Post by larue on Aug 10, 2011 4:42:04 GMT 10
Susan paid for the two water bottles from the sidewalk vendor and hesitated a moment before heading back toward the bench where Molly sat. The girl sat in the shade with a resigned scowl on her face, chin resting in the hand propped on her folded knee. Her other hand played with the end of the dark braid that was pulled over her shoulder. Her brows were furrowed and long dark lashes encircled her brown eyes. Definitely not her daddy’s eyes. Declan’s stroller was next to her. She sat up as Susan approached.
“Here you go,” Susan said as she handed a bottle of water to her.
“I said I didn’t want one,” Molly replied, not taking it.
“Put it in the stroller then,” the older woman said as she sat on the bench next to her. “You might want it later, although it‘s much better cold.” Molly reluctantly took the bottle and slipped it into the basket area under the baby seat. She returned to her sullen slump with her chin in her hand and her elbow on her knee. Susan opened her bottle and took a long drink.
“You don’t have to do this, you know,” Molly stated firmly.
“Do what?” Susan asked as she replaced the cap on the bottle. Molly glanced at her and scowled.
“You don’t have to stay with me,” she shook her head. “You and Susie and Heather. I know that you’re taking turns. I won’t hurt him like she thinks I will.” Molly glanced into the stroller where Declan was sleeping and adjusted the light blanket that was covering him. Susan suppressed a smile.
“I know you won’t,” she said finally. “You are actually very good with him. It’s really too bad you don’t live closer to us in Chicago so you could baby sit for us once in a while.”
“I don’t need to baby sit,” the girl scoffed. “My family is rich. I have all the money I could ever want. All I have to do is ask my Grandma for some.”
“You are luckier than most people then,” Susan chuckled, ignoring the distinct chill in the girl‘s voice. “But its fun to have money of your own, I think. Some you have earned yourself.” Molly eyed her carefully and then sat back against the bench. Susan took another sip of her water and watched people walking by them.
“But you don’t need a babysitter, anyway,” the girl said. “You have Susie.”
“Yes, I do,” Susan sighed. “But she gets busy with her school classes and social things. It would be nice to have someone else…..”
“I live too far away from you anyway,” Molly interrupted. “You said so yourself. In fact, we will probably never see each other again when we get home.” Susan turned her head to look at her and Molly sat up straight as Declan started to cry from the stroller. Susan studied her as she stood up and then knelt down in front of the stroller. Molly’s face had lost its sullenness as she tried calming the baby.
“You might want to pick him up,” Susan said quietly.
“I know what to do,” Molly retorted. She unbuckled the safety harness and carefully lifted the little boy from the stroller. She pressed him against her shoulder and jostled him gently. Declan began to calm down until his eyes came to rest on Susan. The cries started up again and his reached for her. Molly started bouncing him a little harder and then finally turned to Susan.
“Okay, fine,” she said sharply. “Take him!” She handed him to Susan and then busied herself straightening the stroller as she watched Susan with the baby. She hugged him and tried soothing him. Then Susan turned Declan around in her lap and jostled him on her knees. His screams became louder as he twisted against her.
“New diaper?” Molly asked as she held up a diaper and box of wipes.
“Sounds good to me,” Susan said as she stood up with Declan in her arms. “Where are the bathrooms from here?” The two of them looked around, searching for a sign.
“I think I saw when we came under that bridge thing in that direction,” Molly said as she pointed.
“Lead the way!” Susan grimaced as Declan screamed again. People around them glanced at them as they shoved things into the stroller and Molly raced ahead of her pushing it.
“Hold on, Declan,” Susan crooned in the baby’s ear as she followed her. “We are almost there.” Molly was grinning as she stopped in front of the swinging doors of the family bathroom exactly where she said it would be.
“Nice job, Captain Clark,” Susan nodded as she came closer. Molly looked at her in confusion.
“Lewis….and Clark?” Susan said. “Famous explorers???” Molly rolled her eyes and bent to retrieve the new diaper and box of wipes. She stood up expectantly and Susan handed the baby to her. Molly opened the door of the bathroom and disappeared inside.
