Did You Get What You Deserve?

“I’m home!”

As I kicked the kitchen door shut, Julia came running in from the lounge.

“I’ve got something I can’t tell you,” she said proudly. I ruffled her hair.

“Do you now?” I said. “You shouldn’t tell me then. Secrets are so much more fun if you keep them to yourself.” I grabbed an apple from the bowl on the table and took a bite from it. “And besides,” I said, “If you tell me, it’s not a secret, is it?”

She giggled.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” she said, grinning mischievously.

“Oops! Sorry!” I laughed and squatted down in front of her to pinch her nose. “Precocious little thing. Smile for me, Ju?”

She obliged with a wide, cheesy grin.

“You lost a tooth today!”

She nodded, still smiling.

“Well, you better put it under your pillow tonight so the tooth fairy can take it and give you a coin.”

She giggled and hugged me before running back to the lounge. I sighed. My sisters are so cute.

I walked down the hallway and opened my bedroom door. The apple fell from my hand and rolled away across the floor, coming to rest under my bed.

And sitting on the bed was Cariad.

“Heeey!” she said.

“OH MY GOD!”

She bounced off the bed and met me in the middle of the room.

“What are you doing here?”

“I couldn’t miss your sixteenth, could I?”

“But still!”

There was a tap on the door.

“You know, if you were a little bit louder, maybe the people in Texas would be able to hear you.”

I turned.

“Alec!”

He smiled, spreading his arms for a hug.

“Happy Birthday!”

“You too.”

He patted me on the head.

“Come on. While Mum and Dad set up your party, you and I are going to Mel’s to sort out moving plans.”

I grinned at Cari and we ran out after Alec.

“Mummy, Mummy, Mummy, Mummy, Mummy, I want a biscuit.”

Melanie caught Carlton by the shoulder as he ran past.

“How many have you had today, Carlton?”

“Two.”

“That’s right. You can have one more, but that’s the last.”

He looked down.

“Can’t I have one for pudding?”

She shook her head.

“Do you want to save this one and have it for pudding?”

He nodded.

“Good boy. Now you remember to remind Mummy after dinner.”

He nodded again, smiling.

“Thank you, Mummy.”

“You’re very welcome. Now go play with your toys so Mummy can sort some things out.”

He ran out of the room, and a moment later I heard him climbing the stairs.

“He’s a little angel, isn’t he?” remarked Alec.

Melanie ran a hand through her hair.

“He’s the devil himself. That’s why I love him so much.”

Alec laughed and picked up a box.

“Do you want me to pack the photographs?” he asked.

Melanie nodded.

“Just wrap them in newspaper.”

She turned to me.

“So how’s school going?”

I shrugged.

“It’s alright.”

“Good teachers?”

I nodded.

“I got Mrs Arbelle for English this year. Not as good as in fourth form though, eh Alec?”

I grinned at Alec, but he did not respond.

“Alec?”

He turned around, holding a photograph in his hand.

“Who is this?” he asked.

Melanie peered at the photo.

“That’s my ex,” she said. “Carlton’s dad.”

“What’s his name?” he demanded.

“Justin. Justin Blake.”

Alec swore.

“Why? Do you know him?”

Alec looked up at her. His face was red, his mouth twisted into a hard line.

“Yeah, I know him,” he said. “I wish I didn’t.”

“What? Why?”

Alec looked back at the photo.

“He’s my stepbrother,” he whispered.