Page 66 of Corkscrew You
“Oh, sure,” retorts Ava. “Which is why all five of us are here in this house right now. Putting ouradultlives on hold.”
“I never asked you to!”
“No, Dad, you didn’t.Momdid. Because she couldn’t cope with you acting like a dick!”
“Ava.” Danny sounds a gentle warning.
“No!” Ava jumps to her feet. “No, I’msickof thisbullshit!”
She gives JP and Petra an apologetic look. “Sorry, but that’s what it is.”
JP nods. He places his hand over Petra’s, and she twines her fingers in his.
“Dad,” says Ava, and there’s a pleading note now in her voice. “Even if you downgallonsof this herbal enzyme whatever, you don’t have the luxury of waiting for your heart to heal. It could fail entirelyat any moment. The hospital said so, Doc Wilson said so – do youreallyknow better than they do?”
JP looks as if he’s about to speak but changes his mind. He knows his old friend doesn’t take kindly to being ganged up on. That’s why Danny, Max and I are keeping quiet, too. If it’s only Ava going at him, Dadmightjust listen with half an ear.
Or he might not.
Dad gets up out of his chair, and though even that small effort makes him breathe hard, he stands tall and gazes fiercely around at each one of us in turn, including JP, and Petra, who looks stricken.
“I’m not prepared to have this discussion again,” Dad tells us. “If you remain undermyroof, then you will abide bymyrules, and I will not tolerate any further disrespect. Are we clear?”
Danny puts a restraining hand on Ava’s arm. She shrugs it off, angrily, but stays quiet.
“We’re clear, Dad,” I say.
Without even a goodbye nod to his guests, Dad walks slowly out of the room. We hear his footsteps heavy on the stairs.
A minute later, Izzy arrives with Mom, who’s bearing a tray laden with coffee things and several kinds of cake. Izzy, instantly sussing out the situation, rescues the tray from a bewildered-looking Mom.
“Has Mitch not come down yet?” Mom asks. “I thought—”
We’re all on our feet now. Petra puts her arm round Mom’s shoulders and guides her gently to the sofa.
“Come and sit, Ginny.”
JP blows out a breath.
“Sorry, guys,” he says. “That was a bust.”
“Not your fault,” says Danny. “It’d be easier to convince conspiracy theorists that lizard people aren’t a thing.”
“What now?” Max asks the room. “Do we just … wait?”
Mom, almost in tears again, catches my eye and I see the plea. I made a promise to her, but I have to confess I’d pinned my hopes on JP coming through for us.
Can’t give up, though. And suddenly, amazingly, I have the germof an idea.
It’s a long shot. Requires me to ask for a favour I’m not sure I’m entitled to. But what other choice do I have?
“I might have a Plan B,” I tell them. “No guarantees, though.”
“Well, you are theman,” says Danny, with a smug grin that makes my middle finger twitch. “So, by all means, lead the way.”
“Just – you know – get a fucking move on,” says Ava.
Mom sucks in a horrified breath. “We haveguests.”
