In another life

1

"Mummy, can we get some sweets? Pleaseeee!" Elsie asks with her cute puppy dog eyes. She knows I just cannot say no to that cute little face.
"Alright, but you still have to eat dinner, okay?"
"Okay! Thanks mummy!" She begins to run off but I stop her,
"Hold on sweetie, you still have to pick some plates for your party"
"Oh yeah! Ummm" she gazes over the shelves until her eyes land on one I knew she would pick "the rainbow ones!" She picks up the packet of pastel paper plates with rainbows on them and puts them in the basket I'm holding.

My little baby girl is turning six next week and we're having a lovely party with all her friends. I just can't believe how fast she's growing up. Makes me feel old.

"Okay, sweets now!" I laugh at how excited she is but just as we're about to turn the corner Elsie bumps right into a woman,
"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry" I apologise, "are you alright?"
"You should watch where-" she begins but stops herself when she meets my eyes, "I'm sorry, it's my fault. Hello" she smiles. That was weird?

"Hi! You have pretty hair" Elsie chimes in making the woman laugh,
"Thank you sweetheart, and what's your name?"
"Elsie! And this is Izzy and mummy" Elsie has always had a constant burst of energy. I'm not quite sure where she gets her confidence from but ever since she was born she's been a very loud free spirit. Izzy is a little different, she quite quiet like me.

"I'm Charlotte, hi" I smile,
"What pretty names. I'm Amelia" she's looking at me like she knows me, but I'm sure I don't recognise her. I definitely would too. She's not a face I would forget. Pretty ocean eyes and her hair is a dark red shade. I would definitely remember her.

"I'm sorry again" I smile,
"It's alright sweetheart. I must go, it was nice meeting you" she smirked before walking down the opposite isle. Sweetheart?

I shake off the weird feeling and look down at my girls,
"Okay, come on. We have to get you to daddy's house soon"

The girls are spending the weekend with their dad, Jason. He and I split a few weeks back and he moved into his mother's until he could find a place of his own.

Don't get me wrong, I'll always love Jason. He's the father of my children, and a genuinely decent guy. But the passion died down a while ago. We both knew it, we just didn't want to admit it. And now that we have it's been a lot easier. I don't think either of us were really happy but now we can move on and still be friends which I'm so grateful for. The last thing I wanted was drama and arguments, especially as we have the girls to think about.

Both of us are on the same page and that makes it a lot easier. Co parenting is a lot more simple when you both have one agenda. Our only rule is that we always put the girls first. They're happy, healthy and safe. And that's all we can ask for.

...

I pull up outside Kathy's house and see Jason already stood outside,
"Daddy!" The girls practically jump out of the car and run to Jason.
"Hey girls, hey Char" I get out of the car and smile,
"Hey, how are you?"
"Good thanks and you?"
"Yeah I'm okay" Jason goes to grab the girls bags from the back seat just as Kathy walks out,
"Ah my favourite girls! Come and give me some love" she smiles brightly and the girls run right up to her
"Grandma!"
"Hey Kathy"
"Charlotte darling" she pulls me in for a hug, "would you come in for some tea?"
"Oh I'd love to but I really should go. I've got some more things to get for Elsie's birthday party"
"Ah yes! Are you excited?"
"Yeah! There's gonna be cake and a bouncy castle and mummy is going to paint my face!" Elsie jumps up and down with the brightest smile and we all laugh.

Elsie begged Jason and I to get a bouncy castle for the party and then the other day someone was doing face painting in the park and she really wanted some for her birthday. So I said I'll give it a go but I'm not sure how good I'll be.

"Hey did you get that money I sent you for the bouncy castle hire?" Jason asks as he carries the bags into the hallway,
"Yes, thank you"
"Mum why don't you take the girls inside, I need to talk to Char"
"Come on girls, I have some cookies inside!" Kathy smiles,
"Yay my favourite!" Elsie runs up to me and I hug her tightly,
"Bye sweetie"
"Bye mummy!" She goes to take Kathy's hand and I hug Izzy,
"Bye mum"
"Have fun with your dad" she smiles back at me and follows the others inside.

I turn to face Jason,
"So I really need to talk to you about something" this seems serious,
"Is something wrong?"
"No no, but we shouldn't do this here. Are you free tomorrow?" So there's something he needs to tell me but not around the girls?

"Okay, yeah"
"Okay, I'll text you"
"Okay. I'm gonna head of, bye"
"Bye, thanks Char" I get back in my car and Jason walks into the house. Well now I'm a little worried. I can tell he was nervous about whatever it is he needs to tell me. I guess I'll find out tomorrow.