mum, she always calls and texts, ‘just in case’. I’ll call her back later; I’m too preoccupied with a sexual buzz to be thinking of being an innocent daughter, right now. My parents aren’t like Bea’s in the slightest, I love them to pieces - of course, but they’re just a little… dull, in comparison. They like quiet, they like to sit in rocking chairs and knit or play chess to the low-volume sound of an orchestra playing on the wireless in the background.
They were never particularly affectionate, and I don’t feel overly close to my brother and sister who are both older than me. We were never much of a ‘ huggy’ family. Luckily for me, I found the affection I think I have always craved in my best friends and their families, and honestly, I think that was almost a relief to my own parents. They knew I was ‘different’ and were never too sure how to deal with it.
I think Bea and Oliver have the most perfect family life; they are so close, affectionate with one another yet not in each other’s shoes which can be a little weird in my opinion - but then I did grow up with everyone in different rooms - reading Shakespeare or playing a musical instrument (only once fully tutored, I don’t think my mother would have been able to cope with the sounds of an eight year old practising the piano or violin).
I was different, I’m the black sheep of the family who decided to go into travel and cake making instead of university - nowhere near the intellectual levels of my siblings. However, luckily, my parents have never been particularly disappointed by me, they just think of me as the ‘wild card’ who has lots of friends and wears ‘trendy’ clothes.
I, too, play the piano, a very unknown fact amongst my friends, it was something I wanted to leave behind when I went to college; I knew my family were a bit geeky and I was embarrassed by that. I felt my piano playing was ‘uncool’, so I never mentioned it.
“Let’s go,” Oliver says, waking me from the uneventful memories of my youth as he slips his hand around my waist. He’s being dreadfully touchy feely today. It’s nice. “Where are we meeting?”
“At the Country Club, here at the hotel.”
“Do you know the way?”
“No, but we can get directions at reception. There are so many restaurants I don’t know which is which!”
“I know, fantastic though isn’t it? I’ve been to a lot of hotels in my time, but Vegas, and this hotel in particular is crazy over-the-top, in a good way!”
“It’s an amazing place to be on my birthday.”
He closes the door and takes my hand again, smiling down at me. “It really is, I’d love to come for mine one day… Oh, and about your gift, I haven’t got you one yet - it wasn’t the easiest thing to do with Stacy around, so…want to go shopping later?”
“Oh, Oliver, no need. Don’t worry about that.”
We begin to stroll, hand in hand. “Clare, I want to. So whenever you’re ready, we’ll hit the shops and get you something special.”
I roll my eyes and blush, saying nothing.
It doesn’t take too long to get to the fabulous ‘Country Club’ where Daniel, Bea and Alexia are waiting for us at a beautiful outside table. The hot sun is glistening and the impressive, cascading waterfall and pond, along with the view of the ‘Wynn’ golf course, creates a fantastic, indulgent setting.
I made a note - as we approached the restaurant - that I was the one to release Oliver’s hand, not the other way around. I wonder if he would have continued to hold it until we reached the table in full view of our friends… It’s bizarre behaviour.
“Happy Birthday!” Alexia says, affectionately, as she stands to hug me.
“Thank you, wow this place is incredible!”
“Happy Birthday, sweetheart,” Daniel says, as he, too, hugs me and kisses my cheek.
“And we’ve already done that…” Bea says with a small smirk, remembering this morning… how Bea manages to make a smirk
They were never particularly affectionate, and I don’t feel overly close to my brother and sister who are both older than me. We were never much of a ‘ huggy’ family. Luckily for me, I found the affection I think I have always craved in my best friends and their families, and honestly, I think that was almost a relief to my own parents. They knew I was ‘different’ and were never too sure how to deal with it.
I think Bea and Oliver have the most perfect family life; they are so close, affectionate with one another yet not in each other’s shoes which can be a little weird in my opinion - but then I did grow up with everyone in different rooms - reading Shakespeare or playing a musical instrument (only once fully tutored, I don’t think my mother would have been able to cope with the sounds of an eight year old practising the piano or violin).
I was different, I’m the black sheep of the family who decided to go into travel and cake making instead of university - nowhere near the intellectual levels of my siblings. However, luckily, my parents have never been particularly disappointed by me, they just think of me as the ‘wild card’ who has lots of friends and wears ‘trendy’ clothes.
I, too, play the piano, a very unknown fact amongst my friends, it was something I wanted to leave behind when I went to college; I knew my family were a bit geeky and I was embarrassed by that. I felt my piano playing was ‘uncool’, so I never mentioned it.
“Let’s go,” Oliver says, waking me from the uneventful memories of my youth as he slips his hand around my waist. He’s being dreadfully touchy feely today. It’s nice. “Where are we meeting?”
“At the Country Club, here at the hotel.”
“Do you know the way?”
“No, but we can get directions at reception. There are so many restaurants I don’t know which is which!”
“I know, fantastic though isn’t it? I’ve been to a lot of hotels in my time, but Vegas, and this hotel in particular is crazy over-the-top, in a good way!”
“It’s an amazing place to be on my birthday.”
He closes the door and takes my hand again, smiling down at me. “It really is, I’d love to come for mine one day… Oh, and about your gift, I haven’t got you one yet - it wasn’t the easiest thing to do with Stacy around, so…want to go shopping later?”
“Oh, Oliver, no need. Don’t worry about that.”
We begin to stroll, hand in hand. “Clare, I want to. So whenever you’re ready, we’ll hit the shops and get you something special.”
I roll my eyes and blush, saying nothing.
It doesn’t take too long to get to the fabulous ‘Country Club’ where Daniel, Bea and Alexia are waiting for us at a beautiful outside table. The hot sun is glistening and the impressive, cascading waterfall and pond, along with the view of the ‘Wynn’ golf course, creates a fantastic, indulgent setting.
I made a note - as we approached the restaurant - that I was the one to release Oliver’s hand, not the other way around. I wonder if he would have continued to hold it until we reached the table in full view of our friends… It’s bizarre behaviour.
“Happy Birthday!” Alexia says, affectionately, as she stands to hug me.
“Thank you, wow this place is incredible!”
“Happy Birthday, sweetheart,” Daniel says, as he, too, hugs me and kisses my cheek.
“And we’ve already done that…” Bea says with a small smirk, remembering this morning… how Bea manages to make a smirk
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