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

Chapter 178 - "The Beach and Boys..."

Chapter 178 - "The Beach and Boys..."

Clara's PoV

'Come on Daddy. Hurry up. The beach will be all full of you don't hurry' Avia shouted to John as he looked up from his lap top at the kitchen table. I just smirked and picked up my bag.

'I'm taking us to the beach today' I confirmed as Avia looked at me weirdly.

'You don't want to leave the baby?' She questioned.

'Harry is coming with us. He'll love the beach just as much as you guys do' I shrugged happy that I was getting some beach action.

I was a little attached to my baby - so much so that if concerned me and definitely concerned John.

We had been in the Maldives for almost 4 days now and I hadn't even left the villa. Of course the villa we were in was a fricken obstacle course.

There was only two floors but there was like a reception area, a games room, an outdoor swimming pool with bathroom and shower. There had to be at least 7 bedrooms and I'm pretty sure somewhere there was a second kitchen - of so I heard. I hadn't really explored it much.

The master suite had a balcony and en suite bathroom and a kettle as well as a Tv and good wifi connection so I had no real need to leave my room for anything.

We weren't going to bother going on holiday this summer but in the end we figured we could get about 16 days in somewhere at the end of the Summer before all the kids go their separate ways. The school term doesn't technically start until the 6th of September so there was plenty of time.

We wanted to leave enough time to get things sorted for Avia since she was starting secondary school but we still had time since Harry was born to squeeze it in.

'Go on. Go and get your things together then. We'll be out for the whole day' I hummed encouraging her away. 'And see what siblings you can round up on your way' I shouted after her. 'Are you sure you can't come now?' I pouted.

I hadn't been left alone with all the kids alone since before Harry was born. I wasn't overly worried because I knew I could handle it. Especially since Avia and Evie were a lot older but even still I would have liked his support.

'There won't be any wifi connection at the beach and we really have to close this deal. If we don't we could could be our thousands' he hummed Annoyed as well I could tell.

'This was a family holiday for a reason' I scoffed turning around as he grabbed my hip off guard.

It was true that we needed the break. With all the shit and everything that had gone down this year it was imperative that we have a break but he wasn't having one. He was too worried about work.

'I'll join you in an hour or so' he promised with a small kiss and squeeze of my bum.

'Eew. That's so gross' Evie squirmed.

'Thank you' I said with an eye roll.

'I promise that once I have closed this deal then you will have me all to yourself. Well with the kids'

'Have you cleaned your teeth?'

'Ugh. For god sake' she growled in a whine.

'I'm going to take that as a no. Go now'

'Whyyyy???' She complained as I marched her straight to the bathroom.

'Because my dental bills are through the roof' John snapped at her as she growled. I could half understand that statement if it wasn't for the fact that Richard was paying for half of the braces.

John had been depressed ever since Avia had gotten hers so I knew when they said that they wanted to correct Evie's overbite and straighten some back few teeth that he was quite sad and felt guilty.

The truth was he was a single parent when they were little and just didn't have time to worry about those things. He did as well a job as he could do.

The braces were a new addition to Evie since last week but she was determined not follow the rules. She wasn't allowed pop corn which she was ignoring and certain foods. Fizzy drinks with a straw only - which she was ignoring.

- - -

'Right in setting up camp here' I announced plonking myself to the ground and putting the baby seat down as well.

I stuck the breaks on the buggy and had Avia help me put up the beach tent.

The tent wasn't for me at all because I would very soon be catching some sun for a holiday tan but I still had a post birth gross body - although John would disagree so I wouldn't be pronouncing my stomach in my bikini but that was by the by.

'Why do we even have the tent?'

'It's for Harry and Poppy mainly. Poppy so that when she gets too hot because she's fair skinned and more likely to burn like Daddy and for Harry so he can have a little wriggle around opposed to being stuck in the buggy. 

Henry hadn't come with us to the beach. He's having some issues.

He doesn't deal with a change of environment very well and had been having some toilet troubles. Basically he's one of those kids that has to stay on a strict diet so he can function. Three days of burgers and unhealthy food has gone right through him.

He's also still a bit sour over Harry and his attention so he likes to be clingy to John.

- - -

'Mum is okay if I go and play volleyball over there?' You'll be able to see me the whole time' Avia said as I looked up briefly from my book.

'With them strangers?'

'Yeah. So? They're holidays friends. We all have them' she shrugged.

'Boys?'

'I'm 11' she scoffed as I nodded and looked at her run away. If was then it occurred to me that she had for the very first time called me Mum opposed to Mummy.

She was growing up and becoming a young adult... and it was freaking John out.