Mums Just Wanna Have Fun

by Lucie Wheeler

  ‘And maybe every so often you’ll have the chance to finish up work early. But let’s just take it one day at a time. Try this, see how it works and go from there.’

  Harriet nodded. ‘You’re right. Thanks Nancy.’

  ‘What for?’

  ‘For not being a judgemental twat like the rest of them.’

  ‘Hey.’ She lifted her glass in a toast. ‘Here’s to not being judgemental twats of society.’

  Harriet laughed and clinked her glass. ‘To not being judgemental twats!’

  Chapter 34

  ‘I seriously could not do that job even if you paid me a million quid.’

  Nancy looked over to where the children’s entertainer was and laughed at Harriet’s facial expression. ‘Are you kidding? Jump around a bit and sing some songs and it’s like £100 per hour.’

  ‘Shut up, is it really?’

  ‘Well, I looked into booking some magic guy for Jack before I realised that he wouldn’t really do well having a party – and the guy wanted nearly £200 for two hours!’

  ‘Daylight robbery!’

  ‘I know, although looking at what these entertainers have to do and thinking about getting up at the crack of dawn, even with coffee, and being so bouncy, I’m not sure I could do it.’

  ‘What about if you’re having a shit day and you feel really miserable – if you’re hungover – and you have to go and be like heeey kids!’ She waved her hands like a clown and plastered on a huge fake smile. ‘I don’t think I could do that even for a million quid.’

  ‘I don’t think you’d get booked very often if you showed up smelling of tequila from the night before and asking for a million pounds.’

  ‘That’s a good point.’ Harriet turned her attention back to scrolling through her emails.

  Nancy watched the entertainer prance around by the pool, singing and dancing and then pull out a balloon kit and start making balloon animals for the children. She looked over to Jack who was still sitting with them. Isla and Tommy had moved to sit closer to the balloon guy.

  ‘Jack?’ Nancy asked, surprised that he didn’t have his headphones on. He turned in response to his name. ‘Do you want to go closer?’

  He shook his head.

  ‘It might be fun, you could get a balloon?’

  Another shake.

  ‘Is it because he’s very loud?’ A nod. ‘Well, I’ll tell you what.’ She stood up and grabbed his ear defenders and his hand. Leading him over so that they were closer to the guy but still at the back of the group, Nancy sat down and sat Jack on her lap. She then put his ear defenders on and tried to cuddle him to relax him. The tiled floor was very warm from the sunshine and Nancy had to shuffle her bum about a few times to adjust. Jack squirmed and climbed off, choosing to sit behind Nancy instead. He still didn’t like being cuddled like that then. Nancy looked over her shoulder. ‘Jack, you won’t be able to see from there.’ She started to move but he put his hand on her back.

  ‘Stay there, Mummy.’

  She listened to him. Well, she thought, at least he was sitting here. Even if he was behind her. The things parents had to do.

  After twenty minutes of watching the entertainer, Nancy came to the conclusion that she most definitely could not do this job.

  ‘Are you enjoying the show?’ Cameron sat down on the ground beside her and crossed his legs. He had just his swim shorts on and no top and Nancy had to use every ounce of self-control to not stare at his chest. He wasn’t particularly muscly but he clearly paid attention to his appearance and maintained a healthy physique. His arms had some nice definition to them and as he spoke, she could see a bicep flex slightly, like a twitch. She instantly looked away, so he didn’t catch her eyeing him up.

  ‘Well, you know, when you have kids you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.’

  Cameron looked around her and laughed. ‘So … which one of these kids is yours then?’

  Nancy pulled a face. ‘What are you talking about, Jack’s behind me.’ She shook her head at his silly comment but then noticed he was still smirking. ‘What?’

  ‘Look behind you.’

  She did and Jack wasn’t there.

  ‘Where is he?’ she panicked, feeling her heart jump into her throat. Cameron pointed back to Harriet who waved and laughed, Jack perched up next to her. ‘Little monkey! How long have I been sitting here on my own?’

  ‘About fifteen minutes.’ He chuckled as Nancy laughed and put her head in her hands. ‘So … my question still stands, are you enjoying the show? Does it make you laugh when the guy pulls the rabbit out of the hat or do you just prefer the balloon animals kind of guy?’

