Broken Descent (Bruno Mars)

Fill the Void

On the last day of school before summer break, the entire school had a picnic to celebrate. There were as many playdates between Charlotte and Madison as much as real dates between Bruno and Kimberly.

The four of them sat on a blanket on a patch of grass to eat. Afterward, the girls played around together with some of their classmates.

Bruno took a sip of soda and then returned his glance back to the field. A man in a suit walked toward the girls.

"Whoa, whoa..." Bruno said, standing up. "Who's that?"

Kimberly sighed. "Oh no..."

Bruno took one step toward Charlotte and Madison, before Kimberly brought him back.

"It's my ex-husband, Marcus."

"Oh...okay...I...I thought he wasn't around anymore."

"He pops up when he pleases. He's usually away on business. I'm going to go talk to him."

When Kimberly went to talk to Marcus, Charlotte came back.

"Is that Madison's dad?" she asked.

Bruno took a minute to look at Charlotte as she gazed off out to the field, to Madison with her parents. Her expression wasn't as cheerful as it had been before.

"So Madison has a mom...and a dad?" she asked weakly.

"Charlotte, remember the difference between a father and a dad?"

She nodded with a little smirk.

"I think he's a father...not a dad too. I don't think Madison sees him a lot."

Without another word, Charlotte lunged into his chest, sniffling a little.

"I love you," she said, her voice quieting into his shirt, "so much..."

"I love you so much too," Bruno replied, still holding her hands when she pulled away.

Charlotte peered again out onto the field.

"C'mon, Char...don't cry."

"I'm not," she smiled, wiping her eyes.

"Remember when you were in the field before playing with Madison and you were so happy? I wanna see that Charlotte again."

Bruno waited for her to calm down. With just a few minutes still left in the afternoon, Charlotte went to play with her other classmates. Kimberly soon came walking back, by herself. Bruno gave her a look when she sat down.

"She went with Marcus..."

Bruno shook his head. "That's crazy...I mean...he's never around...and then he just comes and gets to spend time with her."

"He's her father...I've always tried to get him into her life as much as possible. I mean," Kim smiled, "A girl needs her father in her life. You understand that more than anyone."

Bruno rested his hand on her shoulder. "Hey I hear ya. I hear ya...but being a dad isn't a pick and choose kind of thing. You're either all in or all out.

"It's different with us...sharing her."

"Are you defending him? Because he doesn't deserve her. Becoming a father was the best things that ever happened to me...it's not an obligation...it's a privilege. Madison's a great kid...he could see her more than he could...and he doesn't..."

"He always does this..." Kim stuttered, beginning to take Bruno's message, "then he leaves for months at a time and then comes back to save the day."