(Inspired by the picture above)
It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, a rarity in London. Lucy woke me up early, insisting on heading to the park. I contemplated calling Em before I took her. I told myself it was to make sure she'd be ok with me taking Lucy to the park but I knew deep down it was because I wanted to hear her voice and maybe ask her if she'd like to join us (though I knew I never would). I quickly shrugged off the thought. I had taken Lucy to the park loads of times before, Em would just think I was weirder than she already did if I called to ask for her permission.
So I got up, showered and got dressed. I put Lucy in a pair of tiny jean shorts and a One Direction t-shirt, smiling at myself for being so cheeky. I pulled her hair into two pigtails, her blonde hair cork screwing down. She looked adorable, as per usual. I fastened her sandals onto her feet, gathered her into my arms and headed out to my truck.
I listened with delight as she softly sang to herself in her car seat behind me as I drove us to the nearest park. She hopped into my arms once I freed her from the seat, pointing and gesturing at all the things she wanted to play on as I walked her towards the brightly colored jungle gym.
I glanced around at all the activity as we walked by. There were two soccer fields where two intense youth soccer games were going on, parents hooting and hollering on the sidelines. I stopped to let a couple run past us with their dogs before making my way onto the gravel. I set Lucy down, shouting after her to be careful as she ran off towards the jungle gym.
I loved watching her when she was so happy and excited. It pained me to think that her father would never know the happiness this little girl could provide just by witnessing her fantastically bright smile. Dude was a tool, that was for sure. And not just because he'd removed himself from Lucy's life but from Emily's as well. I couldn't think of another woman who would be a better choice than Emily was. She was beautiful, driven, smart, independent and a fantastic mother. Whoever the idiot was he must have had IMPOSSIBLY high standards because as far as I was concerned, sharing a child with Emily would be a dream I would never know.
"Hawwy!" I heard Lucy's tiny voice call out to me, pulling me from my thoughts.
I jogged towards her, standing on one of the platforms in front of the monkey bars,
"What's up, Diz?"
She pointed one chubby finger out to a truck a few feet away that had ICE CREAM written across it in huge old timey font,
"Can I have one?"
I usually didn't like giving her sweets, but when she looked at me with that face there was very little I could deny her. I nodded,
"Stay right here, ok?"
She nodded, turning to grip the monkey bars. I jogged over to the truck, fishing around in my shorts for money. I glanced back to make sure Lucy wasn't in any trouble, smiling when I saw her gingerly step off the platform and hang off the monkey bars,
"Sir?" I heard a man's voice behind me.
I turned back to the truck,
"Right. Two cones please? Mint chip and vanilla on one. Just vanilla on the other." Sure, yogurt was my usual go to but a little ice cream never hurt anyone. He quickly scooped the ice cream onto the cones before handing them to me. I handed him my money, thanked him and turned back towards the jungle gym.
"Oh my God..." I heard as I walked past a young girl and her friend, "I love you." She blurted out when I turned my head in her direction.
I smiled,
"Ello there."
She instantly blushed,
"I can't believe you're here. My friend said no but...oh my God."
I giggled softly, fan reactions when they saw me in normal situations always made me smile,
"Would you like a picture?" I asked, gesturing to the phone in her hand.
She nodded, seemingly just then realizing she had a phone,
"Yeah. Yes. Please?"
I stood next to her and her friend, leaning in with the two cones in my hand. She quickly snapped the picture, thanked me profusely as did her friend and then ran off squealing. I shook my head, a wide smile gracing my face as I made my way back to Lucy. She was now in the middle of the monkey bars, looking as though she was struggling with the idea of going all the way to the other side or letting go. I lifted the cone to dot against her nose as my arm wound around her bum,
"Hey...get down and eat your cone, monkey."
She let go, slumping against my body as she reached out for her cone while simultaneously trying to stick her tongue out long enough to get the ice cream on her nose. I leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose, taking the ice cream I'd left on it with me as I pulled away.
She scrunched her nose as she giggled,
"Hawwy..."
I handed her the cone I'd bought for her,
"Let's go eat these." I said as I turned to look for an empty picnic table.
She tugged at my hair while she tried to lick the huge scoops of ice cream. I felt my cheeks raised into a smile as I watched her. My God what I wouldn't give if she was mine.