  She pushed his arm and stood up. ‘You can shut up! I was doing it for Jack.’

  ‘Yeah?’ He stood up and walked alongside her. ‘Seems like he really enjoyed it.’

  Nancy reached the sun loungers and sat down next to Jack. ‘Didn’t you like it?’

  He shook his head. ‘It was boring. I wanted to see my iPad.’

  Nancy exhaled. ‘Sweetheart you can’t just sit on your iPad the whole time we’re here . It would be nice to explore some bits, hey? So you have stuff to talk about when you go back to school.’ She knew that was a long shot because Jack wouldn’t exactly be willing to do a show and tell about his holiday in front of the class, but still, she did want him to create some memories from the trip.

  Jack just shrugged and put his headphones back on. She was going to have to be more creative about what to do with him. Cameron’s voice pulled her attention away from her thoughts and back into the here and now.

  ‘So listen, about that dinner.’ Cameron stopped to correct himself. ‘Sorry, let me start again, about us eating alongside each other one evening.’ Nancy sniggered and Harriet looked confused. ‘I was wondering if you were free tonight?’

  Nancy smiled. ‘I might be, what time are you thinking?’

  ‘About 8ish?’

  Nancy looked to Harriet who piped up. ‘Oh, I see, you’re wanting to swan off and leave me again, is that right? After saying I work too much?’

  Nancy felt bad, she had a point. ‘You’re right.’ She turned back to Cameron. ‘Maybe another time.’ She then felt a towel hit her on the back of the head and spun round confused. ‘What the…’

  ‘Are you having an actual laugh? I’m bloody kidding … go, drink, be merry or whatever it is that you will be doing.’ She held up her hands. ‘And no, I don’t want details. There are children present.’

  Cameron laughed but Nancy was mortified. ‘Hari!’

  ‘Oh shush, we all know what you’re both thinking when you look at each other. It’s natural, part of human nature.’ She cackled, knowing full well what she was doing to Nancy.

  ‘I can’t believe you sometimes!’ Nancy gasped. ‘Honestly, its fine. You’re right; I’ve already left you once.’

  Harriet stood up and pulled Nancy to one side. ‘Stop being so stupid, I was joking. There is a hot guy asking you to dinner, just go will you! I won’t take no for an answer!’

  ‘Fine.’ Nancy whispered and Harriet poked her tongue out. ‘OK, 8ish is perfect. Where?’

  ‘There’s a really nice place down by the seafront called Banningtons – shall I book us in?’

  Nancy frowned. ‘But that’s off site.’

  ‘Yeah?’

  ‘That won’t be part of our all-inclusive thing though.’

  Cameron smiled. ‘I know – but rather than just sitting alongside me, I’d like to take you out to dinner. What do you say?’

  Nancy felt a flutter in her stomach as he smiled at her. ‘Sounds good,’ she said quietly.

  ‘Great, I’ll see you there.’ He winked at her and threw a ‘bye’ over her shoulder to Harriet before turning and leaving.

  Nancy sat down on the sun lounger and laughed.

  ‘What?’ Harriet asked, poking Nancy with her toe.

  ‘Looks like I have a date.’

  ‘I think this calls for a selfie.’ Harriet said, angling ro
und and pulling Nancy in for a picture. She gave the biggest smile, all the while singing in her head that she was finally moving on emotionally and letting herself have some fun for once. It didn’t have to amount to anything; she wouldn’t do that to Jack after promising it would just be the two of them. But a bit of holiday fun – nothing wrong with that, surely?

  ‘Big changes are happening with this one,’ Harriet said as she typed. ‘Hashtag – she’s going to get her leg over.’

  ‘Hari!’ Nancy gasped.

  ‘I’m kidding. Hashtag – making memories.’ Better?’

  ‘Better.’

  Chapter 35

  ‘Right, Jack is all sorted and chilling in his bed. You shouldn’t hear from him now really. So about nine, if you go in and take his iPad – otherwise he’ll stay on it all night – then he can go to sleep. I’ve told him that I’m popping out and he’s a bit anxious about it so I said that if he needs me then to tell you and you can ring me. And make sure you do – if he misses me, I’ll just come back.’

