Free The Family Tree by Isla Evans

beer. He pushed the door shut with a foot and then flopped down into a vacant chair, his long limbs arranging themselves with a sort of rag-doll effect, and held up the beer.
    â€˜Hair of the dog.’
    For a moment Kate wondered what he meant, and then her eyes widened as she realised, with a jolt, that it was still New Year’s Day. Thatit was only yesterday when everybody had gone out partying, and she had come up with her brainwave.
    Sam cleared his throat. ‘Did you have a good time then, mate?’
    â€˜Yeah, not bad. What about you two?’
    â€˜Well, it was different, I’ll say that.’
    â€˜Cool. Then what’s for dinner?’
    â€˜Whatever.’ Sam waved a hand dismissively. ‘Listen, can you go get your brother and sister? I think I heard Shelley’s car get in just before. We need to talk to you all.’
    Kate stared at him with surprise. ‘No! Not yet!’
    â€˜This sounds interesting.’ Caleb raised an eyebrow at them both and then, leaving his beer on the table, headed back inside.
    â€˜You could have waited until we sorted
ourselves
out,’ hissed Kate.
    Sam shrugged. ‘We have. You’re leaving and I’m staying. That’s it, isn’t it?’
    â€˜It’s not so simple,’ Kate glared at him. ‘Now you’re trying to punish
me
.’
    Sam smiled at her, without humour. ‘Not me.’
    Kate turned away, picking up her wine glass and taking a sip. It tasted acidic and she grimaced as it settled in the pit of her stomach, emitting sour fumes. She was just pushing the wine away as Caleb came back out onto the decking, followed by his sister, who still looked very much like an advertisement for the pitfalls of the morning after. Her heavily-made-up eyes actually emphasised her pallor rather than disguised it. She flung herself down into a spare chair and closed her eyes tiredly.
    â€˜Where’s Jake?’ Sam asked Caleb, who had made himself comfortable again.
    â€˜He’s coming.’
    Kate looked over at Shelley. ‘And where’s Emma?’
    â€˜I told you before, she’s with Daniel today. He’s dropping her off after tea.’ Shelley opened her eyes and stared at the table for a few moments before suddenly glancing at her mother with more interest. ‘Hey, could you do me a huge favour?’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜Well, I really need some sleep because I have to work tomorrow.’Shelley paused for a moment to roll her eyes, reminding everybody, rather needlessly, that she hated her waitressing job. ‘So could you have Em this evening and just bring her down to the bungalow later? I’d really appreciate it.’
    â€˜Anyway, what
is
for dinner?’ asked Caleb, finishing his beer and crushing the can. ‘I’m starving.’
    â€˜Where’s bloody Jake?’ asked his father irritably as, right on cue, Jacob emerged from the house. If his sister looked like an advert for the benefits of abstinence, then he seemed more like a poster boy for the homeless. Sandy hair cowlicked in several directions, while his face bore clear creases from the pillow he had evidently just been lying on. Leaving the sliding door open for a quick getaway, he leant against the side of the house and peered at the gathering suspiciously.
    â€˜What’s up?’
    Kate looked at them all brightly. ‘Why does anything have to be –’
    â€˜Just thought we’d fill you in on a few things,’ interrupted Sam. ‘Firstly, your Uncle Oscar is going to sell his house because it’s too big.’
    â€˜About time,’ said Caleb with little interest.
    â€˜Where’s he going?’ asked Shelley, tucking a leg underneath herself and yawning.
    â€˜Town. He’s going to buy an apartment there.’
    Shelley nodded. ‘Cool. So was that it? Can I go to bed now?’
    â€˜Not quite yet,’ said her father with rather theatrical grimness.