Part 3: Far too long since last time

20th February 2013


It's been so long, almost ten years to be precise, since they last saw one another. They still speak pretty regularly but when she found out he was coming to Crete on a holiday with his family he could've jumped for joy, as she put it over the phone 'It's been so long, we're going to have all sorts of catching up to do.' She's been counting down the days for longer than she can remember; Matt's probably exhausted of hearing about all her plans for what they'll do with Sam when he's there and he's almost definitely had enough of her trying to tidy everything up, make it all perfect.

'Really Jude, since when have either Sam or you been bothered in the slightest about making things tidy? I don't exactly remember him as a tidy freak.' He exclaims to her. Their four children, who are sat around the dinner table laugh as Jude continues to spray and wipe and mop and finding the good cutlery and plates they only use when they get visitors, important visitors.

'Well, you're probably still holding that grudge from when you and him had that stupid fight fifteen years ago.' She teases, thrusting a tea towel into his hands. 'Now, do you think they'll like shepherd's pie? Should I check for allergies?' she wonders out loud, ignoring the surrounding world as the date nears ever-closer.

The day finally arrives and Jude is now rushing around the house, shouting at the children to tidy their rooms. Matt loves her most when she's like this, flustered, panicked but happy and content. Her true nursing nature comes out as she tries to organise things but make sure everyone's okay at the same time. 'Alice, did you hand in your maths homework today? Emma, are you sure you want to wear that t-shirt with that skirt, no, it's fine, you wear them, I was just thinking this skirt might look better. No? Okay.' He listens as she unsuccessfully tries to dissuade their middle daughter from wearing a dark orange skirt with a vibrant green-and-pink striped t-shirt.

The doorbell rings and she's there, at the door, shouting down the children, waiting for them all to arrive and Matt to get up from the sofa before answering the door. 'Sam!' she squeals in a rather un-Jude-like manner 'it's so great to see you!' she pounces on him, throwing her arms around his neck and clinging to him as though she'll never let go. She does, eventually, and introduces him to their children. {Tall one, eldest- Poppy. Small one, youngest- Alice. Male one, third oldest- Thomas. Ginger one, second oldest- Emma.} He's got kids too; he and his partner Chris adopted two children {Older, male- Matthew. Younger, female- Sophie.} and the children hit off instantly and rush out to play some insane variant of the game tag which leaves the adults to catch up. After all, it's been far too long since last time they got to catch up.

But they don't really need to catch up, because they managed to keep up with one another. So much so, they can just pick up where they left off and it's as if they meet up every week. Jude's plans for the week are replaced with new ones, drawn up by everyone and the house is soon back to its messy state but Jude doesn't mind. None of them do. After all, they aren't exactly tidy freaks are they?


Notes- I think I enjoyed writing this chapter best, it might have inspired to me to write a kind of happy multi-chapter piece about Matt and Jude and their life in Crete. Or something like that. I hope you liked it and please leave me a review to tell me what you thought!

Butterfly x