Happy Endings

08. thursday

"Easy as an ice cream sundae slipping outta your hand into the dirt."

☼

Kellin Quinn knocked on his sister's front door exactly three times, in a beat that had become their signature greeting ever since she moved into her apartment barely a year ago. Penny stood beside him, hugging her plushie Imon to her chest with one arm and holding her favorite purple bag with the other.

The child seemed excited to spend the rest of the evening with her auntie, Kellin explained briefly why he had to go out that night (leaving out who he was meeting in case she got way too excited) but he doubted she truly understood. He knew she was happy nonetheless. Little Penny loved any moment she got to spend with her family no matter what.

The pair didn't have to wait long for the door to open and show an eager Tay behind it. Kellin's sister was in PJs which wasn't that unusual considering the time. It wasn't even that late, but anytime Tay was home she wore pajamas, claiming there was no reason to do otherwise. She stood by that pretty seriously.

"Well if it isn't my favorite people," Tay grinned and moved forward to hug Kellin and kiss him on the cheek.

"Ugh, Tay," Kellin complained and dried his cheek. A common occurrence among the siblings.

She ignored him and crouched down to hug Penny next.

"Auntie Tay!" The girl exclaimed happily, her way of saying hi.

"Hello my sweet P," Tay greeted affectionately and kissed the top of her head. "Ooh and hi Imon."

Penny giggled as she made her unicorn plushie wave hello to her auntie too.

"Come on in guys," she motioned for them to walk inside. "Sorry if it's a bit messy, but you know how it is."

Kellin held back a laugh and nodded. He definitely knew. Tay's apartment was relatively small, but the moment she found it it was love at first sight. Kellin could see its charm really, and his sister knew how to make any place feel like home. Her decor was more peculiar than not, way opposite from how Kellin liked to keep things, but he loved visiting his sister just as much as Penny loved to spend time there.

Her building wasn't as close to his or Beth's house but the drive wasn't so bad. Tay always wanted to experience independence and Kellin guessed she was making the most of it since finally getting her own space. Beth was not keen on the idea, especially since it wasn't the fanciest of places, but Tay didn't let her mom get in the way of her wishes. She was doing good and that was all that mattered in the end.

Some indie song was playing from Tay's record player in the corner of the living room (that was also the dining room) and Penny was drawn to the soft guitars and melodies instantly. The little girl sprinted towards the sounds and started eyeing the console and the big collection of records that Tay kept beside it. Her green eyes were huge with wonder at the spinning black disc and the colorful racks.

Kellin saw his child swaying a little to the music and the sight tugged at his heartstrings for only a millisecond before he focused on dropping Penny's backpack on the blue sofa. It didn't go past him, that Penny had this growing love for music already. He knew it scared him more than it should. It should be a good thing, he often thought. But just as those thoughts started to grow he tore them out. It was just music. Everyone enjoyed music.

Tay closed the front door and, unlike Kellin, smiled at her niece eyeing her records. Maybe tonight she would start up Penny's path towards an immaculate music taste, but she wasn't going to tell her dad about that. Before she did that though, the brunette had another, way more important mission: scoop out the reasons why she had to suddenly babysit on a Thursday night.