Tell your mother I’ll be late home, if she comes home at all.”
As he replaced the receiver he could hear Beatrice say “Okay, love you.”
Rosie had answered any doubts he had by running straight to John. With a tattoo? xnx “Not here!” She whispered urgently into his ear as his hand found its way under the elastic of her pants. Dad?”
“Yeah?” He sighed. John was keeping things together. It looked like ‘Property of Darryl’, or something like that. Rosie found the girls in Bea’s room, both fast asleep on the bed in front of the forgotten television. He smiled and nodded, then she got up and, still holding his hand, led him upstairs. Your dad didn’t want you to know. Steve’s shoulders dropped and he slumped forward, resting his elbows on his knees. Mel is your sister.” Beatrice shook her head slowly, letting the news sink
