Chapter Three
Steven fell asleep, as two armbands, a spade and bucket and inflatable rubber ring laid out at the side of his bed. He really went overboard. He was awoken by the sound of his phone ringing, he yawned.
As he placed his hand on it, placing it besides his ear.
"Hello!" Amy cheerfully spoke down the phone.
"Hi, yeah I'm getting up, now" Ste told her, as he took the blankets of himself and adjusted himself so he is sitting up.
"Okay, well the kids are dead excited" Amy told him, while she placed her shirt in the washing up basket.
"Yeah, so you picking me up in an hour?" Ste asked, as he stood up from the bed. He opened his curtains, nobody was going to be standing outside so he felt sure enough to do it. Even if he has only got underwear on.
"Yep, so you got the bucket and spade?" Amy asked him.
"Yeah, I found both armbands as well and the rubber ring" Ste informed her, opening his wardrobe and picking out shorts and a shirt. It was a lovely day, the sun was roasting.
"That's great, well I let you go and I ring you in an hour" Amy told him.
"Okay by" Ste said.
"Bye" Amy replied, putting the phone down.
Ste gave a little smile, he was happy she didn't cancel, a small part of him was afraid of that happening but thank gosh it never. He was going to see his children today. One hundred percent.
As he got changed as quickly as possibly. The hour flew by, he checked the time. It was two minutes to ten. So he got up, walking outside of his house. With his trunks, bucket and spade, armbands and rubber ring.
He got some stares from people, but that didn't bother him. As he sat on the bus top seat, waiting for them to arrive. Which should be in a couple of minutes or so, as he waited patiently.
It was five minutes past ten, they were likely right down the road right now. Meters away perhaps. So he waited some more. He almost gave up, went back to 'she is not coming' route though there was the car coming towards the bus stop.
As he stood up, he could almost hear his heart beating quickly. As they stopped, he could see Leah and Lucas looking out of the window with happy faces. As Amy stepped out, walking over to him.
"Great, let me put these in the back; you, Leah and Lucas can hold them" Amy told him with a smile, as she knocked on the window.
Alerting Simon to turn of the child-locks. Even though Simon knew Ste was gay, he still felt a bit threatened since he is Amy's ex and they have children so they will always have some sort of connection with each other.
He paused before turning them of, as Ste opened the door. Lucas was now sitting on the middle seat which Leah on the far end one.
"Daddy" they both said together, with happy smiles.
"Hiya, I missed you two so much; and I brought both of you some armbands, a rubber tyre and your bucket and spade" Ste told them, with a smile. As he got into the back, sitting besides Lucas.
Amy shut the door, sitting back at the front with Simon. Amy had something to tell Ste, though she will tell him after the beach trip.
"Yey!" Leah cheered, taking the rubber tyre and her arm-bands. While Lucas grabbed onto the bucket spade and his own arm-bands.
"Daddy, why have you got a sore face?" Lucas asked, Simon started the car.
"I fell over" Ste lied, as he put his seat-belt on. Simon was driving as fast as he could, they wanted to go to Southport and back as quickly as possible.
"The weather is really hot, mummy said we got to have sun-cream; why do we have to put cream on? Can we eat it?" Leah asked.
"No, it's not cream that you eat" Ste told her, he was so happy to be with them again. Even if it is only for a short while.
"Oh, why do they call it cream than?" Leah asked, confused.
"I don't know" Ste honestly replied.
"Mummy also said that you're a bit sad, so were going to cheer you up" Leah spoke, Amy bit her top lip.
"It's okay Leah, look I'm going to make this the best beach trip ever" Ste said, with more enthusiasm. Leah and Lucas smiled.
"Right kids, what do you want to listen to today?" Amy asked them, referring to what CD they want to put on.
"Olly Murs or The Saturdays?" Amy then asked.
"The Saturdays" Leah said with a smile.
Amy nodded, placing the CD in the CD player which went with the car.
"Ste, I've been taking driving lessons; what's new with you?" Amy asked him, the CD now playing track one.
"Nowt much,I dropped out of the deli" Ste admitted.
"Why?" Amy asked, this was her first time hearing about this.
"I can't do it anymore, I'm just going to take a normal job" Ste told her, again it was a half-lie.
"Right, well okay" Amy answered, looking towards Simon again.
"Are you and Doug still friends?" Leah asked him, as she started putting on her arm-bands to test them our.
"Yeah" Ste replied, he didn't really know.
"Are you and Brendan still friends?" Leah asked him.
Ste coughed, to hide his incoming tears.
"No, he lives in a hotel now" Ste lied.
