The Single Mums' Picnic Club

by Jennifer Joyce

  ‘You look pretty, Mummy.’ Skye had drawn her eyes away from Peppa Pig as Frankie stepped into the room, which was a compliment in itself before her lovely words.

  ‘Thank you, sweetie.’ Frankie beamed at her daughter. She’d made a special effort with her hair that evening, sweeping it up off the nape of her neck and securing it with a million grips while leaving flirty, wispy tendrils around her face, and while she’d kept the rest of her make-up subtle, she’d emphasised her lips with a flash of glossy red. If that didn’t draw Alex’s attention to her mouth, nothing would.

  Standing in front of the mirror above the fireplace, Frankie threaded in her earrings and took in the overall look. The woman staring back at her wasn’t the harassed mum of twins she was used to seeing; she was sophisticated, confident, and – dare she say it – a little bit sexy.

  ‘Right then, you little monkeys, come and give Mummy a big kiss.’

  The twins obliged, Finn clinging on that little big longer than his sister, but he toddled back to the sofa to carry on watching the TV. Satisfied her son was happy, she headed to the kitchen, where Alex and Isaac had been enjoying a beer while Frankie got changed.

  ‘Ready?’

  ‘Yep.’ Alex placed his bottle on the table and clapped Isaac on the back. ‘I’ll see you on Sunday.’

  ‘What’s happening on Sunday?’ Frankie asked as they climbed into her car.

  ‘Five-a-side in the park. One of the lads has had to drop out because of a dodgy knee, so Isaac said he’ll take his place.’

  ‘I sometimes think you’re better friends with my brother than me,’ Frankie said, but she was pleased they got on so well, especially as Isaac had been a bit down in the dumps for a few weeks. Like Frankie, he’d left his mates behind when he’d taken the job at Southcliff Primary and while he was an outgoing person who made friends easily, Frankie had started to worry about him being lonely. Maybe making new friends while having a kickaround in the park was exactly what he needed.

  ‘You look amazing, by the way,’ Alex said as they set off and Frankie smiled, aiming what she hoped was a flirtatious smile at him.

  ‘That’s exactly the look I was going for.’

  The film was okay but nothing spectacular. However, it did give Frankie the opportunity to snuggle against Alex under the pretence of having easier access to the popcorn that way, and the darkened room had allowed her to feel bold enough to reach for his hand once their supply of snacks had been depleted. He’d turned to Frankie as the credits started to roll, their faces so close together in the still-dark room, fingers still entwined, and Frankie held her breath, thinking this was finally it; Alex was going to kiss her.

  ‘Pub?’ He turned away then, his fingers unlacing from hers so he could pick up the empty popcorn bucket without so much as a peck on the cheek. ‘I think there’s karaoke on at The Fisherman again.’

  ‘I’m not really in the mood for karaoke.’ Frankie followed as Alex started to shuffle along the rows of seating, stepping carefully to avoid the spilled popcorn and empty cups and wrappers people had left behind.

  ‘We could have a quiet one at The Wagon and Horses instead?’

  ‘Or we could have a quiet one at your place?’ Frankie found Alex’s hand as they reached the end of the aisle and climbed the stairs towards the doors. ‘Grab a bottle of wine on the way back?’

  Alex shrugged. ‘Sounds good.’

  Alex lived in a terraced house on a quiet street tucked behind the church. At least it used to be a quiet street, Alex joked, until Jake moved in. They were greeted with an enthusiastic welcome from the shaggy beast, who hadn’t calmed down since starting his training course (though Alex was persisting. Frankie wasn’t sure whether he was being determined or stubborn).

  ‘Get down, Jake. Lie down in your bed.’ Alex used his best authoritative tone, but Jake ignored the command and continued his attempt to dance a waltz with Frankie. She pushed his paws gently from her boobs so he had four paws on the ground again. There was only one set of mitts she wanted there that evening, and they belonged to the dog’s owner.

  ‘Sorry.’ Alex flashed her an apologetic look as she grasped the dog’s collar and led him into the kitchen, practically manhandling the hound into his bed. ‘Oh, for God’s sake, Jake. What have you done now?’

