Connected (F1 Story)

Chapter Twenty One: Family Time

PLS forgive me for the mistakes in this. I'll recifty when I'm home x

"Saskia, is the kettle within reaching distance of a one year old?" Paul called out, swinging the plug around. Said plug nearly hit him in the face, but he still carried on wafting it around though, regardless.

I paused from mopping the living/kitchen floor and looked up, wondering where Daniel had got to. He had only popped out to Carrefour to get some tea bags and bread. My family were British- and unlike Daniel, drank shed loads of tea.

"I think it's safe...why are you asking me?"

"Because you're pretty short." Paul explained, plugging the device back in. He then knelt down on the floor to see if he could reach it from there. "You're not much taller than a toddler, let's face it."

"Shut the fuck up, Paul," Lizzie exclaimed from the bathroom, in the midst of a bleaching session. The four of us had been getting Dan and I's apartment ready for the arrival of my cousin and her family that evening. We had taken a room each, throwing some music on and not stopping until we had done.

Daniel had finished before everyone else and despite needing my help to erect the hired cot for twelve month old Olivia, he'd done a very good job of making the spare room resemble a spare room again. Even though all of our team uniform had been shoved into our wardrobe.

"Sorry, my little midget friend." Rhodes tutted, helping himself to a glass and filling it with water. He then glugged it down and slammed his empty glass on the granite worktop as the landline phone rang.

"Paul Rhodes, nutritionist and physiotherapist..." Paul rattled off and I wavered with a perplexed expression on my face. The last time I checked, this wasn't Paul's place of registered residency. "Oh hi Sara! Yeah...yup, I was the one who was passed out at your wedding...hang on..."

I giggled and rolled my eyes. Lizzie had decided that enough was enough- Paul was entering dangerous territory where he could make a huge fool of himself.

"Saskia, tis Sara...they're boarding the plane now." And then he hung up. It wasn't like I wanted a word with her or anything before they sped along at five-hundred mph.

"Alright, I'm done." I kicked the mop bucket aside and straightened a cushion. Living room complete.

"I'm whipping the popcorn out...Paul, hurry up with the kitchen so you can grab their memory stick..." Lizzie emerged patting her stomach. To be fair, she was eating for two...maybe even three. Or four. Wow, I could not imagine ever having triplets...

"I seem to have used almost a whole bottle of worktop cleaner." Paul looked on the sheepish side as he frowned at the half empty bottle. I frowned at my kitchen and quickly found where the liquid had got to. Olivia was at no risk of germs now. Drowning yes, but not a tummy bug.

My mobile buzzed and it was Dan- he'd just pulled in our parking space. He'd asked me to grab a beer out of the freezer but I thought it was best to go and give him a hand with the bags. I knew for a fact that he wouldn't just have what he went out to buy, especially with a young child coming to stay. He would be pulling out all of the stops. And beer for Tim (my cousin's husband of just over a year).

"Gonna go help Dan with the bags." I settled, and had a chuckle to myself.

---

Mr and Mrs Rhodes' wedding photos looked through, numerous tears shed, many handfuls of popcorn eaten, Lizzie and Paul had gone back to their apartment as the sun set over the principality.

"Omg they're here!" I squealed as my phone lit up. I jumped up from where I'd been sat cross legged on the floor of the terrace and beamed, pulling my hair from its ponytail. It was so short now that it looked a bit odd when I had it up.