Tom was waiting for me outside the locker room after the final practice. I guessed I should be grateful he didn't corner me while we were changing.

"You going home for the summer?" He asked. It was a pointed question. If I was, then I was evidently over Casey. If I wasn't, then Casey and I were still carrying on with this "living together" thing.

"I'm going home." I said, enjoying the look of surprise on his face.

"Oh!"

I grinned broadly. "…with Casey for two weeks."

Tom aimed a punch at my arm. "Don't do that to me, I thought I was going to have to take you somewhere and get you insanely drunk."

I shook my head. "Nope. One of my school friends is getting married in London and we've both been invited, so we're off home."

"How are things with you two anyway?"

"You have an unhealthy interest in my love life, Tom. What's wrong? Rosie still holding out on you?"

He grinned. "No. That's a done deal. But this will shock you. I'm meeting her parents."

"You're what?" I was astounded.

"They've invited me to Ireland. I've said yes."

I couldn't hide my surprise. Tom never met the parents, no matter what the incentive.

"Wow!"

"Yeah. I know. I guess being around you two rabbits rubs off after a while."

"Rabbits?! It's not like that Tom and you know it." And that was the truth.
He laughed. "Yeah. Why is that?"

I ignored him. He knew. Because acting on our feelings was still very new and Casey had limits as to how far she wanted to go so soon and I wasn't going to push it. I was just grateful that she had given in to us. If it took her years to want that, I would wait. I had gone too long without her to be without her again.

"So you two are going home." He continued. "Gonna tell the folks?"

I shook my head. "No. We've decided to keep our life in Kingston separate from our life in London."

"Isn't that over complicating things?"
"Probably. But it keeps Casey happy."

Tom smiled. "They know anyway, Derek. Come on. Admit it."
I sighed. "They have suspicions. I'm not disrespecting them by confirming them."


The night before we left for London, Casey was quieter than normal. She lay beside me in our bed for once not touching me.

"Do you think it will be obvious?" She asked in a small voice.

I sighed regretfully.

"Who knows? Case. They'll work it out one day, you know that because we'll always be together. I won't ever move out and when you do, I'll go with you."

"If it lasts long enough." She whispered.

I grabbed her then, forcing her to weave her body into my grip the way we normally did. Casey raised her face to look at me.

"Do you think this is a short term deal?" I made myself ask.

"What about when you meet your perfect blonde? Or the supermodel? Or the Air hostess?" She recited the list that I had no idea she knew about. "As far as I recall there was no step-sister on your list."

"I was fifteen when I made that list Casey. And you aren't my step-sister. You're my girlfriend."

"The future scares me, Derek."

"The past scares me. All the mistakes and misjudgements I made. All the times I came close to not doing something important. The future I can't regret, because I don't know it to lose it. The past is stuffed full of regret and bad decisions – and times where the choices I made to get to this point in time were so nearly different."

"I don't want to be made to choose."
"We've already chosen, princess. It's our decision. We each made it separately, but the fact that it resulted in us means it's a joint decision; the first of many." I brushed her hair, smoothing it away from where it tickled my skin. "I've always trusted my Dad and Nora. I don't think I want to stop that now."

"I know. I trust them too. I just keep thinking about that phone call."

"We weren't there. We don't know all the facts." I paused. "Look. We won't tell them unless they ask. But if they ask we'll be honest okay. We're adults. We live together. We love each other. This isn't an abusive relationship. It's not a controlling relationship. It's just you and me and love. Can they have a problem with that?"


It was all so easy.

We went home and everyone behaved as though nothing had changed. Nora and Dad greeted us with the same old level of enthusiasm. Dad back-patted and Nora gave exuberant, overwhelming hugs.

It really wasn't until Nora followed me into the kitchen while Robbie was distracting the rest of the family in the living room that I realised it was all a cover.

She hugged me. It was a similar hug to the one in front of the rest of the family, but when she pulled away, my shoulder was wet and her eyes were red.

