First night on our own.

It was now the beginning of a New Year so potentially this new friendship would blossom, well that was my hope anyway. Snow was on the ground and the kids dad David invited them down to his house in Co Durham. Going there appeared to be loathed by the kids, there was always tears from both of them just before he came only leaving the last moments before they went to wash their faces and dry their tears.

I didn't have any opinion of David as I had never meet him, only listening to the kids and Amanda talk about him. I speak as I find so always give anyone a fair chance. The word arsehole was banded about a lot though. He came regular at 7pm on a Monday evening to take them out for a meal, which again they loathed. It was always the same pub, same drinks and menu to choose from. There was regularly tears when they got back because he seemed to show little compassion towards them, always talking big of what he was doing with his new family.

The Saturday afternoon came around but not soon enough somehow, I got a text to say they had just left and to come around. We put Rosey and Pepsi in the car and drove 20 minutes up the road to walk around some Forrest tracks. We didn't say much or walk that far as it was hard going and freezing just walking with our arm wrapped around each other, we threw a few snow balls for the dogs to jump and catch on the way back to the car.

When we got back to her house I put the stove on and Amanda phoned through the order for the Indian takeaway, which I drove through to collect along with the wine. The evening was lovely just us cuddled up on the sofa kissing, and the dogs flopped out on the floor in front of the stove. Amanda asked if I would like to stay the night, well that was an understatement, of course I did. An hour or so later we went up to bed.

It was strange waking up in someone else's house, someone else's bed to be more precise. It was lovely though. Amanda had to get up and tend to the horses, so as she did that I made our breakfast.

Honestly no sooner had we started eating, there was a knock on the door. Like rabbits frozen in headlights we looked at each other, yep it was David dropping off the kids. It was little after 9am and he had driven 50mins with them in the car so god knows what time he had them up?! I was beginning to see he thought time with the kids was toxic.
I said I'd get the door, don't know why I said that I must have been feeling brave. I opened the door with all three of them looking at me, with a look of  'what are you doing, wheres Amanda?' I confidently said "Hi, that's good timing have you had your breakfast?" The look on Davids face was a picture, the kids stepped in and I briskly walked back to my breakfast, sharing a reassuring kiss and snigger with Amanda.

Horses

The next day I was buzzing form the night before. I texted Amanda wishing her a good day. As I drove to work I passed her dropping of her eldest at the bus stop. We stole a moment, enough to say the smile said more than words ever would. I can't describe the feeling that I felt but it, warmed me in a way I never felt before. The amount of mistakes I made at work that day was unreal I felt like an apprentice all over again, I couldn't keep up with the rest of the lads I was working with. It's fair to say that drinks time couldn't come soon enough.

As I knocked on the door, I remember hoping things were going to be ok when she opened it. It was different now as I was stone cold sober, as all the dutch courage was gone. She came to the door dressed in her work wears, I went instantly scarlet. A grin appeared on both our faces, evidently things couldn't have been better.

She still had her horses to tend too so I went and gave her a hand mucking out, umm the sweet smell of ammonia. She had three horses, Prince an Arab, Charlie and Buttons both welsh pony's. Prince and Buttons both had a stable each and Charlie would just wonder around pleasing herself. Horses were a new concept to me and I was a bit standoffish unsure of how best to handle them without having my foot trod on. I did admire how she handled them, it was a true skill which was impressive to watch. The horses all had their quirks. Prince liked his creature comforts and would give anything not to be put outside if it was raining or cold, Charlie was quite a self important mare who liked to be left alone if she could, and Buttons was the entertainer of the group and had an uncanny knack of standing on the kid's feet to make them cry.

Drinks time was split between sipping Wine and kissing on the sofa. The chocs, cheese and biscuits were just not interesting enough anymore.