“You only ever think about yourself. Lillian has never seen the real sea in her whole life!” Kate blurted out bitterly, desperately trying to make her husband understand her feelings before leaving.
“Tomorrow, I’m going to Mums cottage. For a week, maybe longer. Wholl wash and iron your shirts? Not my problem.”
“What do you mean youre going? I thought youd be home. You could finally do a proper clean.”
“No, Ive decided a break at Mums is what I need.”
James sat at the kitchen table with his coffee, pretending to scroll through his phone. In truth, he was watching his wifes every move, sensing the tension in her steps.
Kate had been silent for three days now, and it was worse than any row. It had all started with yet another “discussion” about their holidayor rather, with James refusing to go to the seaside.
This year, for the first time in ages, they had both the time and savings. Kate had dreamt of the sea for years. The last time theyd gone was to Brighton a decade ago, just the two of them. Since then, their daughter Lillian had been borna girl who had never once seen the sea with its foaming waves.
Kate longed for the sun and warm sand too. She didnt mind the smell of sunscreen, the creak of deckchairs, or even the endless noise of people on the beach.
But James dug his heels in.
“Ive told you, I hate that kind of holiday! Crowds, heat, sand in my shoes Id rather stay in the countryside. Its peaceful, cool under the fan, no chaos.”
“You only think about yourself! Lillian has never seen the sea!” Kate snapped, hoping this might stir something in him.
“What does she need the sea for? We bought her that lovely paddling pool last summer!” He waved her off, still glued to his phone.
Kate adjusted Lillians T-shirt, zipped up her backpack, and pushed aside the bag of toys. On the kitchen counter lay a list: swimsuit, flip-flops, sunhat, storybook, beach ball Everything was ready, but her heart was anything but calm.
James still sat there, lazily scrolling. In the past half hour, he hadnt once asked if she needed helpnot with the trip, the bags, or even Lillian. It made Kate want to scream and cry at the same time.
“Mum, did we pack my goggles?” Lillian tugged at her arm.
“Yes, love, theyre in your bag.” Kate forced a smile, though unease gnawed at her.
“Listen, maybe I should drive you?” James muttered, still staring at his phone.
Kate looked at him, surprise mixing with exhaustion, anger, and a hint of hurt.
“Dont bother. Well manage,” she said shortly, grabbing the car keys before stepping outside.
Margaret stood by the gate in a floral apron, a bunch of parsley in her hand. Shed spotted the car from a distance and hurried over.
“My beauties are here!” she cheered, helping unpack the groceries from the boot.
Lillian dashed inside, knowing Grandma had made her favourite pancakes. Kate carried in the bags, then sank onto the bench by the porch.
Margaret set a plate of pancakes with strawberry jam in front of Lillian before joining her daughter outside.
“Is something wrong?” she asked gently.
Kate hesitated, tucking her hair behind her ears. Then, with a sigh, she told her everythingabout James refusing the seaside, his indifference, that wretched paddling pool he thought could replace everything. How she kept stepping back just to keep up the illusion of a happy family.
Margaret listened quietly, then squeezed Kates hand.
“Sweetheart, you deserve happiness, rest, and support. Stay the weekend. You and Lillian could do with the break.”
“I didnt even pack anything.”
“Thats fine. Well find somethingyou havent gained an ounce in ten years.”
So it was decided. Kate happily busied herselfwatering the plants, tending Mums flowers, stuffing herself with raspberries. That evening, she and Lillian splashed in the paddling pool, sipped homemade lemonade, and listened to the crickets.
It wasnt until evening that James remembered his wife was supposed to be backand only because he needed the car, but the keys were gone.
“When are you coming home?” His voice crackled irritably through the phone.
“Not tonight. Tomorrow,” Kate replied flatly.
“What do you mean, tomorrow? I need the car. I was supposed to meet Dave.”
“Call a taxi. Figure it out. Its too late nowIm not driving back.” She knew hed start yelling, so she simply hung up.
She silenced her phone and placed it face-down on the windowsill. Shed already ruined enough of her day. James could rage in the flat, surrounded by dirty mugs and his own self-importance.
Later, when Lillianexhausted from swimmingfinally dozed off in the bedroom with the window open, Kate and Margaret settled on the porch. The air was warm, scented with flowers and freshly cut grass. Peaceful. Only the occasional chirp of crickets broke the quiet.
“You know, Mum,” Kate began, cradling a mug of warm milk, “I dont expect much from James. Just basic care. For him to say, ‘Youre tiredIll help.’ Or, ‘If you want the seaside, well go.'”
“James was never one for grand gestures,” Margaret murmured.
“I dont even want flowers. Just to be seen. To have my work for this family noticed. Were not strangers.”
“No. But when someones always there, they start feeling like furniture,” Margaret sighed. “Sometimes you have to remind him youre alive, that his neglect hurts.”
Kate smiled bitterly. Thats exactly how she feltlike hired help, handling the chores, the shopping, the childcare, while James did as he pleased.
Margaret spoke calmly, never judging or pushing. She just listenedsomething Kate treasured.
“I dont know what Id do without you, Mum,” Kate said suddenly, meeting her eyes. “You never say things like, ‘All men are the same,’ or, ‘Just put up with it.’ You just listen. That means everything.”
“Because youre my girl. Grown now, but still mine.” Margaret squeezed her hand. “Your life is yours to live. Mistakes and all.”
Kate exhaled, relief washing over her.
“You know what, Mum?” she said after a quiet moment. “Maybe Ill take Lillian to the seaside. Just us two. We both deserve it. Ive been saving all year.”
Margaret smiled. “Good for you. Ill help with the ticketsa gift from Grandma to her girls.”
Kate returned home the next afternoon. She stepped inside, kicked off her shoes, and found James sprawled on the sofa, an empty pizza box beside him.
“Finally!” he grumbled, not bothering to get up. “Took the car for a whole day while I was stuck here like an idiot. I was supposed to go fishing with Dave!”
Kate ignored him, setting her bag down and heading to the kitchen.
“Why didnt you call a taxi?” she asked flatly, filling the kettle.
“Because I have a caror did you forget?” James snapped. “Like Id waste money on cabs!”
“So its fine for me to haul bags and a child on the bus, but not you?”
He opened his mouth to retort, but Kate was already in the bathroom, door firmly shut.
For the next week, she avoided mentioning the trip. But the thought wouldnt leave her: Should she go alone with Lillian? Tell James? Or just book it and inform him later?
She even printed out a few holiday deals but hesitated to pay. Every evening, she rehearsed imaginary argumentsexplaining, justifying, then slamming doors in her mind.
Then something happened that settled it.
On Monday, Oliviaa colleaguereturned from holiday. Tanned, glowing, with a new haircut, she radiated relaxation. She laughed about teaching her son to swim, seagulls stealing food, and how well shed slept by the sea.
Watching her, Kates chest tightened with envy. That day, sipping vending-machine coffee on her break, she made her decision. Her holiday started in two weeksplenty of time to plan.
She opened her phone, found a cosy hotel in Cornwall with a pool and breakfast, thenwithout hesitationbooked it.
The fortnight flew by. Outwardly, nothing changed, but Kates mind was already by the sea.
James, as usual, spent evenings glued to the telly or his phone, oblivious as she packed.
Lillian stayed at Margarets, blissfully unawareuntil the morning Kate woke early, dressed quietly, and ignored the kitchen mess from James late-night snack.
“Im fetching Lillian. Need to wash her things. Shell go back to Mums on Monday,” she said, passing him.
“Just have the car back by evening,” James
