Little Miss Maisy

Chapter seven: Bubbles

Rewritten | Eight

Since Maisy's arrival, things have changed around the Rose residence. For the better, of course.

But Darlene's death caused all kinds of repercussions, more than they ever knew.

After the divorce, Darlene raised Maisy in a small town in Michigan as a single mom. Bought a cute little fixer-upper, and pawned her wedding ring. According to the will coordinator, she even ran a small bookstore. One that she left to her kids.

All these little details were just being introduced to the Rose children. Learning that their mother had a whole separate life, was understandably a bit upsetting to them.

Not to mention exhausting, with all the paperwork involved.

"How come you're mad?" Maisy, tired of their glum moods, rested her head in her hands as she watched them shuffle through papers.

Teddy and her newest toy rested on the seat beside her, a little fuzzy planet she got from their latest trip to the planetarium. Still nameless because Maisy has yet to think of one.

"I'm not mad, sweetheart." Beau finally broke his gaze from the papers, reaching over to tousle her hair.

Maisy glanced around the room at all of her siblings again. They didn't seem happy, that's for sure.

"Okay, Beauy."

Beau ignored her remark and continued to shuffle through a small portion of the papers, looking for a specific document.

"Are you coloring?" Maisy began to realize everyone had some paper in front of them. It almost made her sad that they would color without her.

"No, honey—" Even though he was exhausted, Beau was trying to be a good brother. Today is not a day he can put all of that energy in. "Why don't you go play upstairs, okay? We can play later."

Maisy sighed and collected her stuffies, whispering to them in her arms as she left the room. "Beauy's grumpy today."

"I heard that, little miss."

Maisy mumbled a half-hearted apology before leaving the room, mouthing to her stuffies that she was right.

•. •. •.

Since they had so much paperwork to do, Cassidy took Maisy to the restaurant with her to treat her to some lunch.

Although, the rest of the siblings planned on stopping by in a little bit to work somewhere outside of the house.

Set up in a larger-sized booth, Maisy munched on her fries beside Teddy. Her planet left behind at home, Maisy decided he was tired.

"Miles!" Maisy squealed when she saw her brother walk through the doors. She's been in a good mood since she got some yummy food in her.

The key to every woman's heart, of course.

Before Cassidy could stop her, she hopped out of the booth and jumped into his arms. Using her 'indoor voice' squeal.

"Alright, alright—" Cassidy waved them both toward the booth, hoping to get them away from the walkways.

Once the rest of the Rose siblings got there, Maisy's happy mood soon dulled. They all seemed to be talking in their own, serious grown-up language.

She rested her head in her hand, tracing circles over the paper menu she was given. They've only been here for about fifteen minutes, but it feels like a lifetime. "Can we go home?"

"Not yet, Maisy." Beau rubbed his face, too stressed to at least lie to her.

"I'll take her." Eric interrupted before Maisy could ask any questions, sliding out of the booth and motioning for Maisy to follow.

Because he's only nineteen, he has less to do with all of it.

"Answer your phone if we call," Cassidy warned.

"Yeah-huh," Eric rolled his eyes, but grabbed Maisy's willing hand. She didn't mind leaving, she was bored out of her mind. "Let's go, Mais."

Eric didn't call for a cab once they got outside the restaurant, he didn't even attempt to. And instead of taking a left, the way back home, they went right.

Maisy stayed close to his side, very cautious of the cars on the street. "Where are we going?"

Eric didn't even spare her a glance, looking around him for somewhere to take her. "I thought we could both use some air."

It took a second for him to formulate a plan, but soon they started walking down the street. He brought her to a little kids store on the corner of the next block and bought her a container of bubbles.

Then he took her back outside to sit on the stairs to an apartment.

"When I was little, I loved bubbles." Eric finally broke the silence between them, cracking open the lid of the container. "I even named one of my fish Bubbles."

"I like 'em too." Maisy watched Eric blow some out, then reached out to pop one with her finger. The little bubble popped into small dots, disappearing into the air.

"How come everyone's so grumpy?" Maisy looked up to Eric for answers. No one would offer her anything, only shooed her away from the adult conversations.

Eric took in a sharp breath before he tried to put it into words, absentmindedly stirring the wand around the container as he did so. "Well . . ."

"Those grown-up papers don't make them very happy."

It was quiet again for another moment, the only sound was the lively city. Until Maisy took the wand from Eric's hand, failing at blowing a bubble.

Each one seemed to pop straight away, withering to the ground.

"Like this," Eric gently took the wand from her, demonstrating the perfect amount of breath to produce an airy bubble. "Gentle. Like when you blow on hot food."

Trying again, using his genius methods, Maisy succeeded. Her bubble wasn't as big in size but had the same blissful glint. "I did it!"

A hint of a proud smile pulled at his lips as he watched her blow another one, watching his little sister master bubble blowing. "Good job, Mais."

They say there for a while longer, briefly forgetting about their troubles.

•. •. •.

"So, what're you going to name that little guy?" Beau tucked the covers around Maisy, gesturing to her little orange planet resting beside her.

Staring at him as she contemplated something she thought about earlier, Maisy stretched her word. "Umm—"

I even named one of my fish Bubbles.

Her lips curled upwards into a smile as the perfect name popped into her head. "Bubbles!"

_______________________________

Bubbles the planet...beautiful

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