Page 70 of The Happy Family

This is our family.

We were normal once, but not anymore.

We never will conform or be stereotypical ever again.

But we still have something every family needs.

Love.

I really hope that is enough.

FORTY-SIX

SADIE

‘Tell your father all about your day,’ I say to Arthur and Ruby as they rush into the house, a sweeping sibling sugar-fuelled storm descending on this quiet home where my ex and his son were enjoying a peaceful afternoon.

‘We went to the fair and it was so much fun!’ Arthur cries.

‘I went on the rides!’ Ruby adds. ‘The teacups and the big rollercoaster!’

‘It wasn’t a rollercoaster,’ Arthur scoffs, correcting his sister. ‘It was a baby ride.’

‘No, it wasn’t.’

‘Yes, it was. Even Jude could have gone on it.’

Reid and I share a smile then, as the squabbling siblings carry on their conversation whilst heading into the kitchen, probably to look for snacks.

‘Would you like to come in for a minute?’ my ex-husband asks me, and I detect the hope in his eyes that I will say yes. Maybe he wants me to hang around here and help out with the kids a little more, or perhaps he just wants some adult conversation before he’s left with nothing but childish chat for the rest of the day. But I’m going to have to disappoint him because I already have other plans.

‘Sorry, I can’t,’ I say. ‘I’m on my way to meet a friend.’

‘No problem,’ Reid replies, trying to hide his disappointment. ‘Which friend?’

‘His name is Landan,’ I say, and that was not the reply he was expecting.

‘Oh, I see.’

‘It’s a date,’ I add, for the avoidance of doubt. ‘We actually went on a date a long time ago, before my coma. We’re going to see if we can pick up where we left off.’

‘You don’t need to explain any further,’ Reid offers, but I don’t mind.

‘It’s good to be open and honest,’ I say. ‘He was actually going to be my boss, although I’ve decided not to take that job after all.’

‘Wow,’ Reid laughs. ‘You really were busy before your coma.’

‘Yeah, being unconscious for nine months and then needing lots of rehab while trying to catch a crazy person really killed my momentum,’ I say, jesting about something that we either have to try and laugh about or else we’d cry. But then I wince at how I just described Luna as a crazy person because I wish I hadn’t said that. It can’t be easy for Reid to think about how he trusted that crazy person to be the mother to our children instead of me, so I want to take it back. But before I can, Reid speaks again.

‘I hope it goes well,’ he tells me, and I can see that he genuinely means it. ‘You deserve to be happy.’

‘Thank you,’ I say, appreciating the gesture. ‘So do you. And you will be happy again, in time.’

‘I am happy,’ Reid replies, looking down at Jude in his arms. ‘I’m exhausted and covered in milk and will soon have the world’s worst headache when it comes time to put the kids to bed, but I am happy.’

We both laugh then, before sharing a small and simple moment in which we smile at one another. But I break it because instead of sharing long, lingering looks with my ex, I am off to potentially share them with another man.

‘Arthur! Ruby! Come and say goodbye to your mother!’ Reid calls out, and a second later, our two children emerge from the kitchen, still chatting away to one another about the rides at the funfair whilst also carrying the bags of crisps they have sourced for themselves.