Belsize Park || Kate & Leo

☆ Thirteen ☆

My watch tells me it is 00:25a.m as we tiredly walk through the airport, but here it is 4.25.p.m. and the sun is glaring through the entire hall, blinding us. My sunglasses are on, partly to stop a headache, and partly to avoid being recognised. Bear is still in my arms, and Mia and Joe are having to drag their suitcases along as well as ours, and their shoulders are slumped.

"Dad," Joe starts, tugging his jacket so it covers his shoulder. I turn to look at him. His eyes are droopy.
"Hm?"
"How long until we get to the B&B?"

"Well... that depends..." I push the door open, and we head outside. Cars are all lined up, two wheels on the curb, and two on the road. "Do you want to walk or..."

My old driver, Martin, stands in front of a red Porsche, wearing a gleaming smile on his face. "Mr DiCaprio, your car, Sir."

I turn to Mia and Joe who are both spellbound. I wink at them, and Martin opens the door. "Leave your bags, I'll put them in the trunk in a moment. Nice to see you again, Mia and Joe."

They climb into the back seat, each offering a tired smile. I hold out an awkward hand, and shake his, trying to keep Bear steady in my arms. "Sorry, Bear fell asleep. Did you bring his booster seat?"
"Yes, sir. It's all set up, and ready for him."
"Thanks, Martin. Nice to see you again."

He nods, and gets into the driver's seat, waiting patiently, and making small talk with Mia and Joe quietly as I buckle Bear in. It's been eight years since we last saw him, just before Bear was born. Mia was twelve, and Joe was nine. I sit next to Martin, telling him the address of the B&B, and closing my eyes gently as the car jolts away from the curb.

"I hope Bear stays asleep." I whisper, looking in the rear view mirror, and watching him with bated breath as he moves to put his head on the door.
"Did he sleep on the plane?" Martin asks, gently swerving the car left down a road, consciously being careful to avoid waking Bear.
"No, and there's an eight hour time difference. It'd be nearly 1.a.m in the UK now. Mia, Joe, did you manage to sleep at all?"
They both nod. "Yeah, we put on Fantastic Four." Mia explains. "Basically, four kids get zapped into this other world and they've got superpowers, and they've gotta team up to take down some villain who's a mix of a computer geek and a mad scientist."
"Sounds like something Bear might enjoy."
"No, it's an absolute snooze-fest."

I nod, and Martin stifles a laugh, taking a right, and pulling towards the curb. We have stayed here before, quite a few times, and we know the owner, Crystal, quite well. She meets us in the driveway, and offers to help take our bags up. I smile and allow her to take mine and Bear's bags, as I carry him upstairs. Mia and Joe quickly run to see their rooms, and I take Bear to ours. I lay him down under the quilt, and sit beside him, brushing his curls down.

"How's the room, Leo?"
I look up. Crystal is standing in the doorway holding a tray of chocolates, and some water.
"Thank you." I take them off her, and lay them on the chair next to the fireplace."The room's lovely, thanks."
She smiles politely and sadly, her eyebrows crinkling, and her face darkening. "I just wanted to say... I'm really sorry to hear about your wife. She was a lovely woman."
I nod slowly, and swallow. "Thanks, Crystal. It's been hard, it really has been. But I figure life's got to move on at some point, and there is no time like the present."
"So you booked a vacation?"
My lips curve into a smile, and she shares it. "Congrats on this lovely one. What's his name?"
"Bear."
"Interesting name... well in english anyway. It's quite common in Scandinavia. You know the name Björn?"
My eyebrows shoot up, and I cock my head. "Oh neat, that's something new I can tell people who find it unusual."
We share an awkward laugh, and she leaves the room, softly closing the door until it clicks.
"Enjoy your stay here."

I lay my head down on the pillow, and close my eyes, pulling Bear close to my chest, and basking in his warmth and his soft, bubble bath smell.