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

The Park Bench Chronicles ... 4

It's been so busy today, I haven't had chance to hardly breath, what the heck is going on ?  Anyway, it's quieter now, so let's catch up shall we ?  What started out as the Park Bench Chronicles, now seems to have moved indoors to become The Gelato Shop Chronicles, or The Larry and Laurent Chronicles.  But, who cares ?  As long as they are around, they brighten my day.  And I'm finding their journey, and the recording of it, intriguing to say the least.  Larry was in here earlier, so obviously nervous, he was so gosh darn cute.  He didn't look happy though.  

After he and I sat down and hashed out how he really felt, bless him, he seemed a lot happier.  He was chinking his cup with his spoon, and I had to stop him, he was driving my customers, and me, up the wall.  Lau had something to tell him regarding his daughter, he told me.  I knew he had to be a dad, I just knew it.  But to think his girlfriend had just run out on him like that, taking Ember with her, just broke my heart.  Larry is such a good, decent human being.  I don't know how he did it, how he still manages to face each day with that bunny toothed grin plastered across his face.  I don't know if I could.  

Anyhoo, Lau turned up.  I'm sorry, I couldn't help it, I let him know I wasn't happy.  I would defend Larry to the ends of the earth, even to Laurent.  Yeah, he felt me.  Me and my wrath.  I let him have both barrels.  Then he smiled.  Then Larry smiled.  Then everything went to shit. 

I kept myself busy, because it was, then I just pretended to be, because well, I needed to know.  What was going on.  I know Laurent is now officially Larry's attorney, working for him Pro Bono.  It seems Larry forgave him for the other night, I guess.  Laurent is a grown ass man, entitled to do whatever the fuck he likes, just as Larry is.  It just hurt my heart to see Bunny so upset over him.  Yeah, Bunny.  It suits him, dontcha think ?   

And then he goes and makes Bunny cry !  What the fuck .... I heard a little girls voice coming from the phone in Larry's hands, and assumed it was some kind of surveillance footage of Ember.  Of course he would cry.  That worthless woman had taken his little girl away, kidnapped her, and Laurent and his team had found her again.  And it made Larry cry, bless him.  I'd cry too.  They were having a serious discussion too, fuck, I wanted to know what was being said.  I'm in on this now too, ya know.  Oh, and look, now Laurent is looking into Larry's face, and holding his hands across the table.  Larry wants to pull away, I can see he does, but Laurent holds firm.  Why doesn't Larry just give into him ?  Oh, I hope they come to mean something to each other, I really do.  These two men have come to mean a lot to me too.  And, as the cliche' would have all of us believe, all I want is to see them happy.  

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Oh, my days !  I have to tell ya'll something now !  Bunny spent the day with his little girl !  Yeah, I know, right ?  I couldn't believe it either.  I cried, I really cried great big fat happy tears of joy.

"Don't Eve.  I know they're happy tears, but still."  Larry actually gave me a hug first.  He smiled that freakin' smile again, but I couldn't help but look down at his baby, his Ember.  Apparently, he used to go by the moniker 'Blaze' back in the day.  He used to dance, and he was really good at it, he was fire.  Hence, his and Embers' name.  And it suited her.  And she and Elise look so alike, they could have been sisters.  Tall like her dad, beautiful tawny skin, her hair in braids.  Tom boyish, in jeans and a black and white sweater.  

"How old are you, sweetheart ?"

"Six and a half." 

"Oh, the half is very important, huh."  She nodded emphatically.  Of course it was, or she wouldn't have mentioned it.

Larry just beamed, he absolutely glowed with pride.  He held Embers hand constantly, but so delicately, like he wanted to never let her go, but not so tightly that she couldn't pull away from him if she wanted to.  But, it seemed she didn't want to, any more than he did.  They just kept looking, gazing at one another.  The love between them, so obvious.  Ember loved her dad, so much.  And just the look she gave her daddy made me cry again.  Laurent and Elise were already sat, grabbing their favourite corner table when it became available.

"Go sit, my sweets.  What can I getcha ?"  

"Anything you like, Princess."  Larry told her.  If there was ever a time for treats, it was now.  "Mr. Bourgeois' treat."  Larry smiled, winking at me.

"Mr. Bourgeois, huh ?"  So formal.  Manners, though.  Manners could never go out of style, and I could tell Larry would insist on them just as much from Ember, as he did from himself.  

"Go sit, I'll bring your ice cream over to you."  Larry led her away, glancing back over his shoulder, the biggest smile cracking his face in two, tongue between his teeth, eyes crinkling at the corners.  He was so happy. 

Their laughter filled the shop, this lovely little group.  Sat at their table, the cafe' now quieter, two dads, and two daughters, laughing, chatting, being silly, as it should be.  As it should always have been.  I took them their ice cream, the girls having huge banana splits, the guys, iced coffee.  

"What have ya'll guys been doing ?"  I asked.  The girls eyes just lit up.  Elise spoke up first, with her usual confident self.

"Daddy and Mr. Bonner took us shopping, and we bought dresses, and some earphones, look !"  She rummaged around in the bag to show me her purchase.  Well, Laurent's purchase, but anyhoo.  

"Ember, what did you get, honey ?"  She cuddled into Larry's side, all shy now.  He spoke for her.  She wasn't as confident as Elise, and it made me wonder what kind of life she must have with her mother.  She looked like she might cry at any moment, if she spoke out of turn, or said the wrong thing.  And it broke my heart.

"We got some jeans, and a stuffie.  And we played at the park for a bit, didn't we ?"  Larry smiled at me as his little girl just curled into his side even more.  I nodded that I understood, and asked no more.  

"May I take a picture ?"  I held my phone up hopefully, Laurent looking to Larry for affirmation.  It was up to him, and he nodded his approval.  They all bunched up together over the table, the girls in front, cheesing as hard as they could, their dads behind them.  Larry throwing up some bunny ears behind Laurent's head at the last minute.  How apropos.  I thanked them, and trotted back to the counter. 

"They look so happy" one of my girls noticed.  I leaned back against the counter, and crossed my arms.  A huge wave of relief knocking me sideways.  I felt so emotional just watching these two wonderful fathers, and their lovely girls, I wanted to cry again.  About fucking time, I remember thinking.  I answered my lovely shop girls statement.

"That's because they are."  

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Just a little one this time ..... longer chapter next ..... lets get down to the juicy stuff, shall we ?  ... Awwww, Larry get's to be with his Ember ..... how did that happen ?  Tell me, tell me what you think ..... love ya'll ..... x T