The morning began with the usual cacophony of clattering saucepans and something being dropped on the kitchen floor.
Max didn't stir, his face half hidden by the duvet, the whites of his eyes just visible. His breath was long and laboured, the duvet cover fluttering gently at his lips.
Zoe slipped from the bed, moving slowly to avoid waking him and padding to the door, unhooking her dressing gown and slipping it on, tying the chord in a tight knot at her waist. She unlocked the door and made her way onto the landing, pausing to listen to the now familiar chatter of the family in the kitchen below before she descended down the stairs to greet them.
Helena was pouring coffee from a large glass pot into Henry's mug while he read the paper. The children were in the sitting room getting ready for school. She could hear them talking with each other and the sound of the television.
Helena glanced up as she heard Zoe's footsteps meet the bottom stair but looked away quickly as she caught a glimpse of her making her way towards the kitchen.
Zoe placed her hands in her pockets, conscious of the ring she wore as she entered the kitchen, a polite smile on her lips.
"Morning Zoe."
Henry looked up, his face shifting unnaturally into a smile, his eyes taking in her appearance, lingering at the knot that tied her dressing gown. She noticed his gaze, shifting uneasily inside the fleecy material.
"Coffee? Helena..."
He motioned for Helena to pour Zoe a cup before she'd answered either way.
"Have a seat."
He said, and as if remembering his manners he stood suddenly, pulling out her chair for her. Zoe caught the soft smirk of Helena's lips, the pitying look within her eyes.
"I've been thinking."
Henry began, pausing whilst Helena filled up a large white mug for her and placed it firmly down in front of her. Zoe thanked her quietly, looking back at Henry with expectant eyes whilst simultaneously reaching for the sugar bowl.
"You've had a lot going on, with travelling and Max arriving..."
He took a slurp of his coffee and lent back into his seat, a hand on his belt, his eyes glancing again at that knot of her dressing gown.
"I thought you might like a couple of days just to catch up, adjust..."
"I'm fine...really..."
Zoe broke in, raising a hand but he frowned and shook his head, taking another mouthful of coffee.
"It's already arranged!"
He leaned back in to the table, setting down the mug and clasping his hands together in front of him, his elbows on the table.
"What's already arranged?"
She asked warily, crossing her legs, very aware that the dressing gown seemed to reveal more of her thigh than she had intended to.
"I thought we could take a trip, the four of us."
Helena looked up sharply as he spoke, clearly this was news to her too.
"What?"
She asked, her eyes narrowed, suspicion behind her gaze.
"Where to...?"
Zoe asked, glancing from Helena back to Henry, resting her coffee in her lap, consciously trying to hide the ring Max had given her, although for what reason she wasn't sure.
"Ah..."
Henry tapped the side of his nose in a manner that he obviously assumed to be enticing, but both Helena and Zoe felt unnerved by.
"Secret."
He said with an amused smile.
"Just pack an over night bag. The rest will be revealed shortly."
He said, still smiling, strumming his fingers against the table top before he rose from his seat and moved to the door, pausing in the door frame to look back at them.
"We'll leave at ten."
Zoe glanced at the clock, 8:15AM.
"The children..."
Helena began to say but he wafted a hand at her.
"Already arranged. Your parents are picking them up from school."
Zoe averted her gaze, the look Helena held with her eyes was cold, unmoving, almost emotionless.
Henry however failed to notice.
"Don't forget to pack."
He called, leaving them together in the kitchen as he made his way back upstairs.
Zoe looked down at the coffee in her cup, the chocolate brown of it catching the light, casting her own reflection back up at her.
She felt Helena slip into the chair at the end of the table, finally pouring herself a coffee.
Zoe glanced up, slightly unnerved to find Helena staring back at her, her gaze unfaltering.
"I'd better..."
Zoe gestured to the door. A half smile stretched at one corner of her mouth, her eyes remained locked with Helena's.
Helena remained looking at her, a fingernail running down the edge of her mug.
"Why didn't you come back the other night?"
She asked eventually, her voice quiet and calm.
"I was just tired..."
Zoe answered quickly as though she had been anticipating the conversation.
Helena smiled slightly, looking down at her mug.
"What did you see?"
She asked, lowering her voice further, her eyes looking hard at the white of the mug in front of her.
"It's really none of my business."
Zoe murmured, shaking her head slightly, again fussing with the hem of her dressing gown before she stood up.
Helena looked up as she moved.
"I'm not hurting him..."
She looked toward the door.
"Henry. He doesn't care..."
She spoke without looking directly at Zoe, instead looking down the hallway to where Henry had gone.
"Like I said, it really isn't anything to do with me..."
Zoe tried again, moving toward the door.
"You'll see what I mean. You'll see why I had to do it when we go away on this fucking...trip."
Helena almost seemed to laugh as she spoke, turning away from Zoe and looking toward the pictures that hung on the wall surrounding her.
"I'm not hurting him."
She whispered again.
More to follow! I hope you're all still enjoying the story xxx