“Come on, we’ll be late,” I urge the children as I wait. I hold their school bags as they argue about who is sitting in the front.
“Eden, back. Ace, front. I’ll move the car seats later.” I do not have time for this.
I lock the door as we get into my Volvo. The car I bought for Gemma is still sitting on the drive, untouched. I can't bring myself to sell it. In a way, it's like holding onto a piece of her. Eden started sleeping in my bed again as soon as Gemma vacated it. Ace was faring better, but then, he had the rabbits to focus on.
We turn up at school and nobody is there.
“Daddy, why are we the only ones here?” Eden asks as we stand at the closed gate.
“Erm, hang on.” I open my phone and go to the school calendar. Teacher training day, of course.
“Change of plan. You’re coming to work with me,” I say, taking their hands and leading them back to the car.
Ace pulls back. “Not in my school uniform,” he argues.
I sigh. “Come on, Ace. I’ve got spare clothes in the car. You can get dressed in my office.”
“Workday with Daddy, yay,” Eden chants over and over again.
I get them back into the car and buckle them in. Fern is going to hate me, but she’ll have to watch them while I work.
“Fern.” The children are excited to see her.
“What are you monsters doing here?” She’s confused.
“Eggs for eyes or eyes for eggs?” Eden giggles.
“Neither,” Fern answers. “imagine eating your eyes.” They both laugh.
“Can you watch them? I’ll be two hours.” They follow me, getting dressed in my office.
“What’s these eggs for eyes thing?” I ask Eden.
“It’s a game Wesley played with us,” Ace replies for her.
Who the hell is Wesley?
“And he is?”
“Fern’s brother. He’s funny. He’s got big muscles,” he tells me.
“Big muscles?”
“Brody has cookies.” Eden adds.
I’m still confused to what this has to do with Wesley. She runs out to Fern before I can question her. I need another chat with her later.
“Behave,” I call out to them both.
Getting started on my meeting, we talk figures. The newest data is showing that the app is performing well. The design team has come up with an original program idea for secure banking. They are running things by me, and my attention wanders when I notice the children are eating burgers whilst chatting to Fern.
“Let’s break for lunch,” I tell the team, who disburse. Once they have left the reception area, I hear Eden.
“She wants a baby, but he can’t have them.”
Fern locks eyes with me.
“My office.” I invite Fern in. She follows, shutting the door behind her. I stand by my desk. “What did you ask them?” I’m trying to stay calm, but my lips are closed and I’m breathing hard through my nose.
