Page 69 of Love Bleeds Red
Everyone squeezes into the sitting room, dropping bags and the cat carriers into whatever free floor space they can find. The girls take the couch, Damon flops into the armchair, and Jasper and I hover near the hallway. The space feels so much smaller and warmer than before already. Jasper has to duck his head under a low beam and his arm almost knocks over Nana’s lamp.
“Cozy,” Falin says as she eyes Mum’s porcelain figures on the mantel.
“Aww, is that baby Leon?” Blake coos, pointing at a framed photo of me. “Look at those chubby cheeks.”
Mum rushes over to pick it up, her smile wide. “That’s my baby boy. Such a handsome lad, wasn’t he?”
“So handsome,” Damon says, smirking at me. “What happened?”
I narrow my eyes at him which makes him bust out a laugh. “Dick.”
“So I’ll just...” Mum starts, gesturing to the kitchen. “Tea. Yes, I’ll make tea. Lots of tea. Do you all drink tea? Of course you don’t, you’re American. Coffee? I think I have some instant somewhere...”
“Mum,” I say gently. “Tea’s fine. Whatever you have.”
“Yeah, Mrs. Colter—” Blake starts, but I cut her off.
“Actually, it’s Ms. Parsons.”
Blake’s cheeks flush. “So sorry! I knew that… Must be the jet lag.”
“No problem, love,” Mum says. “Make yourselves at home.” I catch her muttering under her breath, something about not having enough proper cups.
I fold my arms across my chest. “She may as well be serving the Queen. I haven’t seen her this flustered in years.”
“She’s adorable,” Blake says. “I just want to sit with her and drink tea and knit.”
Falin laughs. “Is this some new alter ego you’re exploring?”
“You know I love to be cozy! This is English me… I’m embracing the culture!”
“Cheerio,” Jasper says but it ends in an “oof” as I elbow him in the ribs.
That’s when one of the cat carriers starts rattling violently. The entire thing slides across the hardwood floor with an ear bleeding, scraping sound. “How?” I ask.
“Should we...” Blake starts.
“Let them out,” Jasper says, already reaching for the latches. “They’ve been cooped up for hours.”
“Maybe we should—” I begin, but it’s too late.
Havoc explodes from her carrier like a furry missile, ears back, tail puffed, immediately launching herself onto the mantel. Three porcelain angels crash to the floor in a wreckage of ceramic shards.
From the kitchen comes the unmistakable sound of Mum dropping something heavy.
“Fuck,” I breathe.
Mayhem trots out of her carrier with dignity and grace, meowing, and taking one look at the chaos before hiding under the couch.
“Havoc, you get over here!” Jasper scolds but it sounds more like he’s holding back laughter.
“I’m so sorry,” Blake says, jumping up to pick up the scattered pieces. “We should have warned you about the cats.”
“Or about showing up early,” I tease. Despite the shock, I can’t help but smile, even if it makes my lip hurt like a bitch.
Mum appears in the doorway, her scarf slipped halfway down her hair. “Well, that’s jus—that’s fine. They’re just things.”
Yeah, things I was forbidden from laying a finger on as a kid. But Mum’s taking it better than I thought.
