Page 154 of Inbetweeners
Nix pushed to his feet. “Emmett!”
Emmett turned to look at him from the edge of the sea.
“We’re going back to the house,” Nix called.
Emmett picked his way back to them. “Look what I’ve found.”
On his palm were five sharks’ teeth.
“Wow, you’ve found a piece of a mackerel shark’s tooth,” Orion said.
Nix picked up the largest tooth. “It was a big shark. Ten metres long. The predecessor of the Great White. Good find.”
“The others come from sand sharks,” Orion said.
“I am hooked,” Emmett said. “I could spend the rest of the day here. What a fantastic spot. How come there are so many teeth?”
“This was a popular feeding ground for sharks,” Orion said. “They lose thousands of teeth over their lifetime, so after millions of years, the number of teeth has built up.”
“I wish this had been on my doorstep.” Emmett took hold of Nix’s hand as they set off up the path leading to the road.
“Thank you for coming to see me,” Orion said. “I feel so lucky. And you’re happy, with someone, and that makes me happy too. Can you stay for something to eat? I have to sleep this afternoon to get ready for my next shift but…”
“We can’t stay,” Nix said. “I’m sorry. We’ll come in and have a drink and meet Phoenix, but then we have to go. We’re not going to be around much longer.”
“I believed in angels when I was a little boy.” Orion smiled. “Remember?”
“Yes.” Nix’s heart felt as if it was being crushed in a vice. Orion had thought they were looking over them both, that they’d come and save them.
“Can I tell Maisie everything?”
Nix hesitated. “You probably shouldn’t.”
“Better that you don’t,” Emmett said. “You don’t want her to think you’re crazy. Plus, you’ll never see us again.”
“Until we meet again though, right?” Orion looked back at them and smiled.
“Until then,” Emmett said.
Nix had an urge, for a moment, to tell his brother the truth, but he couldn’t destroy the happiness he’d just given him.
When the baby was put into his arms, Nix held his breath. His nephew looked up at him with big blue eyes, smiled and Nix’s heart broke. He brought the baby’s head up to his cheek. He smelled so sweet, and was so soft, so precious. He remembered when his mother had brought Orion back from the hospital and how much he’d loved him, how much he’d done for him when his mother ignored Orion’s cries. A five-year-old changing his brother’s nappies. Even making up his milk and feeding him.
“Grow up to be a good boy like my brother,” Nix whispered.
Emmett put the sharks’ teeth down on the coffee table. “Keep these until he’s older. Maybe it could be the start of his collection.”
Orion nodded.
Nix handed the baby back and stood up. “Thank you, Maisie. It was lovely to meet you.”
Orion followed them to the door.
“Goodbye.” Emmett held out his hand but Orion hugged him.
“Thank you for loving my brother.”
Nix felt his stomach clench.
