Chapter 10
The following morning Rachel woke up earlier than everyone else so went downstairs to enjoy the peace and quiet and sat in the garden with a cup of coffee. It was another really nice day so Rachel knew the kids wouldn't let them get away with not having the BBQ as Rachel had promised they could have one if the weather was nice.
However Rachel didn't really like cooking on the BBQ as she always managed to burn everything. She suddenly remembered that she said she was going to invite Steve round for dinner one day this week so decided she would invite him tonight in the hope he might do the cooking. Rachel and Steve had been great friends when they were teenager and being with him last night it felt as though nothing had changed.
Rachel walked into the kitchen and text Steve. She was just about to go and have a shower when Elsie walked in in her dressing gown and slippers. Elsie wasn't really one to lie in although Rachel wasn't really sure how long this would last for.
"Morning love you sleep okay?" Rachel asked
"Yes thank you, what are we doing today Rach?"
"Well your sister and Madi want to go shopping despite the fact it's meant to be a lovely day so I thought me you and Lucy could go to that lake and then come back for a BBQ tonight"
"That sounds good" Elsie said before Rachel's phone vibrated. Rachel went to pick it up but unfortunately for her Elsie got there first
"Oooh it's from Steve, he said he would love to come tonight and he gave you two kisses"
"Yeah thanks Elsie I can read for myself though"
"You and Steve then? What's the story there?" Elsie asked being nosy as usual
"We were just friends a long time ago there's no more to it than that"
"If you say so"
It wasn't long before Lucy also came into the kitchen however she wasn't as good at waking up as Elsie was and was still very sleepy so Rachel picked her up and sat down with her on her knee and gave her a long cuddle.
"Did you sleep okay?" Rachel asked after a little while
"Yes thank you I woke up in the middle of the night though to go for a wee and it took me ages to get back to sleep because Elsie was snoring"
"No I was not I don't snore"
"Urmm I think you'll find you do" Rachel said laughing
"Well I don't snore as loud as you" Elsie said defensively
"And how would you know?"
"Because you snore so loud that it's impossible to snore any louder"
"Is that so?"
Lucy and Elsie stayed chatting to Rachel for a while until Molly and Madi eventually materialised.
"Morning girls" Rachel said and Molly could tell by her tone she hadn't forgotten about last night
"Elsie, Lucy why don't you go upstairs and get dressed I need to have a chat with these two" Rachel said making Molly roll her eyes "I was that young lady"
Lucy and Elsie quickly rushed upstairs not wanting to be around for the lecture. Molly and Madi sat down at the breakfast bar.
"We're really sorry about last night Rach"
"I didn't say no to be mean last night I said it because I was being a responsible adult and I don't want you to think it's okay to do something behind my back after I've said no"
"I really am sorry Rach I promise it won't happen again" Molly said
"Me too I'm sorry for not listening to you" Madi added
"Okay girls as long as you've learnt your lesson. Now go and get ready we're going to go out soon"
About an hour later and they were all ready to go. When Elsie came down the stairs Rachel noticed how her chest was looking quite a lot bigger than usual so presumed that she must have stuffed something down her bra. She wanted to have a word with her about this however she knew doing it with everyone around would embarrass her. Although Elsie had never lacked in confidence she seemed to be struggling a bit with growing up and finding it a bit embarrassing. But at the same time she hated the fact she hadn't developed as much as most of the girls yet.
"You girls sure you want to go shopping today it's a beautiful day"
"Yeah we're sure"
"Okay well I'll pick you up here at about four then?"
"Yeah okay see you later"
"Have a good day girls" Rachel shouted before driving off again
When they got to the lake Rachel let Lucy play in the park for a bit before making them go for a walk around the lake.
"Rach have you seen the size of the lake?" It's going to take forever to walk all of the way around" Elsie moaned
"It's hardly going to take that long come on lets get going sooner we start sooner we finish"
They were about halfway around the lake and Elsie was surprised at how much she was enjoying herself. She was in the middle of chasing Lucy to try and tickle her when Lucy suddenly crouched down on the ground as she realised how much she needed to go to the toilet.
