Summer holidays were Catherine's favourite time of the year. Historically it had been time away from school, a chance to relax, unwind and let the stresses of school life go. Now though, it was about having two weeks off work to get away from the lecherous boss who hounded her constantly with his innuendos and sexual metaphors. It was also a chance to reconnect with her parents Bob and Sylvia, and her younger brother Jace.
Bob and Syl were retired police officers who had always been strict. They didn't like any kind of horseplay, so as kids Cath and Jace got a hard time every time they argued, which was a lot. Their sibling relationship could hardly be called loving, actually it might be fair to say they hated each other.
As Catherine pulled in to the driveway she noticed a nice newish Volkswagen. It was a light shade of blueish green and a lot nicer than the runabout she'd been driving since passing her test. She also saw Jace walking out of the house and down the drive. On opening her car door she called to him. "You ok, dickless?"
He walked on ignoring her as she smiled slyly, unwilling to take part in her pathetic baiting. She walked up the three stone steps to the front door, opening it and entering as she called. "Anyone home?"
"Welcome home honey." Syl called. "We're in the dining room."
Walking through the hall and the open kitchen door at the back she looked to the right seeing her parents sitting at the table drinking wine. "Little early for drinking isn't it?" Cath asked as they took another sip.
"It's afternoon and we're adults, and beside I think we've earned it today." Her mother said with a bitterness to her voice.
"What's he done now?" Cath Asked.
"It's not his fault. Your dad and I have decided we want a break so we're going away tomorrow for a week. He didn't like it because he wasn't invited." Syl said as she took another gulp from her glass.
"Oh you have got to be kidding!" Cath's tone letting her parents know that she was also less that happy at their plan. "I get to come home for a short time and you've decided to dump me with that snotty little turd. I might as well go home."
"You need to stay and make sure Jace doesn't get up to any mischief. We'll be back next week so we can spend some time together, but your dad and I need...us time."
A shiver of revulsion travelled through Cath at the thought of her parents being intimate. "What's in it for me? I could just go home and leave him to his 'mischief', no skin off my nose. It's not like you even asked me."
Bob piped up for the first time since she walked in. "The Volkswagen outside is what's in it for you."
Cath stopped her snarky huff and her eyes brightened. "Are you serious? You got me a new car?"
"As long as you make sure Jace doesn't burn the house down or have any parties while we're away." Syl added.
Cath rushed out to look at the car. A 2014 Volkswagen Beetle. "It's amazing. Oh my god I can't believe it, but what will we do with the old Micra?"
"We thought you might give it to Jace. He's passed his test and needs an old banger." Bob said knowing Cath couldn't really refuse since she had a shiny, newer car.
"Deal. Let me move my stuff out of it and he can do what he wants with it." Cath said getting straight into the job of clearing her things out.
After about half an hour Syl called her in for food. She walked in with a huge grin on her face. "Thank you both so much for my new car."
"Just go easy on Jace this week while we're away. He's had a pretty tough time of things recently. Kim dumped him on Tuesday and work laid him off yesterday."
'No wonder he wasn't giving it back to me when I called him dickless' Cath thought. "I didn't realise he even had a girlfriend. I might know someone who has a job. I'll ask Sarah if her dad has anything."
"I'm sure he'd appreciate that." Syl said as she finished her glass, pouring another. "We're going to pack in a bit. Make yourself at home."
"This is my home, Mum!" Cath said with some disdain in her voice. Syl let it go. She was too tipsy to care.
Cath left to deal with the particulars of the car like buying insurance and taxing it while her parents went to pack their things. While Cath was in the car she saw Jace walking back towards the house. "Hey Jace, how do you like my new ride?"
"He was still trying to ignore her but the jealousy got the better of him. "That's your car? What the fuck?" He was understandably annoyed. She already had a car and his parents had bought her another.
She smiled enjoying his pain for a few seconds before throwing the keys to her old battered Micra to him. "What're these for?" He asked.
"This is my car. That one is yours now." She said knowing he'd at least got something from the deal.
His face was a picture. He smiled at his sister for the first time in years. "You need to sort out insurance and tax. It's got an MOT on it until January and about half a tank of fuel."
He nodded his appreciation and went inside. "Hey mum, dad?" Jace called.
"Upstairs son." Bob called back.
Jace went up to their room where they were packing. "Any chance I could get some help with insurance for the Micra? I've never needed to do it before."
