“Oh, please,” she shoots back. “He keeps cheating.”
“If you two don’t stop arguing, I’m switching the console off.”
Silence, then the clicking of buttons resumes. Liam looks up from his book and gives me a small smile.
“How’s Mum?” he asks quietly.
“Good,” I say. “I laid the flowers.”
His smile grows a little. “Thanks.”
“I know you didn’t want to come today.” I’d mentioned going to visit her earlier, but he hadn’t taken me up on it. Sometimes, he comes, and then he can go a few months without seeing her. I don’t press. “It’s okay. You didn’t need to.”
I ruffle his hair and head back to help. Amy is carrying more plates and cutlery to the table. Ivan has taken over the cooking. The place settings go down one by one. Each item laid precisely, angles perfect.
I steel myself for what I’m about to say. “We’ll need one more place.”
Everything stops. Open-plan houses can be a nightmare like that. Even Oliver’s controller stops clicking. Savannah’s head snaps around. My whole family stares, waiting for the reveal.
“Why?” Amy asks. “Who are we expecting?”
“Antonia,” I half-whisper.
Amy freezes for half a second, then her face softens into a genuine smile.
“Good,” she says. “I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
Ivan nods as he walks past. Savannah says nothing, but I feel her eyes on me.
The doorbell rings.
My heart skips.
She’s here. And suddenly I’m not sure this was such a good idea. Maybe today wasn’t the day to do this. But she needed me. And the last thing I wanted was to leave her alone.
Amy grins, then nudges Ivan.
“Go answer the door, mate,” he says, patting my shoulder.
I walk to the hallway. Antonia is a shadow behind the frosted glass, her hair loose, waves falling down her back.
I open the door.
“Hi,” she says softly, shy. This is the most uncertain I’ve ever seen her.
“Come in.”
She steps inside. I take her hand and kiss her cheek. My heart beats a little harder. I glance over my shoulder, and my family has already gathered behind us.
Everyone except Savannah, who is visible through the door into the living space.
That doesn’t bode well.
Amy bursts forward first. Hands outstretched. She practically drags Antonia into the hallway and pulls her into a bear hug.
“I’m so happy to meet you!” she squeals. My sister-in-law bounces on the spot. Ivan steps forward and offers his hand.
“Ivan. Lovely to meet you.”