Quixotic (2)

27

He parked the car, and helped the child to her feet near his legs, "It's getting dark, so you have to stay close." He looked down at her attire once more, knowing it would be difficult to keep track of her black coat once the sun set.

He lifted her into his arms, and walked toward the ticket booth, "I'm a huge fan." The man behind the booth hummed as he printed the tickets, but his eyes paused when he looked at the little girl in his arms, "Is she yours?" The stranger asked with a hesitant smile, and Brian shook his head in silent response. He could feel the slight tension in the air as he accepted the tickets, and forced a smile on his lips, "It was nice seeing you."

Brian walked away with the child, and told her the rules again, "Don't run off with anyone else, and stay close."

"Exactly!" Mila said with a grin, adding, "If you are in trouble, you crow like a bird!" She told him proudly, saying, "Like this Er EEER EEr EEEEEEERR!!!"

"Got it." He said with a laugh behind his voice, asking, "Is that what Aria tells you?" The child nodded, and he smiled as he placed her to the ground.

It wasn't a Christmas festival, but the atmosphere seemed as though it would have been. There were lights draped over the trees around the entire area. An area to the right was blocked off with small carnival rides, and a fairy tale play area for children. Brian assumed Mila would run in that direction first, but a band played on the main stage and people danced in the audience. That caught her attention more than the other options, "Let's go!" She exclaimed, running forward.

Brian panicked as the child weaved forward through the thick crowd of people, and struggled to relax when he found her watching the people dance, "Can I dance?" She asked excitedly, and he motioned toward the dance floor.

She bounced on her toes and skipped into the dance area. After a few fast-beat songs played, a slow song began, and everyone paired up to dance. Mila remained confident as she danced by herself within the crowd. Lifting her leg above her head while keeping her balance, she was spinning like a ballerina in the crowd when Brian approached her, "May I have a dance, your majesty?" He asked, bowing to the child.

She curtsied, a smile on her lips as she answered, "You may."

He spun her beneath his arm, swaying back and forth with her in a formal dance. He could see people eyeing him, and lifted the child to his hip as he swayed to his own beat. The music sped up, and he placed Mila on the ground, bowing to her formally. She curtsied again, and a laugh escaped her lips, "Mr. Brian, you can't dance!"

"I know, I know." He hummed, shaking his head with a smile as he reached to take her hand, "Come on, we need to eat."

Sitting on the ground beside her, they split a six-piece chicken tender meal. Mila avoided the chicken as much as she could, but devoured the fries, "Did you enjoy today?" He asked her with a smile on his lips, "You're probably exhausted."

"Yeah, I'm a little tired." The child shrugged.

"Did you have fun at the park?" He asked her again, and she smiled up at him.

Nodding, a laugh escaped her lips as she answered, "Yeah!"

"Eat three more bites of chicken, then we can go ride some rides." He told her with a smile, taking a bite of his own food.

Looking up as a shadow spread across the ground, blocking the light that shined over their food, he met the eyes of three excited teenagers, "Can we take a picture?"

Of course, he couldn't deny them, "We're huge fans!" One of them said, and he smiled for the camera. His eyes darted down to look at Mila for a moment, catching her throw one of the bites of chicken toward the grass.