Someday? Never?

Fall Again

They arrived in Mark's neighborhood in no time. Once he pulled into the garage, he noticed that Estelle was still asleep, so he took the opportunity to go ahead and unload the car. When he slammed the trunk closed, that's when she woke up.

"Shit," she said, startled, "you scared me."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," he chuckled, "come on, I'll show you around."

His house was huge, spacious and surprisingly clean. With three guys living in the house, she half expected for random stuff to be everywhere.

"Damn, it's like a castle in here!"

Mark couldn't do anything but laugh.

"Yeah, that's what I was going for when I had it built," he chuckled, "old, gothic architecture is my favorite."

"I love this," she said in awe, "It reminds me of one of the places I took my senior portraits in high school."

"You were at a castle?"

"Nah, it was a church," she said, "you should do a photo shoot here."

"You think so? I've been thinking about it, but it's a lot of shit I'd have to move around."

At this point, she was walking down the hallway looking at the family photos. Mark was in the process of switching them.

"Yeah, this hallway alone is a beautiful setting," she said, kind of dejected.

He followed her line of sight to the last full family portrait of them. One of the last times his boys looked truly happy.

"It's kinda hard to let go of these," he sighed, "Pearson got upset that I was getting rid of pictures with her in them, so I kept this one up."

"I understand, but it doesn't make it hurt any less," she said, "I'm not mad, I'm just- I don't know, makes me feel kinda insecure."

"Y'know," he began, getting the frame off the wall, "this is one of the last times they looked happy. I remember getting them dressed and putting a trash bag over their outfits so we could have a quick lunch before going to the park. We got there and, of course, Pearson wanted to play. He begged Vic for the first thirty minutes of the session and she was adamant about keeping them clean. Pastels and grass stains don't mix, y'know."

She smiled, imagining Pearson's innocent little face begging to run around for a bit.

"Anyway, the photographer told us to head over to the swings and I'll be damned if Pearson didn't spot the only puddle in a twenty foot radius of the park. He immediately ran towards it, Austen ran to catch him on the other side and Vic was pissed. She was running in the same direction as me, about to fuss and cuss me out for letting Pearson get away. Meanwhile, Pearson took a huge leap and landed in the puddle as we all surrounded him to keep him from getting in and that's how the photographer got the picture. Us guys are smiling and whatnot, but Vic was irate. I only keep it for the look on my boys' faces, not to remember her or anything."

"I feel you, it's irrational and I'm probably overreacting," she sighed, "pay me no mind, I'll be fine."

She had tears welling up and she tried to blink them away.

"Ah shit," she laughed.

"You okay? I'll take it down, I'm sorry."

"No, no, it's okay," she said around a frog in her throat, "I'm just hormonal. I'll be fine."

"Ohhh, okay," he said in understanding, "Well... Do you need anything? I should have some stuff in one of the guest bathrooms."

"No baby, I'm fine. I have everything, thank you," she smiled.