Playing with feelings

33

They were easing back into things. It had started with a "Good Morning" text sent by Emmy the day after she'd left his place. Now, it was becoming, or rather returning, to the routine they had developed once in the past. They would catch up on past times they'd missed through messages, but most of their conversations were simply keeping one another up to date with the present. For a week, it had been like this. "Good morning" texts kicking off the day early and setting the path for texts to follow long into the night.

In many of their conversations, the topic would lead to one or both of them talking about their daughters, and there was common ground in that both Daveed and Emmy agreed that the pair of best friends deserved to reunite as well.

The day had finally come that they would get to, and the summer weather was perfect for the activity they'd set out to do. Daveed had just finished packing up a beach bag, complete with everything from sunscreen to sandwiches for their lunch. He was already changed and ready as was Camryn, but another activity had taken precedence over them leaving.

He set the beach bag on the counter and went back to her room to check on her. He stood at the doorway and watched her steadily move across the carpeted floors. Balanced on her knees she would go from left to right folding tiny clothes and then setting them in a drawer.

Amber's birthday had been at the end of last month, and Daveed had gotten her an American Girl doll and plenty of clothes to go along with it. She'd been obsessed ever since and had insisted that she organized all her doll's clothes before they left. It was really no problem to Daveed, he couldn't complain about a child who asked to clean up, but he didn't want to be too late for Emmy and Camryn.

Just as his mind started to drift towards her, his phone ringed with a message from her contact. Might be a little late, sorry!, she wrote.

An instant smile approached his face just from seeing the contact that held both her name and an emoji heart right next to it, and he chuckled slightly upon fully reading the message.

In the same boat. Had a doll emergency lol, he messaged back.

At Emmy's place, she was sweating from the speed at which she was scrubbing her couch, and silently cursing herself for leaving Sharpies within reach. She had only been gone for 20 minutes, yet now she had spent the last 20 scrubbing the dark marker that had bled onto her light brown couch. It was slowly starting to come off and she was very thankful she didnt have to go furniture shopping.

Camryn stood to the side, watching her mother and holding the drawing that had led to the incident. Emmy had left her on the couch earlier so that she could shower and get dressed, but had failed to leave something to keep her busy. Camryn took it upon herself to find the closest thing which just so happened to be a piece of paper and a sharpie. She had been so excited to show her Mom the flower she'd drawn, but when she picked up the paper, the flower had been on both the paper and the couch beneath it.

Once Emmy had gotten the last of the petals off, she stood up and turned to the little girl in a bright pink bathing suit, "When we get back, I'm going to get you some crayons," she said as she fluffed her hair. Camryn giggled in response and Emmy couldn't help but join her as she carried her out to the car.

She buckled her into the carseat and started driving. The drive was short- only about 30 minutes from her neighborhood, so it was not long before she and Daveed were pulling into adjacent parking spaces. They waved at one another form the windows, and already she could see Amber wearing a wide grin in the backseat. It was a grin that matched Camryn's. They had spotted each other.

The two parents couldn't get their girls unbuckled fast enough, and the second Camryn and Amber were free, they were running to one another. Calling out each other's names, they quickly enveloped one another in hugs.