Page 50 of Paper Roses

The air smells sweetly of baking, making my mouth water.

We pass a wall of black-and-white photographs, and I come to a stop, ignoring Jed’s immediate protests.

“No, I want to see,” I insist. I search the wall, immediately finding an old photo of two small boys. One is on a bike, his legs barely reaching the pedals, while the older boy who must be Jed is pulling him along. His face frowns in concentration, and I smile. Yes, it’s definitely him. He was tall even then, with long legs and grazed knees. His hair was long and much blonder than it is now. “Oh my god, you wereadorable,” I breathe.

“Oh no,” he whispers. His gaze is frozen on a photo of him in the bath. “Ma,pleaseget rid of this photo. I can’t believe all your visitors are treated to photos of me naked.”

His mum comes down the hall and smiles when she sees what I’m looking at. “That was Jed teaching Adam to ride his bike. Bless him. It took ages.”

“That’s because Adam isn’t terribly bright,” Jed mutters, taking my jacket from me.

His mum cuffs him, and as he laughs, another voice comes from behind them. “Jesus, that was more rigorous than taking my degree. I practically had to memorise the highway code before Jed would take my stabilisers off.”

“Why?” I ask the stranger.

He’s got to be Jed’s brother. I’m immediately fascinated by how he shares Jed’s height, but is thinner, his eyes a deeper shade of green. The mouth is the same, and he has the same strong, good face. His grin is so similar to Jed’s that I relax.

He says, “Because I had to be aware of what other people were doing in cars who wouldn’t have had my superb training. He had a whiteboard and everything.” He holds out his hand. “You must be the famous Artie.”

“Famous?” I gasp as he draws me into a crushing hug.

He pulls away, holding me at arm’s length. “Welcome to the family.” He winks at his brother. “Well, he’s gorgeous. I should have known.”

I’m astounded to see a flush on Jed’s cheeks. “Enough,” he growls and then smiles at me. “This is my brother, Adam. Best to know now to ignore most of what he says.”

“Mostof it?” comes a woman’s voice from the kitchen. “I’d say all of it.”

“Women should hush,” Adam says, winking at me and showing no indignation when his mum elbows him. “Ouch. He’s only just got over the threshold and you’re already picking on me.”

“You deserve it,” calls the woman.

Adam grins at me. “Come and meet my soon-to-be ex-wife, Artie.”

I look back panicked at Jed but he’s walking away with our jackets, so I go along with his mother and brother. We crowd down the narrow hallway and come into a warm kitchen. It’s a big room at the back of the house that’s part of an extension, and it’s full of delicious cooking smells.

A woman is sitting at the table. She’s beautiful—small with shiny, dark hair that falls in a sleek bob, and she’s smiling welcomingly at me. “Artie, is it?”

“Yes.” I put out my hand and shake hers. “It’s lovely to meet you.”

“I’m Mei. It’s even lovelier to meet you. I’ve heard such a lot about you.”

“So, Adam said.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t take too much notice of him.”

“I take exception to that remark,” her husband says. “I’ll get Jun.”

“My son,” Mei explains to me. “He’s fifteen. And don’t bother, Adam. He’s gone out for a bit to a friend’s house.”

“I think you’ve actually already met my son who’s at university,” Adam says. “Grant did some work experience with Jed and Joe last year. He said it’s put him off marriage forever. He didn’t realise hysteria could be quite so loud.”

“Oh my god,” I say, making the connection. “I remember him very well. He was the one who set fire to the office kitchen with a Finders crispy pancake.” Mei starts to laugh, and I flush. “He’s absolutely lovely, though,” I add quickly and truthfully.

Adam rolls his eyes fondly. “Lovely and the bringer of all chaos. His mum swears that it would be more peaceful living in prison than with Grant.”

“Alice isn’t wrong,” Mei observes. “I’m still scarred from trying to teach him to drive.”

“Is Jun coming back to meet Artie?” Adam asks.

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