“Baby Sister”

(**NOTE TO READER: This chapter actually takes place a couple days after Andy and Lucy's Wedding day)

Colin heard the car drive up out front, “Who the hell can that be?” he wondered to himself, catching a quick glimpse of the couple out the window, as he made his way to the door. It was late and his leg was hurting like hell and he was in no mood to have one of his mates, or anyone else for that matter, stop by for a visit. By the time his visitors had gotten up to the front porch and rang the bell, he was already standing there, ready to greet them.

“Yeah? What can I do for you then?” he asked, looking the couple up and down, wondering who the hell they were. Most likely had the wrong addy, he supposed. The little sheila was cute, though, too bad she was with the bloke... he might have had a go at her under different circumstances.

A huge smile spread across Raine’s face when Colin answered the door and she let out a squeal of delight at seeing her big brother again. “Colin! Oh Colin, I’m so glad to see you again... it’s been such a long time...years! I’m sorry I didn’t ring ahead, but you know me...”

Well, actually, no he didn’t, or at least he didn’t think he did, anyway. Colin just looked at her, listening to her chatter away. Damn but the sheila could talk, a mile a minute she was going and then some! “Um... sorry, luv, but who are you again?”

Raine suddenly stopped talking, a shocked and embarrassed look crossed her face ans she blushed a bit. “Oh! Oh, I guess it has been a few years, but still, I thought you’d be able to recognize... oh, never mind then. Colin, it’s me, Raine!”

Then it dawned on him and it was his turn to look a bit shocked, “Raine? My baby sister, Raine? Wow, look at you,” he chuckled, then stepped back to let the couple in, “you’ve certainly...grown up.”

“It’s me,” she giggled, then added, “though I’m not exactly a baby anymore, as you can see.”

“Well that’s for certain... just look at you, luv,” Colin replied, hardly believing his eyes that this was the same little girl in pigtails he’d teased so many years back when they still both lived at home with their mum.

Just then, Adam, who had been standing quietly off to the side, cleared his throat.

Colin and Raine both turned then, noticing the rather uncomfortable look on his face. “And who might this be, then?” Colin asked his sister, an eyebrow cocked.

“Oh, oh, I’m so sorry, sweetheart... I got so excited about seeing Colin that I nearly forgot to introduce you.”

Adam smiled and she took him by the hand, pulling him up beside her, and wrapped an arm around him. “Colin, I’d like you to meet my husband, Adam Laughlin. Adam, this, is my brother, Colin.”

“Nice to meet you, Colin,” Adam told the man, extending his hand.

Colin took it in his and shook, “Same to you, Adam. Welcome to my home. Can I get you anything? Something to drink, maybe? I’ve got a tinny or two of VB in the fridge.”

“Ta, Mate, actually... I’m in dire need of a loo about now,” Adam confessed, shifting around a bit, uncomfortably. “Long drive.”

Colin grinned, “Straight through there, mate, first door on the left,” he told him, motioning towards the hallway.

“Ta,” he said again, then quickly made his exit.

Colin grinned as he watched the man leave the room, then turned back to his sister, “So, Raine, what brings you round for a visit? Everything okay with mum?” He motioned for her to have a seat on the couch, which she did, and he sat in an arm chair across from her.

“Oh, just passing through... mum is fine... same as usual... hooked up with some new guy a while back...,” she smiled.

“Seen her lately, then? Last I heard you were off with some bloke down in Guam somewhere. Mum was still with what’s-his-name then, living up in Queensland.”

“She still is, actually, only what’s-his-name is out and this new bloke has taken his place. Real tosser, I think, anyway.”

Colin chuckled, “Yeah, well, is there any other kind when it comes to the blokes mum chooses to take up with?”

“No, guess not,” she chuckled, shaking her head. She paused, looking at him, “I heard what happened to dad... and with you. I’m... sorry.”

“No worries,” he replied, quietly, looking down at his hands. He shook it off, “I’m fine now, started up a new crash ‘n dent shop here in town, business is up each month. Got a roof over me and all. I’m doin’... fine.”

“Yeah? You don’t exactly look... fine,” she told him, pointing to the rather large cast on his leg.

“Oh? This? Yeah, well... casualty of love, this is,” he chuckled. “Long story, that. I’ll explain in the morning. By the way, you two are welcome to bunk here...got plenty of spare room.”

“Oh thanks, Colin, I wouldn’t want to put you out or anything, really,” she told him, then quickly added, “but if you say it’s okay, well, yeah, we could use a place to crash for a bit.”

"How long you planning on staying, might I ask?”

“Not sure really,” Raine told him, biting her lip, “Oh, here’s Adam,” she said, changing the subject quickly. “Adam, Colin has offered to let us stay here with him for a bit. Isn’t that great?”

Adam smiled, sat down on the couch next to her, “Yeah it is, thanks, mate. I hope it’s not any trouble... we can help out with groceries and such, do odd jobs around the house here until we can find a place of our own.”

“So, you do plan on staying in town then,” Colin tried to clarify.

“Yeah, well, that’s the plan,” Adam replied, “Depends on if I can hire on someplace close by, though, of course.”

“What kind of work do you do, Adam, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Oh, this and that... I’m not too choosey, as long as the pay is good.”

“How long you two been married?” Colin asked them.

They looked at each other, smiled, then turned back to Colin. “Not long... bout I week now, I reckon,” Adam told him, wrapping an arm around Raine’s shoulders.

“Know each other long?”

“Well... let’s see... umm... yeah, it was about...what, two weeks ago now?” Adam replied, looking questioningly at Raine.

She blushed, smiled brightly. “Yes, two weeks, the best most wonderful two weeks of my life,” she sighed, dreamily.

Colin cleared his throat. Two weeks. Hmm... bit fast, he reckoned, but who was he to judge. He smiled at the happy couple sitting on his couch, hoping at least someone in their crazy, fucked-up family might be able to in fact be able to live happily-ever-after for a change.

“Well, it’s getting pretty late, and I’m sure you two are worn out from the long drive. There’s a guest room just down the hall past the loo... already made up for company... just grab your bags and help yourselves.”

“Thanks, Colin,” she told him, then stood up from the couch, “It’s so good to see you again. This is going to be great!” she giggled again then followed Adam to the door.

“Yeah, great,” Colin muttered to himself as he watched them head out to their car to retrieve their bags, wondering what he was getting himself into now.

TBC...