"A hotel? Why does he live in a hotel?" Leah asked.
"To get some quite, he is living there for thirty years now because he lost loads of stuff in his house and that" Ste bit his lip, even a five-year old wouldn't buy that. Amy sighed, she should have told Leah something. Though she thought Leah forgot about Brendan.
"That was very silly of him" Leah thought, looking out the window. The whole car stayed silent, as the pop music plays in the background still.
"So kids, when we get there; were going to have some fish and chips" Amy broke the silence.
"That sounds really yummy" Lucas laughed.
"Can I got to a hotel for thirty years than?" Lucas asked.
"No, don't be silly; only broken people go to those hotels" Amy answered with a nervous laugh after it.
"Broken? So they have a broken leg?" Leah asked.
"No, I mean a broken heart" Amy breathed.
"Only people with broken hearts go there? I thought anyone can go to a hotel" Leah replied.
"Yeah and if you have a broken heart, then you would be dead" Lucas piped up.
"In here Lucas, you can be sad inside" Amy felt her heart as she said it.
"Oh" Lucas spoke simply.
"But we went to a hotel when we were happy" Leah said.
"Yes, but this a different sort of hotel, your daddy is talking about; Brendan went to a hotel for people who are different from the rest of us" Amy knew she was breaking Steven's heart as she said it.
"Oh, that's not fair that people get to go to a nice hotel from the rest fo us" Leah crossed her arms.
"It's not a nice hotel Leah" Amy added, she looked at Ste with a sigh. As he looked out the window, obviously fighting his tears.
It was about half an hour later, when the car pulled up in Southport in the nice beach part of the town. As they got out, the kids were very excited. As they all got out, they looked to the beach. As people were playing in the sea, women sunbathing in their bikinis, men drinking cold drinks, children laughing on the sand and sea. It was a nice sight. You wouldn't think it was England.
"Come on, let's get ready for the beach then" Amy said, Leah and Lucas smiled. As they all went towards the beach, with their swimming costumes.
Amy had a red bikini, well Ste and Simon had black trunks. Lucas had spiderman trunks and Leah had a spotty swim-suite.
"I'm not getting dressed actually, I play with you in the sand though" Ste piped up, remembering his battered body which he thinks nobody wants to see.
"Come on Ste, yesterday you promised you wouldn't let me do a solo" Amy replied.
"Your not, Simon is wearing a swim costume too" Ste sighed.
"Fine, be a grump" Amy then smiled, when Leah and Lucas picked up their arm-bands.
"Let's get changed in here" Simon pointed towards the changing rooms.
As all four went in separate ones, with Ste waiting outside. He put his trunks in his pocket, as he worn his blue tracksuit jacket, he still had his shorts and shirt on though. They all came out, a couple of minutes later. Except for Amy.
"Come on Ames" Simon moaned slightly.
"I'm coming" Amy said, as she opened the door.
"I don't know what your worried about Amy, you got a great figure" Simon said, she blushed.
"Not for long" Amy replied, dropping hints to Ste. Hoping he will work it out for himself.
"Even with another person inside you, you will" Simon stopped when Amy put her hand over her mouth.
"Oh sorry, Ste, you didn't know" Simon put his head down and crossed his arms.
"Your pregnant?" Ste asked her. Amy just nodded.
"Well congratulations, why didn't you tell me?" Ste asked her.
"I didn't know how you would react, look I've only found out myself two weeks ago, I'm six weeks gone and Simon is the dad of cause" Amy admitted.
"Oh well, look after your kid then mate, Amy is a good mum" Ste told him in an emotionless tone.
"Anyway kids, let's go swimming, your daddy can just watch" Amy said with a small smile. She knew this was going to be the last time she can really show her body until she puts on a lot more weight.
Ste walked with them, sitting on the beach. Watching them play, Leah and Lucas seemed to really get on with Simon. He seems a nice enough bloke, a bit plain but nice. Amy seems to love him and the kids as well now.
He watches Simon with his kids, feeling a bit jealous. As he helps them to swim, as he took one of Leah's arm-bands of, trying to teach her how to swim with one then hopefully none. As Leah laughed, as she kicked her legs.
Amy was with Lucas, as she places him in the rubber type. Swaying him across, making him laugh. You would think they were a family, just watching them together. With Simon getting married to Amy soon, Ste felt that he would take his place.
He closed his eyes. Though opened them again, it must have been about half an hour later.
"Daddy, daddy" Leah repeated, he opened his eyes.
"Yeah, what is it sweetheart?" Ste asked, as she sat besides him.
"I can swim with one arm-band now" Leah told him with pride.
TBC