Page 56 of The Happy Family

‘She’s in the garden,’ he tells me.

‘Really? It’s freezing,’ I say.

‘Yes, I have told her that, but she likes sitting out there, and if it’s helping her recovery, so be it.’

I nod my head before making my way through this lovely home in the direction of the garden. I wish this house had looked this nice when I had been spending so much time here, back when Sadie and I were still a couple and I was forced to endure countless Sunday dinners with the in-laws during our marriage. Typical that as soon as we separate, it is the kind of place I’d actually like to spend a Sunday afternoon. But never mind.

‘Hi, Reid,’ Sadie’s mum says to me with a small smile, and at least that is a little warmer than what her husband offered me when I passed him a moment ago.

‘Hey,’ I say as I reach the back door and step outside.

Sadie is sitting on a chair in the middle of the garden, seemingly staring at the trees, or the birds, or maybe just nothing at all. It’s hard to tell until I reach her and take a seat beside her. Then she is looking at me.

‘How are you feeling?’ I ask, because that’s the nicest way to start this conversation, but also I do genuinely care.

‘Better every day,’ Sadie replies.

‘That’s great. You’re looking much better,’ I reply, and I really do mean it. I’m actually getting glimpses of the old Sadie now, the one I fell in love with many years ago.

‘Thanks, but you don’t have to lie,’ Sadie scoffs.

‘I’m not,’ I insist, but Sadie just smirks, not buying it. She doesn’t believe that she can possibly look good whilst still in the midst of her recovery. But she is certainly looking better every time I see her, and it is clear that her rehab is progressing well.

‘So, what did you want to talk to me about?’ she asks. ‘I’m guessing it’s about either Arthur or Ruby.’

‘Yeah. It’s about both of them, actually,’ I say, psyching myself up to do this.

‘Is everything okay with them at school?’

‘Yeah, school is fine.’

‘So what is it then?’

‘It’s about the school holidays,’ I say. ‘The Christmas break.’

‘What about it?’

‘Well, the thing is, Luna and I haven’t actually had a holiday with the kids yet. And, of course, we haven’t been away with Jude either. So we were thinking of doing something over Christmas, when the schools are shut and we won’t get fined for taking the children out.’

‘What dates are you thinking of going?’ Sadie asks.

‘It’ll be from the twenty-second of December,’ I say, assuming my ex will figure out the rest.

‘How long are you going for?’

‘A week.’

‘So they won’t be here for Christmas?’

I grit my teeth and shake my head and, when I do, Sadie goes back to staring at whatever she was staring at when I got here.

‘I know it’s not perfect and you obviously want to see Arthur and Ruby at Christmas, but it’s the only time we can fit a holiday in, and I think it would be really great for them to get away and have a change of scene. They’ve had a tough year, and some sunshine and pool time is what they need.’

‘I don’t disagree with that,’ Sadie says, which sounds surprisingly promising.

‘You don’t?’

‘No, I think it’s a good idea,’ she continues. ‘I think you should do it.’