Page 25 of Before You Say Goodbye

The fact that Bowie and Bluebell were brother and sister, that his parents were also her parents, felt odd to Autumn. When Bluebell arrived around an hour later, Autumn found herself feeling distinctly uncomfortable. Despite her friend’s customary warm greeting, Autumn felt a little as though she were being introduced to her for the first time. She bet the Whittles didn’t know Bluebell like she did, her proclivity for orgies and all.

Bluebell kissed everyone except Marley, whom she smacked around the side of the head instead.

“What the fuck was that for?” Marley asked, and Emma scolded him.

“Language, Marley.”

“You lied to me the other day about taking Autumn home in a taxi!” Bluebell said accusingly.

“I was lying for Bowie.”

Bowie braced himself for his sister’s assault, but Bluebell’s stance softened.

“Well, I can’t hit Bow, can I?”

Bowie relaxed with a grin.

“You shouldn’t lie for Bowie anyway,” Emma said.

Marley was rubbing his head.

“Then tell him to stopaskingme to lie for him.”

“Bowie, stop asking your brother to lie for you,” Ben said.

“Well, if you tell my parents to stop being so ridiculously overprotective, then I will.”

* * *

Emma made more coffee, and they talked about things they had seen on the news. In the middle of a debate about how to save the UK economy, the youngest Whittle arrived. Emma had been right. Autumn loved Pip instantly. He was young, perhaps eighteen, but had the bearing of a much older man.

“Bluebell’s friend, right?” he asked as he released her from his embrace.

“And mine,” Bowie added again.

“Yeah, I heard,” he said. He wrapped his arms lovingly around Maddie’s shoulders, pulling her back into his chest and rocking her from side to side. She reciprocated his affection with a loving smile.

“We were out together last night,” Bluebell explained. “But then I lost him.”

“Where did you go?” Bowie asked.

Marley grinned. “Did you meet a handsome man?”

“Actually, I did.” He glanced meaningfully between their parents. “I’ll tell you about it later.”

“Here I was, thinking my children could talk to me about anything.” Ben sighed with mock sadness.

Marley shook his head. “Not sex, Dad. That’d be gross.”

“Then I suggest you adjust your volume when you bring women home with you, Marley,” Ben said with a wink. Everyone laughed except Emma, who shook her head in dismay.

“Can we not have these kinds of conversations when we have a guest?” she said.

“We’re not going to pretend to be something we’re not.” Marley shrugged.

“That’s not what you taught us,” Pip added.

Bluebell chipped in. “Autumn already knows who we are.”

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