What Should Have Been

Part 69

"Daddy! Daddy! Look!" Grace was quite literally bouncing as she pointed up to the large building before her. Connie shook her head with a laugh at her daughters excitement. "Go on, I can manage the bags." "You sure?" "Go!" Sam stepped away from Connie running up behind Grace, lifting her from the floor.

Her laughter radiated loudly as Sam positioned her on his shoulders, walking towards the small crowd of people surrounding someone she hadn't seen before. "Daddy look!" She pointed to the large character now waving to the surrounding group of children.

Connie remained several steps back heading towards the hotel entrance while Sam walked with Grace. "Daddy it's Mickey Mouse-" "That's the boy right?" "Yes silly." Sam nodded with a smile as Grace continued excitedly chatting on his shoulders.

When they returned inside, Grace ran ahead of Sam finding Connie sat in a warm reception room. "Hey baby-" "We saw Mickey Mouse and Daddy took a picture. Look, look!" Connie laughed taken aback by her daughters sheer excitement as she glanced at the photo. "Wow sweetheart... We're all checked in, how about we head up and then take this one for a wander?" "You sure?"

Connie nodded with a smile standing up again as Sam insisted on taking most the bags. Grace clung to her mothers hand as she skipped along the corridors towards their room. Sam had booked a family room, and it certainly had an impressive view. Grace ran in and straight to the window where she looked out across the entire park. "Wow..."

Sam laughed at her speechlessness for the first time that day. "Go look at your bedroom, see what you can see from there." "Okay!" Connie stepped backwards as Grace ran from her parents room to the attached room. "Separate rooms, nice thinking Strachan-" "Hmm, see I can be useful at times." Connie laughed as he wrapped his arms around her waist with a smile.

He pressed a tender kiss to her lips pulling back a little. "Our first family holiday." Connie nodded with a smile before hearing Grace's squeals from the other room. "Someone's seen something she likes." Sam laughed as Grace came charging back into the room. "I can see the castle! Mummy come and look!"

She dragged Connie into the room looking from the window as Sam stood in the doorway looking at them. He had only told Charlie that he planned to take them away and so snapped a photo of them with everything in the distance to send to him. I think the girls are happy, see you in a few days.

It was still slightly cold outside, so everyone remained wrapped up as they wandered from the hotel into the park. Grace was wide eyed looking around in all directions. She was trying to take everything in as she looked around before Sam spoke. "How about we find somewhere to eat, take a look at the shops." Grace nodded gently as Connie smiled. "Take it easy for our first afternoon."

Sam was wary of Connie being on her feet for too long. Despite only being a little over three months pregnant, he was cautious. He held her hand gently as they wandered along a cobbled path towards the many restaurants of the park. "Ooh Mummy look, it's an Italian place. They must do pizza, can we go there!?"

He couldn't help but stifle a laugh as he looked to Connie who arched a brow. "Finding something funny?" "Not at all Mrs Beauchamp, if you want to go there princess then lets go." They wandered towards the entrance being greeted by a waiter and seated at a table deep in the restaurant where it was nice and warm.

"Seen anything you fancy sweetheart?" "This one!" Grace pointed down at one of the images on the menu to which Sam nodded. "And you?" His hand was placed on her thigh gently, squeezing it as she smiled. "I think I'll have pasta-" "Really?" "No I was just messing with you... I'll have the same as Grace."

Sam rolled his eyes before looking to the waitress who had stopped beside their table. Ordering three of the same thing, they sat comfortably as Grace babbled on about all the things she wanted to do while here. Sam began making a mental note of it all, hoping to get as much of it in as possible while they were here.

He had planned for them to spend a day in the city as well, going to a few places he knew Connie would like. Although, seeing Grace this happy was enough for both of them to enjoy the holiday.

They ate their dinner happily, Sam unable to wipe the smile from his face as he watched the girls laughing with one another. "So then, you two decided on which shop you're trying first?" Connie looked up at him as Grace began talking about what she wanted to buy. "Oh and we have to get Granddad something too." "I'm sure we can manage that sweetheart."

Connie ran a hand through Grace's wavy curls before they paid for dinner and left the restaurant into the cold evening air again. Although it wasn't too late, it was fairly dark and everyone was tired from the short flight here.

Grace was still energetic enough to run in and out of shops as they wandered along together. They found a few things, buying them before wandering back along the cobbled footpath towards their hotel. "Daddy can we find the princesses tomorrow?" "I think I know just the place for us to find them."

She smiled happily as they walked out of the lift towards their room. Grace was inside and in her pyjamas within minutes settling into bed quietly. Sam put her to bed, crouching beside her as he smiled. "Happy princess?" "Happy Daddy... I love you." "I love you too Gracie, sweet dreams princess."

He placed a kiss to her forehead before watching her curl up, hugging the soft toy he had bought for her earlier. Closing the door he looked to Connie who was already in bed asleep herself. He smiled to himself closing the curtains and sorting the room before preparing himself for bed.

Looking up at the ceiling Sam mentally planned the next few days. Tomorrow he would make sure Grace got to go around as much of the main park as possible. They could spend the day on rides, and waiting to meet everyone she wanted to. With thoughts of Grace from the day filling his head, he slept with a sound smile on his face.