“Up to Mum and Dad’s farm, they can’t wait, I won’t see them for a week, it’ll be good but I’ll miss them. Then Rick and I’ll go and get them next weekend and they’ll go into a School Holiday program for the following week.”
“Well maybe you can use this chance to have some one-on-one time with Rick; she touched my arm and headed for her door.
“Thanks for the weekend, it was great, we had a ball and please thank Bryce for the Champas and Limo, that really was nice of him.” It was!
“No worries Hun, I’ll see you soon.” I got back into the Limo and Danny took me home
When I walked in the door Sunday night, the kids were at each other’s throats, I’d barely stepped in past the kitchen and they were both on either side of me.
“Mum, tell Charlotte to stay out of my room.”
“Mum he keeps taking the scissors and glue, how am I supposed to do my homework if I can’t find the glue.”
“Easy squeak, get your own.”
“Don’t call me squeak, I don’t squeak, Mum tell him not to call me squeak.”
“Squeak.” Charlotte went to push Nate but he was too quick, he ran off to his room and shut the door. Charlotte growled threw her hands to her sides and stormed off to her room slamming the door also.
Rick was hiding in the garage sweeping.
“Hi Hun, I’m back. What’s with the kids, hope they haven’t been like this all weekend?” He didn’t look up, something was wrong, his body language was well and truly off.
“Rick.” I raised my voice.
“What? Sorry what did you say?” He was in another world.
“Never mind.” I shook my head at him and went back inside, I grabbed some Chicken Kievs out of the freezer and chopped up some vegetables. Dinner was well and truly strange, Nate and Charlotte were having a silent war of stares with each other and Rick was still finding it difficult to make eye contact with me. I cleaned up the dishes and helped the kids pack their bags for Mum and Dad’s house, Rick had the day off tomorrow so was driving them up to Shepparton in the morning. I tucked Charlotte into bed first.
“Be good at Nanny and Poppa’s, I don’t want to get a phone call saying you and your brother are fighting.”
“But Mum, he never helps me or shares with me and he always tells me to go away.” I kissed her little head.
“Sometimes big brothers just want a little bit of space that’s all, I’ll talk to him and tell him to be nice.”
“Mum, are you going to the Tel V Awards tomorrow with Mr Clark?” How did she know about that?
“Yes, how did you know about that?”
“Daddy told me, will you see 4life there?” She sat up in bed, I gently pushed her back down and gave her a big kiss and hug.
“Maybe, if I do I’ll say hi for you, now go to sleep and I’ll see you next weekend, love you Charli Bear.” I was still trying to figure out how Rick knew about the Tel V’s, I was sure I hadn’t mentioned it yet, I’d planned on doing it tonight.
It was Nate’s turn for bed next, I picked up his dirty clothes from the floor and gave him a ‘they don’t belong here’ look. He jumped into bed waiting for his kiss and cuddle. I hope he wants these until he’s at least 21. I sat on the edge of his bed.
“Be good at the farm and stop being nasty to your sister.”
“But Mum…..” I gave him the stern Mummy look.
“But nothing, she is your baby sister and looks up to you, so be nice and make sure you wear all your safety gear when you take your motorbike out, Ok?”
“Yeah, Ok.” I gave him a big cuddle.
“I’ll see you on the weekend, love you my little man.” I kissed his cheek and left the room.
Rick had resumed sweeping in the Garage. How much sweeping does he need to do? He knows something Alexis!
“Would you like a cup of coffee?” I called from the door, he lent the broom up against the wall and looked at me.
“No.”
“Ok.” I gave him a frown and went to turn back inside.
“When were you going to tell me about the Tel V’s tomorrow night?” How the fuck does he know? It was really bugging me.
“Tonight, I only found out on Wednesday then forgot to tell you before I left on Friday night, anyway, how do you know I’m going?” He pulled out a crumpled and semi faded sticky note from his pocket. Oh Holy Fuck, Bryce’s Sticky Notes. Shit, the Dry Cleaning. I’d completely forgotten about them being in my pocket when we’d taken a dip in the pool. I walked over to him and he handed me the note, he only had the one sticky note and bits of the others. The part in which Bryce says he’s ‘very much looking forward to seeing me in the dress on Monday night at the Tel V’s’, was still intact, the rest was really hard to make out, but words like ‘occupy the guest room or mine’ and ‘mouth aches for yours’ and ‘Your Mr Clark’ were clearly readable.