Bad Moon Rising

[Miranda]

Chapter 11

“Dad. Dad! I’ll go.” Dex prepared to sacrifice peace of mind forever for his sister’s sake. He suspected if Sid walked in on his daughter and this particular boyfriend, a fight would ensue.

He knocked gently on her door.

“It’s Dex. Can I come in?”

“Just a minute…. Okay.”

He edged into the room, peering between his fingers. Heath was tucking the cover over himself and Indi.

“Alright mate.” He nodded at Dex.

“Uh huh. Dad wants to see you both. Just thought I’d warn you.”

“Thanks.” Indi smiled uneasily.

“See you in a minute. Or whenever.” He hurried out.

After a few minutes, Indi peeped round the sitting room door.

“Hi Dad.”

“Ah there you are. What the heck’s been going on? I made it clear to Romeo that he shouldn’t-”

She edged Heath into the room. Sid’s eyes widened, as did Marilyn’s.

“G’day, Doc,” said Heath.

Indi nudged him as Sid bristled.

“Dad!” warned Dex.

“Sid!” warned Marilyn.

“What’s he doing here?” demanded Sid.

Indi shrugged. “He’s my boyfriend now.”

“But- but what about Romeo?”

“I told you Dad, Romeo’s just a friend.” She looked admiringly at Heath, who winked.

“Better the devil you know, Dad,” said Dex wisely. “I did try to warn you.”

Sid was speechless.

“Nice to see you. Would you like a cup of tea?” asked Marilyn, advancing on Heath.

“Well, you’d better treat my daughter right!” spluttered Sid, glaring at him. “She’s very precious to me.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll look after her now you’re past it.”

“Past it?” Sid stepped towards him.

Dex laughed but turned it into a cough.

“What he means is, you’re obviously busy with your job and I’m old enough not to need supervision,” Indi explained hastily.

“Yeah, that’s what I meant,” said Heath.

******

A few days later, Indi was putting her make up on while Dex sat thoughtfully next to her.

“So, what should I do?” she asked him. “I like Heath but… there are obvious pitfalls.”

“Well, if you want my advice- which you obviously do or you wouldn’t be asking- you shouldn’t go within ten miles of him without a tetanus shot and an armed bodyguard. As your brother I forbid you to see him.”

“Oh. Right.” She’d been brought back down to earth and felt deflated.

“However, I- I have to say- my-“

“What?”

“My gut instinct tells me he’s smoking hot and you should just go for it.”

Indi paused, digesting all this information.

“Well, he is smoking- hang on. Your gut instinct is telling you that?”

Dex nodded, looking sideways at her.

“Um- are you trying to tell me something else as well?”

“Yes, I suppose I am.”

“Aw, Dex.” She flung her arms round him and he chuckled.

*******

Indi was ready and waiting in the sitting room.

“It doesn’t look like your date’s coming, Indi.” Sid failed to keep the triumphant note out of his voice.

She smiled, putting her nose in the air.

There was a knock at the door and she hurried to get it. Heath stood there on the doorstep, in a white shirt and black jeans. She gasped. He looked like a model, James Bond and a mafia hit man all rolled into one.

She led him into the sitting room.

“You were saying, Dad?”

Sid stepped forward and shook hands cautiously.

“I hope you’ll behave properly with my daughter tonight,” he commanded.

Heath nodded.

“Where are you taking her?” Sid had a pen and paper ready to make a note.

“Dad!” said Indi, embarrassed.

“We’re going to the drive in movie place.”

“Classy,” remarked Sid sarcastically.

“Sid, please!” corrected Marilyn.

“If that’s alright?” Heath asked Indi.

She nodded.

Sid wrote down where they were going. When he looked up again, his girlfriend, his daughter and even his son were gazing admiringly at the visitor.

“My, oh my,” Marilyn sashayed over and adjusted Heath’s collar unnecessarily. “You do look adorable.” He smiled nervously.

“I don’t know about adorable, I’d use another word,” whispered Indi to Dex, who grinned.

Sid wondered what this man was doing to his family, they were all gawping at him like star struck teenagers.

“Have a lovely evening,” said Marilyn, smiling at Indi and Heath.

“Don’t bring her back too late. By midnight please,” ordered Sid.

“Okay.” Heath was getting fed up with the questioning.

“Come on then,” said Indi, sensing this.

They went out to Heath’s ute, got in and drove away.

THE END...

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