Page 115 of Good Sisters

‘Okay, let’s agree to forty, but not one kid more. The house isn’t big enough. Write up a list of names to make sure you’ve included everyone and that it doesn’t go over forty.’

‘Oh, my God, what are we? A million years old? I’m not writing a list. I know who’s coming and it won’t be more than forty.’

‘And no alcohol,’ I warned her.

‘And no canoodling with boys.’ Jack grinned.

Jess sighed. ‘Forget it. I’m not having a party with you two annoying me.’

Jack wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in for a hug. ‘You’re so gorgeous. I know tons of boys will be queuing up and it’s my job to see them off until you’re thirty.’

She swatted him away but was smiling. ‘Seriously, though, you can’t be there. Go out for dinner or something. No one’s parents are at their parties. You have to go out or hide upstairs.’

‘I’m not hiding in my own home, thank you.’

‘Mum, I’m serious. You cannot come in. It’s so embarrassing.’

‘Relax, Jess, we were young once. We won’t come in. We’ll leave you alone. I’ll take your mum out to dinner, but we’ll be back by midnight to clear everyone out.’

Jess looked relieved. Over my dead body was I going out and leaving a bunch of randy sixteen-year-olds, who would, no doubt, come with backpacks full of alcohol, alone in my house. But I let Jess believe what she wanted. I was determined to get a closer look at Sebastian and her relationship with him. Julie was no help with information. All she kept saying was that the triplets didn’t know anything, but that Jess should stay away from Sebastian. I wanted to see for myself that she was, and if having forty teens in the house was one way of doing that, then so be it.

Jack’s phone rang. I saw Pippa’s name flash up. He tensed.

‘Yes? … What? … I can’t understand … Jesus, how much have you had? … Is Robert okay? … I’m on my way.’ Jack jumped up from the couch and rushed to the front door.

‘What is it?’ I asked.

‘She’s plastered and incoherent. I need to get Robert out of there.’

‘I’ll come with you.’ I grabbed my coat.

‘I want to come too.’ Jess looked upset.

‘No,’ Jack said. ‘Stay here, put on some pasta for Robert. I doubt he’s eaten. We’ll be back soon.’

‘Dad, I want to help. I can mind him while you deal with Pippa. I can help.’

I was actually glad to see Jess putting someone else first.

‘Let her come, Jack. She’s right, she can focus on Robert. We don’t know what state Pippa will be in.’

‘Okay,’ Jack reluctantly agreed. ‘But come on, quick.’

Jack drove like a lunatic to Pippa’s apartment. What would usually take twenty minutes, took ten. I clung to the door handle but kept quiet. Jack’s jaw was set and his hands were gripping the steering wheel tightly. Jess sat in the back and chewed her thumbnail.

Jack flung the car at the kerb and we leaped out and ran up the stairs to the second floor.

‘Pippa? Robert?’ Jack banged on the door.

Nothing.

He banged louder and raised his voice.

‘Do you think it’s really bad, Mum?’ Jess whispered to me. Jack’s rising panic was worrying her. I began to regret saying she should come along.

‘She’s probably just drunk, but we need to get Robert out of there.’

One of the neighbours, a lady in her seventies, popped her head out from behind her front door, disturbed by the commotion.

---