The Weekend - Completed

Chapter 48

Six years later

"Ucca Dames, Ucca Dames" Evie's exuberant cries sung throughout the house as she ran around the living room in concentric circles.

"Well, shall we let him in, or should we leave him on the doorstep and shout his name loudly instead?" I teased heading towards the porch, as I opened the door I could hear Evie picking up pace and knew she was running full pelt into an unexpecting James.

I stepped aside so he had a clear view at the toddler powering towards him, dropping his bags and holding his arms out wide he waited for my daughter to launch herself into him.

"Mummy look, its Ucca Dames." Her head spinning back and forth between James and me, her near black curls bouncing with each movement.

"Oh my goodness Alex who is this huge monster?" He teased. "I think she must have eaten my little Evie, I'll have to tickle her out." Before his wriggling fingers had touched her bulbous tummy she was giggling hysterically and squirming in his arms.

After five minutes of joyous squeals and convulsions James huffed exhausted, he finally admitted defeat and leaning down stood her on the floor. Oblivious to his fatigue she grabbed his hand and pulled him from the porch and into the rest of the house, I watched smiling as he allowed her to lead him along the hallway and on towards the kitchen. As I picked up his abandoned bags I chuckled to myself as her excited, bossy voice ordered him to help her into one of the kitchen chairs and then sit in the one closest to hers.

"Would you like a cup of tea?" I asked James as I joined them in the kitchen.

"Oooh yes please, that'd be lovely." He replied gratefully.

"No thank you mummy." Evie interrupted not wanting to be left out of the conversation. "Can I have some milk and some biscuits please?" She added as I turned to switch the kettle on.

"Biscuits? Biscuits? Who said anything about biscuits?" I mocked at her crafty audacity.

"Just one mummy, poor Ucca Dames is so hungry." She flung her arms out wide to show me just how hungry he was.

"Well if he's that hungry I think we had all better have a biscuit, don't you?" I added much to her delight.

As I made the tea she spoke endlessly, hardly coming up for a breath. I knew from my own experiences James had to of glazed over a couple of times, merely nodding in what he hoped would be the right places as she recounted incessant tales of trips to the park, teddy bears picnics and next doors new puppy.

"Evie could you put the biscuits on a plate for me please." I asked as I noticed James exasperated expression as I handed him his tea. Happily she paused mid sentence and busied herself with the plate and packet of chocolate biscuits, ignorant of the huge shattered huff James blew out noisily as he sank deeper into the chair.

"Her speech has really come on since I was last here." His wide eyed disbelieving-look making me giggle quietly.

"You have no idea" I agreed, "She never stops talking, even in her sleep." I shook my head slowly to emphasise my point, now it was his turn to laugh.

Two cups of tea, three glasses of milk and half a packet of biscuits later Evie's in depth description of her bridesmaid's dress was disturbed by the sound of keys in the door.

"Daddy's here, daddy's here." She yelled as she clumsily climbed down from the chair and charged off towards the porch for the second time this afternoon. I could hear her muffled yelps of delight and knew she had thrown herself into Joel's arms.

As they came towards the kitchen I could hear her retelling him the events of her day. Sitting her back on the chair, she had only before minutes alighted, he ruffled her hair before kissing my tenderly on the cheek.