bit frisky. It’s only recently Archie had his sex education class at school, but he doesn’t discuss it with his mom and my dad. He discusses it with his big brother, me.
I shake my head and widen my eyes, trying to secretly tell him not now but he keeps on giggling. “Zac fell over.” I think he’s gonna wet himself. “He landed on his back and his legs were all wiggling about.” He makes small T. rex arms and flaps his hands.
“Why is it so funny? They looked like they were playing together. I helped Zac,” Hamish says in his sweet voice. Being a few years younger than Archie, Hamish still has a lot to learn.
Archie’s explosion of contagious giggles makes everyone else laugh along.
“Okay.” Eva appears in the kitchen looking every bit the ethereal goddess in her floaty cream summer dress. “Enough silly talk. Rubber boots off, then clean your hands.”
“They were doing it, Linc.” Archie can’t stop giggling.
“Enough now, Archie.” Eva raises her voice.
I press my pointer finger to my lips, urging him to be quiet and mouth later to him.
