"Here Callie, text Sandra on my phone and tell her we'll be a bit late." Steve told his girlfriend as they joined another row of cars, since they'd left their house traffic was all they seemed to hit.

"Fine."

"Stop being so grumpy babe, it's just a meal and a couple of drinks. It'll be fun, anyway they're lovely people."

"So lovely that they haven't spoken to you in 9 years." Callie grumbled.

"Yeah well we've discussed that already."

"Whatever." They sat in silence for a bit longer just listening to the radio before Callie threw his phone back down in the drinks holder. "There, your text is sent."


"Steve said he's going to be a bit late, he's stuck in traffic." Sandra said as she put her phone back into her pocket. Gerry and her had only arrived at the restaurant 5 minutes before and were sat at a table for 6 on their own.

"I can't say I'm surprised, his time keeping wasn't great."

"I don't think you have the time to lecture anyone on being punctual. I seem to remember if anyone wasn't great at being on time, then it was you." Sandra laughed.

"Why do you think I keep you around? I need someone to keep me and straight and narrow." Gerry replied before he too burst out laughing.

"Oh here look, there's Esther and Brian."

"Hello, do you both drink the same thing?" Esther asked as she threw her bag down on one of the empty chairs and looked at them expectingly.

"Hey. Yeah we do thanks Esther." Gerry replied as Brian sat down in the seat on the other side of him.

"Okay, well I'll be back in a second."

"I'll join you! You can't carry four drinks on your own." Sandra chipped in before she stood and then followed Esther.

"So how you been mate?" Gerry asked Brian once the women in their lives had gone.

"Okay actually, I've been learning a lot about gardening, I've recently built myself a greenhouse so I can have a go at growing some different things."

"That's very interesting Brian." Gerry said trying to fake the interest in his voice.

"What about you?"

"Not a lot really, been busy with family."

"Yeah same. Oliver is nearly 10 now, he's doing great at school and it looks like he may get a scholarship for that posh school down the road."

"Ah congratulations! My Paula's just had another little boy and his name's Ollie. It's obviously a popular kind of name."

"How many grandkids is that now Gerry?" Esther asked as she placed a pint down in front of him.

"Emily has one, Florence and she's 6. Paula has Gerry Jr who's 17 and she's recently got married and now has Ollie too, who is only 6 months old. Amelia has six, she always wanted a big family, Rory is 9, Leah is 7, Oscar and Isla are 5, Alfie is 3 and Freddie has just turned 1."

"God that's a lot." Esther commented. "One is enough for us just now!"

"That's not it either, Caitlin has three girls, Kasiar is 6, Thea is 4 and Aria is 2 and a half." Sandra added.

"Yeah, that's the joys of large families!" Gerry told their old friends.

"Birthdays and Christmas are expensive!" Sandra interrupted.

"Yeah I bet, as grandparents we spoil Oliver and I bet you do the same but for twelve children!" Esther pointed out.

"Well I think they're all finished having children now." Sandra sighed with relief.

"They better be!" Gerry added rather quickly.

"The older they get, the more expensive they expect their gifts to be. Anyway where's Steve?"

"He said he was stuck in traffic, he said he was bringing his girlfriend Callie too." Sandra told Brian and Esther as she read the texts he'd sent her out.

"Ah, that'll be nice."