Foreign Love

XXV - A Walk In The Park

Chapter 25: A Walk In The Park

Three days later, I was home and well. The moment I crossed the door, Lupi came and jumped on me, licking my face.

"Oh, I missed you too, big boy. Wanna go for a walk?" He barked, "Yes? Fine, I'll go grab your collar and we'll leave in a sec, okay?" He barked again. "Good boy!" I said, ruffling his hair.

"Do you really wanna go for a walk? You've just returned home," Mom said.

"Mom, you heard the doctor, I'm fine. Plus, I did my physiotherapy session and even the therapist said I was healthy enough to climb a mountain, so why not take him for a walk in the park?"

She moved her head from side to side, biting her lip. "Fine, but watch both sides whenever you cross a street and only do it if the light is green, okay?"

I chuckled. "Of course, Mom. I'll be home before you even notice."

I grabbed the collar on the coat stand and put it on Lupi's neck. "Let's go," I said, opening the door and Lupi practically dragged me out of the house.

"Hey!" My mother shouted, "Don't forget his ball." She tossed me a tennis ball, which I surprisingly managed to catch before it fell.

"Thanks!" Lupi pulled the collar again, making me walk faster. "Easy, easy, else we might be too tired to play," I said, showing him the ball.

"TOM?" A voice said from behind, I turned to see Mabel. "You're back!!"

I tied the collar around a tree and hugged her. Mabel hit my arm, "Ouch!" She started crying and hugged me again.

"Don't you ever do that again! I thought you were dead."

"Don't cry, I'm alright."

"I'm sorry I didn't visit you in the hospital yesterday with Elena, I was out of town with Cheryl. But I will make it up to you!"

"Good thing I ran into you. I have an invitation to you both." She raised an eyebrow. "Tonight I want you to come to my house after dinner."

"To have a slumber party?" Mabel suggested, more than asked. I nodded.

"I'm gonna call Mylène and Mabel anyway, so it might as well become one after all, but the main point for asking you to come won't be partying. I have some important news to tell you."

"Okay." She agreed, nodding. "I am spending the rest of the day at Cheryl's anyway, so I'll leave her house by, what, 9 p.m.?" I nodded. "And come to yours."

"You can bring Cheryl if you want to. She's more than welcome and the news might be of interest to her, as well."

"Perfect. I'll go tell her right away." She hugged me once more. "I'm so glad you're back. See you tonight."

"See ya."

I turned around and untied Lupi's collar from the tree, resuming my walk to the park. It was very calm and pacific, with Mabel being the only person I met, which was just what I needed.

I walked Lupi in the park and played with him for a while. When I got tired, I sat on a bench as he ran across the grass fields with another dog. I closed my eyes for some time, inhaling the afternoon air, which was heavily carried with the odours of the flowers that grew in the park.

Summer is my favourite season by far and returning home to those I loved after a month out had made that Summer in special the best one in years.

I felt the bench shaking a little and I opened my eyes to see who sat at my side. It was Ethan.

"Hello, Tom," he said, with a smile.