Too Good To Be True?

Family Is Everything

The hot sun beat down over Holby as Jacob closed the boot. "Right that's everything-" "So we're leaving the kids are we?" Jacob rolled his eyes as Connie stepped onto the driveway, Grace and Charlie running about behind her. "Oi! You two. Car. Now!"

Connie moved to the passenger side getting herself in while Jacob locked up and shouted to Cal. "You know the way?" "Sure do. See you in an hour?" Jacob nodded getting himself into the car reversing off the drive following after Cal's car.

True to his word, the hour journey was made and then they were parking up beside each other. "Hey Mum!" Cal got out first smiling to Emelie who was already waiting with Ethan and Lily. "H-hi son... Nice d-ay y-you used t-to love t-the bea-ch." "Still do, child at heart Mum."

Emelie smiled as Cal grabbed a bag from the car while Amy took Alicia's hand waiting on the footpath. "Hi Gran-" "Amy." She hugged Emilie happily while Lily spoke to Alicia.

Jacob drove along the seafront before noticing the other cars ahead. "And if we had gone my way, we'd have been here already-" "Alright sweet cheeks. We got here didn't we?" Charlie and Grace were bouncing about, eager to get out of the car and onto the beach.

Connie climbed from the car waving over the roof to Charlie as he approached them. "Morning! Need a hand?" "All good thanks Charlie." Jacob held their bags locking the car as they all began to descend onto the beach.

Charlie, Amy and Grace were bouncing about happy to be out of the house with one another. Connie walked alongside Charlie with a smile while Cal and Jacob led them to an empty spot on the beach. "How's little one?" "Oh just as annoying as her father, if not more so." Connie watched as Jacob and Cal set up the wind breakers behind them before laying out the picnic mats.

Connie was attempting to put sun cream on Charlie who could barely stay still. "Baby please, the sooner I've got this on the sooner you can go." Cal propped up an umbrella providing some shade for Connie and Alicia who would normally sit themselves under the sun, however being pregnant in 27 degrees wasn't an ideal setting.

"Mum, Mum, Mum can I go? Can I- Can I-" "Charlie!" He stopped looking up at her before Jacob stepped in. "Go mate..." "Uh Jacob?" She threw her hands in the air turning away from him to sit beside Alicia. "You okay?" Connie grunted laying down as she closed her eyes blocking everything out for a while.

Charlie, Grace and Amy were paddling out in the sea while Charlie insisted on watching them. "Con?" "What do you want Jacob?" He sighed shaking his head as he sat back up. "Doesn't matter sweet cheeks, just leave it." He sat in the sun while Cal and Alicia looked to each other quietly not wanting to say anything while Lily and Ethan did the same.

Emotions had been running high since the weather had gotten warmer as both women were suffering. Connie handled things in a particular way though, which just so happened to mean Jacob was on the receiving end of a lot of abuse. He didn't mind though, not normally because he knew she never meant it.

Ethan got up smiling to Emilie. "Why don't we go get some cold drinks? Lily are you coming?" She nodded getting up from the floor helping Ethan with Emilie's wheelchair. They wandered along the beach towards a small hut leaving the others where they were.

Alicia nodded her head sideways to Cal after taking her top off. "I think we're going to go down to the water with the girls and Charlie, you guys coming?" Connie shook her head with a small smile while Jacob seemed oblivious to anyone having spoken. Cal took her hand and began walking away down the beach into the cool water.

"Do you think their okay?" Alicia couldn't help but glance up the beach to them with a frown. "Alicia you know they'll be okay, they always are. Connie's just not the most gentle of people is she?" She smirked as they paddled further out to the girls relishing in the cold water. "Why didn't you tell me getting in here would be so much better than sitting up there?" "Because I thought you'd know that water is cold, sand is hot."

Alicia threw a handful of water up at Cal who moved closer to her pulling her under slightly. Up beside the bags Connie had sat herself up pushing her glasses on top of her head. Jacob was sitting away from her almost as far as he could. She sighed getting up and sitting beside him. He didn't look to her as she lay her head against his shoulder. "Sorry."

Jacob lifted an arm around her shoulder but she shrugged it off. "Wh-" "Too hot, sorry..." He laughed turning his gaze to her as she smiled up at him. "Speaking of hot-" "Funny, I'm seven months pregnant and not beach body ready Jacob." Shaking his head he pushed the hair back from her face. "You know that doesn't matter to me, you'll still be the most beautiful woman on this beach."

They shuffled backwards out of the heat under the shelter of the umbrella as Connie lay back down again. "I love you." Jacob pulled his shirt off putting it into the bag. "I love you even more now..." "Thought we weren't about looks?" "No, but it doesn't mean I can't enjoy it." He smiled leaning on his elbow beside Connie so he could look at her. He moved a hand to her stomach gently caressing it.

Placing her hand on top of his she smiled. "God I can't believe I was stupid enough to have another of your children." "Hey! I'm not that bad." She arched an eyebrow as he picked up her tanning cream. "Who do you think you are?" "Not Sam Strachan-" "Ha funny." He leant down with a laugh to meet her lips in a gentle exchange before massaging the cream into Connie's skin.

"I was perfectly capable myself you know-" "I know. But it's the most contact we've had for months, and that's not me complaining." She smiled pulling the sunglasses over her eyes resting back. She felt him move from beside her as she looked over the tops of her glasses. "Where you going?" "Don't worry, I'm just going to lay in the sun-" "You'll burn-" "No I won't..."

Connie rolled her eyes laying back lowering her voice. "Will..." "Won't..." "We'll see..." She pushed her tongue into her cheek as she got comfortable enjoying the gentle breeze that blew over her as she drifted to sleep. Jacob on the other hand remained there for a while before moving down to the water to join everyone else.

The rest of the day was enjoyed as they swam and ate together before packing up for the day. Jacob was pulling on his t-shirt wincing as Connie arched an eyebrow. "Everything alright Jacob?" "Yup, why wouldn't it be?" She continued to watch him with her arms folded against her chest, above her bump.

Stepping up to him she placed a hand to his shoulder causing him to hiss. "Sure muscles?" "Alright Connie you don't need to enjoy it so much." "Like I said, you'd burn." He pulled a face as she turned away taking Charlie's hand. "I saw that Masters!" "Good." She looked back with a smirk as they all headed back to the cars.

Lily and Ethan took Amy back as she was staying with him for a few nights, giving Cal and Alicia some quiet time to relax. "T-thank you. It was-s lovely." Cal smiled kissing his mother before stepping aside letting Alicia say goodbye. "T-take care o-of him." "Of course I will, see you soon Emilie."

Charlie was carrying Charlie on his back after complaining he was tired. "Definitely your father's child... Lazy through and through-" "Oi sweet cheeks, I'm far from lazy." "Mhm, okay." Jacob packed the car before walking slowly catching Connie's attention. "Are you going to be okay to drive-" "I'll be..." He stopped in his tracks looking to Connie before holding the keys out to her.

She walked up to him kissing his cheek delicately before taking Charlie. "Get in muscles, I'll sort everything else." He smiled saying goodbye to everyone else before getting into the car. Connie strapped Charlie in before saying her goodbyes and starting up the car. Jacob was whimpering slightly beginning to wallow in self pity while Connie smirked. "Told you muscles and I'm always right."