Costellos United

The Dog In The Pond was deserted. Whether out of respect or fear it seemed like the whole village was giving it a wide birth. Upstairs the Costellos sat in silence, staring blankly into space, all that could be heard was Riyle's sobs punctuated by his laboured breathing. He'd been crying like that for hours, but none of them had the words to console him, his pain was mirrored in all of them to some degree.

"Cup of tea?"

Heidi looked up into her dad's concerned face and slowly shook her head. How could she do something so normal when all around her everything was falling apart?

"N…No."

She managed to utter her first word since she'd collapsed outside the grand hotel where she had watched as Carl had taken that tarts hand and walked out on her and the kids.

"Mum? It hadn't registered with any of them that the crying had ceased. I'll have a cup of tea."

"Right you are."

Silas smiled at Riyle encouragingly as he lay on the sofa next to his mum and rested his head on her lap. She twirled his hair like she used to when he was younger that always succeeded in making him sleepy.

"Can we have one too?"

Seth and Jason parroted in unison, as they nudged and snuggled into Riyle, not wanting to be left out, until they were all crammed onto the sofa, just like old times.

"I think I can stretch to five."

Silas quipped.

"What about biscuits? Seth enquired hopefully. We always have biscuits with tea."

"Cookies not biscuits."

Riyle corrected him.

"No we have biscuits. Custard creams usually."

"Since when?"

"Since forever! We do don't we Jase?"

"Don't be dragging me into this."

"Why not? You know I'm right."

Seth stated cockily.

"You are not right. Tell him mum…mum?"

Heidi watched them, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips. The closeness, the idle banter, the teasing, they hadn't had it for a while and she missed it.

"I'm afraid you are both wrong boys, because everyone knows when you have tea you have-"

"Cake?"

Silas stood before them a plate of Mr Kippling's Angel Slices in hand.

"Exactly. Heidi confirmed. Thank you, dad. We always have cake."

"I still prefer biscuits."

Seth pouted.

"Cookies."

Riyle stuck his tongue out playfully as Jason and Heidi rolled their eyes in amusement.

"Mum can we watch a film?"

Jason asked. They all seemed so comfortable and relaxed despite the lack of room that Heidi couldn't help but say yes, she didn't want to ruin the moment they were having.

"Sure. Nothing too long. It is getting late already."

Looking at the clock she couldn't believe it was half eleven. It had been a long day for them all.

"Go and get a DVD Seth."

"What do you want to watch?"

"Nothing girly."

Jason stared at his mum accusingly.

"What? I know you all like them too."

"How about some action?"

"No. I don't want to watch something that's all blood and guts."

"What about Harry Potter?"

"Nah, Lord Of The Rings?"

"I said something short Seth."

Heidi reminded him.

"Oh yeah."

"I know which one. Jason unravelled himself from the web of body parts on the sofa and wandered slowly into Seth's room, stretching his legs as he went. My favourite film."

To their surprise Jason returned with an acceptable film in hand.

"Mr and Mrs Smith. I like it."

Riyle confirmed with a smile.

"Me too."

Seth agreed.

"Brad Pit it is then."

Heidi replied with a satisfied smile.

"And Angelina Jolie."

Half an hour into the film they were all fast asleep, snoring contently, snuggled close to each other. Silas turned off the television and threw one of the spare quilts over them, then thief like he crept out of the front door and locked them in. He had some people he needed to see.