Gone Ghosthunting With Chanel

7. Lets Play Mini Golf

Chapter 7 - Let's Play Mini Golf

We pulled up to a miniature golf course just outside of Las Vegas. Once we got inside the place it looked a lot larger from the inside of the park. Green carpets to look like grass were sprawled everywhere. Little sidewalks rounded about the place makes several paths. Each with a harder difficulty than the last.
We walked over to the easier one for parties with kids. They're sure were a lot of couples here, I thought as I looked around the course. They all seemed to be flirting, as if they were out on their first dates. My face fell into a panic as my thoughts went into over drive.
As we came up on hole one, Chanel asked "can I go first" she looked up to zak who was holding her little club.
"Sure go right ahead" zak said handing her her club and a bright pink ball. He backed off a step or two as Chanel just froze there. She doesn't know how to play mini golf I thought. She turned around "Zak. I need help" she exclaimed in a nervous sort of manner.
As Zak walked over there he began showing her with his club how to hold it, and swing it to hit the ball. As Chanel was learning how to play, I leaned over to where Aaron was standing "phssp Aaron" I whispered.
He looked over to me slightly puzzled
"What's up?" He replied
I shook the nerves to ask the question that made me anxious "zak doesn't think.. this isn't meant to be.. I mean it's not like.. Like a date or something. Is it?" The words came out of my mouth in a rather frantic whispered tone.
Aaron began to snicker silently "no Madeline. I don't think so. I mean Chanel and I are here too. This was my idea anyway. Well I started the plans into motion."
"Whatdayamean?" I replied with a raised eyebrow.
"Zak said last night how he went to see if you were okay, said you were kinda in a slump. So I said we should all go out and do something today. Get your mind off of it, ya know."
I nodded in reply "mhmm anddd" I urged him on.
"Well Zak comes up with the idea that the two of us could take you out for the day, we could do fun stuff for Chanel. He never said date though."
Although I thought this answer would relieve my worries, it made me the mildest bit sad all over again. "Alright. thanks, it was rather sweet of y'all to worry about me like that, and to want to bring Chanel"
"Ahh it's nothing Madeline. Demons take a toll on people. We know this. Plus Chanel is a joy to be around."
Aaron said as he nudged me forward by the shoulder "your turn" he said as he went to high five Chanel. Who just finished her go. I took my red club and held it in my hands. Zak, who was standing just a few feet away from me asked as I walked up to the line, "You sure you don't need me to come show you how to play" followed by a wink.
I stood there as the blood swelled in my cheeks. Blushing I replied "uh no. I've got it" very slowly. My voice had been a little shaky.
"I just wanted to see you blush" zak said with a laugh as he raised his hands up in front of him "proceed"
And just like that I swung tapping the pink ball as it moved swiftly down the lane and into the hole. I'm going to destroy Zak in mini golf" I thought as I walked back with a full smile plastered across my face.
Zak and Aaron both took their turns making it into the hole in 3 shots. They weren't terribly good.

We got to a bridge around the 12th hole. The water underneath flowed slowly as little koi fish swam to the pond where the hole was at. Chanel kneeled down watching the fish swim under. At one point she began to lean too far and she started to tip.
I swiftly reached my arm out and grabbed her my her little shorts.
"Uh ah sweetie, we're golfing. Not swimming." I said setting her back down.
She pouted lightly running behind zak
"Mommy I didn't meant to"
Zak and Aaron both cooed as "awww" as I began to shake my head.

Zaks perspective -

I walked with Aaron by my side behind Madeline and Chanel. Chanel had ran up to the bridge we had came across. She kneeled down to watch the koi fish swimming. I saw her begin to slip. My heart dropped, but just then I saw Madeline stick her arm out and grab Chanel she could take the accidental plunge. Thank goodness.
We made it into the bridge as I watched Madeline hold Chanel talking
"Uh ah sweetie. We're golfing. Not swimming"
She set her down as Chanel ran over behind Aaron and I. Chanel stated "mommy I didn't mean to"
We both cooed out an "aww"

As Aaron and Chanel returned the clubs and ball I saw Madeline sitting over at a picnic table in a patch of grass, all alone. She's too beautiful to be alone I thought as I strolled over there to talk to her.
"Not feeling down again are we?" I asked.
She looked across to me as I sat down. I could tell I snapped her out some heavy thoughts.
"Well a little. Chanel's 5th birthday is this Thursday. Birthdays are always hard for her. I haven't even had time to plan anything. I feel so horribly about it." I considered her and what she just told me. She had the faintest blush across her cheeks. I wanted to smile, that she trusted me enough to tell me what was bothering her at the moment. Smiling wouldn't be appropriate.
"What's so horrible about celebrating her birth?" I asked innocently. I couldn't understand why.
Madeline looked up at me. She dropped her tone, I never heard her so serious. "Every year on her birthday since she could talk, she would ask where her daddy is. And why he never came."
I looked furiously, how could someone be so deadbeat to not see that beautifully sweet little girl they made.
Then I understood
"Zak, her father died. He was in the 2009 Nevada mining accident. They say that he was crushed suddenly as if that was supposed to make me feel okay about it." I dropped my jaw
"I'm so sorry Madeline. I.. I didn't know. I Just.."
"Look it's alright, he passed away before she was born. And after she was things got better, her life is absolutely precious to me." She smiled a slight tear in her eye.
I sat looking at her. She had been through so much, and she still so young.
God, she looked beautiful in the sunlight. I snapped back out of my thoughts. As an I idea formed in my head "We can all throw her a party. It'll be great. She won't even have time to be sad. All the fun we can plan."
She looked at me shocked. I didn't understand the expressions.
"Zak you don't have to do that. Just because you couldn't stop a demon. I mean come on."
I felt a little hurt. Did she not like me?
She was extremely different from all the other girls I went after. Those girls I could just flex, smile, then bam I got em.
"We are working a lot closer with Ian. He is part of our team, we're making it official this week. Which means you and Chanel are part of the crew and We all stick together." I said in a statement fashion. "Besides I want to do this. You shouldn't have to plan this party alone."
She finally cracked a smile in my direction. I could see her beginning to blush.
"So yes? Party?" I said in a playful manner.
"Yes Zak. We can throw her a party"