Devotion

We Need to Talk

Almost six hours later, they arrive in Cornwall just over an hour late for check-in due to the hold up on the motorway. Jack had finished off the driving them there despite a disagreement with Nikki over driving as she was happy enough to drive all the way there.

Jack had checked in at the main office collecting their starting caravan keys and a map of the camp sight. Jumping back in the car he turns to his wife and smiles softly at her as he passes her the keys and information. Starting the car back up they head around the camp sight and finally come across their caravan which has a very picturesque view of the sea.

Getting out the car Jack walks to the front door and opens the caravan door up and steps inside. Nikki on the other hand gets Katy out the car and follows Carol up into the caravan "Oh isn't it lovely," Carol smiles noticing how modern and well dressed this static caravan is.
"It is, lovely and spacious..." Jack smiles back at his mother-in-law as he explores further and comes across the main bedroom and the two separate.

Nikki follows her husband up the small corridor to the bedrooms and steps into the main bedroom, "where's her cot?" Nikki quizzes as she steps past Jack.
"It's here!" Carol calls from a different room. Nikki follows the sound of her mother's voice and then notices the caravan park housekeeping have set up a travel cot from Katy in a different room.

"She should be in our room," Nikki speaks.
"No she doesn't need to be, she's seven months old Niks. She sleeps the night through so don't worry" Carol smiles softly.

Nikki holds Katy close to her side and kisses her head. "I would rather have her in with me... it's a strange place for her" Nikki protests.
"Nikki... I took you on holiday when you were Katy's age and you slept perfectly fine in a 'strange' room" Carol smiles attempting to calm her daughter who seemed very uptight about letting Katy sleep in her own room.

"But that was me... not Katy" Nikki reminds her.
"You are very similar babies, stop worrying. One night in here, see how she gets on and if she doesn't we can move her" Carol speaks and glances at Jack who is walking past.

Jack stops and watches Nikki from behind, they hadn't been the closest of married couples recently but he could see Nikki was tense about something. "Hey..." he smiles as he places his hands on Nikki's shoulders.

Nikki steps away and turns to look at him, "what?" She asks.
"Why don't we unpack and then take Katy for a walk?" Jack suggests.
"I'd rather not. Let's unpack and I'll put her down for a nap" she responds.
"Nikki... Katy slept for three hours on the way here, she doesn't need a nap" Jack says.

Nikki just glares at him before brushing past and exiting the room, Jack watches her walk down the corridor towards the living area and kitchen. He turns back to look at Carol and gives a sigh, "what do I do... she clearly doesn't love me anymore. Great one Hodgson... she just used me as a sperm bank..." he speaks as he clenches his fists.

"Don't be like that Jack. She loves you dearly, I think personally Nikki's got separation anxiety from Katy. You work long shifts and by the time you're home Katy is asleep and I gather Nikki is knackered too" Carol quizzes in a hushed tone.

Jack runs his hands through his hair and thinks to himself. "She's half asleep when I get home some nights, I just want to spend an evening with her... you know... show her I still love her."

Carol smirks slightly at the response before quickly thinking of something to say. "Do it then, I will have Katy for an evening, go have some drinks together... be human. Babies consume so much of your time... but have a family holiday too," she explains being the voice of reason for the millionth time today.

"But she won't..." Jack responds.
"No buts... go get that pushchair out the car, get Nikki and Katy, tell her you're going on a walk. Don't worry about unpacking I will do it... now go... go... go on" she shoo's with her hands.

Jack smiles and walks down the caravan and out the door, he could feel as he walked past his wife her eyes drilling into the back of his head. He opens the car boot and moves a few things before pulling the pushchair out and putting it up.

"Nikki?" He calls.
Nikki walks to the door and watches Jack. "What are you doing?" She quizzes.
"Get Katy, we're going for a walk, we need to talk" he responds.

She swallows nervous and turns back to get Katy, spilling into a cardigan at the same time. Picking Katy up she steps out the caravan and looks at Jack once again. She worried that he was about to announce the end of their marriage but she didn't say anything.

Crouching down she places Katy in the pushchair and secures her in properly. "Come on them, let's go" Jack speaks.