“Bye, Mum!” Such was Archie’s excitement, he almost bumped into his dad who made his way up the garden path.
“Careful!” Jumping out of the way, Carl shook his head. “Anyone would think they’d never been anywhere before.”
Hannah observed her ex walk towards her. Wearing chino shorts and a tight-fitting T-shirt that showed off his broad chest and muscular arms, Carl’s self-confidence shone through. His overgrown hair was pushed back off his face and a huge smile revealed perfect teeth. There was no denying Carl’s good looks. Tall, blond, and with near flawless features, Hannah could see him fitting in with the South of France’s elite. As would her children, she acknowledged, who took after their dad in both poise and looks.
Watching them throw their suitcases into the swanky Range Rover’s boot before climbing into the back seat, Hannah missed Beth and Archie already. She didn’t know whether to feel envious of, or sorry for, Monica as the two of them enthusiastically greeted her. On the plus side, Monica didn’t appear fazed by Beth and Archie’s exuberance. She seemed to match it, which Hannah considered a good sign.
“Are you ever going to get rid of that?” Carl indicated the huge lion statue sat to the right of Hannah’s front door. “It’s so bloody ugly.”
“In China, stone lions act as guardians. They’re said to defend homes from accidents and theft.” Hannah could see Carl didn’t care one way or the other, but she carried on anyway. “Buddhists think they bring peace and prosperity, while in Italy they symbolise power and prestige.”
Carl shook his head. “So in other words, no.”
“Of course it’s a no. I think he’s gorgeous. Besides, he’s famous around these parts. A real talking point. People would miss him if I got rid of him.” She patted the statue’s head. “Wouldn’t they, Leo?” She returned her attention to Carl ready to get down to business. “Beth and Archie won’t get far without these.” Hannah handed over their passports. “I’m giving them to you because I know they’ll only lose them.”
“Understood.” Carl shoved the documents into his shorts pockets.
“Also, you’ll need to make sure Archie wears sun lotion. He hates the stuff, says it makes his skin too greasy. He’ll do anything to get out of putting it on.” Anxiety began to threaten Hannah. To say she’d been looking forward to some well-earned me time, she hadn’t realised how hard handing Beth and Archie over for more than a couple of days would be. “And don’t let them out of your sight.”
“Hannah, they’re fifteen.”
“Which is way too young to be wandering around a foreign country on their own. Do you want one of them to get kidnapped? Oh, and make sure they eat properly. Left up to them, it’ll be pommes frites and ketchup morning, noon and night.”
Carl scoffed. “Anything else?”
Hannah took a deep breath, insisting that while Carl might have a more chilled parenting style than her, he’d never put Beth and Archie at risk. “If I think of something, I’ll message.”
“So, what do you plan on getting up to while we’re away?” Carl asked.
“You mean apart from putting my feet up, stuffing my face, and enjoying the peace and quiet?”
“For a whole month?” Carl looked at Hannah, incredulous. “Surely, you can come up with something better than that? Won’t you get bored?”
Hannah laughed. The fact that he expected more doing and less sitting on her part evidenced just how little he knew about living with teenagers. “I’ve booked time off work especially for it.”
“Come on, Dad!” Beth called out.
Carl put a hand up, acknowledging his daughter’s request. “Coming, sweetheart.”
Sweetheart?Hannah bit down on her lips, hoping to goodness that Monica was made of sterner stuff. If not, the only adults in the group were going to be eaten alive.
“Can I ask you something?” Hannah asked, before Carl could leave.
He shrugged. “I suppose.”
“Why now? Why not take the kids away last year? Or the year before and the year before that? It’s not like I’ve never suggested it.”
Carl glanced over at the car before looking down at his feet as if not sure how to answer.
Watching him, Hannah’s eyes widened in amusement. “Oh, I get it.”
Carl snapped his head back up, defensive. “What do you get?”
Hannah indicated Monica. “That this thing between the two of you is serious.” Hannah realised she should have known their trip to France wasn’t as simple as her ex had portrayed. It had never been solely about treating Beth and Archie. It was an opportunity for them to get to know his girlfriend better; a situation Hannah never thought she’d see.
Carl blushed. “And if it is?”
Hannah let out a laugh. Carl might frustrate her on occasion, but Hannah’s feelings for the man, love and loathe, had long since dissipated. She glanced over at the car again to see Beth and Archie grappling with each other in the back seat. “As long as the kids are happy, that’s all I care about.”
