Chapter 7: Meeting Ella & Charlie

"David, what are Ella & Charlie favorite games?"

"Charlie likes to play with Legos & he likes cars. Ella loves anything related to horses & fashion. She also reads a lot, she likes books with horses like "Spirit Riding Free""

"Can you, please, be a bit more specific? What type of Legos? What type of cars? Does he like remote-controlled cars? I can't bring horses in my flat and I can't attend a fashion show with Ella, not until we are an official couple & have gone public. Do they like board games? I am really good at chess, I like playing Monopoly, Connect 4, Uno & cards games. Do they like that?"

"You do like Board Games?"

"Yes, that's what I have just said, David. In plain English"

"Easy love, easy.. I am just very amazed. You will never stop surprising me".

"So to answer your question, yes, they like all these board games and I think Ella would love to learn to play chess. Charlie likes miniatures cars, he has started a collection. He likes all Legos, but more specifically the Harry Potter & Star Wars collections"

"OK, great! And do they both like Harry Potter & Star Wars? Or is it only Charlie? And do you think he would like an electric car circuit? I have always wanted one when I was a child. Does Ella likes make-up? Barbies?"

"They both love Harry Potter & Star Wars. They also like Classical Disney Movies. Charlie's favorite is "Jungle Book" and Ella's favorite is "The little Mermaid". Yes, Charlie would love an electric car circuit and yes, of course, Ella likes make-up & Barbies"

"Does Charlie have the Millennium Falcon already?"

"No, it is very expensive. Julia, you do not have to buy stuffs for my kids"

"David, if they start to come here, they will need toys, stuffed animals, board games & other stuff. I will rearrange the guestroom to fit a bunk bed in it. This is normal. I want them to feel as comfortable as possible"

"I am very happy and touched you want to do some amendments to your flat for my kids but I want to share the costs and I don't want you to buy too much gifts to them, and no expensive gifts that Vicky & I can't buy"

"David, there is another option than sharing the costs of the amendments. Maybe you could actually move in, in here, with me and bring their bunk bed here, in the guest room?"

There is a long silence.

"David, I am sorry if this is too soon for you that we move in together. Forget it"

"Julia, I'm just speechless. I would love to move in with you. I really do. I just think that it would be better to do it step-by-step with Ella & Charlie. I want to introduce you as my girlfriend first, give them some time to get used to it and then I would love to move in with you and bring their bunk bed in your guestroom.

"Our guestroom" corrected Julia. "If we move in together, this would become our flat David. Regarding your second point, I don't intend to buy them extravagant & overpriced gifts, don't worry. I do not want to cross the line. I am a massive Star Wars fan, I always loved Lego myself so I would be very happy to build the Millennium Falcon with Charlie, and Ella if she wants to".

"OK, love. I did not know you were a Star Wars fan".

"I am indeed and I have read all the Harry Potter's books & seen all the movies. I have met J.K. Rowling several times during some public events and she is very sweet. I even might have her phone number actually, I am sure I can organize a meeting between your kids & her"

"Waouw! And you know all the Disney movies by heart as well?" jokes David

"Actually, yes. Maybe not the recent ones, but I know the classics… by heart"

David can't stop himself and laughs.

"Hey David, you are not allowed to make fun of me. On a more serious note, do they have any food allergy? Or food they really don't like? Do they like baking cakes?"

"No allergies known yet. They are not massive fan of cauliflower, spinaches and cooked carrots, but for the rest, they are not fussy. They love baking cakes, cookies, pancakes, you name it!"

"That's great. We will have fun with them this weekend"

"Julia, may I ask you a very intimate question?"

"Yes, David, of course"

"Well, you seem to have a good knowledge of children. Have you ever thought about having a child?"

There is a long silence.

"Yes. I did" she pauses and there is another long silence. David doesn't say anything, he just look at her tenderly and wait for her to speak when she is ready.

"1 year after my marriage to Roger, I brought up the topic but he said it would only be a brake on our careers, that it was still early in our marriage, that I was young, maybe later.. and then he started to cheat on me". She pauses.

"Our relationship went only downhill from there so I never talked about children again. We got divorced and I have not been in a serious relationship since, I have never been tempted by having a baby on my own and so I got used to the idea of never having children. But that doesn't mean I don't want any. But I am scared I might have left it for too long and it might be too late for me"

"Julia, thank you for sharing this with me. I want to share that my mum was 41 when she got pregnant with my sister. You are still young and you still have some time to make it happen, if this is what you want"

"And what about you, David?"

"What about me?"

"Do you potentially want to have more children?"

