Page 12 of In Just One Day

Flora stood at the top of a small stepladder holding a string of lights, trying to loop an end over a branch of the birch in the garden.

‘Why don’t you let me do that?’ Johnny called over from the back door. ‘It’s not even going to be dark when they’re here – why do we need lights in the tree?’

‘Because I want them up, at least… and anyway, Billy said he’d stay after Mum and Dad have gone so I thought we could sit out here.’

‘Honestly, let me do that.’

‘Actually, I’ve just got to finish laying the table. Pip and Tom can help me. Where are they, anyway?’

‘Still in their pyjamas, last time I saw them.’

‘What? Their grandparents will be here any minute and I don’t want them thinking our kids don’t get dressed before midday!’

‘Well, they don’t usually on a Sunday.’

‘That’s not the point! My mother will never let me forget it. Right, I’m going to sort them out. Please can you finish doing the table?’

‘Before or after I finish putting up the lights?’

‘Johnny, please don’t. I need your help here.’

He held his hand out to her as she climbed down the ladder. ‘Flo, relax. It’s only your parents, not a royal visit.’

‘God, I know. It’s just… I want them to see that we’re fine, you know? I mean, they are going to freak out when we tell them about our jobs. Well, Dad probably won’t, but Mum definitely will. And it doesn’t help that Billy is so bloody sorted they don’t have to worry about him at all.’

‘Flora, stop. We’re more than fine. Now, go and do whatever you’ve got to do and leave this stuff out here to me.’ He leaned down to kiss her, slipping his hand under her loose white shirt and around her waist.

‘Now you stop!’ she laughed, grabbing his hand and removing it firmly. ‘Come on, we’ve got work to do.’

Inside she found her children sitting together on the sofa, glued to the television. ‘Hey, you two, go and get dressed, please. Grandpa and Granny Kate will be here soon and I need you looking presentable. Same goes for this room.’

‘But, Mum…’ Both started their separate protests but Flora had already moved on to the kitchen to finish chopping vegetables. She’d been up early tidying the house and getting things ready; her mother was bringing a pudding and Billy was on cheese duty.

Picking up the phone, she hit Billy’s number. Predictably, it went straight to voicemail. She quickly tapped out a message.

Just checking you haven’t forgotten lunch at ours today?! x ps don’t be late x

Flora watched, waiting for the ticks to turn blue. They stayed grey. If he had forgotten, she’d never forgive him.

* * *

The traffic on the road was sluggish. Kate sighed. ‘I don’t understand why people come and spend the day in the country, then park their cars right by the side of the road to have a picnic.’

‘Maybe they’re happy with the view from there?’ Robin ventured.

She looked at the queue of cars, snaking slowly around the roundabout ahead. ‘We’ll have to leave not long after we get there at this rate. I’m going to text Flora. She’ll be wondering what’s happened to us.’

‘We’re literally ten minutes away. I don’t think she’ll mind terribly.’

‘Honestly, I can’t wait to see the children. Hopefully they won’t look quite as scruffy as they did the last time we were there. I’m sure Tom had nits; he couldn’t stop scratching his head. And Pip could be so pretty but you can barely see her eyes with that long fringe in the way, and she does insist on dressing like a tomboy. It doesn’t appear to bother Flora at all. Perhaps you should say something? I mean, she gets so touchy when I try and gently suggest something as simple as a haircut, or perhaps a few new clothes.’

‘Darling, I really wouldn’t worry about it. You’ve got to let Flora and Johnny do it their way. The most important thing is that the kids are happy. And they are, they’re a delight.’

‘Of course they are. I’m not saying they’re not. It’s just that making an effort doesn’t cost much and it makes all the difference. That’s all.’

Robin weighed up whether to take Kate to task over this, but decided to engineer the conversation away from a row, given their imminent arrival at their daughter’s. ‘Well, it’ll be good to see Bill, too.’

‘Oh, I know, I can’t wait. It feels like months since we last saw him.’

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