She thought back to when Carl had first announced Beth and Archie’s end-of-year-exams reward. It was just like him to swoop in with an over-the-top gesture. Hannah pictured the kids jumping up and down and screaming as if they’d won the lottery, leaving Hannah little choice but to stand there, hiding her annoyance behind a fake smile and clamped jaw. At the time, Hannah couldn’t believe Carl hadn’t discussed his plans with her first. A concern he dismissed.
It was evident Carl viewed himself as the fun parent; the one who took Beth and Archie to fancy restaurants, bought them expensive gifts and, as it turned out, arranged lavish holidays. As for getting his hands dirty, he did none of that. It seemed Carl was way too important to help with any of the mundane stuff, leaving Hannah to raise their children, clean up after them, be the disciplinarian… That was when Hannah realised the trip was a gift in more ways than one. Not only would Hannah get a break, Carl would finally learn what it was like to be a proper parent.
Hannah smirked as the sound of squabbling interrupted her thoughts.
“Those are my earphones.”
“No, they’re not. Give them back.”
Hannah heard the two of them tussle.
“Get off!”
“Not until I get what’s mine.”
Hannah’s smile turned into a giggle. Carl might have thought he was Father of the Year with his excessive presents and a surprise holiday but having never had the kids for more than a weekend at a time, he didn’t have a clue what he’d let himself in for.
CHAPTER2
While Beth and Archie finished upstairs, Hannah contemplated the weeks ahead. She might not have been heading for the South of France, but she still looked forward to the following few weeks. She planned on sleeping in every morning, spending days relaxing on the sofa, eating what she wanted when she wanted, and getting lost in all the books she hadn’t found time to read. For once, Hannah was going to be a lady of leisure. Something she’d never been before.
Hannah cocked her head and her thoughts were interrupted when a car horn beeped followed by what sounded like a stampede as Beth and Archie charged down the stairs.
“Are you sure you have everything you need?” Taking their passports with her to give to Carl for safekeeping, Hannah headed out into the hall to see Beth and Archie sling their rucksacks over their shoulders.
“It’s a bit late if we haven’t,” Beth replied, eager to get going.
As was Archie. “Mediterranean here we come,” he said, flinging open the front door.
Grabbing their suitcases, it appeared the two of them couldn’t get out of the house quickly enough.
“Excuse me,” Hannah said, raising her voice.
Beth and Archie stopped.
Refusing to let them go without a proper goodbye, Hannah tapped her cheek in readiness.
Beth crumpled. “Mum, you’re so needy.”
“That’s because she hasn’t got a life,” Archie said.
Hannah laughed. “And why do you think that is? Between looking after you two, running a house and going out to work, there isn’t much time for anything else.”
“You know what they say,” Beth said. “There are twenty-four hours in a day, it’s up to you how you spend them.”
Hannah scoffed. She’d never heard such a privileged statement. Whoever came up with that little nugget of advice had evidently never been a single mum. “Is that so? I’ll remember that the next time you’re nagging for a lift.”
Beth and Archie gave Hannah the briefest of hugs and quickest of kisses.
“Nowcan we go?” they both asked.
Hannah nodded and the two of them clamoured out the door, desperate to start their French adventure.
“Make sure you text me,” Hannah called out.
“We will,” Beth replied.
“Every few days. So I know you’re alive and well.”
