Introduction

Rachel and Eddie lived in a large sandstone house in the town of Calderbrae, it was an old town in the West of Scotland, it was their dream home, 5 large bedrooms and a smaller room which had been turned into the kids study/craftroom. The girls both had their own bedrooms, as did Michael, Eddies older son from a previous relationship and a spare for when Philip and Danielle came to stay. Last year they had the attic converted into a large room for the kids to chill out in which they loved especially when their friends had come around.

Rachel and Eddie had a large group of friends, mostly people they found through their kids, but it was a close bunch, and they had both made friends for life.

Katie was 11 years old she had long blonde hair and blue eyes, she loved music, singing and dancing and her favourite activity was her Theatre class. Zara was 12, she attended the same theatre class, but preferred to be in the ensemble as opposed to main roles. Zara was a very active and fit child she played rugby at school, but was not the most academic unlike Katie who loved maths and science. Zara although she was biologically Mel's daughter was the double of Rachel. The girls were currently about to finish primary 7 and would be off to high school in the not too distant future.

Eddie was sitting in his study marking his 3rd years latest NAB's whilst Rachel made dinner for her family, it was a Monday in early May and only 6 weeks until the end of another school year, Eddie was thinking of retiring in the next 5 year, at aged 52 he was hoping he didn't have too long left to work, although he didn't feel that age. Rachel was in her late 40s and still had a good few years ahead of her.

"Mum what's for dinner?" Zara asked as she skipped into the kitchen, "Seabass" Rachel replied as Katie screwed up her nose "And I'm not making anything else" Rachel replied sensing she was going to get some complaints.

"I didn't say anything" Zara replied as she opened the pantry to grab some crisps

"not before dinner" Rachel took the crisps out her daughter's hand and put them back into the pantry. "Go and finish your homework" Rachel pointed upstairs. Zara sighed and stomped upstairs to their study upstairs.

"Have you done your maths homework yet?" Zara asked her sister who was sitting watching Netflix on her Ipad. "Yeah, it was just fractions, did them when I got in it was just a few fractions" Katie said lifting her head briefly and placing her ear phone back in. Zara took a couple of steps towards her sister and took an earbud out, "Can you help me please?" Katie rolled her eyes and shut her Ipad down and walked over to her sister's desk. "You know Dad would be much better at this than me". Zara looked to her sister, "yeah but I just want him to think I'm not rubbish at it, he must think I'm so stupid I always need to ask him for help" Zara said glumly. "You know that's not true, and besides Mum is like really smart and she is rubbish at Maths" Katie said and Zara laughed, that was true, Rachel was pretty awful at maths. Katie helped Zara complete her homework just before they were called downstairs for dinner with their Mum and Dad.

The family sat at the kitchen table, and Rachel plated the dinners for them. "So how was school?" Eddie asked as Rachel put a plate in front of him.

"Good Dad, Katie won the maths challenge for our school so she get to compete at the regional finals for Inverclyde" Zara said

"That is fabulous Katie, I am so proud" Eddie beamed.

"Fantastic" Rachel said as she placed her daughter's dinner in front of her and placed a hand on her shoulder "but I wish you had told us"

"It's no big deal" Katie shrugged "Please don't make a big deal of it" In reality Katie was thrilled, but she knew Zara wasn't as good as maths and didn't want her to feel bad as she was one of the first to be put out

"What about you Zara, did you have a nice day?" Rachel asked the elder of the 2 girls.

"Yes Mum, it was fine, we got out of class for the Maths challenge and we played football at lunch"

Rachel smiled, Zara my not be academic like Katie, but she was still a confident healthy girl.

"So, remember that Michael is coming for the weekend, he is getting the train up himself after school so we need to think about something to do this weekend?" Eddie told his daughters

"We can go to the Science Centre" Katie suggested

"I don't think Michael will enjoy that" Rachel said

"What about Go-Ape?" Zara said

"How about I ask Michael, and we need to go for dinner to celebrate another Maths genius in the family" Eddie smiled, he felt like the luckiest man in the world with the perfect family.

Please let me know what you think, not sure if people still read Waterloo Road fanfiction after all this time.