Page 76 of Just Like That

‘All I did was give you the know-how – which really you could have researched yourself online. It was you who put it into practice. Your win, ’kay?’

‘OK.’ I smile, while manoeuvring my way on to the slip road for the A1. ‘Thanks, Amelia. For everything. I miss you.’

‘I miss you too. We’ll see each other soon though. Was thinking I could come up for a visit just before Christmas? I’ll stay in a hotel, obviously, as I know you have a full house.’

‘Ah, brilliant, definitely. It might involve spending quite a lot of time in my flat though, with Seth being, you know…’ I wince, hoping this won’t be an issue.

‘Obviously,’ Amelia replies, to my relief. ‘We’ll give Seth a Christmas season to remember. And I’m looking forward to seeing that hot man of yours in a Santa suit.’

‘Um… he’s not actually Santa, nor does he work at a seasonal grotto, so I’m not sure how that’s going to happen,’ I scoff, before saying goodbye and ending the call.

Forty minutes later, I’m back home with Seth, having sent Jackson off for a well-earned rest – but not before giving him a summarised version of the weekend’s events, at his insistence. Both he and Seth were riveted by the story, which made me realise that this is one I’ll be telling for years to come.

‘So how have you been?’ I hand Seth a cup of lukewarm tea, which is how he has it to avoid any unnecessary accidents. ‘I feel bad for being away so long.’

‘Don’t feel bad. You had to… do that… and look what you… achieved,’ he says. ‘You saved a… an important… cons… con-ser-vation project.’

‘Yeah, I guess I did. Though not single-handedly. The team down there are so dedicated. It was impossible not to get sucked into their cause.’

‘I wish I… could have met… them yesterday. Espec-ially Nick. I need to… scope out my… future brother-in-law.’ Seth gives me a wicked grin.

‘Steady.’ I shake my head with amusement. ‘We’ve only been seeing each other a few weeks.’

‘Well… whatever… it would have been… nice to meet him.’

‘Yeah, sorry about that.’ I try to ignore the similarly sized wedges of guilt and shame competing for space in my gut, as I’m reminded of how I deliberately kept Nick and Seth apart. ‘It was such a hectic day. Another time?’

‘Sure, but…’ Seth’s face clears and he appears to be struggling with something.

‘What is it, big bro?’

‘You’re not… embarr-assed by me… are you?’

This time it’s a ten-ton truck of shame that flattens me in one go.

‘What?No.Never. Please don’t ever think that, Seth.’ I swoop in on him with a ginormous, reassuring hug. ‘I could never be embarrassed by you. I’m so proud to call you my brother. Always have been, always will be.’

‘Sure.’ He looks only partially convinced.

‘Seriously.’ I grab him by the shoulders and look him straight in the eye. ‘This situation does not change a thing in terms of how I view you. You’re my amazing, talented, caring, hilarious, good-looking big brother.’

‘OK.’ He seems to cheer up a bit. ‘It’s just… I have my… consultant appointment… on Tuesday, and… I’ll get an update… on how well I’m progressing, as well as… what that might mean… for my long-term recovery.’

‘Of course. I forgot about that. Shall I take the afternoon off to go with you?’

This is actually the last thing I want to be doing while pleading my case for being reinstated on my big projects on Tuesday morning, but my brother’s health and wellbeing come first.

‘No, Jackson is… taking me,’ says Seth. ‘We’ve talked about it… and he knows what… questions to ask… because of his… exp-erience working with… people like me.’

‘People in long-term rehabilitation, like you,’ I correct him. ‘You are not defined by this.’

‘Yes. That’s what… I meant. Also, I’m having… coffee with Alison after. Her dad will be… in for a physio appoint-ment… and Jackson said… it would allow him to… nip to the… super-market, while I’m with her.’

‘No problem.’ I force my expression to remain neutral at the mention of Alison, because hard as I try, I just can’t get comfortable with the idea of her dating my brother while he’s in such a vulnerable position. ‘If you change your mind, let me know and I’ll speak to Craig about taking a few hours off.’

‘Anyway, back to me… meeting your hunky… boyfriend,’ Seth sips at his tea while I’m poised and ready to assist if he has any difficulties. ‘Why don’t you… invite him round… at the weekend? Or we could go… to the wildlife park… and meet him there?’

‘I’m sure we can sort something out.’

---