Charlie
Seriously these two had looked like they were going to faff about for years. None of us had time for that. So I’d just used a teeny tiny bit of acceleration on their emotions to bring on the instalove. None of us needed to endure a couple of years of them bickering and then getting back together, even if angry hate sex was probably kind of fun. So I let them realise what they would have done eventually. That they totally loved each other.
My eyes looked around the room.
At my mum and dad who were smiling and gazing into each other’s eyes. At Frankie and Lucy who were hung onto each other’s every word. At Uncle Darius and Auntie Kim who kept pinching each other’s bottoms. There was so much love in the room. My eyes caught those of Mark and Debbie. They smiled at me tentatively. It wasn’t the look you gave a grandchild you loved dearly. Instead they stared at me like I was an unexploded bomb.
When really… they were.
Polly’s eyes gazed around the room and landed on Drake’s.
It had started.
Ebony walked in hand-in-hand with Henry.
“We’re getting married.” She squealed. She whispered to me. “Sorry for stealing your christening thunder.”
“Ah, I’m getting out of here anyway. Me and Alyssa are going to watch Sean Mendes videos and talk boys.”
“Don’t let your father hear you say that.” She took my arm. “Look, take it easy with him. Maybe go back to the house now rather than go out with your friend. Let him get used to the fact he has a teenage daughter.”
“But I’m scared if I go home he’s gonna have me locked up in magic. He’s going to make me a Rapunzel. I know it!”
“Your father loves you dearly. You might be the future badass ruler of Withernsea but he will always want to protect you. Let him think he can even though we know you’re stronger than all of us. It’s what Dad’s do.”
“You’re right. I’ll go tell Alyssa that I need to spend time with the parentals.”
“Charlie.” Kim came dashing over. “Time for me to start being a naughty auntie. Try this gin drink. It’s pink and lovely.”
Ebony took it out of Kim’s hand. “Don’t be ridiculous. Do you want Theo fainting again?” She placed it on the table behind me.
“Well give it back then.” She protested.
“I’m afraid I can’t. You see you can’t be drinking it either.” She smiled. A slow spreading smile that she then accompanied with a raise of her brows until I watched the penny drop.
Kim’s chin hit the floor.
“What did you just say?”
“There’s more than one. That’s all I’m allowed to tell you.” Ebony guffawed with laughter.
“What? More than one? Like two, three, oh my God, am I having like six? What about my figure? Do I give birth as a wolf or as a human? Please tell me they won’t wreck my vajayjay. Oh my God, Dar-iii-uuusss.” She went running back to him.
“You enjoyed that far too much, Auntie Ebony.”
She held up a high-five. I slapped it back.
“Go, go be with your man.” I said.
“I hope you get time to just be a teen, Charlie. To enjoy yourself and have fun. That it’s not all Withernsea woes.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“What will be will be.” I said, and I walked away.