A Pocket Full of Posies (Book 3)

Chapter Four

"No! No sex!"

I'm stirred from my state of relaxation by the shrieking sounds of the woman who drugged me several hours ago. I jump upright, waking Carmen, who'd fallen asleep with her head on my chest, in the process.

"No sex!"

Chiku stands above the bed batting a tea towel at us while Carmen sits up in a complete daze. I go to assure her this whole situation has been strictly platonic when I realise I've got no chance explaining it in a way that will make sense to her, so I just leap out of bed and wave my hands in front of me while saying no as if that will explain what I'm trying to get across. Carmen's hair is sticking up in all kinds of ways as she sits on the bed, and she looks even more confused now than when she was first woken up.

Chiku tuts, then smacks me in the arm with the tea towel. She turns her attention to Carmen.

"Felix bed, not Carmen!"

I think Carmen has caught on to what's happening because her cheeks flush as she jolts to her feet. She apologises to Chiku, then heads towards the bedroom door, but not before brushing her hand against mine and saying a quiet goodbye.

"No sex!" Chiku snaps, smacking me with the tea towel again.

She's going to start leaving flesh wounds at this rate. I sit back down onto the bed and thank Chiku for my stew in an attempt to dissolve the situation, but her eyebrows don't unfurrow for a moment. She's not wearing her rabbit-badger pyjamas anymore, but the monster slippers remain.

"Idiot," a voice mutters from above me.

I can't see the source of the voice, but I don't need to. "Oh, hey, Annie."

"You can see me again?" she asks quickly as Chiku scurries out of the room to who knows where.

"Nah, just hear," I clarify.

Suddenly, there's a hard thump on my head. "Ow!"

"I don't look like that stupid toy!"

I'd completely forgotten about that. I start pissing myself laughing again as I stretch behind me to grab Annabel the Second from where he's currently wedged in-between the mattress and the bedframe.

"Twins," I say through a laugh, flashing the toy in front of me.

Another thump on my head. Sheesh, she needs to chill out.

I'm about to try and wind her up even more when Chiku shuffles back into the room, this time with something in her hand. She sits at the end of the bed, then orders me to join her. She better not be trying to spike me again. I move next to her, and get a glimpse of what's in her hand. It's a photograph, kind of old looking, and she's easily recognisable in it. Her face is brighter, more youthful, and she's standing with a taller posture among a group of--

"You knew my dad?" The words have left my mouth within seconds.

"That's Dad? What?" Annabel chimes in from wherever she is in the room.

I stare at the photo so hard that I half expect the intensity of it make the picture catch fire. At the end of the huddle of people in the photo is Dad, who's leaning against a tree with a small smile on his face. It's the youngest I've ever seen him, but I'd guess he's older than me here. Not old enough to have kids, but close.

Chiku's eyes wander around the room. "Uh... ah... One," she tries. "Once in time."

"You only met him once--one time?" I question.

She nods enthusiastically, then points at Dad's still image and says, "Felix like Daniel."

I let out a small laugh. "Yeah, we look a bit alike. We all kind of do. I think it's the hair."