a big rambling backpack especially designed for the purpose. It kept her fit, and kept Bea and Megan occupied during long hours when Jo was working. It allowed her space to breathe in fresh air.
On top she was wearing an antique cream top with a floaty Pre-Raphaelite vibe. She felt tired though and was wearing minimal makeup. Ferreting in her bag she dug out some tinted lip-balm and a little eyeliner, and set to work. She also put on some perfume she found at the back of the cupboard - probably a gift her mother had never bothered to wear. Sarah smoothed her naturally blond hair with her fingers to tame fly-aways and finally felt a little happier about her appearance. She hoped it wasn’t too obvious she’d made the extra effort. She headed back to the dining room, lit some candles and put on some classical music.
Taking a deep breath she wiped her clammy hands on her jeans and shouted, ‘Dinner’s ready’. She did not want to behave like this was a special occasion. She would try to act normal.
Her kids ran in, Megan first, and started organizing the seating arrangements.
‘Me sit here, Grandma sit there.’
‘No, me next Grandma,’ said Bea.
Grandma was close behind them, ‘Why don’t I sit in between so I can sit next to both of you?’
At this point Granddad walked in.
‘I want to sit next to Granddad too,’ said Megan. She was always first off the cuff, being the oldest. Bea soon chimed in.
‘Me next to Granddad.’
Sarah rolled her eyes.
Megan looked livid, ‘No, me!’
‘How about I sit next to you Bea and Granddad sits next to Megan,’ suggested Sarah.
At this point their guest entered the room. He looked stunning and completely relaxed. Leaning against the doorframe, glass of wine still in hand, he said, ‘How about me, where shall I sit?’
Megan and Bea fell silent. They were happy to stay as far away from this new man as possible.
However it was a reciprocal question. There was only one seat left, which would be nearest the door, between Granddad and Sarah.
Sarah slid into her seat, and as everyone settled down Daniel pulled out his chair and sat down alongside her. Their arms were almost touching, only an inch away. Sarah was very aware of her body and whether any part of it was anywhere near him. She couldn’t even look at him, and busied herself with fussing over Bea and making sure she was OK and sitting down properly.
‘I’ll be back in a minute,’ Grandma said reassuringly to Bea and Megan, ‘I’m just going to bring in our food’.
Sarah had left her mum to dish up as she had cooked - Sarah did not want to take credit for her mother’s efforts.
Sarah could smell delicious tantalizing scents drift in from the kitchen. Her mum emerged with the ceramic dish holding the homemade casserole. She placed it in the middle of the table, ‘No touching kiddies, it’s VERY hot,’ she emphasized, before going back into the kitchen for the cooked potatoes.
Trying to ignore Daniel, who was sitting silently to her right, Sarah leant over and began dishing up casserole for Megan and Bea. She gave them each a chicken drumstick and picked them out veggies from the stew. They would not eat a scoop of casserole if it was placed on their plates - Sarah had to divide it into individual segments if it was not to be rejected.
Sarah turned to Daniel and tried to sound confident, ‘Would you like some casserole?’
‘Yes please,’ he replied - he’s so polite, thought Sarah – and then he continued, ‘I’m very hungry, it’s been a busy day.’ He half smiled, the corner of his mouth curling up in a way Sarah couldn’t help imagine had hidden meaning, while he looked secretly amused.
Alice had returned with the potatoes and taken her seat. Everyone helped themselves and began buttering them. The children’s chatter helped to cover Sarah’s silence as she tried to remain calm. His arm was so close.
She took
On top she was wearing an antique cream top with a floaty Pre-Raphaelite vibe. She felt tired though and was wearing minimal makeup. Ferreting in her bag she dug out some tinted lip-balm and a little eyeliner, and set to work. She also put on some perfume she found at the back of the cupboard - probably a gift her mother had never bothered to wear. Sarah smoothed her naturally blond hair with her fingers to tame fly-aways and finally felt a little happier about her appearance. She hoped it wasn’t too obvious she’d made the extra effort. She headed back to the dining room, lit some candles and put on some classical music.
Taking a deep breath she wiped her clammy hands on her jeans and shouted, ‘Dinner’s ready’. She did not want to behave like this was a special occasion. She would try to act normal.
Her kids ran in, Megan first, and started organizing the seating arrangements.
‘Me sit here, Grandma sit there.’
‘No, me next Grandma,’ said Bea.
Grandma was close behind them, ‘Why don’t I sit in between so I can sit next to both of you?’
At this point Granddad walked in.
‘I want to sit next to Granddad too,’ said Megan. She was always first off the cuff, being the oldest. Bea soon chimed in.
‘Me next to Granddad.’
Sarah rolled her eyes.
Megan looked livid, ‘No, me!’
‘How about I sit next to you Bea and Granddad sits next to Megan,’ suggested Sarah.
At this point their guest entered the room. He looked stunning and completely relaxed. Leaning against the doorframe, glass of wine still in hand, he said, ‘How about me, where shall I sit?’
Megan and Bea fell silent. They were happy to stay as far away from this new man as possible.
However it was a reciprocal question. There was only one seat left, which would be nearest the door, between Granddad and Sarah.
Sarah slid into her seat, and as everyone settled down Daniel pulled out his chair and sat down alongside her. Their arms were almost touching, only an inch away. Sarah was very aware of her body and whether any part of it was anywhere near him. She couldn’t even look at him, and busied herself with fussing over Bea and making sure she was OK and sitting down properly.
‘I’ll be back in a minute,’ Grandma said reassuringly to Bea and Megan, ‘I’m just going to bring in our food’.
Sarah had left her mum to dish up as she had cooked - Sarah did not want to take credit for her mother’s efforts.
Sarah could smell delicious tantalizing scents drift in from the kitchen. Her mum emerged with the ceramic dish holding the homemade casserole. She placed it in the middle of the table, ‘No touching kiddies, it’s VERY hot,’ she emphasized, before going back into the kitchen for the cooked potatoes.
Trying to ignore Daniel, who was sitting silently to her right, Sarah leant over and began dishing up casserole for Megan and Bea. She gave them each a chicken drumstick and picked them out veggies from the stew. They would not eat a scoop of casserole if it was placed on their plates - Sarah had to divide it into individual segments if it was not to be rejected.
Sarah turned to Daniel and tried to sound confident, ‘Would you like some casserole?’
‘Yes please,’ he replied - he’s so polite, thought Sarah – and then he continued, ‘I’m very hungry, it’s been a busy day.’ He half smiled, the corner of his mouth curling up in a way Sarah couldn’t help imagine had hidden meaning, while he looked secretly amused.
Alice had returned with the potatoes and taken her seat. Everyone helped themselves and began buttering them. The children’s chatter helped to cover Sarah’s silence as she tried to remain calm. His arm was so close.
She took
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