Old Faces
'Um…Nice to see you again. It's been so long. Over 20 years, in fact.' Sam forced herself to be polite.
'Yeah it has. We must catch up some time.' The man said, trying to hide his shock at having seen his old enemy and ex-girlfriend obviously very happy together.
'Yeah we must. Well we'll leave you to get unpacked and settled in, then we'll pop around later.' Sam answered him, trying to be sincere.
'Sure. Nice seeing you again Sam. Phil.' With that he joined the rest of his family inside the house.
'Come on kids back inside.' Phil tried to take control of the situation but was still in shock. Begrudgingly the children went inside, their parents following in absolute silence due to shock.
'Who was that Mom?' Jack asked.
'Yeah. You obviously know him.' Angel added.
'Oh that was someone your Dad and I knew from school.'
'He used to date your mother before I did.' Phil interjected with obvious bitterness. Angel looked at her parents with puzzlement. There had only been one person in her Mom's life before her Dad and that had been…
'Stuart Turner? He's moved in next door?' Angel asked, still puzzled at her parents reactions.
'Yep.' Her father nodded. 'He just keeps turning up like a bad penny.'
'Who's Stuart Turner, Dad?' Jack was utterly confused at this point. Everyone seemed to know who their new neighbours were except him.
'Our new neighbours, stupid.' Angel pointed out, sarcastically.
'I know that, idiot, but I mean how do Mom and Dad know him.'
Sam sat down, and pulled her bewildered son onto her lap. 'Ages ago, when we were at school, me and your Dad knew Stuart. He used to be my boyfriend for a short while- before your Dad.'
'Oh! So why did you look upset to see him?' Jack questioned.
'Yes Dad. Why did you look so upset to see our mother's ex-boyfriend, 'cos I can't see it being a problem.' Angel shot a look at her brother, as she said this sarcastic statement. He stuck his tongue out and scowled.
'Angel, be nice to your brother.' Sam warned, but she couldn't help but laugh to herself. They had acted and sounded just like her and Phil had when they were younger.
'Well, Stuart wasn't a nice bloke to be around. And I don't want you lot getting all pally with his family. Ok? Especially that son of his. He looks a right chip off the old block.' Phil warned both his children. After twenty-odd years without Stuart Turner wrecking his life, he didn't want him to start now.
'Dad. That's unfair, you can't judge his family because you don't like him, and I thought his son looked OK.' Angel defended her knew neighbours quickly, she quite liked the look of Stuart Junior or whatever his name was and she didn't want an old family rift to wreck any friendship between them. 'Anyway, how can we avoid them when Mom told them we were going around later.'
'That's a good point. Why on earth did you do that Sam?' Phil turned and looked at his wife accusingly.
'Angel's right. We can't judge his family just because we don't like him, besides he could have changed. We have. Back then no-one thought you'd get married-least of all to me. Now look at us. We've been married 16 years and have two beautiful kids. I think we should give them a chance.' Sam looked at her husband, who just sighed and nodded, knowing he was defeated.
'OK! We'll go around later. But, Angel don't get to close to this lad. I don't want you getting hurt.'
'Ok. I'm with Jamie anyway.' Angel smiled. Yeah she was with Jamie, but that didn't stop her from being friends with this new neighbour of theirs even if her Dad had forbidden it. She didn't usually listen to him- so why start now.