Apollo's Muse

Candice (Dad) XIV

* Pic is of Candice’s dad

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They pulled into the airport, Mum negotiating heavy traffic as they entered the car parking building. She grabbed the ticket, and unbuckled Rosa from her seat.

“It’s ten to nine,” she said, smoothing Rosa’s curls which had been mussed while she slept. “Daddy’s flight arrives at nine o’clock, so we’re just in time.”

Rosa rubbed her eyes sleepily, and wrapped her arms around Mum’s neck, and she obligingly scooped up the sleepy girl. Candice smiled, and relieved Mum of the car keys, locking up and following them through the busy building.

I love airports. So many places to go, places to be.

Her eyes scanned the digital boards placed high on the walls, clocking in the places and showing arrivals and departures.

I wonder what Morocco’s like, this time of year? 

She laughed at herself, a little.

One day, Candice, one day…

“Candice! This way,” Mum called, and she followed them to the observation area. A big plane had just landed, and they watched as people descended the big white steps, scanning the faces for Dad.

“Well, hello, hello. Is there anyone in particular you’re waiting for?” a deep voice tickled her ear and she jumped, whirling around and leaping into her dad’s waiting arms.

“Dad!”

“Hey, beautiful,” he crooned in her ear, and she felt Mum and Rosa join the hug. 

He smells so good. I love his cologne.

“We thought you were on that plane,” Mum laughed, her arms tightly around both Candice and her Dad. Dad freed one of his arms, and held them all close.

“I was on that plane - I was piloting. One of the perks to being the driver is you can leave a little early and skip customs,” he winked. Mum’s laughter was like silver bells.

Candice squeezed her eyes shut. 

So happy. Dad’s home.

She looked up, and smiled at him.

“You, my Dear, are stunningly beautiful,” he was saying to Mum, his eyes crinkled and sparkling. Mum blushed rosy pink.

Now I know where I get that annoying gift from, Candice smiled.

“And you!” Dad ruffled Rosa’s curls. “Are you an elf? Santa’s helper? A fairy? I can’t quite tell…”

She giggled and bit her lip, watching him with shining eyes.

“I’m a fairy,” she declared, wriggling out of Mum’s arms and into his. 

Candice let go, reluctantly, and watched Rosa tug at his hair, giggling that little laugh of hers that always made Candice’s heart squeeze. Mum was watching them, her eyes suspiciously shiny, and Candice looked away for a moment, her own prickling with tears.

He looks so good. I’ve always loved that uniform, she thought, admiring the white shirt and trousers he wore, the navy cap in his hand. His skin was tan, and his shoulders filled out the white material of his pilot’s uniform. Candice absently mused that he must work out somewhere. 

I’m so lucky to have such a cool Dad.

Mum finally got her turn for a hug, and they kissed for an embarrassingly long time.

I guess it has been six months.

Rosa pouted, watching them with wide eyes and crossed arms, and Candice grinned. 

“C’mere. Lets get a hot chocolate, hey? I’m hungry,” she lied.

They need their privacy for a bit, little sister. Let’s get you distracted…

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She held her hand and led her round the corner to the cafe that offered a breakfast menu. Candice scanned the array of pastries and muffins, pointing out a few to Rosa. Sweet treats were obviously the perfect thing to take Rosa’s mind off their distracted parents, Candice noted, as Rosa’s lips parted and she put both hands on the glass. The barista winced, and then threw Candice a lop-sided smile. 

He’s kind of cute.

“Good morning,” he lilted in an Irish accent. “Is there anything I can get you?”

Candice glanced at the menu chalked on the wall.

“Um, one large hot chocolate with extra marshmallows, and a medium mocha, please.”

“Coming right up. What’s the name?”

“Candice,” she replied, begging her cheeks not to blush under his smokey green gaze.

He winked at her, and she turned away.

Great. Tomato face is in the building.

“Found anything yet, Rosa?”

She crouched beside her sister, who pointed to a big pink muffin with sprinkles, her thumb in her mouth.

“Okay, it’s strawberry, is that good?”

Rosa nodded, her eyes still fixed on the muffin.

Candice surveyed the array for herself, and her stomach growled.

Naw, a mocha will do me.

She stood up, and the cute barista raised his eyebrows.

“One strawberry muffin, please.”

“With butter or margarine?”

“Butter, thankyou.”

Rosa hates margarine.

Candice paid and took their number, following Rosa across the room to a table overlooking the airfield. 

Rosa swung her legs impatiently, and Candice bit her lip.

I hope he’s quick. Or else she’ll forget about her muffin and try find Mum and Dad again.

Thankfully, he arrived in less than minute with their drinks and a tray of muffins.

“This is on the house,” he winked, sliding a steaming blueberry muffin across the table, along with her mocha.

Candice gasped. “You didn’t have to do that,” she protested.

“I wanted to,” he winked, bending to point out the three dimensional frothy kitten he’d created on the top of Rosa’s hot chocolate. Rosa clapped her hands in glee.

Wow, that’s actually pretty cool.

Candice looked down at her own mocha. 

A dimensional foamy heart floated on top of her steaming coffee, and a streak of chocolate powder created a cupids arrow.

She raised her eyebrow at him.

“You pick up many girls like this?”

“Some,” he winked. “Can’t blame me for trying, can you?”

She blushed and mumbled a thankyou, her cheeks flaming.

Damn it, damn it, damn it, what is wrong with me.

Dad’s rich baritone at the cafe counter saved her. The barista whisked away to serve them, and Candice sipped her coffee, trying to look calm.

Boys. I can't even keep up a conversation!? I need to go to prep school. This is ridiculous.

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