  ‘You bloody well wont,’ Harriet replied, pulling the curtains shut next to Tommy’s cot where he was fast asleep.

  ‘Hari, please, I promised him. If he gets upset I’ll just come back – Cameron will understand.’

  Harriet walked over to Nancy and gave her the perfume she had asked to borrow. ‘Cameron will understand, you’re right, but you deserve this night. Please, just go and enjoy yourself. You have plenty of time to go back to being a stress mummy when we get home, at least indulge in this fun for now. ‘

  Nancy exhaled. ‘I’m really nervous.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘I haven’t had a date for years! And my date nights with Pete were just full of arguments leading up to when he walked out. I just don’t know what to expect or what I’m supposed to do. What if I just talk about Jack all night and he finds me boring?’ She wasn’t sure who she was anymore. She’d spent so long trying to make sure Jack was ok and that everything was sorted for him that she was worried she had forgotten how to have fun herself.

  ‘Nance, he has children too, he’ll probably enjoy talking kiddie stuff with you.’ Then as an afterthought she added, ‘Just don’t take about poo or willies.’

  ‘Willies?’

  Harriet shrugged, ‘I don’t know, I’m just saying, keep it light.’ She paused. ‘Unless that’s the direction you want this evening to go, and in that case, talk about willies all you want. Throw in some boobs and sex talk too, set the mood.’

  ‘Oh my God, there is just no filter with you, is there?’ Nancy laughed at Hari’s attempt at lightening the mood. ‘Are you sure Isla doesn’t want to go through into my room and watch the iPad with Jack?’

  Harriet shook her head as she picked up her phone. ‘She’s fine; she’s absolutely knackered so it’ll do her good to get an early night. She’s been up late every night since we arrived – she’s not used to getting less than ten hours’ sleep.’

  ‘OK, how do I look?’

  Harriet took in her friend’s appearance – sleek black dress, sparkly gold sandals and cute little clutch bag with the gold chain handle. ‘You look beautiful. Knock him dead!’

  Nancy took a deep breath and nodded, turning to leave the room. And as Harriet watched her leave she felt a pang of jealousy – she hadn’t been on a date in so long she had wondered if she ever would again. Not that she had the time for dating. Her marriage hadn’t survived alongside her job so a new relationship wasn’t going to either. Maybe in years to come when things at work settled down, but until then, work was her relationship. And the children, that was her new focus. There wasn’t space for anything – or anyone – else. She kept up the stern exterior if anyone asked but deep inside, she was gutted about this. She wasn’t a robot, she had feelings – contrary to what her staff thought – and to think that she would continue to be on her own for the foreseeable future was a little hard to take. It wasn’t that she didn’t want anyone, she just couldn’t make it work for her situation. She was better off alone. She waited for about an hour until Isla’s breathing had fallen into a steady rate as she slept and then she took out her laptop. Time to find herself a nanny.

  ***

  Nancy followed the waiter to a table out in the courtyard at the front of the restaurant. From here they were facing the beachfront and she could hear the sea as it gently rolled in, frothing over the sand and drawing back out into the ocean again. It was a beautiful vantage point for their date. She had a sneaky suspicion that Cameron had deliberately asked for this table precisely because it was so romantic. She could get used to this being spoiled malarkey.

  ‘Can I get you anything to drink?’ The waiter had an accent and it only added to the holiday experience.

  ‘I’ll have a glass of your house white please.’ She shuffled in her seat and picked up the menu so that she was doing something with her hands. She was so nervous. It was one thing having lunch with Cameron and the children, because if the conversation dried up, you always had that buffer of talking to the kids. But tonight, it would be just the two of them. Would they even have anything to talk about? She tried to compile a list in her head of back up topics to talk about should they struggle for conversation. They had done jobs, so that was out. And she wanted to limit the children talk as they had done a lot of that too. The panic started to fizzle in her stomach – was she that boring? Why couldn’t she think of any topics that weren’t lame? At this rate she might have to resort to talking about boobs and willies!