"Lucy are you okay?"
"I really have to go for a wee"
"Right well there's no toilets around here so you're going to have to go in the trees"
"What if someone walks past"
"Well by the looks of it we haven't got any other choice I don't think you're going to make it back to the loos anyway there's no-one around at the moment so come on"
Rachel took Lucy behind the trees and held her whilst she went for a wee not wanting her to wee all over her clothes
"Lucky I brought some tissues with me" Rachel said passing Lucy a tissue out of her bag
They soon got on the path and started walking again. Rachel noticed that both girls faces had gone a bit red so thought she should probably have brought some suncream with her the one thing she didn't have in her bag that she seemed to have everything in
Lucy was running on ahead when she tripped up a little step making her fall over and skid all across the gravel. Rachel could almost see it happening in slow motion but couldn't get there quick enough to help her.
Rachel ran over to her and knelt down pulling Lucy onto her knee where Lucy began to cry into her chest.
"Oh my love that must have hurt" Rachel said rubbing her back
"Look at my hands and knees they're bleeding" Lucy said in between sobs
"I know love let's get you cleaned up a bit" Rachel said before sorting her out
Lucy continued to sob all the way back to the car but it was a very nasty fall that she'd just had.
"In you get then" Rachel said helping Lucy climb into the car before strapping her in and then getting into the front. Lucy ended up falling asleep after not very long having exhausted herself from all of the crying.
When they got back to the cottage Rachel carried Lucy through to the lounge and laid her down on the sofa and leaving her to have a little sleep. Rachel decided now might be a good time to have a little chat with Elsie.
"Els can I have a little word please?" Rachel asked her niece
"What is it?"
"Let's go into my room shall we?"
Rachel and Elsie went and sat down on the bed.
"Have you... have you stuffed something down your top love?" Rachel asked as much as she didn't want to embarrass her niece she did feel as though she needed to say something
"No" Elsie lied immediately blushing
"Are you sure because I don't think girls boobs usually grow that much overnight" Rachel said before pulling the tissue out that Elsie had stuffed down her bra that was now starting to stick out a bit
Elsie tried to get up and walk away as her cheeks went even redder. It upset Rachel to see her so embarrassed when she was normally so open about everything. Rachel stopped her and pulled her into her chest where Elsie immediately began to cry. Rachel was starting to feel quite sorry for Elsie she seemed to be really quite emotional lately and Rachel couldn't remember Molly ever being quite so bad.
"I'm sorry I'm just fed up of having no figure at all. Everyone else looks so much older than I do and it's not fair. Even the boys have started saying stuff now I heard one of the boys call me flat chested the other day. I thought that if I started pushing tissue down my bra everyone would think I've started to develop over the holidays" Elsie sobbed
"Your time will come my love. You may not have developed very much yet but you will soon. I know your at a very difficult age at the minute but just remember you can come and talk to me about absolutely anything I do understand what you're going through"
"How would you understand?"
"Well because as hard as it is to believe I was your age once so I've been through all of this stuff"
"That's true"
"And as for the boys don't take any notice of them they have no idea about all the crap that comes with being a girl just ignore them"
"I'll try"
"You've still got a lovely figure anyway though Els and don't you forget that. But next time you're feeling like this just come and talk to me I'm here for you"
"Okay I will thanks Rach"
"No problem I just want you to be happy darling"
Elsie gave her Auntie a big hug however it was soon interrupted by Lucy shouting.
"Rachel where are you?" Lucy called sleepily from the bottom of the stairs
"I'm coming" Rachel said before making her way downstairs and giving her a cuddle until she's woken up a bit
"Now how about we go out and buy you some arm bands and then we can start to teach you to swim" Rachel suggested even though she wasn't a massive fan of swimming in a swimming pool she much preferred the sea but she knew Elsie and Lucy would both want her to go in with them
"Yes please"
They quickly nipped to a supermarket and bought some arm bands before driving back to the cottage.