"I am totally happy with you the way we are. I never want you to feel pressured to have a baby with me. I love you deeply, I think you would be a wonderful mum and yes, I would love to have a baby with you, if that's what you want. But I am happy with you, either way"

Julia was overwhelmed, so she just nods and changes of topic

"Do Ella & Charlie have homework to do over the weekend?"

"Yes, they do"

"I will be happy to help on that matter"

"Great, because they both have quite a lot of work to do, so it will be quicker if we are both helping them. Thank you"

It's Saturday morning and Julia is very nervous as David has picked-up the kids on Friday after school and he will bring them over after having spent one evening & one night in his flat.

They have decided to start with one night at Julia's flat and a little bit less than 2 days as they will arrive around 11h on the Saturday and leave around 17h on Sunday which is the usual time Vicky is picking them up. That way, Julia will also meet her.

She has decided to wear casual jeans & a beige cashmere oversized jumper, nude make-up and simple beige flats. David and his kids will be coming anytime soon. Julia is actually looking for it and is even impatient to meet them.

There is a knock on the door. Julia's heart is missing a beat. Then she exhales slowly, picks-up her courage and opens the door with a shy smile.

David is standing in front of her, with Ella on his left side & Charlie on his right side. David smiles at her: "Hello Julia. These are my kids: Ella & Charlie"

"Ella, Charlie, this is my girlfriend Julia"

"Hello there. She kisses David briefly on one cheek and then she squats down to be at his kids' level and she reaches out to Ella first.

"Hello Ella, it's a pleasure to meet you".

Ella shakes her hand and says: "likewise Miss Montague".

"Please, Ella, call me Julia".

Then she reaches out to Charlie who is a bit hiding behind David's leg.

"Hello Charlie, it's a pleasure to meet you".

Charlie shakes her hand, looks at her with a worried look and says: "Hello, can I call you Julia as well?".

"Of course Charlie. You look a bit worried, why?"

Charlie is hesitating and finally says: "Does it hurt?" Pointing at her amputated leg.

David wants to start to talk to reprimand him but Julia is quicker and replies: "That's very kind of you to ask Charlie, no it does not hurt. Some people have what they call "phantom pains" - which is pain on the missing member- but I haven't experienced that. I will start my reeducation on Monday actually, so hopefully, next time we see each other, I will have a "fake leg" which is called prosthesis".

Charlie smiles at her before adding: "I am happy for you".

"Thank you Charlie". Julia smiles genuinely at him.

They all enter the flat and Ella exclaims: "Waouw, I love your flat!" "Thank you Ella. Let me do the tour of it for you two and show you your room".

"Our room?"

"Yes, of course, you will have a room here. You two are very important for your father, and very important for me too"

When they enter in the livingroom, David notices an additional white lacquered modern cupboard with colorful doors next to the television. This is definitely new and not in the style of the other furniture of her flat.

Julia proudly announces to the kids that this is their cupboard and tell them to open it to see what's inside. Ella is opening one of the doors and finds some books, including all the books of "Spirit Riding Free", another one with Barbies and Barbie's clothes, one with make-up, nail vanish, brushes, hair elastics & ribbons,.. and a massive one with board games with some looking old or 2nd hand.

Julia looks at them: "I love to play board games, so the "old" ones are actually mine that my mum kept in the attic of our family house in Cheltenham, in case I have kids one day"

Charlie opens another door & finds the Millennium Falcon to build in Legos. He is ecstatic!

Julia is really happy: "I am a massive Star Wars fan myself so I was thinking we could build it together, what do you think?".

"Yes, that's great, thanks Julia". In another one, he founds an electric car circuit.

David jumps in: "I have always wanted to have one of these when I was a kid, I will be very happy to build it & play with you". Julia can't stop herself and laughs, kindly looking at David.

Julia shows them the flat, they really liked the "Death Star" picture with David Cameron and are very impressed.

Ella says: "Waouw, Julia, you must be a very famous person if you know David Cameron!".

Julia smiles kindly: "well, to quote Rajneesh – a famous Indian Spiritual Master- "Fame is foolish, it is pointless, meaningless. Even if the whole world knows you, how does it make you richer? How does it make your life more blissful? How does it help you to be more understanding, to be more aware? To be more alert, to be more alive?"

Ella looks at her a little bit rattled.. "Sorry, Julia, I don't understand what that means"..

Julia says: "simply that fame is not important in life. Real things like family, love, happiness and values are amongst the most important things in life".

Ella looks at Julia with a lot of admiration and for the first time, hugs her.

Julia is very surprised by this sudden display of affection but she hugs her back and smiles at her. All of that happening in front of David who has to hide his face from them as his eyes were becoming glassy.

