FREE FLYING HEARTS -- A collection of short stories from Tonig73

The Park Bench Chronicles ... 2

Today, well.  Today.  It's been a while, kind and gentle reader.  Where did I leave off, .... Oh, yeah .... I screwed Larry over, is what I did !  Oh, my God, I felt awful, sleepless nights, the lot.  So, I took him a coffee and a sandwich anyway, it was the least I could do.  After Laurent's daughter left, he went and sat with Larry.  They shook hands, and talked till it got dark.  About what, I don't know, but I saw eyes being wiped, a back being rubbed in comfort, some smiles, even a laugh or two.  Oh, I hope they get on well.  I tried to talk with Larry, but I have a feeling he doesn't trust women, bless him.  Something has happened to that lovely man, and I hated the idea that someone had hurt him.  Maybe Laurent will let me in on his story, if he finds anything out.  But I doubt it though, he has that lawyer-client confidentiality look about him.  So, I'm playing catch up.  It's been so busy in the shop, I haven't had time to pee, let alone sit down to write, but here we are. 

Laurent meets with his daughter twice a week, usually on a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, after she finishes school.  I recognized her uniform as the most exclusive and expensive private school in the city, in the state for that matter.  I know he has her all weekend, every weekend too, but I never see them then.  Too much fun stuff for a 7 year old girl and her dad to get up to in the big city, I suspect.  When he comes in, he sometimes let slip about a movie she might like to see, or to ask where the best place is to take her to buy her pretty dresses.  She loves pretty dresses, apparently.  All girl then.  And lo and behold, the following Tuesday, she's wearing the most beautiful dress that her daddy had bought her, getting it dirty within five minutes.  Maybe a bit tomboy.  Her name is Elise, I found out.  A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.

Her mother, Cassie, is a doctor.  She and Laurent are still friends, have been since high school.  Why did they divorce ?  Don't have the balls to ask him that one.  Crossing a line even I won't cross.  But Larry, how's Larry, I asked.

"He's still mad at you, Eve, and so am I.  But you do the best gelato and coffee in the city, so .... "  I remember his smile, good lawwddd.  But he wasn't that mad any more, at least.  Larry, on the other hand ... 

"So, Laurent .... "  Gulp.  "You're single ?  How is that possible ... "  I batted my best eyelash flutter at him, to no avail.  

"Oh, it's possible.  But I .... I mean, there is ... "  His eyes widened slightly, looking into mine, suddenly censoring what he was about to say.  So there was someone else in his life, good for him.  He seems like a lovely man, and I want him to be happy.  That bod needs a good workout, lord knows.  And I volunteer ....

"And Larry ?"

"What about Larry ?"

"He ... has someone ... ?"

"Don't know."

"Laurent .... c'mon ... "

"Don't be so damn nosey, Eve !  If he wants to tell you, anything, he will."

"But he's so shy .... "

"Good.  Bye, Eve.  Thanks for the food."  Spoilsport !  

But that weekend, Laurent brought Elise to the park on his own.  They came in for gelato, and she is the sweetest thing.  Tall, like both her parents, big hazel green eyes, and a 'fro almost as big as her fathers.  She had pink lemonade sorbet, and Laurent had a fig, mascarpone and cognac gelato.  They have excellent taste, both of them.  As they left, Laurent guided his little miss through the shop, his large hand at the small of her back, all protective of his little girl.  Love it !

The best thing, though.  When Larry got there, Laurent took Elise and introduced them.  Larry held out his hand for her to shake, but Elise just enveloped him in the biggest hug a little girl could give.  I could've cried.  Well, maybe I did cry, but, oh my days !  Larry's face was a picture.