CHAPTER NINE

Paige walked back into the living area as he rapidly as she could, Piper hard on heels, and then just stopped and stood there, trying hard to process what she'd just seen. "What was that?"she demanded.

Piper shrugged helplessly. "I don't know."

Mark appeared from the direction of the bedroom. He'd pulled on a pair of jeans and was in the process of pulling a t-shirt on. "I'm sorry you found out like that,"he attempted.

Paige shook her head vigorously. "No, no, you do not get to sleep with my sister and then act like you've just broken a vase. This is something else."

"We've split up!"Mark protested.

"And that makes it all right?" Paige stopped as Imogen also emerged from the direction of the bedroom. She'd put on a pair of shorts and a casual sleeveless top. Paige had a sudden flash of the crumpled black dress on the bedroom floor, which Imogen had presumably worn and discarded the previous night, and the fact that Imogen had a change of clothes to hand sunk in. She looked from one of them to the other. "This wasn't a one-off, was it?"she asked, in a quieter tone of voice than before.

"I'm…living here now,"Imogen admitted.

Things were falling into place in Paige's mind, things she really didn't want to think about. She looked at Mark. "When you were in LA working on a case…you were with her, weren't you?"

"I was working on a case,"Mark insisted. "But…I was also with Imogen, yes."

"How long?"Paige asked. The pair paused just long enough for her to realise there was something they really didn't want her to know. "Did we cross over?"

"We first hooked up at Piper's wedding,"Imogen admitted. She looked across at Piper, then quickly looked away again on seeing the outraged expression on her younger sister's face. "But that was it, I swear, we didn't see each other again until LA, after you two had broken up."

"And that makes it okay?"Paige demanded. "Don't you see how messed up this is?" She glared at Mark. "You break up with me and straightaway you take up with her! You even miss your 9am run because you're in bed with her, you never do that!" She threw up her hands in exasperation. "I give up." She stormed out.

Imogen looked at her remaining sister. "Piper…"

Piper shook her head, pointing accusingly at Imogen. "No. You do not get to do this. You have judged every relationship I've ever had: Tyler, Leo, Chas… But this? This is more messed up than anything I've ever done. You do not get to have me on your side." She walked out after Paige.

Mark and Imogen had retired to the sofa after the argument and sat in silence for several minutes. "Are you all right?"Mark asked at last.

"Is what we're doing really wrong?"Imogen wondered.

"No, of course not,"Mark insisted.

"It's just…I knew Paige would be upset but I wasn't expecting her to be that upset. Or for Piper to take her side that much." She sighed. "I guess she's right, I have always been too judgey towards her. Dad's going to take Paige's side, you know. It's like he has to make it up to her for all those years I had him and she didn't. And Mum adores her like a daughter as well. So that's going to be the entire family hating me."

Mark was silent for several moments. "You know, I don't want this to end but if it's going to be too hard for you…"

"It's not,"Imogen corrected him quickly. "Unless this isn't what you want?"

"I want it more than I've wanted anything in a long time."

Imogen nodded, satisfied. "Have you really been skipping your daily run for me?"

Mark smiled sheepishly. "Well, you've kind of been tiring me out."

"Maybe we should go together." Imogen saw Mark's sceptical look. "Hey, I exercise, you know. I'm not a complete bookworm, I've been for runs. Admittedly, I'd have trouble keeping up with you, so if you're not keen…"

"No, I think we should give it a go." Mark got a mischievous look in his eye. "It might be fun to get hot and sweaty together in a different way."

Imogen smiled, leaned in and kissed him, a kiss that was in danger of becoming far more passionate…

…up until they heard the door opening and sprang apart to find Tyler there. "Okay,"he remarked. "Well, if I had any doubts about what Paige and Piper are saying…thanks for the visual, guys."

Mark and Imogen got up. "If you're just here to judge,"Mark began.

Tyler gave a small laugh. "Yeah, me lecturing you two, that'd be a first." He glanced at Imogen. "I think you're about the only person who's ever bossed me about as much as he does, so I guess I should have seen this coming. No, I'm here to tell you that Paige is busy booking herself and Gabe on the first flight back to Queensland."

"Should I go and talk to her?"Imogen wondered.

"That's not a good idea." Tyler paused. "Look, I like you two, okay, and I want you to be happy. But I like Paige as well, and I love Piper, and they're not too happy at the moment, so I can't be too supportive of…this. But, well, I hope it works out anyway."

Mark nodded. "Thanks, Tyler."

Tyler turned to leave, then paused, adding,"And there's someone else around here who deserves to hear about it from you."

Mark paused at the door and turned to Imogen. "Are you sure about this?"

Imogen nodded. "Yeah, Tyler's right, we need to do this."

Mark knocked and then went in. "Mum?"

Fay came into view, walking with the aid of a stick. She smiled at the sight of eldest son. "Mark, this is a surprise." Her gaze fell on Imogen. "And..?"

Mark took his girlfriend's hand protectively. "You remember Imogen, Mum? Piper's sister?"

Fay's face cleared. "Oh, yes, of course. I'm sorry, I'm not used to seeing you with Mark." She looked down at their linked hands. "That's…what this is about, isn't it? You're with Mark."

Imogen swallowed hard. "Yes, Mrs Brennan. And I really hope you can be happy for us."

"I'm sure you're a nice young woman but…" – she looked back at her son – "…Mark, are you sure about this? You've only just come out of a marriage, again. Is this really the right time to be starting something new?"

Mark put his arm round Imogen, trying to reassure her. "Mum, I've known Imogen for years. If I didn't think this was going to work out, I wouldn't be here."

"I feel the same,"Imogen added. "Really, Mrs Brennan, I love Mark and he loves me." Mark nodded in agreement. "We'd both really like it if you could be happy for us."

Fay sighed. "Well, you have to admit this is somewhat unexpected, but of course I want you to be happy. So, yes, all right, if it's my blessing you're after, you've got it."

Mark and Imogen looked at each other in relief. That was one hurdle overcome…but many more remained.