A Second Chance at Love

Chapter 16 - Can't you find a compromise?

                                          ~ Chapter 16 - Can't you find a compromise? ~

The trio walked the last meters to the park's east entrance not far from the lake and found a spot with a view on Bow Bridge. Just the perfect distance so as not to be disturbed by the other picnickers.

Ellie texted Cassy to let her know where they are and got to work with Matt to place the blanket on the grass under the shade of a tree.

As she sat down to wait for the others, Ellie couldn't help than admire the glittering reflection of the sun on the water, looking like a thousand diamonds. She was brought out of her thoughts by Matt offering her a few sandwiches. His lips stretched in that dazzling smile, eyes twinkling.

"Thanks," she replied with a shy smile. She turned around to offer one to Amber and sees the little girl already eating a small triangular sandwich, two more were placed on a plastic plate on her knees. He thought of her first, she smiled at her daughter and watched as Matthew sat down beside the toddler.

"Heya!!! Finished drooling," Angie's voice made Ellie's heart skipped a beat as she tried to give a discreet glare at her best friend. The latter paid her no attention as she looked for another blanket in her huge beach bag.

Cassidy and Josh made their appearance a few seconds later with Emy trailing behind them her arms filled with painting materials, Josh was carrying her easel.

"Will you wait for me or what?" she shouted. The poor girl was starting to become red in the face, making the pair laugh at her.

Josh placed the easel near Ellie's blanket and ran back to her. However, instead of helping her, he started running around her while making airplane noises, making Emy even angrier.

"Josh, stop being a kid and help her will you!" shouted Cassidy who was placing her basket beside the checked blanket laid by Angie. She gave a death glare at her boyfriend, whose face dramatically changed, to the amusement of the everyone.

He made a salute before taking a huge paint palette from Emy along with a stool that was atop the box Emy was carrying.

Ellie watched as the pair put down the supplies before getting up to help to get food out of baskets and settling them on the blanket all the while chatting and sharing laughs with her friends.

As she sat down beside Cassy to eat, she could not help than admire Matt's dedication to Amber. He had placed a paper towel on the girl's collar to prevent her clothes from getting dirty with the different sauces and was watching her eat with great attention, barely taking a bite on his own food.

"He's gonna make a good father someday," Cassy said, making Ellie tear her eyes away from the pair at the other side of the circle.

Ellie gave the fiery-haired beauty a smile, her cheeks reddening.

"You have a little bit of a crush on him?" her new friend questioned with a mischievous smile, her green eyes sparkling.

"Maybe," Ellie admitted, feeling the blood rushing to her cheeks. "but don't say anything to Angie. She's gonna have a field day. And she's trying to make me drop my boyfriend."

Well at least it's out now, her subconscious congratulated her.

"She must have a good reason to not like you dating the guy, don't you think?" Cass said with a smile, her eyes becoming kinder and more attentive. Trying to catch any change in the woman's features.

Ellie thought about it for a minute, playing with the stem of her fork. "She does and she knows it. But he's the father of my child. And I don't want to take her away from him, you see?" she replied with a sad smile, raising her eyes to look at her friend.

Cass returned the sad smile before adding, "I see. But you deserve to find happiness too. Would you dating her father be the only way he can see her? Can't you find a compromise?"

She gave Ellie an encouraging smile before leaving her to her thoughts to answer to something Josh was saying.

Ellie turned to look at Amber and met Matthew's blue eyes and felt butterflies in her belly.

Compromise. She contemplated the idea. Maybe we could compromise. She thought, returning his dazzling smile.