"Mum, are the boys really gonna go away with just Dad?" Molly wanted to know, leaning against the counter. "Next weekend?"
"They are baby", Beca confirmed, nodding.
"Oh". She sighed heavily.
Molly had been in a funny mood ever since Jesse had confirmed with his cousins that he was taking the boys to the annual Swanson men golf trip. Jesse had gone the year before (Beca didn't even know why, he'd never played golf before ever), although he had been asked every other year ("Dad, what part about 'we're raising triplets' don't you understand man?"- clearly, Beca had rubbed off on him), but he'd never taken the boys.
But that year, Jack and Toby were going too.
"What are we going to do, Mum?" Molly said, sighing heavily.
"How about you and me have a girl's weekend?" Beca suggested. "Better yet, we'll call Aunt Chloe and Aunt Amy and have a girl's weekend".
"Okay!" Molly said cheerily.
"Chloe", Beca said down the phone. "Heads up, beach trip this weekend. You, Maddie, Fat Amy".
(Beca had become a lot more spontaneous and a lot more like Jesse.)
"I'm game", Chloe said immediately, and Beca gave Molly a thumbs up, the little girl dancing around the kitchen.
"What's going on?" Toby questioned with a small frown on his face. "Mum?"
"Talking to Aunt Chloe", Beca called, and Toby backed out of the room.
He had learned at an early age not to question his mother.
"I'm so excited we're going to New York", Toby chattered, piercing a piece of macaroni with his fork and popping it into his mouth. "What are you and Molly gonna do while we're gone, Mum?"
"Molly and I are having a girls weekend", Beca said, and Molly grinned across the table.
"Huh?" Jesse raised an eyebrow at his wife and Beca nodded.
"Yep. We're rounding up Chloe and Amy and a cousin or two, and we're going away".
"Oh", Jack said quietly, looking down at his salad. "That actually sounds really cool. Kinda like when you went for dance, Molly?"
"That's because we're girls and yeah", Molly said, almost smugly. "And guess what Daddy? I'm gonna pack pants".
"Whoa, Molly, I think you need to let that go. Don't you worry Jack", Jesse said confidently. "We're going to have the best golf weekend ever".
"Dad you don't even play golf", Toby said suddenly.
"Well maybe I need to start playing golf".
"Have fun girls!" Jesse laughed, as he checked on the boys in the backseat of his car. "Have fun with Aunt Amy and Aunt Chloe, Molly Claire, I love you".
"Love you too Dad", Molly said cheerily. "But it's a girl's weekend! Bye!"
Beca laughed, starting up her car. "See you guys later! Have fun with everyone, boys!"
"We will!" Jack and Toby chorused and with a final wave, Beca reversed out of the driveway.
"Where are we goin', Mum?" Molly wanted to know, leaning forward in her seat.
"Girls weekend!" Beca called, ignoring her daughter. "Three hundred and nine miles to go!"
"Woo!" Fat Amy shrieked.
"Let it go! Let it go!" Beca, Chloe, Fat Amy, Molly and Maddie sang out, the windows of the minivan down. "Can't hold me back anymore! Let it go! Let it go! Turn away and slam the door!"
"This is gonna be the best weekend ever!" Molly shrieked. "Heaps better than the boys!"
Chloe broke into laughter- because when had any of their family holidays gone to plan?
"Hey Dad, I've never played golf before", Jack said conversationally, as he did up his seatbelt. Jesse had positioned himself between his sons for the short plane ride, having packed the iPad to entertain them with movies.
"I'm sure you'll be good, bud", Jesse said cheerily. "I don't play golf very often ether".
"Dad you never play golf", Toby interrupted.
"Thanks, Tobes, I'm glad you've got some faith in me".
"I bet Grandpa's good at golf".
Grandpa was good at golf. Unfairly good at golf, Jesse had to admit.
"We're going to have the best time without Mum and Molly", Toby said with a shrug. "Even if we're not good at golf. It'll be like when Mum takes Molly to one of her big dance things. We have fun".
"Beca, give me the keys", Fat Amy held her hand out, as they strolled back towards Beca's car with sodas.
"What?" Beca put her hands on her hips. "No!"
"You're a bit of a sketchy driver", Chloe said calmly. "Get out".
"Excuse me?"
And Fat Amy plucked the keys from Beca's hand, pointing to the seat Chloe had been previously occupying.
"She just kicked me out of my own car!" Beca complained to her niece. "Can you believe your mother, Maddie?"
"Mummy that wasn't very nice", Maddie objected, as she climbed into her car seat, and Beca grinned, tweaking one of her red pigtails before buckling up her five point harness.
"You've been promoted, kid", she said cheerily. "You're now my favourite redhead ever. You were one of my favourites, but now you're just my favourite. Because your mother is mean".
Maddie laughed, and Beca stretched her seatbelt across her chest.
"Buckle up ladies! Girls weekend is back on the road!" Fat Amy announced.
Years earlier, a girl's weekend had meant shots, shots and more shots and then greasy takeaway food to absorb the alcohol so they could do it all over again. But right then a girl's weekend meant Disney soundtracks and sandcastles.
Would they change anything?
Absolutely not.
"Golf golf golf!" Toby and Jack chanted, as Jesse pushed them into the back of his father's car.
"Guys, seatbelts!" he laughed.
"Has Dad taken you guys golfing?" Barry wanted to know, as he tossed their bags into the boot.
"Just mini golf", Jack said promptly (something all three of them had ticked off their summer bucket list).
"You guys are going to have a great time", Barry grinned.
"Beach!"
And the moment Chloe opened the doors, Maddie and Molly were off.
"This is the best", Chloe chuckled, and watching as the two of them ran down the soft white sand to the water, dancing in the whitewash that only lapped their ankles.
"Little red is going to get so burnt", Fat Amy chuckled. "And Molly's half albino".
"SPF fifty isn't enough", Chloe agreed.
"My kid is practically see through", Beca had to agree.
"Hey weirdo", Beca greeted, holding the phone to her ear the next night. "How's the golf weekend going?"
"Well Toby has upped everyone except Dad in golfing abilities; Jack and I are watching and trying not to get hit. But it's pretty good! We're having a good time; it's nice to see the whole family. How's your girls' weekend going?"
"We are having a wonderful time", Beca drawled. "Also, your kid will be sure to tell you that I'm the better parent and packed her pants for the beach, so WIN".
"Oh my God", Chloe groaned.
"That's right". And Beca grinned smugly and Jesse groaned.
"I think she needs to move on from that".
"I think she's going to hold that grudge until her deathbed".
"She is so your kid".
And Beca grinned.