Read Online Busy Woman Seeks Wife by Annie Sanders - Free Book Online

alarm, made biscuits for the journey, prepared
     a chicken casserole for supper—something easy, they’d be rushed—and taken the car to have the bald back tire replaced, it
     was time to scoop up the children.
    She practically had to peel them off the walls. “We’re going skiing, we’re going skiing,” sang Millie at the top of her voice.
    “Sssh.” Saff shepherded them towards the car.
    “Why, Mum?”
    “Because not everyone is as lucky as we are. They might not have something so exciting lined up for their holiday.” She made
     sure they were strapped in and pulled out into the road. “I’ve just got to fly into the supermarket on the way back to get
     some blister plasters.”
    “Harry’s going to his nan’s ’cos his mum works.”
    “Exactly, so it’s not nice to crow about what you’re lucky enough to be doing.”
    “Isn’t ‘nan’ a common word?”
    Saff winced. Oh, the melting pots that were London state schools, no matter how sought after. “Well, people call their grandparents
     lots of different things. Now, how was your day?”
    She had them fed, bathed and quieted down by the time Max came through the door, inevitably late.
    “Hello, my darling.” He kissed her on the mouth. “You smell delicious. Sorry it’s later than I said. The inevitable got-to-get-it-done’cos-I’m-off-on-holiday
     stuff.” He dropped the paper on the table. “Got a couple more calls to make. Did you sort the tire, by the way?”
    Saff turned back to the sink. “Er, yes. How was your day?”
    “Crazy. How much did you pay for it?” he persisted. Cautiously she told him. “What! Oh, Saff. I bet they told you the more
     expensive ones were better, didn’t they?”
    She knew this would be his response and she knew too she should have held out for the cheaper ones, but the way they had looked
     at her at the tire place as if she’d be an idiot to settle for anything but the most expensive had made her cave in. “I know.
     I know, but maybe they’ll last longer?”
    “Mmm.” He opened the fridge and picked at some olives. “You are a ninny. It’s not like we bomb up motorways all day long.
     The most that car does is school and back. Is everything ready?”
    Saff laughed, relieved at the change of subject. “Cheeky bugger. I’ve packed your bag and supper will be ready in about half
     an hour. Can you tell me where you put the travel insurance documents? I can’t find them.”
    “I’ll dig them out.” Max walked out of the room towards his study.
    “And, Max…” But the study door was closed behind him.
    With the children finally asleep, their clothes ready for the morning laid out neatly on the chairs in their bedrooms, she
     went back down to the kitchen and put on the vegetables to steam, emptied another load of uniforms and school art overalls
     from the machine and ticked off “wash bags” on her list. Pouring a glass of wine for herself and one for Max, she made her
     way down to the study and, balancing the glasses in one hand, opened the door.
    “Sure, that would be great.” He was ending a call. “I’ll see you when I get back, Greta. Have fun.” He dropped the phone and
     turned to her. “Thanks, love. You okay? Now, what time are we off?”
    The 4:30 alarm dragged them all from their beds. Millie refused to eat any breakfast and cried that the hamster would be lonely
     without her. Oscar wouldn’t wear the trousers she’d put out and threw a tantrum when he wasn’t allowed to turn on the computer
     to download more songs onto his MP3 player for the journey, and Max, having forgotten to dig out the health policy, dumped
     the contents of the filing cabinet on the floor of the study before he found it in the car insurance section. The plane was
     delayed and Millie was beyond fatigue by the time they reached the hotel.
    It was when she’d unpacked the suitcases as Max and the children went to get a pacifying hot chocolate in a favorite café
     that Saff realized she’d