Amazing Gracie

Chapter One

Chapter One

Amanda set the table, carefully placing the cutlery where it needed to go. She hummed to herself quietly, giggling like a little school girl as she thought of how surprised Stevie would be when he finally got home from work.

She stepped back and admired her work, her long, silky, blonde hair falling in effortless waves down her back. At the age of forty seven, she was petite but she still had the face and figure of a thirty year old. Her keen grey eyes surveyed the room, searching for mistakes that needed to be corrected, but found none.

Just then, a cool breeze blew, fluttering the curtains near the open window and blowing out the candles she'd just lit. She shivered, closed the window and relit the candle with determination etched on her delicate features. Nothing was going to ruin this night; she'd make sure of it.

A loud bang downstairs drew her attention. She sighed, blew out the candles and went down, only to find her ten year old daughter, Evie and her fourteen year old son, Jack, arguing.

"What's going on guys?" she asked, pressing her forefinger and thumb to the bridge of her nose.

"He hit me!" yelled Evie, pointing a finger at her elder brother, who glared at her.

"I only hit you because you took my ice cream from the freezer!"

"Well how was I supposed to know it was yours?"

"I wrote my name all over the tub!"

"I didn't-"

Amanda cut them both off.

"Both of you stop this right now!"

Evie and Jack turned to face her.

"Your father is going to be home soon, and tonight is a very special night. I don't want anything to ruin it for him. If anything goes wrong, both of you will be grounded for the rest of your lives! Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes Mom," they muttered.

"You won't even be around for the rest of our lives anyway," added Jack, under his breath, but Amanda still heard him.

"Jack!" she exclaimed.

"Sorry, sorry!" he said, rolling his chocolate brown eyes.

Evie walked up to her mother and looked up at her with wide blue eyes.

"I'm sorry Mommy. I'll try my best to get along with Jack. I promise. I'm a good girl."

"Puppy dog eyes don't work on me anymore," laughed Amanda.

The ten year old pouted and skulked away.

"Mum's going on a date with Dad tonight, to recapture their youth!" teased Jack, his eyes dancing.

Amanda sputtered. "It's not a date!" Her cheeks burned, in spite of the fact that she was talking to a fourteen year old.

"It will be a civilised conversation between two adults who are talking about serious issues."

"Sure," he drawled, wriggling his brown eyebrows. "And there'll be...other stuff."

"Go to your room young man!"

He chortled and walked away, still laughing.

"Don't forget to have a shower!" she cried.

"Whatever floats your boat Mom!"

She sighed and smoothed out her silver dress, before exhaling slowly.

Everything has to be perfect, she thought. After all, you only get one Silver Jubilee.