Bob agreed to help him out and took him down to his office to get some quotes. Cath was still sitting in her car enjoying her new space. The thought of asking her friend Sarah about a job for Jace came back to her. "One good turn deserves another." She said to herself as she turned the key, pushing the gear lever forward and moving off the drive.
It took only a few minutes to get to Sarah's house. She went to the door and knocked. Sarah answered. "Cath! Oh my god I didn't realise you were coming home. I've missed you."
"I wanted to surprise you. Fancy a ride in my new wheels?"
"Oh, nice!" Sarah walked over to look at the car. "How did you afford this?"
"My parents bought it to replace the skip on wheels I was driving. Jace has that now." Cath told her.
"Oh poor Jace. He's had it pretty tough this last week."
Cath nodded actually feeling somewhat sorry for the little turd. "I did need to ask a favour for him. Does your dad have any jobs going in the factory?"
"He's always got jobs going but will Jace want one? It's pretty disgusting and smelly work." Sarah admitted.
"If he wants a job and there's one available I'm sure he'd take it." Cath's imagination was wondering what job could be so bad smelling and disgusting.
"Tell him to come over and speak to my dad. I'm sure he'll be happy to take him on. At least until he quits." Both girls laughed at the thought.
"Why is the job so disgusting?" Cath enquired.
"Tanning leather is a gag worthy job. It's smells like a thousand arses all farted at the same time in a small space after eating eggs and sprouts for a week."
Cath's stomach turned at the description. "I'll tell him to come over later."
"Ok. Let's go for that drive." Sarah said excitedly.
Back at the house Jace and Bob had found a cheap insurance quote that Jace could afford. Bob agreed to tax the car so that Jace could drive it.
As he was about to pull out of the driveway Cath and Sarah pulled in. He turned the engine off and got out to welcome Sarah. She was the same age as Cath at 23, 4 years older than him. He'd always had a crush on her but he didn't have the balls to ask her out. "Hi Sarah, how've you been?"
"I've been ok Jace. Hey, your sister just asked if there were any jobs for you at my dad's factory. Come round later on. I'm sure you'll get one."
Jace thought all his Christmases had arrived at once. A car and the opportunity for a new job on the same day? Awesome, and both because of his sister. He hated her a bit less for it.
"So, you gonna take us for a spin bro?" Asked Cath. "Nice afternoon for a drive!"
"Get In then." He told them as he ducked back into his skip on wheels.
The girls got in, Jace started the car and they left heading out of town and into the countryside. "If I didn't know better I'd say you'd been driving for years." Cath told him.
"You've only just started driving Jace?" Sarah asked him.
"First time flying solo." He said trying to concentrate with his crush sitting beside him.
"I wouldn't have known either." She said. "How about taking us up to view point?"
View point was a small car park up on top of a hill overlooking the bay below. The evening was glorious. The sun shone down and the view was clear for more than ten miles before it became hazy, the hypnotic wind farm turbines out in the sea giving a sense of huge scale.
Jace had always fancied Sarah but he felt like such a loser he could never muster the courage to ask her out, but today he'd got a car and possibly even a job. Doesn't good luck come in threes? While Cath went ahead he stopped Sarah. "Hey, I'm... um... I mean... I wondered if... um..."
"Jace, you're a nice kid but you're not my type." Were her words. She'd known he liked her, for a long time, but she definitely didn't feel the same way in return.
Jace's face flushed red as his confidence hit the floor again. "I'm sorry Jace, it really isn't anything personal. I just don't see you that way."
He nodded and they carried on walking after Cath. They sat on the big rock overlooking their town. It was a seaside town that had fallen on hard times. A lot of the attractions that brought tourists in past years had gone but nothing had replaced them. The tourism had taken a hit because of it and without tourists the town was in decline. Addicts from other towns and cities were being dumped there so it was also affecting property values.
Jobs were scarce so he was thankful for the chance to apply for one with Sarah's dad, as long as he hadn't cocked it up already by asking her out.
"It's so pretty up here." Cath said. "I miss it so much. I know I only live 70miles away but it's not like I want to drive that every day."
"I'll happily drive it if you want me to come and get you. I love driving." Jace offered.
"Just wait until you've been driving a while, you'll think it's a chore."
The trio sat for a couple of hours talking about things they'd been doing. Jace and Cath seemed to be getting along. Something that hadn't happened since they were four and eight respectively.
As the sun dipped over the water in the distance, Cath said. "Come on. Our parents will be wondering if we're ok."
Jace drove them back to town and stopped outside Sarah's house. "Want to come and ask my dad now?" She asked.
