I didn't even wait for him to reply. I busied myself with getting the kids bathed and ready for bed. I could hear James moving about but he didn't come anywhere near me and I certainly had no intentions of seeking him out. Eventually, I heard the front door closing and the sound of a car engine. The car! When I'd told him to leave I hadn't even thought about how he'd get home, but if he'd taken the car, how was I going to get home with the kids at the end of the week? Everything was such a mess!
I finally got the kids to sleep and made my way back downstairs. I wandered into the kitchen, intending to clear away the remains of the kids' dinner, but I noticed a note on the kitchen table. I was torn between ripping it to pieces or actually sitting down to read it, but in the end curiosity won. I sat at the table and started to read.
"Lauren, I know you probably won't believe me, but I never meant to hurt you." It began.
"Yeah you could have fooled me" I spat to thin air.
"I just haven't been happy for a while but I didn't know how to tell you. Melissa and I just sort of happened. We work together and on one of the nights out I realised we were meant to be together. I am so sorry you had to find out the way you did but I know that you'll find someone much better who deserves you much more than I did."
Tears started to roll down my cheeks and the words blurred in front of me. I'd always thought we were meant for each other and here he was saying he didn't feel the same. I got angry, scrunched the note up into a ball and threw it across the room. I put my head into my hands and sobbed.
I must have fallen asleep eventually, as I woke up to Joe shaking my arm. "Mummy, it's morning, time to get up"
"Hey sunshine, how are you?" I asked, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.
"Hungry" he replied, matter of factly.
"Ok, I'll get you some breakfast. Is your sister awake?"
"Yes, but I put the tv on in the living room. She's watching cartoons."
"That's my boy" I said, smiling at him.
He always made me so proud, he was turning into a right little gentleman.
"Where's dad?" He asked, looking around.
"Dad has to go home sweetheart. Something came up at work so he was needed in the office. Don't worry, we'll still have lots of fun, won't we?"
"Of course we will, I love you mum, you're the best" he said, giving me the biggest hug.
"I love you too buddy" I replied, tears threatening again. "Now, how about we get breakfast and then head down to the beach?"
"Yaayy. Can we build sandcastles?" He asked.
"Of course we can, and we'll get some ice cream too" I said, smiling to myself.
He ran off to tell Libby as I got them some cereal and juice.
It was another stunning day and the beach was packed again. The kids had a ball making sandcastles, paddling in the sea and eating ice cream. We stayed for longer than I'd intended but the kids were enjoying themselves so much I didn't have the heart to make them leave. Eventually it started to get a bit cooler and the beach started to empty.
"Ok kids, I think it's time to go now"
I said.
"Awww do we have to?" Joe asked.
"Just a few more minutes mummy please" Libby whined.
"Ok, but just ten minutes, and then we have to go."
I started gathering together all our stuff while they built one final sandcastle. I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye up on the cliff where I'd been the day before. I looked up and knew straight away who it was. Mark was up there with Dizzy. That must be their usual path for their evening walk. The beach was pretty deserted now so I told the kids it was time to go and headed up onto the main promenade. We were just about to make our way home when I heard someone calling my name. I looked round and saw Mark making his way towards us.
"Hi Lauren" He said.
"Hi Mark, nice to see you again" I replied, smiling.
"I just wanted to make sure you were ok after yesterday" he said, looking concerned.
"Yeah I'm ok, it's a long story, and not really one for the kids" I said, looking at Joe and Libby.
"Oh yeah, of course, sorry" he apologised.
"Hi guys, I'm Mark, and this is Dizzy. Do you want to pet him, he won't bite" he said, smiling at Joe and Libby.
The kids made a beeline for the dog and while they were busy, Mark pulled me aside.
"If you want to talk, just let me know ok. Here's my number. Just text me anytime, day or night."
"You don't have to do that Mark, besides you hardly even know me" I replied, blushing slightly.
"I know, but I'd like to make sure you're ok, and if that leads to getting to know you a bit more, then all the better. Listen, I have to get going, my folks are coming over for dinner, but text me, ok? He said, calling Dizzy over.
"Ok, thanks again Mark" I replied.
"Bye Dizzy, bye Mark" the kids called after him.
He smiled and waved as he made his way home. My mind was working overtime on the walk back to the house. Why was he so interested? I stored his number in my phone and made a mental note to text him later just to say everything was fine. I made some food and got the kids settled for the night. I was just about to sit down with the tv remote to try and find something mind numbing to distract me, when my phone pinged. I looked at the screen, expecting to find a text from James, but instead, I saw Mark's name.
"Hey, hope I'm not interrupting anything, but my folks just left and I'm at a bit of a loose end. Fancy some company?"
I hesitated, finger poised ready to reply. I really wasn't in a good way emotionally right now, and I didn't want to lumber anyone with my problems, especially someone I'd only just met. Then again, maybe this was just what I needed to help me see things with a bit of perspective.
"Sure, that would be nice" I typed back, giving him the address. "I've just settled the kids so don't knock, I'll meet you at the door"
"Ok, see you in about fifteen minutes"
True to his word, fifteen minutes later, a car pulled up outside. I opened the door to find Mark, a bottle of wine in hand, and a sheepish grin on his face.
"I thought you could probably do with some of this" he said, handing over the bottle. "Plus, there was something I forgot to ask you earlier"
I looked at him, waiting for the question.
"Have we met before? When I saw you yesterday I just got this weird sensation of deja vu and I can't shake it" he said, looking a little embarrassed.
"Well actually, yes we have. Very briefly, a few years ago. I've got a confession to make. I knew who you were straight away. I'm a massive fan but I just didn't want to scare you off"
"I knew it!" He said triumphantly. "I knew I remembered you from somewhere, and anyway, you wouldn't have scared me off. Just the opposite in fact. I really want to get to know you, and I was kind of hoping you felt the same about me?" He asked, looking at me questioningly.
"Yeah, I'd like that" I replied, smiling at him. "I guess you'd better come in then" I laughed, ushering him in and closing the door behind him.