"Let's go up and get changed then love" Rachel said before going upstairs with Lucy
Rachel was on the loo when someone came into her bedroom
"Auntie Rach" Elsie shouted
"I'm in here I'll be out in two secs"
"Are you going swimming?" Elsie asked when her Auntie came out
"Yeah I was just coming to ask you if you wanted to come in too"
"Yes please I'll just get changed"
Rachel took her make up off before going to find Lucy and helping her to get her arm bands on.
When they got to the pool Rachel pulled back the pool cover before taking hold of Lucy's hands and walking down the steps with her. She noticed how nervous Lucy looked.
"I promise I'll be here the whole time I'm not going to let anything happen to you" Rachel said trying to reassure her
They spent a while in the pool and Lucy was a lot more confident in the water although Rachel was planning on booking her some swimming lessons when they got back. Rachel looked at the time and realised it was just about time to go and pick up Molly and Madi. She didn't have time to have a shower so quickly got dressed before jumping in the car.
"Hiya did you have a good time?" Rachel asked as the girls got into the car
"Yes thanks we bought loads" Molly replied
"Yeah I can see that" Rachel said looking at all the bags the girls were carrying
They soon got back to the cottage so Rachel went upstairs to have a shower before coming back downstairs to get some stuff ready for the BBQ. She was just thinking about how unusually quiet both Elsie and Lucy were being when they came into the kitchen both soaking wet.
"Where've you two been? I thought you were going up for showers"
"We changed our mind, we had a water fight" Elsie said
"You must be freezing" Rachel said rushing to get two towels to wrap around them
"Not really we've been running around"
"Lucy is you're shivering love"
Rachel picked Lucy up and carried her upstairs before running her a bath.
"Rachel why aren't you dresses?" Lucy asked
"Because I didn't want to get all messy when I was getting the food ready"
Rachel peeled Lucy's soaking wet swimsuit off of her before lifting her into the bath. She hadn't been in there long when Elsie came bounding into the bathroom.
"I forgot you were bathing Lucy I need the loo"
"Well you'll have to use my bathroom then and you can have a shower in there as well if you like"
"Okay thanks Rachel"
After Rachel had bathed Lucy she went back to the kitchen and continued to prepare the food. Molly walked in wearing a new dress that she'd bought today
"Rach what do you think of this?" Molly asked making her Auntie turn that around
"Wow, you look gorgeous. Did you buy it today?"
"Yes but it was quite a lot of money so I don't know if I should keep it or not"
"I'd keep it if I were you, you look incredible. I'll tell you what I'll give you half if you like"
"Really? Thanks Rach you're the best Auntie ever" Molly said coming over and wrapping her arms around her Aunt
"No problem darling you're worth it"
"I think I may keep it on for tonight"
"That will be nice I think I'm going to put a dress on too. Oh and by the way Steve and Chloe are coming for the BBQ tonight but Dan's at his girlfriend's house"
"Oh so that's why you're going to wear a dress you're trying to impress Steve"
"No that's not why at all"
"But you are trying to impress Steve" Molly said giggling before walking out of the kitchen
"No that's not what I meant" Rachel tried but she knew her nieces were never going to stop teasing her about this
Rachel went upstairs and got changed and did her hair and make up and then it wasn't long before Steve arrived with Chloe.
"Thanks for inviting us over Rach" Steve said passing her a bottle of wine once Chloe had gone upstairs with Molly and Madi
"It's no problem I'm sure I'll be glad of the adult company anyway"
Steve helped Rachel carry everything out to put on the table under the gazebo.
"Typical you lot chose to come out once everything's all done" rachel said
"Sorry Rach do you want me to do something now?" Molly asked
"Unless you want to cook on the BBQ then there's not a lot that you can do to be honest"
"I'll do that if you like Rach" Steve offered
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah course"
"I was secretly hoping you would" Rachel admitted
"Oh I see how it is invite me round just so I can do the cooking" Steve said playfully before going over and getting the BBQ ready
"You've made pimms please please please can we have a glass?" Molly asked
"Oh go on then" Rachel said pouring a glass each for Molly and Madi
"Please can I have some too Rach?" Elsie asked
"Okay but you can have it topped up with lemonade"
They all sat down and ate together and had a really good time with each other. The kids had all gone to the games room so it was just Rachel and Steve chatting.