“Well, I thought it was kind of…clever,” Susan said aloud as she looked around. She smiled at someone walking by and then shook her head as she bent to restore some sort of order to the items that had been hastily shoved into the stroller. She was refolding the light blanket when Molly returned with a decidedly happier baby in her arms.
“Aw. There you are big boy,” Susan smiled as Declan grinned at her. She kissed him and then Molly settled him back into the stroller and they headed back to the bench they had been sitting on.
Abby, Luka, Scott and Casey were already there waiting for them. Abby was punching numbers into her cell phone.
“We’re right here,” Susan waved just as her cell phone began to chime. Abby smiled and cancelled the call. She slipped her phone back into her pocket and knelt down to check on the baby.
“I just had to change his diaper again,” Molly said defensively as she tossed her braid over her shoulder. “He’s fine.” Abby looked up at her and smiled.
“I know he is,” she said. Abby lifted the baby from the stroller and held him up to her face. She kissed his cheeks and snuggled him against her.
“Luka,” she said. “If you really want to be here for the fireworks tonight, I think we need to take Lauren back to the hotel for a nap. We could be back around dinner time and everyone would be much, much happier.” Luka studied her for a moment and grinned at the baby pulling at the neckline of her shirt.
“You’re right,” he sighed heavily. Susan laughed.
“Oh, don’t be so disappointed, Dr. Kovac,” she said. “I’ll go back with them. I could do some packing.” Luka’s eyes shifted to Scott’s disappointed face and then he shook his head.
“No, you stay here,” he sighed. Luke looked around and then nodded toward the building housing “Peter Pan’s Flight.”
“I don’t think they’ve come off that one yet,” he said. “Let’s go wait for Henry.”
“Aunt Susan!” Susan turned as a soaked Susie and Heather ran toward them.
“Splash Mountain?” Scott asked them. Susie nodded and laughed as she squeezed water from her dripping hair.
“The line took forever for the front!” Heather exclaimed with a grin. “But it was totally worth it!”
“I think we want to go back to the hotel for a while and change and and pack some stuff up,” Susie said. “Would that be okay?” Abby looked up at Luka’s hopeful face and then sighed.
“Looks like things are working out for you, big guy,” she chuckled. She turned to Susie. “Can you help me with the kids? I want to take them back for naps so we can come back for the fireworks tonight.”
“Sure,” Susie nodded and tugged at her soaked tee shirt. Abby looked up at Luka again and chuckled as she shook her head. Luka grinned. He looked up as Henry made his way toward them. He had a sleeping Lauren over his shoulder and was holding onto Cosmo’s hand.
“She fell asleep just as we passed over the crocodile,” Henry said with a smile as Luka took the little girl from him. “She is out cold.” Luka shook the little girl in his arms and she frowned.
“Don’t, Daddy,” she groaned, never opening her eyes. Heather laughed.
“I’ll take her,” she said. Heather turned around and Luka shifted the little girl to her back. Lauren’s eyes opened and she frowned.
“Yo all wed,” she complained and then laid her head down and closed her eyes again. Heather hoisted her up more securely and waited while Abby buckled Declan back into the stroller. The baby started to wail and she reached up to kiss Luka.
“Have fun,” she said and waved at Susan as she started down the path toward the castle and Main Street with Heather and Susie.
“Cosmo and I are going over to the Speedway and flying rockets in Tomorrow Land now,” Henry said. Cosmo looked up at him and grinned. Luka glanced hopefully toward Casey. She rolled her eyes and nodded.
“Okay,” she giggled. “I’ll go on them with you again.” She looked up at her dad and Scott nodded. She reached for Luka’s hand and then turned back to kiss her dad.
“See you later, Daddy,” she giggled. Scott watched them go and then looked at Susan.
“Oh great…” Molly sighed. “And now what am I supposed to do?” Scott glanced form her to Susan and Susan looked at him. They both grinned.
“Splash Mountain!” they said together and each grabbed one of her hands.
“Think we ought to try for the front car, Moll?” Scott asked as they pulled her along.