"Nora? Are you okay?" I asked with concern. This woman in front of me held a similar sized place in my heart to my own mother. She had been there for me when even my own mother hadn't. Without question I loved her. She smiled weakly and fresh tears escaped.

"I just wanted to say thank you for bringing Casey back."

I shrugged. "I had to drive back anyway. No biggy."

"I didn't mean the drive Derek."

Then I understood.

"Oh."

"She looks good…happy." Nora admitted. "Thank god! Thank you."

"She's getting to do all her assignments three months early and lives next door to a massive library. For a keener, that's ambrosia, I'd say she was on cloud nine." I quipped.

My step-mother laughed.

"And her step-brother has nothing to do with it?"

"Hey. Please tell me Ed isn't trying to take the credit for this?"

"Not Edwin. You."

Our eyes met.

"I'm not her step-brother, Nora." I stated.

"No. I know."

It was a tumbleweed moment.

Nora walked to the fridge and removed a bottle of sparkling wine that had been chilling to celebrate the return of the two prodigals. She popped the cork and decanted it into the tall champagne flutes which had been my wedding present to her and my father.

Then she said it.

"I think your father would like to talk to you later."


Lizzie had dragged Casey upstairs for a girly chat, so I had no chance to discuss her mother's ominous words with her. When they emerged for dinner, there was obviously something off about my expression, because Casey frowned and looked questioningly at me. I mouthed "tell you later" and took my place opposite her.

Nora had out-done herself with a massive roast dinner. It appeared that Casey had been involved in the planning because Nora informed us that it was a traditional English roast beef dinner, complete with Yorkshire puddings. Apparently, I had missed the point where Casey had disappeared into the kitchen to make the latter.

I had had roast beef and Yorkshire puddings in England but, my family were new to it, and by the end of the meal Edwin announced he was emigrating.

Dad said he'd join him.

"When did you learn to make the puddings?" I asked my girlfriend.

"Willow taught me. They are ridiculously easy to do. It's just pancake batter and muffin trays. The secret is very hot fat."

"Well I'm stuffed." Lizzie announced and Marti agreed, pushing her plate away. Robbie however, pouted. "More Yorkshires." He demanded.

Casey laughed. "You'll look like a pudding if you eat anymore."

"More puds." He insisted. So Nora gave him the last remaining pudding.

"Maybe you were a Brit in a previous life." Nora said chuckling. "If I'd known what it took to get you to eat was British food, I would have bought a British cook book."

"Honestly, Robbie. And you call yourself a Venturi." Edwin admonished.

"I'm right with you on the roast beef and Yorkshires though, buddy." I agreed. My gaze fell on Casey and she smiled.

This was good. It felt like home.

I tried not to think about the "conversation" my Dad wanted to have with me.


Obviously, we weren't sleeping together. Casey had her room and I had mine. I think she expected me to come and talk to her later on that night when the girls had gone to bed. So she was a little surprised to see me switching my light off and heading back downstairs.

"Where are you going?" She asked, curious.

"Apparently, Dad wants to talk to me."

Her eyes widened and I saw panic creeping in. I backed her into her room and shut the door.

"Don't jump to conclusions, sweetheart."

"But…"

"But nothing. He probably just wants to talk about my post-college plans."

Yeah, right.

Funny how Nora had mentioned Dad's need to talk to me right after the "she's not my step-sister" conversation.

Casey bit her lip. "You think?"

I kissed her: chastely, but on the lips. My body woke up at her touch and I went back for a less innocent kiss.

"I love you." I said. "That is not going to change."

Insecurity bit again. "Life would be easier with someone else." Casey murmured against my lips.

"Not going to happen. Easy is not something I want anymore. I like a challenge…" I kissed her deeply. "…and I love you."

"I love you too."

"Good!" I announced, straightening. "When I've finished the "chat" I'll come see you."

And with that I left her before she could panic anymore.

I hoped I could believe my own hype.


AN: Apologies for the lack of updates this week. After a bad two months, this week being school holidays, me and the family finally got to spend some quality time together. I hope you understand. X