While Sarah showered and the girls dressed, I pulled on jeans and a t-shirt and went downstairs to prepare the picnic. I packed everything into a wicker basket, putting the bottle of champagne at the back. Then I put the basket into the boot of the car, along with the large blanket we'd used for sunbathing a couple of days before.
Sarah came downstairs, followed by the girls. "Gosh," she said, seeing the car ready to go, "that was efficient."
I'd already checked the map, and I drove us out into the countryside, to a place I'd been before. It was just inside the nearest national park, and off the main tourist routes. Especially on a weekday in term time, it was guaranteed to be practically deserted.
I drove to the very far end of the access road, and pulled the car onto the verge.
"Hope you brought reasonably sensible shoes," I said. "We'll be doing a little bit of scrambling."
We got out of the car, and Amy and Laura picked up the basket, carrying it between them. I took the blanket, and Sarah said, "Gosh, seems I get off lightly."
I grinned. "Well, you can always do the washing up."
We set off down the track, passing through woods full of bluebells.
"This is gorgeous," said Laura. "It'd make a lovely picture."
"We can come back before the bluebells are over," I promised her.
The track emerged from the woods at the bottom of a grassy slope, with more woodland at the other side.
"OK," I said, "this is where the going gets a bit rougher. The next piece of woodland isn't really on the public route, but I know the warden here, and he says there's nothing we can disturb or do any harm to."
I set out across the slope, Amy and Laura picking their way carefully with the basket, and Sarah following.
We reached the wood, and carried on into the trees until we reached the edge of a clearing surrounded by bluebells. Warm sunlight lit the grass, and at the far side of the clearing a small stream ran, murmuring gently.
The girls put the basket down and ran into the sunshine, Laura's hair glowing like gold in the light. Sarah and I followed them, and found a spot to spread out the blanket. Sarah lay down, her hands behind her head.
"What a perfect place," she said.
The girls came over, out of breath. "We'll fetch the basket now – we just couldn't resist, it's such a magical place."
They brought the basket over and Amy unfastened it. "Can I get stuff out?" she said.
"Sure," I grinned. She started to unpack and I waited for the reaction I knew I'd get.
"Oh!" she said. "So this is the surprise."
"Well, there might be more than one," I said, smiling.
She finished unpacking the picnic things and handed me the champagne. "I think you'd better open it," she said.
I pulled off the foil and untwisted the wire fastening, then put my thumbs on either side of the cork. The girls hammed it up, Amy putting her hands against her ears and screwing her eyes shut, while Laura hid her face against Amy's chest. Sarah smiled at their antics, then jumped, startled, as the cork left the bottle with a loud report.
The girls were in fits of giggles. "You haven't even drunk it yet," I pretended to scold.
I filled plastic glasses and made a simple toast. "To us."
"To us," they chorused, and drank. Laura got bubbles up her nose and spluttered, sending herself Amy into further fits of giggles. They eventually controlled themselves, and drained their glasses. "Is there any more?" asked Laura.
"Good job I brought a big bottle," I said, refilling the glasses. Sarah sipped hers, then closed her eyes and turned her face up to catch the sun. The light brought out the colour in her hair, and I felt tears prick at my eyes again.