Jennifer Joyce - The Single Mums’ Picnic Club - A perfectly uplifting beach-read for 2018!

‘Jaded is an understatement,’ Katie grumbled. ‘Scarred for life would be more accurate.’ Her phone started to vibrate from within her handbag, and she groaned when she saw the name on the display. She shot an apologetic look at her new friends as she shuffled away from the blanket to answer the call.

‘I’d better get going soon,’ Frankie said as the phone call behind her started to heat up. ‘I’ve got a deadline coming up, so I need to get back to work.’

‘I need to leave soon too.’ George started to clip the lids back down on the food containers. ‘I’m cleaning for a new client this afternoon and I need to drop the picnic bits and bobs back at home and grab my kit. I’m a bit nervous, actually.’ She pressed a hand to her stomach. ‘I was personally recommended by one of my other clients, so I don’t want to let her down.’

‘You’ll be great.’ Frankie rested a hand on George’s arm. ‘If you clean half as well as you cook, you won’t have anything to worry about at all.’

George beamed at her. ‘Thank you. That’s so kind of you to say that.’

Frankie shrugged. ‘It’s true. This is – hands down – the best picnic I’ve ever been to.’

George laughed and gave a wave of her hand. ‘Stop it now, you’re making me blush.’

‘Sorry, but it really is.’ Frankie shrugged again before she helped George to pack up. Only the blanket was remaining by the time Katie returned with a heavy sigh.

‘Everything okay?’ George asked as she lifted two corners of the blanket and gave it a rigorous shake to rid it of sand.

Katie rolled her eyes. ‘Just the ex.’ She grabbed the opposite corners of the blanket and helped George to fold it. ‘As if I don’t know I have to file the acknowledgement of service. I’m not an imbecile.’

George rolled the blanket and tucked it under her arm. ‘But you haven’t done it yet?’

Katie shook her head. ‘I was going to, but…’ She sighed. ‘It sounds really childish saying it out loud, but it’s the one bit of power I have in all this, and I can’t seem to relinquish it. Signing that form, agreeing to this thing, it makes me feel sick.’

‘It must be so difficult.’ George draped an arm around Katie’s shoulders. ‘You were together a long time.’

‘It sounds like he treated you like dirt to me,’ Frankie said. ‘And now he’s pressuring you?’

Katie fiddled with the wedding band she still wore. ‘I have been dragging my feet with this…’

Frankie folded her arms across her chest. ‘So what? It’s nothing less than he deserves. Why should it all be on his terms?’

Katie nodded, but she didn’t look convinced and continued to slide her thumb back and forth across the back of her wedding ring.

‘You must do what’s best for you.’ George gave her shoulder a brief squeeze. ‘You never know, you may feel empowered by signing it. You’re letting him go and forging ahead on a new and brighter future.’

Katie shoved her hands deep into her coat pockets. ‘It doesn’t feel like it.’

George patted her arm lightly. ‘It will, one day. You’ll see.’ She picked up the tote bag and hooked it onto her shoulder. ‘I should be going, but it’s been lovely meeting up with you ladies this afternoon.’

‘It has.’ Frankie hadn’t realised how isolated she’d felt since choosing to go freelance and working from home. ‘We should do this again.’

‘I’ll bring the picnic next time.’ Katie pulled a face. ‘Since I put away most of it.’

George tsked. ‘You did not. We all had our fair share. Besides, there was plenty to go around. I can’t help going overboard with food.’

Katie laughed. ‘Feel free to go overboard again. You’ll get no complaints from me.’

Frankie held up her hands. ‘I wouldn’t dream of grumbling.’ She zipped her coat up fully so it reached her chin. ‘Should we swap numbers, so we can arrange times and places?’

‘Good idea.’ George reached into her pocket for her phone, and Frankie and Katie did the same, each saving the contact information for the other two.

George lifted a hand in farewell as they parted ways on the promenade. ‘See you next time. I’m looking forward to it already!’

Frankie was too.

Chapter Ten

Katie

Perhaps George was right, and she’d feel empowered by signing the acknowledgement of service. She’d be taking back power, signing that form because she wanted a clean slate. She didn’t have to view the divorce as the end of the life she’d built with Rob over the past twenty-four years; she really should look at it as a new start for her.

She was feeling so motivated – so inspired – by the time she emerged at the top of the steps leading up to the promenade that she could almost feel the pen in her hand as she envisioned signing the form. And she probably would have done it, would have gone straight out and posted the damn thing, if she hadn’t stumbled upon Jack, his hair sticking up in little peaks where he’d been running his fingers through it, pacing up and down in front of his van.

‘I’ll be there as soon as I can, Mrs Hornchurch. Have you managed to find the stopcock? And you’ve turned it off? Excellent. Like I said, I’ll be there as soon as I can.’ Jack ended the call and threw back his head, squeezing his eyes shut tight.

‘Everything okay?’ Katie could have kicked herself. Of course everything wasn’t okay. This was not the pose of a man whose life was currently hunky dory. ‘Anything I can do to help?’

Jack opened his eyes and pressed the palms of his hands together. ‘Is there any chance you have secret plumbing skills?’

Katie barked out a laugh. ‘As if. But you do, so what’s the problem?’

‘The pipes behind Mrs Hornchurch’s kitchen units, apparently.’ Jack opened the van’s door and unclasped his daughter from her car seat. ‘Her kitchen’s flooded, and it seems to be coming from behind her crockery cupboard. She’s phoned five plumbers so far, but nobody’s free until at least seven this evening. She sounds like a sweet old lady, and I don’t want to say no, but I have Vevie this afternoon. The childminder isn’t well and Anita – my ex-wife – can’t get out of work. I didn’t have any bookings this afternoon, so it didn’t really matter until Mrs Hornchurch called in a flap.’ He lifted his daughter from the van and rested her on his hip. ‘I’ve tried my mum and sister, but neither can get away…’ His phone started to ring from his jeans pocket, and he closed his eyes briefly after seeing the caller details. ‘It’s Mrs Hornchurch again.’

Katie lifted her hand up as his thumb hovered over the answer button. ‘Wait! I’ll do it!’

Jack frowned at Katie. ‘You’ll find what’s causing Mrs Hornchurch’s leak and repair it?’

Katie tutted and took the child from his arms. ‘No, you great dumpling. I’ll look after Vevie while you go and do all that plumber stuff.’

Jack’s thumb was still hovering over the answer button. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course. We’ll have fun, won’t we, sweetie?’ Katie stuck her tongue out at the little girl and she giggled as though it was the funniest thing ever. ‘See?’

Jack’s gaze flicked briefly to the screen of his phone. ‘I could be gone a while.’

Katie shrugged. ‘That’s fine.’

‘And Leo and Ellie…’

‘I think I can just about remember the way to the school.’ She pointed at the still-ringing phone. ‘Just make sure you give the school a quick call to let them know it’ll be me picking them up.’

‘Will do. You’re a star.’ Jack grinned at her before he accepted the call. ‘Mrs Hornchurch? Good news…’

‘I am a star,’ Katie whispered to the little girl, and she giggled again. This was the easiest gig Katie had ever had. If only Elliot and Lizzie were still so easily amused. ‘Shall we go inside? It’s a bit nippy out here, isn’t it?’