Page 19 of Love Is: Two Bodies One Soul

They shared a glancing kiss on the cheek, and he stepped aside, keen to avoid getting in the way, feeling oddly out of place in a house which had once been a refuge and later the home he’d shared with George until work and success took him away. Feeling he ought to say something, Owen said, ‘I’m surprised you can fit your entire tribe into this little house. Three children now, isn’t it?’

‘Aye, it is.’ Millie nodded, smiling with satisfaction. She looked well. Motherhood and marriage suited her. A pang of envy caught Owen off guard, and he remembered George confessing his jealousy yesterday. If only he knew how many times, Owen thought, he’d been the one wanting to swap lives.

‘Budge over.’ Millie pushed past Owen to get bread rolls from the side where he was standing and tilted her head at him. ‘You remember Georgina, our eldest?’

Owen nodded. ‘I do. Pretty little thing, as I recall.’

‘She’s seven now,’ Millie said. ‘And only ever answers to the name George, no matter how many times her granny calls her Georgie.’ Millie flicked a smile to Sally, who was by the door.

‘That’s true,’ Sally agreed. ‘Georgie has a mind of her own. Just as stubborn as her dad.’

‘Hey!’ George’s protest was ignored.

‘Then there’s Charlotte, Charlie for short,’ Millie continued as she placed a butter dish next to the bread rolls.

‘How old is she now?’ Owen asked. ‘Last time I saw her, she was tiny.’

‘She’ll be four in November,’ Millie replied. Then, distracted by George trying to sneak a tomato from the salad, she pulled the bowl out of her husband’s reach.

‘Then there’s the current baby,’ George took up the conversation. ‘Emma-Jane. At fifteen months, she’s too young to decide what she wants to be called, but my money’s on EJ when the time comes.’

‘Where do you squeeze them all in?’ Owen asked.

‘I got a loft conversion done, and a conservatory put on out the back. I’ll show you after lunch.’ George moved to the fridge and pulled out a single beer. ‘This is now a four-bedroom, three-bathroom property,’ he said, snapping off the metal top to drink straight from the bottle. He sighed with satisfaction. ‘It wasn’t cheap, had to take out a mortgage, but the house is now worth a fucking fortune.’

‘George!’ Millie hissed. ‘The children are only in the next room.’

‘Sorry.’

‘Now, Owen,’ Sally said, chucking a disapproving look at George as she moved to the fridge. ‘I must apologise for my son’s rudeness. What would you like to drink, Owen?’

‘Mum!’ George protested.

‘What, Georgie, love, do you need another already?’

‘No, I do not.’

Millie shook her head. ‘Mum, did you forget? Owen’s trying to dry out.’

‘Of course, I didn’t forget. I’m not senile. I just think you are making a fuss about nothing.’

Owen stared at the floor. Drying out, am I? He imagined George telling them about the accidental meeting in the pub. Their reactions, shock and pity. His stomach churned.

He heard Sally arguing, ‘One beer won’t hurt.’

George said firmly, ‘No, Mum.’

Sensing the edge of an argument, Owen looked up. ‘It’s fine, Sally. George is right. I should stay off the booze. I’ve been drinking too much lately.’

Sally looked uncertainly at Owen, then harshly at George, before giving way. ‘Only if you’re sure,’ she said to Owen while shooting a final barbed look at George. ‘It was rude of George not to offer. I never brought him up to be so inhospitable.’

Still the alpha female, and certainly not senile, Owen thought. ‘I’m fine, Sally, really.’ He smiled at her, thinking how good it was to see her again and adding, ‘Got to do as George says. He’s the boss now.’

‘No, that’s me!’ Millie laughed, shoving Owen aside and turning to Sally. ‘Mum, will you get the children in for lunch?’

As soon as Sally was gone, George shrugged his shoulders at Owen. ‘Sorry about Mum. She won’t believe you’ve got a problem. I tried to explain but—’

An explosion of childish voices prevented Owen arguing. Two little girls with masses of auburn curls ran up to him, squealing, ‘Uncle Owen, Uncle Owen, Nana said you were here.’

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