  Frankie hurried down the hall, peering fully into the kitchen. Alex’s hands were covering his cheeks in a Scream-like gesture as he took in the mess before him. A medley of tin cans, fruit, newspapers and a large pillar candle littered the kitchen floor, each item gnawed or ripped to shreds. Those training classes really were money down the drain.

  Alex turned from the mess, to Jake – who had now slunk into his bed – and back again, his head shaking as his hands dropped to his sides. ‘I don’t even know where to start. That dog…’ He turned to look at Jake, who refused to make eye contact.

  ‘We can tidy it together.’ Frankie reached for Alex, threading her fingers through his. She found she quite liked holding hands, had missed the simple pleasure and comfort over the past couple of years.

  The tension seemed to drain from Alex, his shoulders dropping to a more natural level as he smiled gratefully at Frankie. ‘Thank you. I’m sure this wasn’t what you had in mind when you suggested we come back here.’

  ‘It really wasn’t.’ Frankie met Alex’s gaze, holding eye contact until she felt herself start to flush. She wanted to tell Alex how she felt, that she was ready to stop tiptoeing around a relationship and was itching to take a great big running jump at one. That as much as she valued the friendship they’d built up, she was ready for more. She was screaming the words inside her head, but they refused to make the leap from brain to mouth.

  ‘Did you have something other than the wine and my dazzling conversational skills in mind?’

  Frankie tried to swallow, but found it was difficult as her mouth was suddenly dry. This was it. Gathering every bit of courage she possessed, she opened her mouth to say the words.

  ‘The thing is, Alex.’ She took a deep breath, determined to get it all out. ‘It’s about us. Lately, I’ve been feeling ready to…’ She trailed off as Alex’s eyebrows started to push together, his nose scrunching. Had she got this all wrong? Did he not feel the same? Perhaps he was happy with the status quo. Mates was more than enough.

  Alex closed his eyes, probably preparing to let her down gently, to put her firmly back in the friendzone. A hand covered his forehead and he turned away from Frankie with a sigh.

  ‘Oh, Jake. Not again.’

  It was then the stench hit Frankie, like a foul-smelling wall. Jake was no longer in his bed. He was crouching on the lino, eyes fixed on Alex, laying one out on the kitchen floor.

  ‘I’ll deal with this.’ Frankie indicated the earlier, non-stinking mess left by Jake. ‘And you can deal with that.’

  Funnily enough, the mood had changed by the time everything had been cleared away, and any notion of romance had evaporated.

  Frankie couldn’t dwell on her relationship (or non-relationship) with Alex as there was so much to do; her branding workload was healthy, with her schedule booked up for the next month or so, the Little Seaside Picnics’ launch party was taking place in just four days, followed shortly by the twins’ third birthday. Finn and Skye’s birthday was usually a subdued event as it sign posted the upcoming anniversary of Bradley’s death, but this year Frankie could appreciate the day for what it was – a celebration of the life they had created together. A time to celebrate another year of milestones and happy memories and a time to be thankful that she’d been given such a beautiful gift. She wasn’t holding back this year. Life was joyous and although she’d lost sight of that for a while, she was finding her way back.

  ‘So, the van is sorted.’ Katie ticked the item off her list as they sat around her kitchen table. The launch party was so close and there was a frenetic energy buzzing around the room. ‘George and I are going shopping for ingredients on Thursday and prep starts Friday. Frankie, you�
��re updating the social media daily, right?’ Frankie opened her mouth to speak, but Katie was already onto the next point on her agenda. ‘Who do we have confirmed to help on the day? I’ve bribed Elliot and Lizzie to offer their services in exchange for screen time and free food.’

  ‘I’ve roped Isaac and Alex in to help with the party and my mum’s going to look after the twins.’ Frankie turned to George. ‘She could watch Thomas for you too, if you’d like?’

  ‘My mum’s on Thomas duty, but maybe they could get together? Pool energy and resources?’

  ‘Do you think Jack would help out?’ Katie caught Frankie’s eye, a smile flickering on her lips before she turned to George. ‘Could you ask him?’

  ‘Me?’ George pointed her pen at the kitchen wall. ‘He lives right next door. Why can’t you ask him?’