Their conversation was so natural you'd never have known they hadn't seen each other for 18 years. All of a sudden their eyes locked and Steve leaned in to kiss Rachel. It only lasted a few seconds before he pulled away wanting to see Rachel's reaction but Rachel leaned back in again and it didn't take long for the passion to build
However their kiss was broken by a giggling Lucy stood at the table
"And what would you be laughing at young lady?" Rachel asked
"You two were kissing" lucy said before shouting to everyone in the house "molly elsie madi chloe come here quick"
"Great nothing's ever private when you have kids around" Rachel said quietly to Steve
"What?" Molly asked as they all came out into the garden
"Rachel and Steve were having a kiss and it was a really really long one I didn't think they were ever going to stop" Lucy told them all making both rachel and Steve blush
"Well it was kind of obvious that was going to happen eventually" Madi said laughing
"Yeah I guess it was" Steve said before leaning back in and giving Rachel a gentle kiss. Rachel stared at him feeling a bit embarrassed he'd done that in front of all the kids
"What? They know now so there's no point in hiding it"
"Okay okay I think we'll leave you two to it then" Molly said before they all disappeared back inside again
Steve and Rachel spent the rest of the evening chatting but also drinking a lot of wine.
Molly was coming to find her Auntie to tell her that Lucy had fallen asleep on the sofa when she got a shock seeing Rachel and Steve both in their underwear about to get into the swimming pool
"Rach what the bloody hell are you doing" Moly said rushing over to them
"We're going for a swim what does it look like we're doing?" Rachel said giggling
"I don't think that's such a good idea somehow" Molly said putting her Auntie's dress back on trying desperately hard not to look at Steve
"Molly we were having fun" Rachel moaned. Molly couldn't help but laugh she's never really seen her Auntie so drunk before
"Guys come here a sec" Molly shouted and Madi and Chloe came through
"What's going on?" Madi asked
"Apparently they were going swimming and when I found them you were only wearing your bra and knickers weren't you Rach"
"Well I didn't want to get my clothes wet"
"Dad put your clothes back on" Chloe shouted embarrassed by get Dad
"Come on Rach I think it's time you were going to bed" Molly said laughing at how strange it was telling her Auntie what to do
"Okay okay if you say so night everyone" Rachel said before stumbling up the stairs
"I guess I'd better get Dad home" Chloe said
"Really you think you'll be able to get him home?" You can both stay here if you like we can put your Dad on the sofa in the games room and then we can bring some blankets and stuff down and sleep down here" Molly replied
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah of course"
"Thanks I don't think I would have been able to get Dad home somehow
The girls took Steve who was now asleep on a chair at the breakfast bar into the games room before going up and changing into their pyjamas
The morning soon came and Rachel woke up with a massive head ache. She went downstairs to find the three girls sat in the bed they'd made
"Morning Rach" Molly smiled
"Morning girls what time did I go to bed last night?"
"About midnight after I sent you to bed"
"Why what was I doing?"
"You were about to get in the swimming pool in your underwear with Steve"
"Oh God I wasn't was I?"
"Yes you were"
"Where's Steve now?"
"He's in the games room couldn't exactly send him home could we"
Rachel couldn't believe she'd let that happen last night especially when she should have been setting a good example for the girls.
Rachel went through and saw Steve starting to stir so went and sat by him.
"Morning" Rachel said
"Morning where am I?"
"You're in our games room the girls put you in here last night think we had a bit too much to drink"
"Why what did we do?"
"We were planning on going swimming" Rachel told him as they both started to kind of remember things from the night remember
"Oh God yeah I can remember Chloe telling me to put my clothes back on" Steve said laughing
"Yeah I can't believe you've already seen me wearing just my bra and knickers when we haven't even beeb on a date yet"
"Well I'm not complaining"
"Oi" Rachel said hitting him playfully before they started to kiss. Rachel had been looking forward to coming to the cottage but now she was looking forward to the rest of the week she would get to spend here even more.