Free The Importance of Being Emma by Juliet Archer

looks sort of distracted. Although I’m rather proud of this photo, because it’s her to a T.’
    Mark laughed. ‘Not quite. I’ve never seen her sitting as still as that, she’s normally up and down like a yo-yo.’
    I couldn’t help smiling. ‘Mark’s got this theory that Izzy is totally at the beck and call of her kids. But he’s wrong. I’ve seen her be very assertive with them, especially in front of John.’
    ‘ I’m sure you have, she’s totally inconsistent as well as everything else,’ Mark said. ‘My other theory is that she secretly loves being bossed about by precocious children. Perhaps it reminds her of when she lived at Hartfield.’
    ‘ Is that a nasty little dig at me?’ I put on an injured expression.
    ‘ Not at all, I was just stating a vague possibility, you’re reading far too much into it as usual.’ He sipped his orange juice and watched me over the rim of the glass, a wicked gleam in his eye. And I remembered that this was why I’d once adored him; he was the only one who could outwit me with words.
    I lifted my chin. ‘You were asking about the children, Harriet. These are the three eldest. That’s Harry on the left, his real name’s Henry, after Dad, he was eight when this photo was taken. That’s James, who was five, and Bella, three. James is half turning away because he was about to rush off and be sick. We found out afterwards that he’d eaten a whole packet of chocolate biscuits. Really rich ones, Izzy had bought them specially for her NCT meeting.’
    ‘ Ah, the National Childbirth Trust,’ Philip said. ‘A wonderful organisation, or so my sister tells me. I’ve no experience of it myself yet , but who knows in the future?’
    Mark gave a sardonic smile. ‘Izzy certainly seems to have signed up as a lifetime member.’
    I nodded. ‘Five children already and maybe more to come. Anyway, on to the next photo, her youngest son Mark when he was a year old. He’s good as gold, never says a cross word, unlike his uncle here. This is my favourite photo of them all – his hair’s standing up in those adorable little tufts, I could just kiss him to bits.’
    ‘ Apparently my hair used to be like that,’ Mark said, as if to wind me up.
    Philip was not to be outdone. ‘Mine goes like that even now, if I don’t slick it down with gel.’ He glanced across at the mirror above the fireplace and preened himself.
    This impromptu mating ritual was completely lost on Harriet. She frowned and started counting on her fingers. ‘That’s one, two, three nephews and one niece – only four children. Didn’t you just say your sister had five?’
    ‘ Yes, but Emily hadn’t been born when I took these, she’s only nine months old now.’ I indicated the last photo. ‘And finally John, the man you thought looked constipated. I must admit, he does have rather a pained expression.’
    ‘ He was probably irritated at having his precious time wasted by someone who thought she could teach David Bailey a thing or two,’ Mark said.
    I ignored him and went on, ‘Izzy hates this photo, every time she sees it she says I’ve turned her gorgeous husband into Nicolas Cage with a hangover. I think she wanted him to come across as a doting father, which he is, but it’s nothing to do with my technique, he always looks grumpy. Anyway, today there are no couples involved so I can take my photos just as I like.’
    Philip smirked. ‘That’s right, Emma, no couples involved, at least not yet .’
    ‘ And what could you possibly mean by that, Philip?’ I gave him a teasing look, then put my arm firmly through Harriet’s; now would be a good time to leave him dangling. ‘Excuse us, please. The sooner Harriet and I eat, the sooner we can take the photos and be on our way to your place.’
    Philip didn’t reply, but I noticed him staring soulfully after us. That was all the answer I needed.
    ~~MARK~~
    Elton’s gaze was fixed on Emma and Harriet as they walked away.
    ‘ Poetry in