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I wake feeling ravenous after a long, steamy night with my handsome husband. I took to my right, and he is still asleep– which is rare. I smile to myself, I must have worn him out. He looks so peaceful as he sleeps. I could be mean and wake him, but I decided against it, my stomach growling. I pull on my favourite pair of denim jeans and a plain white button-down shirt, combing my hair with my fingers.
When I open the bedroom door, the clothes we discarded in the heat of the moment have been folded and left outside our door. It makes me laugh to myself as I bend down to pick them up. I sling them over the bedroom chair and wander downstairs, smiling when I see two of my girls on the couch, watching TV.
"Morning," I say, heading to the kitchen to make myself some coffee and toast.
"Good night?" Margo asks from the doorway of the kitchen as I butter my toast. "I had to try and explain to Olive why your clothes were all over the house." She says, and I laugh. "You look really happy, Mom."
"I am," I say, walking over to her to give her a kiss on the cheek. "I am remembering stuff every day, and my life is perfect right now."
"Even after I spoke to you like shit?" Heather asks from behind her sister. "I'm sorry I spoke to you like that."
I shrug. "It was a difficult situation. How is Joey?" I ask as I take a seat at the kitchen island, cradling my coffee in my hands. Both girls come and join me, sitting opposite me.
"Well, we went to speak with Alexis and her parents," she explains. "She's not even pregnant. The silly girl thought Joey was going to break up with her, so she cried wolf."
"Oh wow," I say, taking another bite of toast. "I bet you're relieved."
"I am," She says. "So is Joey, and he is steering clear of girls for a while."
"Good, I'm just coming to terms with being a mother and a grandmother. I don't need to add great grandma to that list," I laugh.
"What are you both doing today?" I ask, sipping my drink.
"Recovering from hearing you and dad going at it like wild animals," Margo says, and I blush. "I'm surprised you can walk today."
"I'm a bit tender," I smirk, watching as she cringes. "Anyway, I want to do something with my girls today," I say, getting my phone out of my pocket and texting Serena. "Even if we just go out for lunch or something."
"That sounds nice," Heather smiles. "I need to make a few calls, but I should be able to make myself available for the day," she says seriously, and Margo laughs.
"You're always free. You have a rich husband."
"I'm not always free," Heather says, rolling her eyes.
"Ah, yes. PTA meetings take up all of your time," She teases. "She's one of those moms that normal moms hate."
"Knock it off," I warn them. "Let's go and get Serena. Who is driving?" I ask as I slide on a pair of comfy shoes and drop Elliot a text to say where we are going. "I am starving."
"You just had toast," Margo says.
"It wasn't enough, so let's make it a brunch," I suggest as Heather grabs her keys, laughing at me.
"What?" I ask, looking at her.
"You're just a weirdo, I love you," she says sincerely.
20 minutes later, Serena is in the back of the car with Margo. "How are you feeling, angel?" I ask her, looking at her in the rear view mirror.
"Tired mostly," she says. "And hungry, so thanks for this."
"Mom is dying of starvation, despite having had some toast prior to getting in the car," Margaret tells her big sister.
"Well, she had a big night, right?" Serena asks.
"How do YOU know that?" I ask, whipping my head round to look at them. They are giggling in the back seat, and it reminds me of them being small children and up to no good.
"I was on the phone to Marg. We could both hear you," Serena laughs. "I guess I would be the same if I was remembering how to have sex."
"That'll be you when you have sex again after having the baby," Heather says.
"I wouldn't know," Margo says with a shrug.
"You haven't had sex in five years!?" Serena gasps. "God, I couldn't do that."
I smile, watching my girls all chatting and gossiping. This is the life I always imagined myself having. Nothing else matters, I might not remember how to do my job, but right now, it doesn't matter. My life is perfect.
"Where are we actually going?" Heather asks me as she drives.
"I fancy going to the beach," I suggest, and they all smile enthusiastically. "Beach, please, driver."
We arrive at the beach, carrying our shoes as we walk down to the sand. I sink my feet in, closing my eyes and smiling. I remember bringing the girls here as children, oh how they loved it.
"I'm going to go and get fish and chips," Heather says, her hand on my shoulder, and I nod.
"I'll come too," Margo says. I hear their shoes as they walk away, and the smell of the beach is bringing back so many memories.
"You alright, Mama?" Serena asks, her hand snaking around my waist, and I nod, opening my eyes to look at her.
"I'm just remembering," I tell her, kissing her forehead. "Shall we go and sit down?"
"In the sand?" she asks, and I nod. "You'll have to help me up again," she giggles, and we walk arm in arm to a big patch of soft sand.
"What did you remember?" she asks curiously as we sit back, the warm sun hitting our faces.
"Burying your father in the sand," I smile. "And the time you thought you saw a shark, and it was Heather swimming under you."
"That wasn't funny," Serena says seriously, trying not to laugh with me. "We had a good childhood, despite you working. You always made time for us. You always made sure we were happy."
I smile, cuddling her in my arms. "I'm glad I did a good job," I say. "I was thinking on the drive here how lucky I am. This is the life I always wanted. Lots of kids and grandkids," I say as I put my hand on her belly. "A big happy family."
"What are you going to do about work?" she asks curiously.
"I've been thinking that I might retire," I say. "You're going to need my help soon."
"Really?" she says as the others come back with food. "We thought you'd be ninety and sat in that office," Serena laughs.
"Wait, what's happening?" Margo asks as she sits down.
"I'm thinking of retiring," I say again. "I want to spend as much time with my family as I can."
"Wow," Heather laughs. "Maybe you should've crashed your car sooner," she teases, and I flick sand at her, making her squeal.
"I love you all," I say as I slide a hot chip into my mouth, watching them again, thinking about how I got this lucky.
"I've asked Dad to get Olive from school, so we can stay here as long as you like, Mom," Margo smiles, dipping her chip in ketchup.
"That'll be nice," I say, leaning back on my hands. "I love the beach."
"We know," the three women say in unison, and I shake my head, smiling at them.
"I remember you saying once that you would've given birth on the beach if you could've," Heather says, grimacing at the thought. "Can you imagine how much sand you'd get everywhere?"
"Speaking of," Serena says, holding her belly. "I think my water just broke."