Then Julia adds: "Ella, just so that you are not surprised if it happens, I am actually working towards being the next UK Prime Minister, as David Cameron was"

Ella's eyes widens and she said: "Waouw, I really like that! Go Julia! Girl Power"

Julia laughs and it reminds her the "Spice Girls" time during her youth.

They start to build the Millennium Falcon all together until lunch time.

They prepare pizzas all together – Julia had bought 4 pizza doughs and they all add the ingredients they like & then put them in the oven. They have ice cream for dessert.

Then they continue to build the Millennium Falcon for a bit before David suggest the kids do their homework.

Charlie thanks Julia to having helped him to enter into his new school. He says he loves it, he can now read properly and he asks if he can show her. She says "of course, I would love to"

Julia explained to both that she suffered from school bullying herself, for being best in class, taller than most boys and braces.

They do their homework quietly whilst Julia works a bit on her campaign on her computer.

Then they play Monopoly all 4 together and Julia wins, of course. Charlie & David play a bit together with the Nintendo Switch. Julia & Ella make up each other.

In the evening, they all watch Harry Potter with pop-corn, crisps, cherry tomatoes, carrots, cuncumber, cheese & crackers, like a dinner aperitif.

Then Ella & Charlie shower & go to bed.

Julia & David stay a bit later, watching the football recap on Sky Sports before going to bed.

"Your kids are really great, David. I hope they like me, because I already love them a lot"

"I am sure they like you Julia, we had such a great day today and you really are a natural around kids"

Julia blushes slightly at the compliment.

They have a lazy Sunday morning, they eat breakfast, they bake a great banana cake for the afternoon tea.

For lunch, Julia orders some hamburgers from Honest Burgers and then Charlie & Julia play with the electric car circuit whilst Ella & David read some books.

On the Sunday afternoon, they are all watching "The Little Mermaid" and then out of the blue Ella says to Julia: "Julia, do you know that there is a sequel to this movie?"

"No, I didn't know actually. What is the story of the sequel about?"

"It is called "Little Mermaid 2" and they have a baby together. Are you and dad going to have a baby? I would love to be a big sister again one day. Lots of my friends at school with divorced parents have new siblings"

Julia is gobsmacked for several seconds then she answers, avoiding David's gaze: "maybe, we are not there yet Ella, first your dad & I want to enjoy our time together, with you two and we will also see if nature will allow it as I am quite "old" to have a baby".

"Julia, you are not old and you are beautiful"

"Well, thank you Ella, you are very sweet but from a mother-to-be perspective, I am considered as "old". We will see, OK"

"OK, I hope it will happen though"

David does not say anything but noticed that Julia did not answer a straight "NO" and it gives him hope, but he promised himself not to pressure Julia on the topic.. he knows it's not something 100% natural to her.. well, at first sight.. but he also knows that deep down somewhere, the desire of being a mum one day is there.

The bell is ringing, Julia gets up to open the door and she takes a deep breath before opening it to meet Vicky for the first time.

"Hello Julia".

"Hello Vicky"

"Nice to meet you" they say at the same time which make them smile. They shake hands warmly.

Ella & Charlie run towards Vicky, very excited and start to explain all the activities they have done together, all the games they have played & the food they have eaten.

Vicky smiles gently then say to Julia: "That's great, thank you for doing all this for them".

"No need to thank me Vicky, this is completely normal. Did you have a good weekend as well?"

"Yes, thank you very much Julia. Yesterday, Andrew took me to the Sanctuary Spa in Covent Garden, we went to the movies last night and we had a nice brunch today at "The Breakfast Club" London Bridge.

"That sounds great! Andrew seems like a keeper!"

"I hope so, yes"

"Julia, I want to thank you for helping Charlie to go to that special school. This is doing wonders for him. He is really a happy boy now. I also want to say that I haven't seen David that happy & balanced for years. You make him very happy and I am very happy for you two". Julia is beaming and smiles at her.

"I also really appreciate everything you are doing & putting in place to protect the kids when you will go public. You really care for them, David & even me"

"Of course, you as well, Vicky. Your life does not have to be disturbed because of my choice of career. That would not be fair".

After Vicky has left with the kids, Julia & David sit on the sofa, cuddling.

"This is so quiet now. Too quiet actually"

"I know, I am always a bit down after they leave"

"I really had a nice weekend David. I am really looking forward for the next one"

"You are wonderful Julia. Seeing you putting so much effort to prepare everything for my kids for this weekend, having fun with them, laughing with them, kissing them, cuddling them, it really makes me fall in love with you even more, if that was possible.

David leans in and kisses her, softly first then he deepens the kiss & they remove all their clothes quickly & make love on the sofa, as last night they preferred not to do anything to avoid to risk to be heard by Ella & Charlie.