Page 78 of The Interview

With all my babies under one roof.

“We’re going to walk down to the pub and get some dinner. You and Dad wanna come?” Harry asks.

My eyes find Cam’s, who gives a swift headshake.

“Thanks, babe, but I’m knackered. A shower and bed are all I’m after tonight. You’re all staying here, though, right? We’ll do breakfast,” I promise him.

“Yeah, we’re all staying.”

The kids say their goodbyes to everyone and head out, leaving just me, Cam, Marley, Jim, and Len standing around our kitchen Island.

The door to the deck opens, and Ash and Makenzie, who I didn’t even know was still here, walk in.

Makenzie immediately says goodbye and makes her way back to the studio, where she says she has to pick up her equipment. I leave her to see her own way out.

Rude, I know, but did I mention how tired I am?

“You ready to go? I’m starving,” Ash declares before I get a chance to ask what she was doing outside with Kenzie.

“Whenever you are, my sweet. I was thinking maybe dinner for two with a view, tonight?” Marley suggests.

“Ohh, where you taking me, Rock Star? Somewhere nice, I hope?” Ash asks.

“Absolutely, baby. Home to our very own bed for a sixty-nine…Ooof!” is the sound my brother makes as soon as Ash elbows him in the ribs.

“You’re taking over Cam with the Dad jokes,” Len says before letting out a yawn, making me yawn, too. Soon, Marley follows suit, making us all laugh.

“Sorry,” Len apologises. “I had a shit night’s sleep last night.”

“Same,” Marley states. “I had the weirdest dream. I was at that theme park in Australia. Remember? The one with the big mouth that the kids were all scared of when we went there. I can’t remember if it was Melbourne or Sydney?”

“They have one in both places,” I say while trying to recall the name.

“Luna Park,” Len says with a click of his fingers.

“That’s it,” Marley agrees. “I was there. I think we were all there. I was in the mouth trying to run towards all of you and something was chasing me. I finally got out to daylight, and when I turned to look back, standing in the big mouth was Maca. He had his hands on his hips and was shaking his head at me.”

I get a stabbing pain in my temple as a memory, or maybe the recollection, of a dream fights to make itself known.

“Are you winding me the fuck up?” Len asks, all amusement now gone from his face. “Did you tell him?” he asks, turning to Jim. “About my dream? Have you told him?”

“I haven’t said a word. I didn’t even tell George,” Jimmie replies.

“Tell me what?” I ask Len as my scalp prickles.

“I had a dream that we had a load of Carnage merchandise made. The T-shirts were supposed to have the eye logo on them, but when they turned up, they all had The Rolling Stones’ big lips and tongue on them. I phoned the supplier, and they kept saying this is what Maca ordered. He said you and Marley had to wear them.”

“He said he was going to haunt you for being big-mouthed fuckers who couldn’t keep a secret,” I say. “I dreamt of him, too.”

I feel dizzy and laugh a little nervously as soon as the memory of my dream explodes into my consciousness.

“Carla gave him a blow job,” I blurt. “After I lost baby M, before you caught them together at the Hampstead house, she gave him a blow job in the studio. He lied to you when you asked if there was anything going on between them,” I tell Marley.

“What?” Jimmie and Ash say in unison.

“What the fuck? That was your dream?” Len asks.

“It wasn’t…. They’re not…” I trail off.