Holiday
It wasn't exactly Barcelona or Crete. Not sweltering heat but enough for it to be comfortable, allowing a nice dress to be worn for once. Who could ask for more?
Rachel had been reluctant at first. Spontaneity was not for her, and she had to ask when, where, and how much- all those questions that needed a perfectly defined answer. She had gotten them in time, and she supposed that there was no harm in it.
Phillip shared her reluctance, dragging his suitcase behind him. Each stair met with an indignant thump. Tracing his way to the kitchen, already muttering how much he longed to return upstairs and stay on his console. No, that wouldn't do. He was going with her. Besides, he couldn't be trusted to stay alone in the house, not for two weeks.
The reservation says three.
He groaned quietly, following her into the car and immediately putting his earphones in. Some unrecognised song blasting, enough for them to hear. Rachel glanced across at Eddie, waiting for him to realise his mistake, but he was as cheerful as always.
In some ways, she supposed he had been right. The time away had been good, somewhere different and all that. Not having to cook dinner, or work, or sit in the house all day. She sat on the grass, blanket neatly unfolded and grounded beneath her, reading some book she had ignored for the past few months. Across the grass, Eddie and Phillip were playing football.
Just a friendly game, a quick kick around. But neither had kept to that promise and they were beginning to get competitive, the ball flying from one side of the mock pitch to the other. She could hear them bickering, calling each other out for any tiny mistake. Nothing serious but their pride was being questioned.
Rachel didn't bother to intervene. She was quite happy where she was.