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

Chapter 163 - "Traditions and Lots of Mud..."

Chapter 163 - "Traditions and Lots of Mud..."

Clara's PoV

'It's like the 20th of August. How can it be this cold and miserable?' John scoffed dreaming of a life far away.

'It's London. The uk. Britain. What do you expect?' I scoffed putting the protective rain parchment over the buggy to keep Harry dry as we wandered towards the nearest cafe in hope that it would stop raining.

I was quite concerned about keeping the kids clothes clean in a cafe - and they had all been dressed so that they matched enough but also so that they looked individual.

They were having their self portraits shot which half of them haven't had done in ages. The last one we have on the wall of Henry was when he was 8 months old.

'So... Wed better get started' Max said who was taking the pictures.

Henry was wearing his skinny jeans with suspenders on them that came up over his white shirt that just made him look like such a cool dude - but white and Henry just wasn't a good idea.

John picked him up anyway while I lifted Poppy out of the car.

She had a pure pale pink dress on with white tights - again this wasn't going to work very well.

'Evie come on. Out'

'I don't want my stupid picture taken. This is stupid' she scoffed.

'You'll thank me for this one day' I hummed as she jumped out of the car in her dress that wasn't the same but sort of matched everyone else and Avia was wearing jean shorts with white tights and her shirt.

Everyone looked perfect I just knew it wasn't going to last 5 minutes.

- - -

'Right. I think that's everyone in position' I hummed looking at the gap for me to squeeze in.

John had Henry on his shoulders and would have his arm wrapped around my shoulders as I held Harry in my arms. Evie would be positioned next to John whilst Avia was next to me and Poppy in the middle of us.

I was quite impressed as well because everyone was still enough for long enough to get at least one perfect picture.

'Right my turn' Lilly said jumping out of the car.

'It's so like you to come and crash my cute day' I poured.

'Oh be quiet Clara. John invited us for a family portrait' Lilly grinned lifting Ollie into her arms as they too were all dressed in white.

I laughed at how much she was looking forward to it and grinned at the pictures being taken.

Evie being the stroppy little shit she is these days was looking at her phone - or pretending too before getting jealous.

'Do you want too come in?' Richard asked as Evie three the phone out of her hand and ran into the picture .

It never had occurred to me until now how much Evie respects Richard and likes spending time with him.

'Oh you little bastard' Avia yelled suddenly as we all looked round to see her covered in mud and Poppy trying so hard not to laugh

I had to say myself that I was trying not to burst into fits of laughter.

'Language' John said unable to keep a straight face.

Avia was so angry. I've never seen her that angry. Especially when she marched across the field and pushed John over unsuspectingly into the mud puddle behind him and he landed face first in the mud.

'Oh my god' I said roaring with laughter.

'It's not funny' he spat, spitting some mud out of his mouth, before gaining a wicked grin on his face.

'Do not even think about it' I snapped going to run but it was too late. He had me tightly attached to his body and covered from head to toe in mud.!

- - -

'Do you ever think about going back to America? You know where it's warm and have a different life. Away from all the crap you've suffered here?' I asked seriously wondering that evening as the pair of sorted ourselves for bed.

Harry downed by far sleep the night away but while he's asleep I figured we should make the most of it by chatting otherwise we never get to talk to each other anymore.

'Huh? Where did that come from?'

'Being completely covered from head to toe in mud in August reminds me that not everywhere had as shit a weather as us' I sighed.

'Your forgetting that i come from Chicago. We have worse winters there with snowstorms and blizzards than here'

'But you have much better summers' I shrugged.

It's easy to forget now his traits. I know he's forgotten them. Well most of them.

He's lived in London now for almost 6 years. He still has an accent. But it's not as strong as it used to be. Evie and Avia have lost their accents. There's so many things that they say. now that I giggle at because they sound so English.

Poppy and Henry never even had accents. They sound ridiculously English!

'I meant like anywhere in America anyway. Like Miami or La where it's not all the time. The whole year you never have to get a bloody scarf out'

'No. I've never thought about going back to America. Even after all that crap with Lucie happened I still didn't want to leave London. This is where I belong. I want my kids to grow up English. I'm not opposed to you and I living in LA or Miami or something when we're in our 50's and the kids have grown up with their own lives but for now I'm more than content here'

'Oh' I hummed.

'Why do you?' He asked as I climbed in the bed and he opened his arms out with enough room for me to squiggle in.

'No. I don't know really. I guess we could relocate tomorrow if we really wanted to. I can teach anywhere and you can move the business and run from the globe'

'Except everyone but you has an American passport so there's one hiccup. And Harry actually. Plus school becomes a nightmare and to be honest that sounds like a lot of work' he pouted.

'I didn't mean we were actually going to do it' I said rolling my eyes and looking up to peck him on the mouth.

'We don't have to move countries to have sex?' He smirked unbuttoning the top button of my shirt.

'No. I have 4 kids to bloody prove that' I grinned.