A Rock & Roll Romance

Eighty Nine

"My god it's beautiful!!!" Meg said as they wandered around the courtyard the first morning of their French vacation. "It's freedom." Johnny said sipping a coffee as they wandered. "It's gorgeous." She said spinning on the spot, he smiled at her enthusiasm before they picked a table outside the bistro to enjoy the early sunshine.

A few hours later, the children finally emerged from the house, still donning their sleepwear. Meg fussed over them and offered to make breakfast, which Johnny pouted at. "We are meant to be on vacation." He said with a chuckle before Meg said "and everyone knows a vacation is only as good as it's breakfasts. Pancakes Jack?" She continued. Lily smiled before offering to help Meg, the latter touched by her kindness.

"So what do you want to do whilst you're here?" Lily asked. "Oh goodness, anything, everything you want to do." "Oh perleaseeeee. We are here most summers, tell us and we can ensure you get the full experience!" Lily giggled chopping fruit. "Well maybe we can get your father to relax for a few days first, but I would love to explore the south, I've not spent a lot of time here before." Lily smiled before beginning to tell Meg about a quaint little restaurant hidden in the vineyard hills.

Later that day the four were scattered around the pool area. Lily was lying out, Jack was swimming, Meg was lying on a lounger in the shade with Johnny close by in a garden chair, both reading their chosen books. "Doll?" Johnny asked. "Hmmmm" Meg said still looking at the pages of her book. "Wanna go out for dinner tonight?" He asked looking up at her. "Out? I thought the whole idea was to really relax here and not worry?" "It is. But I know this lovely little spot and the kids love it and why not celebrate our first proper vacation in style?" He asked happily. "Ok.. sounds lovely." She said smiling before leaning across and kissing his cheek. "Great I'll make the arrangements." He stood marked his page, grabbed his cigarette tin and wandered off before Meg got back to her book. Lily who had been watching from across the pool got up and walked to the edge sitting on it and dangled her legs into the water. "Jack.." she whispered who swam over. "What?!" He said quietly. "Do you think she's ok??" "Meg?" He asked confused. "Yeah?" "Why would she not be ok?" "Well.. I've been pretty mean to her and I dunno, if she makes Daddy happy maybe she's gonna be around for a while, maybe even forever." Jack shrugged "So??" "So we need to make her feel part of all this. Not like she's a guest. Like this is her home too." "But it's not?!" Jack said shocked. "She doesn't live with Dad at home so why should this be her home here." "Oh you just don't get it do you?" Lily joked splashing water. "I'll never understand girls ever." He said smiling. "Leave it to me."

Johnny returned and kissed Meg "All sorted. We'll leave at 7." Meg smiled "Where are we going?" She asked excitedly. "It's a surprise!" Johnny smirked before looking up at his children. "You better put more sunscreen on soon or get into the shade. Lily you're already pink!!" He yelled loudly. "Ok Dad." She said with a smile standing and grabbing the bottle of lotion from the table and heading towards her father and Meg. "Could you help me?" She asked kindly and Johnny reached out for the bottle and moved to begin. "No, I meant Meg." She said with a nervous smile to the woman who happily smiled back closed her book and sat up so there was room on the lounger for Lily to sit. "My hands might be a bit cold..." Meg said nervously. "Don't worry I'm boiling it will be a nice treat." Lily giggled as Meg began putting sunblock on the teen's back.

"We're going out for dinner tonight. Be ready for 7 ok kids?" Johnny said. "Oh yeah right what time will you be ready?" Jack smirked from the pool. "Just be on time son.." Johnny said before rushing and jumping into the pool splashing his boy. "Wanna get ready together?" Lily asked turning her head to Meg. "I'd love that." The woman said touched.