Chapter 7

The drive home was certainly not peaceful, nor relaxing. The traffic had caused multiple delays which meant it took us eight hours to get home, we had four pit stops for loo breaks and to grab food from the services and the children were extremely restless.

By the time I pull onto our driveway, an instant rush of stress and panic rushes over me as I realise there’s no food in the house and we’re back so late all the shops are now closed. I’ll have to take the children out first thing in the morning and go food shopping. As it’s so late, all three children are happy to go straight upstairs to bed. After I tuck them in, I’m straight back into ‘single mum’ mode and bring in all our luggage. I begin to organise the clothes and start unloading it into the washing machine, when I notice a bunch of flowers on my kitchen table with a note saying:

‘Welcome home beautiful, I’ve topped up your fridge, knew you’d forget, love you! Liana’

I open the fridge, and it is full of vegetables, yogurts, fresh cuts of meat and all the children’s favourites, I turn round and see a loaf of bread on the side and the fruit bowl is overflowing. Thank goodness for Liana, maybe I should marry her. I send her a quick text before heading up to bed.

‘You are the best, thank you so much. P.S Marry me!?’

                                                                          *

The next day is Saturday, and I have a lot to do, why did I plan Rosie’s birthday party for the Sunday after we got home from holiday? Dylan asked if he could take the children to the park and out for lunch, which is helpful as I can concentrate on creating the perfect Cinderella cake for Rosie. It’s the first time we’ve seen him since the police were called but he picked the children up without any drama, in fact, he barely looked at me. I feel sad as I wave them off but it’s important they have a good relationship with their Dad.

I get straight to work on Rosie’s cake, baking four tiers of Funfetti sponge with a vanilla buttercream. I can’t help myself from licking the spoon, it’s the best bit of baking. I calve the cake into the shape of a ballgown and pop a Cinderella doll in the centre, using blue fondant to create the gown and then dust the dress with an edible shimmer. I stand back and admire my work, I know she’s going to love it.

I take a few photos and add them to my website which I can now start sharing on my F******k account again. I need to build up my business, especially as I’ve lost the income from Dylan, and he hasn’t sent me any money to help with the children.

                                                                         *

I take Penelope for a walk while I wait for the children to come home. I miss them running round me and hearing their happy laughs. I think about our beautiful time away together and how free I felt while we were away.

I’m walking across a plain field surrounded by houses. I close my eye’s trying to listen to the nature that surrounds us but all I can hear is the busy road nearby, and I don’t have that lovely relaxed peaceful feeling. In fact, I feel heavy and disconnected. There’s nothing here that interests Penelope (or me). Take me back to the beach I think to myself and I’m already planning when we can go back. I throw the ball for Penelope but something else catches her eye. There’s a cyclist at the other end of the field and she runs straight for them. “Penelope” I call out, but she ignores me, “Penelope, come”. By this time, she’s nearly at the cyclist and now I’m starting to run after her. She’s never done this before; her recall has always been great but right now she’s not interested in me at all. “PENNY!” I shout at the top of my voice, what is she doing? The cyclist stops and Penelope leaps towards them, “I’m so sorry” I shout out, I hope they’re friendly, I’m so embarrassed.

As I get closer, I realise who the cyclist is.

“Alright Alice” calls out Daniel, I finally reach them, red faced, sweaty and completely out of breath. “I’m so sorry” I say again, “No worries” he says as he gives Penelope a good fuss.

“She’s normally so well behaved, she’s never run off before”

“Ah, she must have wanted some extra attention, it’s honestly okay, I love animals”

“Well, it was nice to see you” I say “I’d better get back, bye”

“bye” he says and cycles off. I put Penelope back on her lead “Thanks for that Mrs, now he’s going to think I’m a hot mess!”

Seriously, he is so cute though and I couldn’t help checking out his arse as he cycled off.

                                                                       *

Back at home I start to blow up balloons ready for tomorrow. There’s a knock at the door.

I open it to Dylan at the children “Mummy” Harry runs in and gives me a big squish, I pick him up for extra cuddles, “Hi guys, did you have fun?”, “yeah” they all chorus and run off into the house to play.

“Thanks for taking them out, looks like they had a good time”

“Alice?” Dylan starts

“yeah”

“Can I please go back to having the kids every other weekend, I miss them”

“I don’t even know why you stopped having them in the first place, we had no contact from you at all”

“I felt awful for what I did, and I was in a really bad place, I’ve been living off of mates sofas, but I’ve got myself a flat now, I’m trying to sort myself out”

“I’m sorry you’ve had such a hard time”, yet again I feel sorry for Dylan “I’m sure the children would love to see you regularly again”

“Thanks, I’ll see you later”. Dylan walks off. I hate that he still manages to make me feel sorry for him after everything he’s done to us.

“Mummy” Rosie jumps onto me, giving me a wonderful hug, “can we have a family movie night?”

“Yes baby of course we can but we can’t stay up too late because it’s someone’s party tomorrow!”

“yaaaaaay” Rosie shouts with joy.