AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Toby nodded, his adorable eyes melting Cara’s heart. How was it, that a child could be an absolute monster one minute and an angel the next?
The search for a dress would have to resume another day. Cara was resigned to spending the rest of the afternoon pushing Toby in a hired kiddy-car so she could buy various bits and pieces for Christmas. She grabbed two chocolateAdvent calendars for Jacob and Lily, and searched aisle after aisle, shop after shop, for a non-chocolate Advent calendar for Toby. Eventually, she found one with a different sticker for each day of December. Hopefully, he wouldn’t try to eat them. Then, she felt guilty and thought she should have got sticker ones for all the kids so that Toby wouldn’t feel left out, but decided against the hassle of going back to replace the chocolate ones.
After buckling Toby into the car and putting away the shopping bags, Cara noticed her phone had a message from Pete, two hours ago. She hadn’t heard it ring, somewhere in between the escapee child incident and trying to stop Toby decorating her hair with tinsel as she bought Christmas items.
‘Hi, it’s me – I’ve been in an accident at work, I’m okay, but it was a close call. I’m leaving early, on my way home now ... hope you get home soon – love you.’
Cara gasped. An accident? What sort of accident? Cara cursed herself for not checking the phone earlier. She texted to say she was on her way, revved the engine, did the school pick up in record time, and burst through the door into Pete’s arms twenty-five minutes later.
‘My God, what happened, why are you wearing this neck thing?’ asked Cara.
‘It’s nothing, just a bit of whiplash. Hi, kids.’ Pete bent down awkwardly, his head kept rigid by the brace, welcoming the children with a hug.
‘Daddy looks weird,’ Jacob said, poking the brace.
‘Careful, sweetie, Daddy has a sore neck.’ Cara ushered the kids into the living room, put on a show, and returned to the kitchen in a flash.
‘Tell me everything.’ Cara gesturedfor Pete to sit down.
‘We were responding to a call out, driving along the highway, when a plumber’s Ute pulls in front of us, the driver’s music blaring even through the noise of the siren. We tried to slow down, but the driver must have then noticed us behind him, so he slowed quickly, but we couldn’t veer to the side in time and we crashed into his Ute. There were pipes and things sticking out the back, and they speared right through our front window. If I hadn’t forced my head to the side, they would have...’ Pete dropped his head, and Cara didn’t want to imagine what would have happened.
‘Oh, honey.’ Cara sat on her husband’s lap, cradling his face in her hands.
His eyes glistened. ‘When I realised what could have happened, all I wanted to do was come home and see you and the kids.’
She rested her forehead against his. ‘And there I was, looking for a silly dress for the ball, which I didn’t end up getting anyway, when you were going through that! I’m sorry I didn’t get your message earlier, and I’m sorry I’ve been so focused on myself lately. All that matters is you’re okay, and the kids are healthy. I’m not going to let anything get in the way of that.’ Cara pressed her lips to his.
‘There’s no need to feel guilty.’ Pete ran a finger through one of Cara’s curls, frizzy from the sprinkle of rain that began an hour ago. ‘Youshouldspend time focusing on yourself, and youshouldgo and buy a silly dress. Life’s too short not to enjoy it.’ He stood. ‘You know what? We need to have more fun. We need to enjoy our lives while we have them.’ Excitement brightened his eyes. ‘I’m taking tomorrow off, and we’re going to have a great day! You’re going back to the shops to buy whichever dress you want, while I stay with Toby. Then, we’ll take the kids somewhere for dinner, and go for a drive;show the kids all the Christmas lights around town. What do you say?’
Cara’s heart warmed at her husband’s new enthusiasm for life. ‘We could always go to Hooters.’ She smiled, remembering the budget anniversary dinner they’d had during their Easter holiday.
‘Hang on, don’t they have women who parade around in their underwear on roller skates?’ Pete winked. ‘Nah, seriously, there’s that new place on George Street that’s family-friendly, and has gluten free meals that Toby can eat.’
‘But, do they also have dairy free and soy free meals?’ asked Cara.
‘Only one way to find out.’ Pete grabbed the flyer from the fridge and called them. A minute later a table for five was booked for the following night, Toby’s needs assured to be catered for.
‘Mum, Jacob’s eating the chocolate from the Advent calendar,’ Lily said, entering the kitchen.
‘Well, todayisthe first of December, so you can both open the first window and eat the chocolate inside.’
‘But he’s already up to the ninth of December.’
Cara rolled her eyes and stomped out to the living room. She plucked the calendar from his sticky hands. ‘Jacob, you’re only supposed to have one each day! Now you’ll have to wait until the tenth of December to have another. And, don’t eat them in front of Toby, okay?’ Cara stomped back into the kitchen and hid the calendar on top of the fridge. ‘Geez, you buy things for your kids and they’re practically demolished in sixty seconds!’
Pete grasped her arm. ‘Honey, it doesn’t matter, really.’ He smiled and touched her cheek.
She softened. ‘You’re right. I always get so worked up about little things, but in the end, itdoesn’tmatter, does it?’
‘This is all that matters.’ Pete pulled her close and bent his knees to kiss her, keeping his head straight, while Cara rose up on her toes.
‘Ewww!’ said Lily, then rifled through the shopping bags in search of other Christmas treasures.
The next day,Cara floated back into the house a new woman. Three hours spent alone, wandering around the shops at leisure was equivalent to a therapy session. Maybe psychiatrists would have to start changing their prescriptions:‘Mrs Collins, please go shopping on your own for three hours and call me in the morning.’Cara had giggled as she spotted other mothers trying to juggle kids, prams, and shopping bags. Part of her wanted to go help them, but the rational part told her to turn away and continue browsing, a latte in her hand. Times like that were precious; it would be insane to disturb the bliss.
After wandering past several shops, albeitquicklypast ‘Classique Formal Wear’ and the condemning glare of Morticia/Voldemort, Cara entered the ‘Emporium of Elegance’; a clothing store with its own doorman, just like City Health and Fitness, who looked ready to scan every customer with a metal detector. There’s no way she would have come in here with Toby.
And then she saw it. The perfect dress.