  Because she was donning Jake’s role of Cupid – but a less hairy version – Frankie thought.

  ‘Sorry.’ Katie peered at the screen of her phone as it started to ring. ‘It’s the estate agent. Do you mind if I just get this? I’ll be as quick as I can.’ She slipped out into the back garden to take the call, returning a few minutes with a heavy sigh.

  ‘Well, that’s that then. Somebody’s put an offer in on my parents’ house, just short of the asking price. Jo thinks we should accept.’

  ‘Oh, sweetie.’ George made soft, circular motions on Katie’s back with her hand. ‘Shall I put the kettle on? Make you a nice cup of tea?’

  ‘Yes please.’ Katie sighed again and slumped into her seat.

  ‘Are you sure this is what you want?’ Frankie asked as George filled the kettle.

  Katie lifted her hands, palms up. ‘I don’t have a choice.’

  ‘Of course you have a choice!’ Frankie’s sharp tone caused Katie to start, and even George turned from her tea-making to see what was going on at the other end of the kitchen. When Frankie spoke again, her tone was softer. ‘You can choose to let Rob continue to rule your life and make the decisions for you, or you can stand up tall and take control.’

  ‘But I’ve tried. The house is just an “asset” in legal terms.’ Katie made the air quotes, her face screwing up as she said the word that peeled away feelings, stripped items and property down to nothing but a monetary value.

  ‘Rob has moved on,’ Frankie said. ‘He’s started a new life, and you should too. Why are you clinging onto the past? He isn’t going to come back and pick up where you left off.’

  ‘I know that.’ Katie had been fiddling with her wedding band, but she snatched her fingers away and picked up her pen instead.

  ‘This house.’ Frankie looked around the room. ‘It’s just bricks and mortar; your children can be happy anywhere, so if you’re so against selling your parents’ home, why not move in there and sell this place? It’ll be a fresh start, for all of you.’

  ‘But I love this house too.’ Katie looked around the room, but the slight smile on her face faded as a frown took over. ‘Actually, I’m not sure that’s true anymore. I used to think the house was full of happy memories – and it was – but they’re tainted now. This table, for example.’ She placed a hand down on the surface. ‘This is where Rob sat me down to tell me about the affair and the baby. And I think there have been tears of hurt and frustration in every single room.’ She laughed, but it sounded hollow. ‘I thought that by signing the acknowledgment of service all those months ago, and having a fling with another man, I was symbolically moving on, but look at me.’ She lifted her hand, where her wedding band still lay. ‘I’m still acting like the “wronged woman”. The poor wife who was cheated on and left behind. But no more.’ Katie pushed herself out of her seat and grabbed her phone. ‘Will you excuse me? I need to make one more very important phone call.’

  George returned to the table as Katie marched out of the French doors and into the garden, and Frankie shifted over some sheets of papers so she could set the tray of drinks down.

  ‘Was I too harsh?’ Frankie could see Katie marching up and down the lawn as she spoke on the phone.

  ‘No, I think you were looking out for your friend. What you said made sense. It’s hard to see that when you’re caught up in it all, so I think your tough love may have done some good.’

  ‘I hope so.’

  George smiled across the table at her, but she didn’t say anything more about it and instead changed the subject. ‘You never told us how your date went with Alex.’ George chuckled. ‘You were so fired up about it, you were practically buzzing. Good film, was it?’

  Frankie picked up her cup of tea and blew on it. ‘Not particularly. We had a nice evening though.’

  George tilted her head to one side, waiting for more, but Frankie simply took a tentative sip of her drink. ‘And?’

  ‘And what?’

  ‘That’s it?’ George leaned across the table. ‘That’s all you’re giving me? A nice evening? You were so excited about it before!’

  Frankie recoiled at the heat of her drink and placed the cup down again. ‘The evening didn’t exactly go to plan.’

  ‘What was the plan?’

  Frankie told George about her shift in feelings for Alex, about her plan to try to take things further until they were distracted by the dog. George pressed her lips together as Frankie recounted Jake’s contribution to the evening, but she couldn’t help the giggle from breaking free.

  ‘Oh, Frankie.’ George pressed a hand to her mouth. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t laugh.’

