𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 | roger taylor

XLII

March 16, 1978

The bell tinkles above the bookshop's door, signaling another customer on a slow, rainy day. I breeze towards the front from where I'd been among the shelves taking inventory, seeing two familiar faces in the doorway.

Roger is holding Audrey, the two of them scattered with raindrops, flicking them playfully on each other. He sets her on her feet, the girl running to greet me with a hug around my legs.

"We wanted to visit you," he explains. "Plus, I haven't seen this place in forever. It looks nice, Thea."

"Thanks." I ruffle Audrey's curls. "Did you do the shopping like I asked? I left money and a list on the kitchen table."

Roger winces, sharing a look with Audrey, who mimics it. "I must've missed it."

"I'm off in fifteen. I can go then."

He perks up. "No, we'll go together. I want to help."

"Alright."

With the two of them coming along, I know the shopping will take twice as long as it should. As soon as we arrive, Roger's plopping Audrey down in a cart and zooming her in circles, eruptions of child-like laughter filling the entryway. I fire him a look, and he straightens the cart instantly, grinning.

They trail on my heels for the majority of the time, Roger occasionally skating down empty aisles as fast as he can until Audrey lets out a delighted scream. It's almost the end of an incredibly dragged out trip, until I remember I've forgotten something.

"Roger, can you go grab bread for me, please?" I ask, nodding towards the opposite end of the store. "I have to go down here, and then we're finished."

He agrees, and I roll the cart down the next aisle, finding it empty except for one man. He looks at me quickly, then looks away, suddenly extremely interested in canned soup. Although my attention is directed at some items a few feet away, I know his eyes are on me, not trying very hard to be subtle.

"This your little sister? She's adorable."

The man finally addresses me, and I take a closer look. He's dressed in a suit, looking as if he came straight from the office, his demanding eyes fixated on mine.

"My daughter, actually," I correct him, smiling.

He's leaning towards me now, disregarding my daughter as if she was never the reason he started a conversation. "I hardly believe it. You can't be a day over nineteen."

I laugh politely, narrowly avoiding his gaze. "I definitely don't feel any older."

His responding laugh is enormous, and he finishes off the gesture with a wink that makes my stomach coil. "Is there a father in the picture?"

I don't have to think for my answer- a presence creeps behind me not a beat later, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

"I'm the father," Roger speaks up from behind me, voice overly enthusiastic as he holds out a hand to the man. "Nice to meet you."

The man clears his throat, surprised. "You as well," he replies, glancing between the two of us with a flat expression. "How long have you been... married?"

"Three months."

"Two years."

Roger kicks my shoe, grinning. "Sorry, she means... three months since we renewed our vows. Yes, we're very in love." His hand connects with mine.

"How nice," the man says, trailing off, suddenly disinterested. "It was great meeting you."

He's hurrying away, and Roger's chuckling, me reclaiming my hand. "Does that happen a lot?" he asks me.