"Hello?" Pt. 2

December 6th 2016

"Sophie?"

"Yes, Daniel?"

"Did you take Ewan and Finn to the Shake Shack after school today?"

"Yes."

"You bought them a milkshake each?"

"I bought them an ice cream floater each, actually."

"Sophie?"

"Yes, Daniel?"

"Ewan is lactose intolerant."

"Oh, fuck."

"He's been sick all evening."

"Shit, shit, fuck."

"I'm guessing neither he nor Finn told you, huh?"

"No, they didn't. Oh, my God. Daniel, is he ok?"

"He'll be fine."

"Evie must hate me."

"No, she doesn't. She's angry with the boys, though. They know better than to lie and let Ewan have any dairy."

"Yeah, but-"

"Soph, it's ok. I promise."

<<Let me speak to her.>>

"Evie wants you, Soph."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

<<Sophie? Honey, are you ok?>>

"Me?! Are you serious?! Forget about me. How's Ewan? Evie, I honestly, didn't know and he didn't say and... I am so sorry!"

<<Sophie, stop apologising. It's my idiot son's fault. Ewan knows full well what happens if he has any dairy and yet he insists that he can have all the milk and all the ice cream in the world. As for Finn, he is in major trouble. He thinks it's hilarious when his brother is sick like this and is always encouraging Ewan to do things he isn't supposed to do. Needless to say, they are both grounded.>>

"It's not the boys' fault, Evelyn. It's mine entirely."

<<I won't hear it, Sophie.>>

"But... I was trying to bribe Finn into reading out a poem I've chosen and it all went wrong. Very, very wrong."

<<Don't feel guilty for Dumb and Dumber's actions. As for the poem, send me a copy and I will make damned sure that Dumb memorises the words by heart and can deliver it without needing a copy in front of him.>>

"No, Evie-"

<<I won't hear another word about it, Sophie. By the way, thank you for including my boys in your wedding. It means so much to myself and Alistair.>>

"It's the least we could do. They're Daniel's nephews, we couldn't leave them out, could we?"

<<I wouldn't blame you if you had a change of mind.>>

"Not happening."

<<Well, thank you, in any case. I do have one question, though.>>

"Ok, shoot."

<<Between Ewan being sick, he keeps going on and on and on about his role in your wedding and how he has something very important to do. Do you want to indulge his mother somewhat by telling me what exactly is it that he's doing?>>