Chapter 78

"What exactly is the problem?" Marcus whispered, wincing at another high-pitched exchange from the kitchen.

Lotty and Hope stared at him incredulously for a moment, until Hope realised he genuinely didn't understand.

"Shawna's just told her mother about the three of us."

"I TOLD YOU SHE WAS COMING TO STAY!" Shawna yelled back over her shoulder as she stormed back into the room.

"THIS IS A HELL OF A LOT MORE THAN 'COMING TO STAY'!" her mother yelled, following her.

Both of them stopped, seeing the trio watching them.

"She can stay," Shawna's mum finally acknowledged. "I can set up the spare room, but Marcus stays at his own house."

"But..."

"You didn't say you expected him to be staying, so I've not got anything ready."

"First, I didn't think I needed to say anything. I thought you'd realise he'd be staying. Second, got what ready? He's brought his own clothes. He doesn't use a different kind of water in the shower..."

"Shawna Louise! Enough!"

That held in the air for a few moments between them before the older woman stomped off back to the kitchen. Marcus and Lotty let go a relieved sigh each.

"Louise?" Hope asked, with a smirk.

"Yeah. You know how they say parents only give their kids a middle name so they know when they're in trouble? My mother took that to heart."

"She does have a point."

"WHAT?"

"Calm down, Sho." Hope grabbed at her hands, pulling Shawna towards her as Shawna tried to back away.

"Why would she assume that you, who introduced your new boyfriend the last time you were here, would be bringing back a girlfriend this time?"

"You're Shawna's girlfriend!" Lotty gasped. "I'm ... Sorry, Marcus, I didn't realise you guys had broken up."

"We haven't."

"But ... She..."

"You see," Hope said, nodding in Lotty's direction. "And I'm putting good money on the theory that Lotty's quite a bit more open-minded than your mum is."

"It's not my fault if she's got her head shoved up her —"

"Sho! It doesn't matter. This wasn't the way to tell her. Why didn't you tell her when you told her I was coming?"

"She'd ... I don't know, alright. She's not easy to talk to."

"You didn't seem to have any trouble in there," Marcus pointed out, bringing a snort of laughter from Lotty.

"Does someone want to tell me what's going on?" she asked, when her laughter died down.

Hope and Shawna were still staring at one another, speaking quietly, so Marcus turned to face her.

"They'd explain it better, probably. Hope ... Hope liked Shawna. Shawna liked Hope. I liked Hope. Hope liked me. We decided to get together."

"Just like that?"

"Well, there was a mugging and I needed stitches," he turned his arm over to show her the scar, "but that's the short version."

"So you and ... They ... All three of you?"

"Yes," he confirmed, but she was obviously looking for something more. "What?"

"Um ... In bed?" She blushed as she asked, looking away.

"Yes."

"Wow."

"You can say that again."

She giggled at that, and they both looked up as Shawna turned away towards the stairs.

"What now?" Marcus asked, as Hope stepped back to them.

She stopped to stare at them both for a moment, cocking her head as something obviously caught her attention. Shaking her head clear of whatever it was, she smiled and pointed towards the kitchen.

"I'm going to go and introduce myself, I think."

"That's probably not a good idea," Lotty told her. "She's ... Once she gets angry she won't back down."

"I don't expect her to," Hope shrugged. "I'm literally just going to go and introduce myself. Best thing I can do right now is be polite, friendly, and go with the flow."

"Shawna's not going to like that."

"This time Shawna's in the wrong. She's going to have to live with it."

"Did you want me to come with you?" Marcus nodded towards the door. "I don't think she's entirely made up her mind whether or not she likes me."

"Maybe later, then. We'll work on that too. Why don't you take your bags back over to your place, and I'll gather Shawna up when we're ready and we'll come and get you."

"Mrs. Lewis?" Hope eased her head into the kitchen, calling quietly. At first glance the room seemed to be empty.

"It's Flint, actually."

Hope jumped at the voice, just by her ear, and turned to see a walk-in larder just by the door.

"Sorry?"

"Miss Flint, not Lewis. I went back to my own name after I divorced Shawna's father."

"Oh." Hope waited a moment, wondering how this was going to develop. "Shawna never mentioned that."

"I should think she probably doesn't mention us much at all," the older woman sighed, stepping past her and over to the cooker. "She doesn't seem to remember us from the moment she leaves until she gets back."

"And brings back unexpected guests," Hope acknowledged. "I'm sorry. I guess I just assumed she'd have said something."

"Assumption is something you're going to have to get used to if you're going to spend much time with Shawna," Miss Flint muttered without turning. She moved along the counter to the sink, still not turning.

"I think we'll be spending quite a lot of time together," Hope assured her, crossing her arms defensively.

"I see. What happens to Marcus in all this?"

"Whatever he wants." Hope shrugged. "What did Shawna tell you about us?"

"Just that you'd be staying in her room."

"Did she tell you that Marcus would be, too?"

That got her attention, and she turned away from the vegetables she was washing to stare at her guest.

"I think you'd better explain."

"Shawna, Marcus and I are ... involved."

"All three of you?"

"Yes."

"Together."

"Yes."

"Not just sharing a house?"

"Sharing everything," Hope confirmed.

"You ... and Shawna?"

"Yes. And Marcus. Or me and Marcus. Or Marcus and Shawna."

"That's ... I can't..."

"It's still a surprise to us," Hope said, shrugging, relaxing a little.

"Does she talk to you? I mean really talk, genuinely, about something more than what's on the telly, or what you're having for dinner?"

"How she feels. Why she feels it. What she wants. What she's afraid of ... some of time. Most of the time." She smiled. "We talk about the trivial bits and pieces. And then there's coursework stuff, too. Shawna and I share a fair few classes — English, mainly."

"Has she decided what to do with her life, yet?"