Page 95 of The Other Brother

Kate’s chosen to have her baby shower at this cutesy restaurant that serves what looks like regular afternoon tea but puts it on tiered plates and calls it high tea. But after the baby shower ridiculing, I’m not asking any questions.

We’re separated out in a back room to give us privacy. Personally, I think this is a bad thing. Mum and Frank would probably behave themselves better if there was public scrutiny.

Kate’s invited a few of her old school friends, but as soon as we arrive, it’s plainly obvious there aren’t enough other people to provide a buffer zone between the two enemy camps.

Mel gives me a strained smile. Cody’s there too, already sitting at one of the tables.

I edge my way around to Cody under the guise of greeting him.

“Hey,” I say.

“Hey,” he replies. His face is strained, and he flicks his gaze away from me.

Cement forms in my stomach. “What’s wrong?”

“I think my dad suspects us,” he says in a low voice.

“Why?”

“The official photos from the photographer for my birthday came back.”

Cody fiddles with his phone, then flashes it under my nose.

On screen is a picture of us. It must have been taken near the end of the night, long after the cake cutting, when I let myself drift back over toward him. We’re standing about a foot apart with absolutely no physical contact between us, but we’re laughing together, and there’s so much affection in our expressions I can barely stand to look at it.

I can imagine Frank and Heather felt the same way.

“I feel shit that I’m keeping stuff from them,” he mutters, stuffing his phone back into his pocket.

I tense. Because this is what I fear deep down. That Cody’s desire to be the perfect son will eclipse what we have together. That he’ll decide there are lots of other fish in the sea, fish that don’t come already tangled up in nets and lines with sharp hooks in them.

He’ll realize that Mel and Kate are right. He can do a whole lot better than me.

“Yeah, I get it,” is all I manage.

Despite Cody’s warning, when it comes time to find somewhere to sit, I make sure I’m next to him. From the way he shuffles over and brushes his leg against mine under the table, he’s not complaining.

Kate opens her presents and exclaims over all the tiny outfits. It’s hard to believe a real human will fit into the clothes. Actually, it’s even harder to believe that a real human is growing inside my sister right now.

Cody has brought his own present, one of those miniature piano things.

“You’ve got to start the baby on the right instrument young,” he says.

Kate gives a belly laugh.

For once the perfect brother hasn’t completely outdone me, because I’ve got my own present for Kate and Chris.

Kate’s face screws up in confusion as she unwraps a bag of raisins.

“Raisins?” she asks. “You realize the baby won’t be eating anything but milk for the first six months, right?”

“Yeah, they’re for you. I read somewhere that babies like the taste of whatever their mother eats during pregnancy. So you’ve got to eat loads of raisins to make sure your child doesn’t have any weird phobias. Really, I’m giving your child a lifetime of enjoying raisins.”

“Oh right. Um… thanks, Ryan.”

I can feel Cody’s body silently shaking next to me as he tries to control his laughter. I sneak a look at him and scrunch my nose.

He scrunches his nose in return.