"Chantal, come on dear, hurry up."
"I can't get my earrings in, Mum."
"Here, let me. Oh (tut), these ones are so fiddly; I shouldn't have let you buy them."
"I like them, Mum."
"Yes, I know, love, and they do look good on you. Ah, there, that's got them."
"Right, let me look at the pair of you."
"Oh, Abby, that dress suits you so well. You look lovely, darling."
Sigh, "My two beautiful girls."
"With their beautiful mother."
"Thank you, sweetheart. Now, let's go, Dad's waiting, and we are supposed to be at the restaurant by seven; the whole family is coming."
"Including drippy cousin Elwin."
"Now, now, Abby. Be nice."
"Yeah, yeah, okay, Mum."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
They linked arms and, "Mum, now that you're turning forty and becoming an old duck, don't worry, Abby and I will still love you."
"Ha! And I love you two, but sometimes I don't know which one of you to whack first. Old duck, indeed! What cheek."
Napier watched his wife and daughters walking arm in arm down the stairs towards him. They were laughing together as they so often were. He allowed himself to enjoy once again that little trace of smug self-satisfaction - 'excellent wife and wonderful mother' . . . absolutely.
YOU ARE READING
Brandy and the Hijack
AdventureThis long short story (or novelette) centres around the hijack of a luxury motor yacht, and how that hijack affects one person in particular, and what subsequently befalls that person. It contains abuse, exploitation, betrayal, loss of hope, violenc...
