"Options... I've ran out of Options..." (Book 3)

Chapter 50 - "Home and Stress..."

Chapter 50 - "Home and Stress..."

Clara's PoV

'Ugh. Just 5 more minutes' John begged as the we approached the front of the house and I groaned at how much I was likely to have to do.

From organising and school runs to wedding presents to writing thank you cards and lesson plans and suitcases to unpack and kids to entertain - God I was exhausted just thinking about it.

'I'm afraid not' John chuckled as he had his arm wrapped around me and we were snuggled up in our winter layers.

It was a really bloody shock when we landed and I had to hunt around the suitcases for my thermals.

We're so tanned and had been used to the hot weather that the December frost was a little bit - no a lot - of a shock to us.

I had handed John his scarf and gloves and he had pulled his coat on helping me with mine - but it wasn't enough since I had tanned a lot.

I was probably tanned so much that I had a little heat stroke so my body was shivering like a baby and would need the heating turned right up almost immediately as I walked in.

'Straight in and straight to the thermostat agreed?'

'It's not that cold' he said with rolled eyes.

'It's Fucking freezing' I growled as he unloaded.

It was 6 o clock in the evening so I would like to think that the kids were eating dinner but I have no doubt the minute they see us that they'll want to be all over us.

'Come on. Out' John smirked as he pushed some suitcases up the driveway as I grabbed my rucksack and ran quickly to the door to get out of the cold as soon as possible.

We had 4 huge suitcases, plus a hand luggage bag each and at least three bags of the shopping from the airport - and we only left this country with 2 suitcases. Then again I guess you always come back with more than you went away originally with.

I braced myself as the key was pushed in through the front door and waited for impact of the kids - but there was no sound.k

That was never a good thing. When you have kids and there's silence - that is most definitely not a good thing.

'Have they all been abducted or something?' John hummed as the dog made its way towards us and I slammed the front door in hope that it might make them realise we were home. I figured someone - most likely a child would appear.

We pushed the suitcases to one side and I spotted Ollie poke his head around the corner and ran towards John.

'Hi uncle John' Ollie squeaked as John lifted the three year old up and fluffed up his quiff.

'Hey buddy' John smirked catching him.

'Where is everyone?' I asked him as I poked his little nose.

'In Mummy and Daddy's room'

'Mummy and Daddy's room?' I smirked looking at John wondering if the two of them had finally seen sense and sorted things out, as we went down the stairs to the basement with the dog on our tail and we found everyone on their bed watching a film.

'We do have a flat screen HD TV going to waste upstairs?' John said as they all looked up and ran towards us.

'Your home. Your home. Your home' Poppy squeaked first hugging John's legs and then jumping into my arms, as John suddenly had in his arms both boys.

'Well hello to you guys too' I laughed as even Evie hugged the both of us and Avia was just as excited to see us again.

All of a sudden the relaxing mood drifted from my body and I felt stressed almost immediately. But it was nice to feel it. It was a feeling that I had deeply missed.

'Did you bring presents?' Poppy squeaked.

'Is that all you lot are worried about?' I chuckled.

'Nice tan' Richard scoffed.

'Your just jealous' John said rolling his eyes with a chuckle and nodded to Poppy. 'We did bring presents - but how about you let Mummy and Daddy unpack first and then we'll have presents?' John suggested.

'No presents' Poppy pouted.

'No. details' Lilly smirked as she followed me up the stairs from the basement and up the stairs with all the suitcases.

'No first of all what's all this about a parent teacher meeting with Evie's teacher?' I said with raised eyebrows at Lilly.

'Oh? You heard about that?' She asked.

- - -

'Seriously?' I growled. 'Physical violence is not the answer'

Already the stress was piling on top of me and we'd only been back for about an hour.

John had started unpacking suitcases when Lilly and Richard explained what had been going on while we were away.

As Evie's Dad - he had every right to go to the meeting. In fact I had given him permission to go.

'He was an idiot' she mumbled.

'Evie have you any idea how this is going to look on your record? Just one more incident and your going to be in huge trouble' I said seriously.

'He deserved it' she said again in her defence.

'Why?' I sighed.

'He told me I was stupid because I got the lowest mark in the class for maths. I hate maths' she mumbled to herself.

'It doesn't mean the answer is to punch the kid'

'But he started mentioning how I was stupid because my brain is broken but it's not broken. He's just stupid'

'And isolation was worth the fight huh?'

'At least I left a mark' she hummed.

'Evie have you any idea? If this goes down as permanent... if you get a black mark on this and get a suspension you can not take the 11+ for the school we want. Your putting your future in jeopardy' John said seriously.

'At least she stood up for herself' Richard shrugged.

'Not helping' I snapped.

'See Dad says it was alright'

'I did not' he whined.

'Shut up. Your grounded for two weeks. I do not want this behaviour continuing. The school won't put up with it. If you get thrown out of excluded it is out of my hands' I snapped.