“NO way!” Molly cried as she pulled her hands away. Scott wrapped an arm around her and dragged her close to him.
“No choice, sweetheart,” he growled playfully. “You are…our….prisoner now!” Susan laughed and followed the two of them to toward the ride.
“Here you go,” Susan said as she handed a bottle of water to her.
“I said I didn’t want one,” Molly replied, not taking it.
“Put it in the stroller then,” the older woman said as she sat on the bench next to her. “You might want it later, although it‘s much better cold.” Molly reluctantly took the bottle and slipped it into the basket area under the baby seat. She returned to her sullen slump with her chin in her hand and her elbow on her knee. Susan opened her bottle and took a long drink.
“You don’t have to do this, you know,” Molly stated firmly.
“Do what?” Susan asked as she replaced the cap on the bottle. Molly glanced at her and scowled.
“You don’t have to stay with me,” she shook her head. “You and Susie and Heather. I know that you’re taking turns. I won’t hurt him like she thinks I will.” Molly glanced into the stroller where Declan was sleeping and adjusted the light blanket that was covering him. Susan suppressed a smile.
“I know you won’t,” she said finally. “You are actually very good with him. It’s really too bad you don’t live closer to us in Chicago so you could baby sit for us once in a while.”
“I don’t need to baby sit,” the girl scoffed. “My family is rich. I have all the money I could ever want. All I have to do is ask my Grandma for some.”
“You are luckier than most people then,” Susan chuckled, ignoring the distinct chill in the girl‘s voice. “But its fun to have money of your own, I think. Some you have earned yourself.” Molly eyed her carefully and then sat back against the bench. Susan took another sip of her water and watched people walking by them.
“But you don’t need a babysitter, anyway,” the girl said. “You have Susie.”
“Yes, I do,” Susan sighed. “But she gets busy with her school classes and social things. It would be nice to have someone else…..”
“I live too far away from you anyway,” Molly interrupted. “You said so yourself. In fact, we will probably never see each other again when we get home.” Susan turned her head to look at her and Molly sat up straight as Declan started to cry from the stroller. Susan studied her as she stood up and then knelt down in front of the stroller. Molly’s face had lost its sullenness as she tried calming the baby.
“You might want to pick him up,” Susan said quietly.
“I know what to do,” Molly retorted. She unbuckled the safety harness and carefully lifted the little boy from the stroller. She pressed him against her shoulder and jostled him gently. Declan began to calm down until his eyes came to rest on Susan. The cries started up again and his reached for her. Molly started bouncing him a little harder and then finally turned to Susan.
“Okay, fine,” she said sharply. “Take him!” She handed him to Susan and then busied herself straightening the stroller as she watched Susan with the baby. She hugged him and tried soothing him. Then Susan turned Declan around in her lap and jostled him on her knees. His screams became louder as he twisted against her.
“New diaper?” Molly asked as she held up a diaper and box of wipes.
“Sounds good to me,” Susan said as she stood up with Declan in her arms. “Where are the bathrooms from here?” The two of them looked around, searching for a sign.
“I think I saw when we came under that bridge thing in that direction,” Molly said as she pointed.
“Lead the way!” Susan grimaced as Declan screamed again. People around them glanced at them as they shoved things into the stroller and Molly raced ahead of her pushing it.
“Hold on, Declan,” Susan crooned in the baby’s ear as she followed her. “We are almost there.” Molly was grinning as she stopped in front of the swinging doors of the family bathroom exactly where she said it would be.
“Nice job, Captain Clark,” Susan nodded as she came closer. Molly looked at her in confusion.
“Lewis….and Clark?” Susan said. “Famous explorers???” Molly rolled her eyes and bent to retrieve the new diaper and box of wipes. She stood up expectantly and Susan handed the baby to her. Molly opened the door of the bathroom and disappeared inside.
“Well, I thought it was kind of…clever,” Susan said aloud as she looked around. She smiled at someone walking by and then shook her head as she bent to restore some sort of order to the items that had been hastily shoved into the stroller. She was refolding the light blanket when Molly returned with a decidedly happier baby in her arms.
