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Back home, I had rented an Airbnb for us and sent Chris the address. With Charlotte's hand in mine, I got out, and we walked to stand before the stately home with vines running up the sides.
“Looks like something from the nineteenth century,” Claire noted.
"It is," I started. "It has a fascinating history. It's—"
“Daddy! Let’s see!” Charlotte tore from my side and ran past the fence, the walkway, and onto the porch. “Open it.”
I smiled, shaking my head. “The history can wait, then.”
The interior was nothing like the outside. It was all polished wood and shiny surfaces.
“Fancy.” Chris walked past me, taking our luggage upstairs.
“I’m staying in the bigger room!” Claire yelled, running up the stairs behind him.
“Not on your life.” Chris sped up.
Shaking my head, I walked into the living room, then the kitchen before going upstairs. The master bedroom was for me. Thank goodness Chris and Claire stayed away from it with their bickering. But my little Muffin couldn't care less. She was jumping on the bed, her hair flying around her face.
"Charlotte." I channeled my “dad voice.” "No jumping on the bed."
She collapsed on her back and groaned. “Then what do we do?”
I pushed aside the curtain covering the bay windows and took in the gardens, the park, and the gently flowing river. Charlotte appeared next to me.
“Daddy, can we go down to the water?”
I looked down at my daughter. She was so excited she could barely stand in place. “Sure thing, Muffin.”
“Yippee!” she yelled and sped out of the room, announcing our new plans.
Soon, we were all winding through the park, curving between locals and taking in the sights. I forced my head away from work and focused on Charlotte running close to the water, holding onto the metal bars and waving at the ducks.
“How are you feeling?” My sister walked astride me, thumping her shoulder against mine.
I raised both shoulders. "Good." I looked between her and Chris. They always seemed to be working out new ways to torment me, and right now, suspicion sat firmly in my gut.
Instead of teasing, they just smiled.
Even worse. “Whatever you both are up to, I'm not falling for it.” Not waiting for their answers, I went down to the water and joined Charlotte for a couple of minutes.
She drifted on, and I kept close.
“What’s happening there?” She pointed ahead.
I squinted. Seemed a lot of folks walking beside us were all drifting in that direction. “It seems to be a market of sorts.” Overly bubbly request coming inone, two...
“Can we go?”
I laughed. “Of course, Muffin.”
She started ahead, and I followed behind, glued to her skipping form.
I could relax. This could be a vacation.
