"Options... Are There Anymore Options...?" (Book 4)

Chapter 148 - "Family Picnic..."

Chapter 148 - "Family Picnic..."

4 Days to Summer

Clara's PoV

'What are you doing?' I asked as John was packing a bag.

'You can see full well what I am doing. I am packing a bag'

'Why?'

'I told you last week that I was going up to Scotland for a few days on a business trip' He said and I could not recall the conversation for the life of me.

'A few days? John I've got loads to do and 6 kids under this roof whilst being heavily pregnant. I can't do without you for a few days' I groaned.

'Don't worry your Dad is coming to help'

'My Dad is in Canada'

'No. Your Dad is in London. He flew back yesterday to come and give us a hand until the twins are born. Good timing huh?'

'Why would he come and help with the twins when he cant even take or show an interest in the young daughter that he has got?'

'I dunno. But he is here and he said he'll be surprising you and the kids at the park this afternoon when you go for the Sunday picnic' he hummed.

I looked at him in awe and sighed.

I wasn't going to win and he was going to be going on the trip no matter how much I grovelled so I just sighed and let him go.

'Well. Ive got sandwiches to make' I grumbled going down stairs.

- - -

'A family picnic? Mum why have you dragged us to this?' Avia asked annoyed that she could be doing so many different things than being here with me.

'Because this could be the last time that we get some proper family time and quite a while after the babies are born. I'm going to be very busy after they are born' I pointed out.

'So we will be able to pretty much do anything we want' Evie said nudging Avia.

'I don't think so. There will still be limits and reasons but your going to Italy in a few weeks so you won't be able to get in to too much trouble' I sighed knowing full well that would not be the case.

Evie is one of those kids who can cause trouble wherever she goes without even knowing it.

'Avia get the picnic basket and Evie you can bring the blankets' I hummed.

'How comes Dad got out of this?' Evie scoffed.

'He's in Scotland. Fat lot of good he'll be for a picnic up there hey' I smirked placing out one of the deck chairs that I had bought for myself - mind you I don't think I'll be getting out of it once I'm in it.

'Mum. Mum. Mum' Poppy said pulling on my dress.

'What Poppy?'

'Can I go and play in the park?'

'No. Not until you have had your lunch. And this is supposed to be family bonding time. Kick a foot ball around or something'

'With who?'

'Your brother' I said and pointed at Henry who was kicking his football around with Evie in goal now.

She groaned but ran off and took Amélie with her.

I laid out some of the sandwiches and as if on cue, my Dad turned up out of nowhere and had a flock of kids run towards him for hugs.

'Blimey Clara. I knew you were pregnant, but blooming heck you're huge' he scoffed sitting on one of the chairs next to me that now I had sat down in there was no way I was going to get out of.

'I'm fine Dad thanks for asking' I said rolling my eyes as he smirked.

'John called and said he was going out of town for a few days and that you needed all the help you can get. So i'm here. What do you need?'

'What I need is for you to take some responsibility of Amélie. If she wasn't living with us then I would have far less to do' I said as his eyes trained to her and then back to me.

'She doesn't want to live with me'

'Have you even asked?'

'No. But you can see that she wouldn't be happy as an only child in Canada. Look' he hummed encouraging me to see her rolling all over the floor with Harry. She then picked him up and helped him to kick the ball into the goal.

I chuckled and then realised what my Dad was saying.

She had, had such a difficult start in life that she needed to be surrounded by people and other children in order to succeed. And she really was a happy child. She had been held back in the school to a year younger than what she actually is - but that didn't matter. She was happy and healthy and she obviously loves living with a bunch of other kids.

'Okay. She can stay. But you have got to take more of an active interest in her, because I think she is starting to feel like you're not interested in her at all'

'Thats not true. I am interested but I have nothing in common with her'

'You had nothing in common with me until Mum died. Once Mum died that's when we became close and that was when I was about Amelies age. So go and bond' I said encouraging him to get up.

I watched as he trudged over to where they were all playing football (a little jealous that I couldn't go and join in myself) and he kicked the ball out of the way of everyone.

They all got agitated but he became suddenly like the 7th kid of the pack and it was very funny to watch.

- - -

'I should not have kicked the ball so hard' he complained as he sat down on the sofa. 'Im a grandad. And Grandad's don't play football'

'Especially not when they are 60' I smirked.

'You told me to bond with them'

'And I'm proud of you for it but what use are you to me if you are laid up in the bed for the next few days' I said with a scoff as he put his slippers on and was enticed up the stairs by Henry and Poppy for a story.