“Aw. There you are big boy,” Susan smiled as Declan grinned at her. She kissed him and then Molly settled him back into the stroller and they headed back to the bench they had been sitting on.
Abby, Luka, Scott and Casey were already there waiting for them. Abby was punching numbers into her cell phone.
“We’re right here,” Susan waved just as her cell phone began to chime. Abby smiled and cancelled the call. She slipped her phone back into her pocket and knelt down to check on the baby.
“I just had to change his diaper again,” Molly said defensively as she tossed her braid over her shoulder. “He’s fine.” Abby looked up at her and smiled.
“I know he is,” she said. Abby lifted the baby from the stroller and held him up to her face. She kissed his cheeks and snuggled him against her.
“Luka,” she said. “If you really want to be here for the fireworks tonight, I think we need to take Lauren back to the hotel for a nap. We could be back around dinner time and everyone would be much, much happier.” Luka studied her for a moment and grinned at the baby pulling at the neckline of her shirt.
“You’re right,” he sighed heavily. Susan laughed.
“Oh, don’t be so disappointed, Dr. Kovac,” she said. “I’ll go back with them. I could do some packing.” Luka’s eyes shifted to Scott’s disappointed face and then he shook his head.
“No, you stay here,” he sighed. Luke looked around and then nodded toward the building housing “Peter Pan’s Flight.”
“I don’t think they’ve come off that one yet,” he said. “Let’s go wait for Henry.”
“Aunt Susan!” Susan turned as a soaked Susie and Heather ran toward them.
“Splash Mountain?” Scott asked them. Susie nodded and laughed as she squeezed water from her dripping hair.
“The line took forever for the front!” Heather exclaimed with a grin. “But it was totally worth it!”
“I think we want to go back to the hotel for a while and change and and pack some stuff up,” Susie said. “Would that be okay?” Abby looked up at Luka’s hopeful face and then sighed.
“Looks like things are working out for you, big guy,” she chuckled. She turned to Susie. “Can you help me with the kids? I want to take them back for naps so we can come back for the fireworks tonight.”
“Sure,” Susie nodded and tugged at her soaked tee shirt. Abby looked up at Luka again and chuckled as she shook her head. Luka grinned. He looked up as Henry made his way toward them. He had a sleeping Lauren over his shoulder and was holding onto Cosmo’s hand.
“She fell asleep just as we passed over the crocodile,” Henry said with a smile as Luka took the little girl from him. “She is out cold.” Luka shook the little girl in his arms and she frowned.
“Don’t, Daddy,” she groaned, never opening her eyes. Heather laughed.
“I’ll take her,” she said. Heather turned around and Luka shifted the little girl to her back. Lauren’s eyes opened and she frowned.
“Yo all wed,” she complained and then laid her head down and closed her eyes again. Heather hoisted her up more securely and waited while Abby buckled Declan back into the stroller. The baby started to wail and she reached up to kiss Luka.
“Have fun,” she said and waved at Susan as she started down the path toward the castle and Main Street with Heather and Susie.
“Cosmo and I are going over to the Speedway and flying rockets in Tomorrow Land now,” Henry said. Cosmo looked up at him and grinned. Luka glanced hopefully toward Casey. She rolled her eyes and nodded.
“Okay,” she giggled. “I’ll go on them with you again.” She looked up at her dad and Scott nodded. She reached for Luka’s hand and then turned back to kiss her dad.
“See you later, Daddy,” she giggled. Scott watched them go and then looked at Susan.
“Oh great…” Molly sighed. “And now what am I supposed to do?” Scott glanced form her to Susan and Susan looked at him. They both grinned.
“Splash Mountain!” they said together and each grabbed one of her hands.
“Think we ought to try for the front car, Moll?” Scott asked as they pulled her along.
“NO way!” Molly cried as she pulled her hands away. Scott wrapped an arm around her and dragged her close to him.
“No choice, sweetheart,” he growled playfully. “You are…our….prisoner now!” Susan laughed and followed the two of them to toward the ride.