Free Love You Better by Natalie K Martin

She didn’t need him to point out that Izzy was nattering away; Effie could hear it from the other end of the room. He really needed to turn the volume down on his phone.
    ‘It’s lovely, Izzy. Thank you,’ he said, looking down at the TAG Heuer watch on his wrist. ‘Yep, I spoke to her earlier. At least she’s got Stepdad to spend the day with.’
    Effie poured the wine and thought about her own mum. She always used to celebrate Christmas, but Effie wasn’t so sure now. Did hippies celebrate it, or had she moved on to worsh ipping tree s?
    ‘Yes, we got them.’ Oliver sighed and rubbed his forehead. ‘No . . . he can’t just buy his way out of things . . . No, I don’t want to speak to him.’
    Effie grimaced and took a sip of her wine. There were no prizes for guessing who he was talking about, but it was Christmas. Whatever happened to goodwill to all men? She might not get on with her mum, but at least she’d called to thank her for the present. Okay, so she hadn’t been able to get through, but at least she’d tried.
    ‘Izzy wants you,’ Oliver said, handing her the phone before flopping next to her on the sofa.
    ‘Happy Christmas,’ Effie said, smiling into the phone as Oliver draped her legs over his.
    ‘Happy Christmas, sweetie.’ Izzy’s slurred voice came through on the other end. Effie frowned as Oliver took the glass from her hand and downed it in one go.
    He looked at her and mouthed, ‘She’s pissed as a fart.’ Effie stifled a giggle. He wasn’t wrong.
    ‘I adore Christmas, don’t you? I’ve had a litre of champagne and eaten enough to feed an army,’ Izzy continued, and Effie laughed. She’d yet to see Izzy eat more than three mouthfuls of food. ‘How’s yours been?’
    ‘Lovely. We’re just about to watch a film. Thanks for the scarf, by the way – it’s beautiful.’
    ‘Don’t mention it. Oh, I do wish you two were here. The twins are nice, but I feel positively ancient.’
    Effie could imagine that thirty-three-year-old Izzy probably wouldn’t have much in common with a pair of nineteen-year-olds, whether they were family or not.
    ‘Are you coming to our New Year’s party?’ Izzy asked. ‘Please say yes. It’s going to be extra special.’
    Effie looked over at Oliver, and he nodded back. ‘Of course – we wouldn’t miss it for the world.’
    ‘And please try to drag my little brother out of that bad mood he’s in. Honestly, it’s intolerable.’ Izzy sighed with a heap of drama.
    ‘I hadn’t noticed,’ Effie lied, all too aware that he could hear everything Izzy said down the phone.
    ‘If only he’d try and make a bit more effort with Daddy, I’m sure he wouldn’t feel half as angry. It wouldn’t kill him to spend a day up here; it’s only once a year after all.’
    Effie pressed the phone against her ear to protect Oliver from his sister’s words, but it was pointless. He had an almighty scowl on hi s face.
    ‘Anyway, sweetie, must dash. I’ll see you at the party.’
    ‘Never could handle her alcohol,’ Oliver said after Effie hung up and propped her feet up on his legs. ‘She turns into one of those “let’s put the world to rights” types after she’s had a few. It’s intensely annoying.’
    He picked up the remote and pressed ‘Play ’ , signalling the end of the discussion, and they settled down to watch the film, but the images on the screen barely registered in Effie’s mind. His parents had divorced years ago, and while it must have been horrific to find out that their dad had not only cheated on their mum but had also fathered the twins, surely the grudge couldn’t go on forever. Effie’s mum had upped and left with barely a backward glance, and although it burned her inside, they still maintained some kind of relationship, however messed up it was. Couldn’t Oliver do the same, just like Izzy did? He was so self-assured, grown up and forgiving in seemingly every other part of his life, why couldn’t he be the same