The End

Chapter 52: No Such Thing

The spring sunshine warmed the white canopies of the Malibu Farmers Market.  12-year-old Tallulah Dempsey walked alongside her dad. The salty air, fresh coffee, and earthy produce filled her nose, leaving behind a sense of calm and security. This had become somewhat of a weekly tradition.  A moment when time slowed down.

There was something different about Patrick today. He seemed to be more in his head than usual. Still, he took an interest in her. Asking for her suggestions, trying desperately to get her to talk about school.

"You want coffee," he joked gesturing toward the espresso vendor.

"I'll pass," she smiled.

Patrick nodded, but she watched his expression drift into something distant.  For a minute he was lost in thought. An almost pained expression crossed his face. And then it dissolved as if someone had splashed away the reflection.

He seemed to rejoin her in the present and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "We'll find you a pastry...How's your cooking class going?" he asked her softly, knowing she had just started home economics classes and that cooking was her favorite.

"It's great," she nodded, "I really like the teacher."

"Making anything fun?" Patrick inquired as he drifted along  the vendor canopies toward  the eggs.

"Mostly amateur stuff," Tallulah shrugged.

Patrick chuckled lightly, "Ok, chef... like what?"

"Orange Julius," Tallulah rolled her eyes.

"The drink?" he asked as he picked over the eggs.

"Yeah," she nodded, "Do we need eggs?" She noticed how intently her dad was picking through them.

"I heard these are great," he said picking up the carton and taking it to the vendor. He handed cash to  the older woman at the stand. She smiled, knowing exactly who he was but choosing not to draw attention to it, "Thanks," he smiled.

They resumed their slow walk. The sun dropping in the sky, the market scents fading into the smell of freshly baked pastries.  There was something about pastries that made Tallulah light up. She wasn't sure if it was the idea of having sweets for breakfast or the fact that these kinds of pastries felt so detailed and elegant. She popped a few chocolate croissants and some other pastries into a box. Patrick grabbed a loaf of bread at the last minute and then passed T the money to pay the vendor.

"What do you have in there?" he peered over her shoulder, ready to snag one of her treats.

She smiled at the way he leaned over her shoulder and playfully hid her pastries.

"I think Mom wanted strawberries," Tallulah said gesturing over to the produce table. It was a colorful collection of both familiar and foreign fruits and vegetables.

"Ok," he nodded, another strange expression crossed his face. She heard his breath leave his lips.

"You ok?" she questioned him.

"Yeah," he nodded, "Just tired today."

"Shoulda got you that coffee," Tallulah smiled.

"Still time," he said with a hum.

She poked at the strawberries as her dad turned to calculate the distance back to the coffee vendor. "Hey you," the tone of his voice took her by surprise. Tallulah hadn't heard that side of him before. Soft. Eager. Intimate.

She flipped around quickly to see who he was talking to. T's eyes focused instantly on Ellen and Stella heading toward them. Patrick cleared his throat, drawing her attention back to him. There was a battle between restraint and instinct.  His body instantly picked up his pace and then settled as if he held back his urge to greet her. A smile spread across his lips.

He shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot before reaching to hug her. Tallulah quietly observed the clumsy approach. Then something settled between them, an obvious comfort. He parted from her slowly. His hand tracing her back, lingering at her waist.

"Don't you see enough of me Dempsey?" Ellen joked.

"No such thing," his voice was too sincere.

Tallulah watched Ellen's unusual reaction. She appeared to be desperately trying to hide the way Patrick's words hit her cheeks. Both a little surprised, and little concerned, all laced with an ease Tallulah couldn't place. Ellen cleared her throat, "hey," she said pointing to the eggs in Patrick's hand, "You got the eggs."

A smile broke across Patrick's lips, "We'll see if they live up to your hype."

Tallulah glanced between them, realizing suddenly that she was the person who had recommended them. 

"Oh and pastries," Ellen said, gesturing to Tallulah's selection, "Who is this?!" She touched her arm, "You are so grown up. You're beautiful."

"Thanks," she smiled.

"Look at her," Patrick remarked at Stella, "She was a baby five minutes ago."

"Time has a way of doing that," Ellen smiled. Even through her sunglasses, Tallulah could see Ellen's eyes dance with Patrick's. Again, Ellen shifted, trying to cover whatever had passed between them, "I won't keep you," she took Stella's hand.

"See you in," Patrick glanced to his watch, "20 hours."

Ellen somehow managed to both giggle and groan.

Patrick laughed.

Tallulah started to walk, Patrick following behind. She watched as he swallowed hard, fighting an internal battle. And then, unable to resist, he took one last look. Tallulah followed his gaze.

The moment, so ordinary, so fleeting, lingered in Tallulah's chest.

It was the way he'd put so much care into choosing the eggs she'd suggested, the way he'd been hesitant to part from her embrace, the sincerity in his tone when he said 'no such thing'. 

And for the first time in her life, Tallulah saw his connection with Ellen firsthand.