  The waiter brought back the glass of white and she instantly sipped at it, feeling the ice cold liquid slide down her throat and immediately calm her a little. She glanced around the street to see if there was any sign of him. She supposed it was a bonus sitting out the front because, besides having the beautiful scenery and the sea, she would be able to see Cameron coming before he arrived, so he wouldn’t catch her off guard. The streets were still relatively quiet for early evening; she had expected it to be bustling with families and groups, not that she was complaining. Whilst this place was essentially on the high street, it was still sort of tucked away a little so it didn’t seem so overpopulated. Cameron certainly scored top points for his choice in restaurant. She loved the cobbled streets and the sound they made when the odd passer-by walked past. There were cute little streetlamps dotted all the way along this strip and she imagined, when it was fully dark, the twinkling lights from them would be quite romantic and really set the scene for a date. When she glanced inside, the restaurant was fairly empty which made her a little uncomfortable. Did this mean the food or service was terrible here? Or simply that they were here a bit early for dinner? Maybe everyone went into town for drinks first. Although now she thought about it, this place was situated literally a stone’s thrown from an all-inclusive resort so, she guessed, most people would probably choose to stay on the resort rather than pay for food. It was a sweet gesture of Cameron to bring her here actually.

  Ten minutes passed and Cameron had still not arrived so Nancy pulled out her phone and typed a message to Harriet.

  How’s Jack, is he asking for me yet?

  A reply pinged back almost instantly.

  For God’s sake woman stop texting me and enjoy your time with the hot doctor.

  She replied with a sad face and: he’s not here yet.

  Harriet called her immediately. ‘What do you mean he’s not there yet? Isn’t the man supposed to be there first? I thought it was the women who were fashionably late?’

  ‘Maybe I was too keen by showing up on time. I’m sure everything’s fine, he must just be held up with Aiden or something.’

  ‘Can’t you message him?’

  ‘I haven’t got his number.’

  ‘All the time you have spent with him over the last few days, and you haven’t exchanged numbers yet? Have you friended him on Facebook or Instagram or something?’

  ‘Nope.’ Nancy shuffled in her chair as she felt something brush against her leg. She glanced down and saw the restaurant
cat running circles around her legs, its furry tail tickling the back of Nancy’s knee. She moved her leg slightly and encouraged the cat to move away. ‘Do you think I’ve been stood up?’

  ‘I damn well hope not. Not in that dress you were wearing – it’s wasted on the waiting staff.’

  ‘And the resident cat, don’t forget him.’ She laughed but more for something to do. She continued looking around, searching for a silhouette of a man that could be Cameron. ‘How long do I wait before I leave?’

  ‘What’s the time now?’

  She pulled the phone away from her ear to check the time. ‘Eight-fifteen.’

  ‘Ok, give him until twenty past and then leave.’

  ‘Twenty past?’ Nancy really didn’t want to have to leave having been stood up. ‘I’ll wait until half past and if he’s not here then I’ll leave. OK?’

  ‘OK, keep me informed. Good luck!’

  Nancy hung up and clicked onto her Facebook. Maybe she should try and search him. She typed in Cameron but then realised she didn’t even know his surname. Damn it. Suddenly she had a lightbulb moment and called Harriet back. ‘Hari, in my room in the top drawer of the dresser there is the booklet that Cameron’s little boy did for Jack. Can you get it and tell me what Cameron’s surname is? I’m going to look him up on Facebook whilst I wait.’

  ‘Ooh good idea – stalking him, I like your style. OK hang on. I’m on charge so I’m going to leave my phone here whilst I go get it.’

  Harriet disappeared from the line so Nancy took the time to gulp down another few mouthfuls of wine. The sun was beginning to set and it was making the most beautiful colour shine down onto the glistening sea. Swirls of orange and red striped the horizon, mixing in with the blue from the sky deepening to a navy. This would be an incredibly romantic place for dinner – if her date showed up. She was getting to the point now where her understanding and excuses for him were starting to turn and she was feeling a little frustrated with him for being late.

  Just as she was waiting for Harriet to return to their phone call the waiter returned to her table. ‘I have a message for you from a Cameron?’ the guy said, his strong accent piercing through his words.