Cerulean

One

7th September 2022

It was during one Tuesday evening when Leo first mentioned the trip to Cornwall. We'd finished eating dinner and I was clearing away the dirty plates and cutlery. The children had deserted the kitchen the minute I'd mentioned cleaning up, so it was just him and I sorting out the mess. 

"It'll be a really great opportunity to get to know my new boss. Rufus is a really nice guy and he seems to be very interested in making lots of opportunities for career progression within the company. The more he gets to know me, the more chances to climb the ladder might come my way. This is exactly what you and I have been talking about since I first joined the company twelve years ago. My old boss didn't care but Rufus seems really invested in his employees. I just  think this is an offer I can't pass up." 

"No, of course you can't," I said, sliding a dirty plate into one of the slots in the dishwasher tray. "I just don't want it to be like last time."

My mind instantly wandered back to the memory of that fateful long weekend in November three years ago. Leo had been invited on a last minute guys getaway to Croatia, which he had accepted without even thinking to mention it until five days before he left. The kids had tested me in every way possible during the four days that he was away. Three mischievous children had been enough of a challenge on its own but my youngest child Robert had decided to top it all off on the final evening, by having a severe allergic reaction to his milk whilst I was reading him a bedtime story. It had been terrifying and I would be lying if I said it hadn't had a lasting effect on me. I held him just a little bit tighter after that night. I hugged them all a little bit tighter. By the time Leo returned home the next day, sun-kissed and carefree, I was on my knees. 

"Well I can tell you now that it most definitely won't be," he said. I frowned at him. This wasn't the first time he'd made a false promise. "Because he's invited all of us."

I paused for a moment, placed the final dirty plate in the dishwasher and closed it. I pressed the start button and the machine groaned to life. 

'Besides, it would be a nice break for you too. We love Cornwall, it's like our second home. I also hear his girlfriend is really lovely as well. Might be a chance for you to make another mum friend." He looked hopeful yet slightly nervous for my response. He knew better than to expect me to jump for joy. A holiday with my husband's boss, sounds like a great opportunity to let my hair down. Not. The reality would be me trying to make sure the kids didn't bicker and show Leo up in front of the man who could make or break his career.

"What about the kids?" I asked. As much as Leo was a wonderful father, he often suggested activities or trips that were wholly unsuitable for families. He had surprised me with a month long trip to Australia on our first wedding anniversary. Sounds incredible, except I was eight months pregnant and declared unfit to fly by my doctor eight weeks prior. His words were 'I just didn't think'. He'd meant well of course, I knew that, he'd just failed to consider that the small matter of my impending due date may cause a slight issue with making it safely to the other side of the world and back. Thank goodness we couldn't go, as baby Oliver arrived fifteen days earlier than planned. 

"They're invited too."

"No I mean what about the kids' school?"

"Jem," he raised an eyebrow at me. "They're home schooled darling, they can do their lessons anywhere."

"That's not the point Leo. We can't just up and leave everything for three weeks, what about my Dad?"

I could see the cogs turning in his head as he quickly tried to come up with something reassuring. I knew that my dad's dependence on me frustrated him, especially with how he'd treated my mother, sisters and I when we were younger. I had told Leo all about him and my complicated family dynamics and so he found it hard to offer my dad any sympathy.