Page 51 of Paper Roses

His wife nods. “He’ll be back in an hour. He said he was going to study.”

“I’ve said that a fair few times myself,” Adam says.

“And it was never true,” Jed says, coming into the room. “Unless it was studying your penis.”

Mei immediately grins and holds out her arms for a hug. “Oh, it’s so lovely to see you, Jed. It’s beenages.”

“Surely not?”

She nods. “Last time was the barbecue when Adam decided to drink that beer he’d brewed himself.”

“Oh god,” Adam says faintly. “I still have the hangover. It might actually be brain damage by now.”

“Your beer obviously reaches the places no one knew even existed,” Jed says.

I snort as Adam shoots him the middle finger.

Mei grins. “No one else would touch it.”

I laugh and Jed shoots me a warm look. “Have you met Artie, Mei?”

“I have.”

He takes my hand. “Sit down,” he urges. “I hope you’re hungry. There’s enough food in the dining room to feed several armies.”

Adam immediately sits down too. “Jun will appear soon, then. Like a hungry homing pigeon.”

Mei chuckles and hugs Jed again. “Congratulations. We’resohappy for you.”

I see him control a wince and try not to let guilt overwhelm my expression.

His mum appears and nods at her two sons. “While you’re here, Jed, the fence is down again, and Mr Simpson’s chickens are getting through.”

Adam shakes his head. “He isn’t allowed to keep chickens. He hasn’t got a permit.”

“Well, since your brother left the force, there’s no one to tell him.”

“When I left, they didn’t disband the police,” Jed mutters.

I want to laugh. The brothers are so much like the two small boys in the photos.

“They might as well have done. All we get is Nigel Hunter lately, and he’s next to useless.”

“Nigel from down the road? I didn’t know he was a policeman,” Jed says, obvious interest in his voice.

I wonder how much he misses it. I know he loves the wedding business, but your first career love must be a tough one to replace.

“I don’t know why,” his mum says, removing a tray of vol-o-vents from the oven. The smell makes my mouth water. “Maybebecause now he can tell people what to do. With a mother like his, he must need all the power he can get. Sarah never met an instruction she couldn’t issue.”

“Pot and kettle,” Adam mutters, and Jed snorts.

“Anyway,” she continues, undeterred. “The fence needs putting back up and my washing line is down again.”

“Isn’t this my wedding party?” Jed enquires placidly.

“Well, as you gave me no notice, I’ve had to do the best I can and haven’t had time for anything else.”

“But—”

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