Lisa packed up a picnic for the day at the Adventure Park, she always packed more than she needed to just for her and Tommy. The park was a 2 minute walk from their house, it was the kind of park where the the parents sit down and the kids just go off and play on the apparatus which is mostly handmade of wood.
It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, perfect for the start of summer. Lisa made her way to the adventure park with Tommy holding Tommy's hand across the busy road. They arrived at the Adventure Park " Right off you go, I'll be here if you need me" she said as she pointed to a vacant place in the park. She threw out her blanket on the patchy grass, which has obviously been used many times before. She got out her book, put on her sunglasses and let the world pass her by.
A little after an hour since Lisa and Tommy arrived at the park, Charlie come running in shouting to get Tommy's attention "Tommy, I'm here!", Tommy being on the wooden pirate ship that had been handcrafted. They ran towards each other like they hadn't seen each other for ages. Lisa, sipping her mineral water at the time looked up from her book and saw that Tommy had a friend to play with. She was happy.
Olly come walking in the entrance of the Adventure Park, messing about with his blackberry, checking his messages and his raising twitter count. He didn't have a bag, just his trilby and a football. He wasn't used to spending day's out with his son. He remembered that he enjoyed summer days kicking a football with his dad and friends. Olly made his way over to the boys, "Hey Tommy, nice to see you again, I didn't know you were going to be here today", the boys looked at each other with a knowing look. "So do you boys want to have a kick about then?" Olly asked. "No its ok dad you go and sit over there and we will be on the pirate ship" Charlie pointed in the direction of Lisa.
Olly went towards Lisa and saw a spot just behind her, he thought to himself, great I'm here in a kid's playground, what am I going to do? He continued to look at his phone sending messages and updating his twitter status "Am sat here all alone, anyone wanna keep me company?"
Tommy ran to his mum "Mum, can I have a drink? I'm hungry, is it lunchtime yet?" Lisa looked at her watch it was 12.00. Lisa pulled out some ham sandwiches and some quavers and a fruit juice drink in a carton.
Charlie ran to his dad "Dad, I'm hungry and I want a drink can I have one?", "I'm sorry champ, I didn't bring anything, sorry we will have to go home and get something unless they have something here" Olly replied. Lisa turned round and hearing this said to Charlie "Here, come here Charlie, help youself" looking through the cool bag and fetching more food out for him. "Here's a drink too hon". "Thanks Lisa" Charlie called her that, he had been to her house many times, "No worries darl" she responded. "Thanks, that was really nice of you. I'm a bit out of practice with all these". She turned round and caught the eye of the male voice, he walked towards her and put out his hand for a handshake "Hi, I'm Charlie's dad, Olly nice to meet you". She knew who he was but she didn't realise that he was Charlie's dad, she always met with Dawn when picking up the boys or retrieving from each other's house, and she knew that Charlie's last name was Murs but she didn't put 2 and 2 together, she has always had blond moments. She put out her hand to shake his and looking into his eyes "Hi I'm Lisa, Tommy's mum, would you like a sandwich?" Olly looking at his stomach and thinking to himself when's the next time I'm going to eat "Sure", "You can sit down, help yourself I always pack too much anyway" she said.
There was an awkward silence, a silence where you could hear a pin drop, the childen's voices in the park were silent due to it being lunchtime. Tommy and Charlie had run off to their hideway spot on top of the pirate ship. "So, erm erm I hear you love me" Olly hated awkward silences, Lisa just burst out laughing "Ha ha who told you that" she had a laugh which was like a belly laugh and both Olly and Lisa was in hysterics. "Oh I'm sorry, that was just so funny that you come out with that, yes I am a fan, I didn't realise you were Charlie's dad though". "Yes, am a little busy so don't get to take him out often, and that's why I am here really". "Your mum takes good care of him though she is a lovely lady" she went on, " Charlie is a very bright young thing". Olly smiled "Thank you, so if your a fan do I follow you on twitter and are you coming to my tour next year?, she responded flirtingly but not realising " Unfortunately not and maybe", "Well, lets change that shall we" he said coyly. He got out his blackberry and uploaded his twitter and asked her her twitter id, "@lisammurs" she smiled not trying to laugh. He laughed, but it wasn't awkward "Your a bit presumptuous, aren't you", "Stop it you" slapping his thigh playfully. "Well your added, count yourself as special" he playfully pushed back.
"Muuuuummmm" Tommy screamed, Olly and Lisa shot up from their mid conversation. They ran towards the scream, there was Charlie laying head to toe covered in mud. Olly laughed "What's happened to you champ?", "I jumped off the ship and I didn't realise it was a muddy puddle" he responded. "Well looks like we will have to go home and get you changed". Tommy butted in " We got clothes down the road, he can get changed as mine". Olly looked at Lisa willing her with his eyes to say yes, he was enjoying her company. She nodded with agreement "Of course, and I need a cup of tea anyway". Just then she felt a drip on her nose, then more, then the heavens opened. They were going to have to make a run for her house. They swept up the blanket, remaining food and her bag and made a run to her house. Typical British weather.
By the time they got home all 4 of them were soaked head to toe. Lisa got out 4 perfectly white towels to dry themselves off. The mud from Charlie's clothes had more or less come off with the rainwater. "Right boys you go and get changed, Tommy can you sort out some clothes for Charlie please" she instructed them. "I'm really sorry Olly, I don't have any male adult clothes in the house, do you want me to put them in the dryer for you", "Er what?" he answered. "Sorry" she said "I just asked if you wanted me to put your wet clothes in the dryer so they aren't wet no more I can give you a couple of towels". "Oh no I'll be ok they'll dry" he thought what she said just thirty seconds ago before; that there was no male adult clothes in the house, does that mean she is single he thought to himself. "Cup of tea Olly?" "Yes please, something to warm me up" "Milk?, sugar?" "Yes please", "Yes please, to both, 1 and a half sugars for me please Lis". No one had called her Lis since Michael left, she used to quite like it. "Come sit down Olly" she said. He walked towards the sofa and chose to sit on the opposite sofa. Comfortable conversation flowed, "So you know I'm going to America next month?" "yes I read about it, going to be quite successful aren't you", "well we are going to see how it turns out, god it's gone so quickly since I auditioned to now". "You'll do well, I'm sure as long as you've got females flocking at your feet" Lis answered. Olly looked at her into her eyes and just smiled, just silence.
Silence, there was not a noise. Lis didn't hear a noise not from upstairs when the boys were supposed to be getting changed. She ran up the stairs, and saw 2 little boys asleep on Tommy's bed. Lis, came downstairs and smiled "well it seems they had a big adventure, they are out for the count", they didn't realise the time it was 9.00pm. Olly smiled "it seems like we have all had a big adventure today", "Yes seems like it, don't disturb him Olly, he can stay here the night and I'll drop him at your mum's in the morning". Olly took that as his cue to leave, he turned to her and said "Thanks I had a great day and I reckon Charlie did aswell". She didn't want to let her guard to him and replied "If you ever need me to have him you know anytime, and give you mum a break I don't mind and it's company for Tommy too". "Seriously? thank you, I might take you up on that offer... erm Lis, can I have your phone number?, you know if I ever need you to have Charlie". Not really stating the real reason why he wanted it, "Sure" she said naively. She passed her phone number to him written on a scrap of paper from an envelope. He looked at it, smiled, put it on the inside of his jacket and gave her a hug. "Thanks for today Lis, I really appreciate it". "No worries" she replied. Then Olly turned around and walked out of the front door, she was standing in the doorway giving him a little wave. She shut the door and he looked back, he knew at that moment she was the one.
