The Heartbreak Factor - Part Four

Chapter Thirty-Three.

Sat on the sofa in the front room, I stared at the clock on the mantlepiece and sighed as I bounced Katy up and down on my leg. I was reluctant to call up for George to get ready but we were already running late and I didn’t want to be anymore later than we already were. 

“George,” I shouted as I reluctantly called up the stairs, holding onto Katy. “Are you nearly ready yet? I said we’d meet mum and Michael at the hotel in half an hour, an hour ago.”

“I’m coming,” George said, running down the stairs as he put his jacket on. “I’m coming.”

“What took you so long?” I asked as he took Katy from my arms. 

“You’ll see in a two weeks,” he grinned.

I rolled my eyes as we walked out of the house and into the car. Of all people, George should have known I hated surprises but since it was related to our wedding, I didn’t really mind about letting this surprise go. In fact, it made me more excited for our big day.

*

With George pushing Katy’s pushchair through the lobby of the hotel where we had planned to meet mum and Michael, I carried her since she refused to sit still in her pushchair. Walking into the restaurant, I spotted mum and Michael sat at the table as Jack came running towards me, George and Katy. 

“Alright monkey,” I laughed, picking Jack up as George took Katy off me. 

“Sammy!” he beamed, wrapping his legs and arms around me. 

“Who’s the best sister in the whole wide world?” I asked.

“Sammy!” he screeched. “I wanna see Katy now.”

“Let’s go to the table and then you can,” I smiled, continuing to walk over to the table where mum and Michael were sat chatting as George followed behind, carrying Katy with one arm and pushing her pushchair with the free hand.

I sat down at the table, putting Jack on his feet on the floor as George put Katy in the highchair that was already set up at mum and Michael’s table that had a beautiful view of the hotel’s gardens. As soon as George sat down, mum and Michael looked at us. “Would you two like a drink?” Michael asked. “Your mum and I were thinking of ordering some champagne to celebrate.”

“Champagne sounds perfect,” I grinned as I watched Jack stood beside Katy’s highchair, letting her play with his toy car. 

As Michael ordered a bottle of champagne with the waiter, I looked at mum. “You look glowing,” mum smiled. 

“I told her that this morning but she didn’t listen to me,” George laughed. 

“It’s only a bit of fake tan,” I confessed. 

“You still look beautiful nevertheless,” mum paused. “Anyway, Michael and I have a bit of a confession to tell you guys.”

“We’ve got an ulterior motive,” Michael smiled.

“What?” I laughed. “It better not be to babysit Jack. I love him and all and I know he’s my brother but..”

Mum interrupted me. “A few weeks ago, two people very eager to see you again got in contact and we thought it would be an appropriate time for you to be reunited since your wedding is in two weeks and well, it’s been so long since you saw them.”

I looked at mum in confusion. “What?”

“Hello Sammy,” a voice said from behind where George and I were sat. 

Turning around, it didn’t take me long to realise who was sat behind me. It may have been nearly twenty years since I last saw them but they hadn’t changed one bit. Instead of replying with a greeting like any other conventional person would do when reunited with their grandparents for the first time in ages, I stood up from the table and walked down the clearing between the middle of the tables. I headed straight out of the double French doors at the end of the restaurant without saying another word to anybody.