  ‘It’s okay.’ Frankie felt the corners of her lips tugging involuntarily into a smile. ‘It’s kind of funny looking back, and part of me was kind of relieved.’

  ‘How do you mean?’

  Frankie covered her face with her hands for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts into something coherent. ‘It’s been such a long time, I can’t remember how it all works. Relationships. Intimacy. It’s like riding a bike, apparently, but I guess I’m scared.’

  George reached across the table and took Frankie’s hand in hers. It felt comforting, but in a different way to how it felt holding Alex’s hand. ‘That’s understandable. It’s a big step after everything you’ve been through.’

  ‘I know, but I don’t want that to hold me back anymore. I don’t want to live a half-life.’

  George gave her hand a gentle squeeze. ‘Then you need to talk to Alex.’

  ‘I will, if the timing’s ever right. I’m starting to think it’s never going to happen. We’ve had to cancel our date tomorrow night because it turns out Isaac can’t babysit after all. One of the teachers has come down with chickenpox – the poor woman is in her forties and it’s only just struck her down – so Isaac’s been roped into taking her place on an overnight trip with the Year Sixes.’

  George frowned. ‘Your brother’s a teacher?’

  Frankie nodded. ‘He’s at Southcliff Primary. I’ve mentioned that before.’

  George shook her head. ‘You haven’t. I’d have remembered.’

  Frankie opened her mouth to speak, but Katie burst through the door, a wavering smile on her face. She jiggled her phone in the air as she scurried back to the sofa and flopped down.

  ‘I did it! I phoned Rob and told him I’d changed my mind about selling my parents’ house. He was furious, thinking I was just throwing another spanner in the works. I let him for a minute – just for fun.’ She beamed at her friends and gave a shrug. ‘But then I had to put him out of his misery before his head exploded. I told him we should sell this house, and I’ll use my share of the money to help buy Rob out of my parents’ house.’

  ‘And this is what you really want?’ George asked, and Katie nodded.

  ‘I’ll miss living across the road from the beach, but it’s only a short walk away, and like Frankie said, it’ll be a fresh start.’

  ‘Then I’m so pleased for you.’ George slung her arm around Katie’s shoulders and pulled her into a hug. ‘Now, how would you like to help put a smile on Frankie’s face?’ She winked at Frankie. ‘And hopefully Alex
’s too.’

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  George

  ‘Hello, George.’

  She jumped, a hand pressing against her chest when she heard her name being called, her mind snapping away from her plans for Frankie tomorrow night and bringing her back to the school playground.

  ‘All set for Saturday?’ Jack came to a stop with the buggy and adjusted Vevie’s sunhat which had slipped over one eye and was making her fractious as she attempted to push it out of the way herself.

  ‘We’re on track.’ Saturday’s launch party on the beach was just four days away, and while George was feeling nervous about the official start of their business, she was incredibly excited and proud of all their hard work to get to this point. ‘Will you be bringing the kids?’

  Jack nodded. ‘They’ll be at Anita’s for the weekend, but she’s going to bring them down. We couldn’t miss it.’

  George placed a hand on Jack’s arm and smiled up at him. ‘I really appreciate the support. Thank you.’

  ‘You’re welcome.’ Jack placed a hand over George’s, and she was surprised by the rush of warmth she felt spreading from her chest. His hand only touched hers briefly, but the heat quickly rose to give her a flushed look, so she looked away under the pretence of checking the door to the reception class.

  ‘Give me a shout if you need a hand with anything,’ Jack said as George continued to peer at the door.

  ‘Thanks.’ George chanced a look at him, hoping her cheeks wouldn’t burst into flames upon sight. ‘We could always do with an extra pair of hands to set up.’

  Jack held up his hands. ‘Count these bad boys in.’ His eyes crinkled at the edges as he smiled, and George had to look away again. ‘Maybe we could go for a drink, to celebrate the future success of your business? Unless you’re too busy?’

  ‘When were you thinking?’ They did have a lot of work to do, but she quite liked the idea of a fun get together before the panic of the party prep really kicked in. ‘I’ll have to see when Katie and Frankie are free.’