Jimmie shakes her head and laughs. “No, George, of course we’re not saying no. Whenever you’re ready to go, so are we. Obviously, you two still have a lot to sort out. I mean, you’ve been together a week, right?” I nod as I reach for the glass of water I drank from a few moments ago.
I look up at Cam, who’s now sitting back in his chair next to me, then around at my brothers. “Are we mad d’ya think? We bought a house today. We’ve been together a week and tonight we’re discussing IVF, surrogacy and having children. We haven’t even discussed where we’re spending Christmas and yet we’re here with all of you discussing this.” I turn and look at Cam. “I don’t even know if you like turkey.” My thoughts are suddenly tumbling out of my mouth without any kind of filtration happening.
“See, George, you’re doing it again. Chill the fuck out will ya, babe,” Marley says.
Marley, my poor brother Marley. None of this can be easy for him.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this? Please be honest with me, Marls.” Marley knocks back his glass of bourbon before answering me.
“To be perfectly honest, it’s breaking my heart, George.” He turns his eyes to Cam. “No disrespect to you, mate, but this is so fucking hard. Everything they went through to be together, the way they loved each other, he didn’t deserve that; she didn’t deserve that, no one deserves that.” I can see his lips start to tremble as he talks. His eyes are filled with tears as he shrugs. “I won’t lie and say that I don’t wish it was them we were doing this for. He was as much a brother to me as these two and I miss him every day, every minute of every day, but he’s gone and nothings gonna change that, and after watching her go through what she has… Seeing my little sister so desperate to die for so long, and to see her now, laughing, smiling, loving and knowing you’ve done that; you’ve helped get her there. You’ve given us our little sister Georgia back, and I’ll never be able to thank you enough for that, and I know at the end of the day, all Maca would want is for G to be happy.”
Marley wipes his nose on his napkin. “Sorry, Jim, I’ve made your napkin all snotty.”
She leans across from where she’s sitting, wraps her arms around his neck and kisses his cheek. “After that epic speech, I think I can let you off.”
“I love you, big brother Marley,” I tell him.
“Why do you say that? What is it with the big brother thing?” Ash asks. This is Bailey’s story to tell, being the eldest, he’s the only one who can remember how it started. He’s sitting next to me.
“You tell her, Bails.” He smiles at me, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. Both he and Sam look pale. “When Georgia was little she thought we were all called big brother for some reason, we don’t know how it started but she just called the three of us big brother, so then my mum and dad tried to get her to say our names by saying big brother Bailey, Lennon or Marley. She eventually learnt our names, but never dropped the big brother bit and we just got into the habit of calling her little sister Georgia in reply, and yeah, that’s basically it.” I love hearing that story and Cam must too as he lifts my hand to his mouth and kisses it, instantly sending a wave of goose bumps from the back of my hand to the tips of my toes.
“I’m pregnant,” Sam blurts out. We all turn and look in her direction.
“Sam, no,” Bailey says quietly and my stomach drops. This is why they both look so ill. This is why they’ve both been so quiet all night. They’re worried about my reaction. Yeah, it hurts. Yeah, I’m jealous, but fuck, I’ve survived worse.
“Oh, my God, congratulations.” I give Bailey a cuddle and get up from my chair and give Sam a kiss as Cam leans across and shakes Bails’ hand.
“Well, this was a shit night to decide to start living the quiet life,” Marley complains. “So much to celebrate and all I’m allowed is a drink.”
“Well, at least you're allowed that. I’m gonna gag if I have to drink any more water,” Ash complains.
“I’ve got something better than water that’ll make ya gag, baby,” Marley tells her.
“You two are seriously gross. No swallowing once you’re pregnant. That goes for both of ya.” I look between Jimmie and Ash.
“I gave up swallowing years ago,” Marley deadpans.
“And I’ve never swallowed in my life,” Lennon adds.
“Haha, you’re so not funny. I meant your wives, and Marls, just for the record, it’s worrying that you’ve ever swallowed at all.”
“What can I say, George, you heard all the rumours. Lonely tour bus, no women in sight, what’s a bloke to do?”
“So you’re finally confessing, it’s all true, you and my husband were having an affair?” I ask him, not entirely one hundred percent sure of what the answer might be.
“George, I’ve had threesomes, foursomes, think I even had a sixsome once with your husband, but there’s one thing I’ve never had, and that’s sex with your husband. I offered, but he wasn’t interested.”
“How did the conversation go from congratulations to orgies?” Jimmie asks.
“Marley,” we all reply and throw our napkins at him.
Chapter Twenty-Six