June 2nd, 2016
I wake up to another day in France I've been here for two years going on three. Not much has changed expect for the fact that 3 months ago Jake and I decided to get our own place. It was a big step but we felt we where ready for it. Oh yeah I'm Mallory by the way I tend to ramble. I'm here to write about what happened to me today. I saw someone. Someone I'm sure I'll see again. And as much as I love Jake someone I want to see again. It's hurts me deeply to say that. I love Jake with all my heart. It's just no one can ever I mean ever replace him.
It seems like forever ago that I left heartland the place I called home. I miss it very dearly. But I love my life here in France. Never in a million years did I think I would grow up ar nd share an apartment with the Little boy with dimples and freckles who referred to me as his buckle bunny. But I am. I'm happy I've never been happier in my life. But my life I feel is about to change. Hearts are going to break and tears are going to be shed.
On a typical Tuesday morning I walk into the coffee shop I work at. It's basically Maggie's Dinner. Like the place I use to work at while my horse was at heartland. Expect it's in France.
I Call to Marie the owner she speaks and understands English, it's her second language. She traveled to America for a few years. I don't talk to her much. I just do a job and earn my living. May earn a small income but it's a good life.
As I walk behind the counter I scream in shock as diidI see a little girl with black curly hair wearing a monsters mask. She takes off the mask and giggles in delight when she realizes she's scared me. I then see a little boy who looks similar to the little girl come up behind me and grab my phone out of my pocket and takes a seat at the table and starts playing with It. I quickly fetch it from his hands.
"Ugh where are your parents little rug ratsrats? " I annoyingly state
"Our mom, she died after she had us mam" the little boy states.
"Well are you adopted or something" I reply
"Ugh we have a dad" the little girl states
"Where is your dad?"
I see a man walk in who has has slightly tossed black hair, tan skin. I look at him feel his presence it is calming me. Once our eyes meet he stares into them. And I stare into his. He studies my face as if trying to figure out who I am.
"Thanks for looking after my son and daughter. Never thought I'd have twins let alone any kids at all... Um I'm sorry coffee please"," he stressfully states.
"Name please I mean you look so... Like I know you"," I state
"Me too" he replies
I smile as I watch the little girl hop on her dad's lap. The young man places his lips on top of his daughter's head. The little girl kisses her dad's cheek without warning. Which makes the young man smile.
"Are you a daddy's girl ?! I ask
"Maybe" the little girl says through a guilty giggle.
I hand the man his coffee and our hands slightly brush and I feel something in our touch something so powerful so innocent. I look up at him and he blushes he takes my hand, And holds it for a few seconds then let's go.
"I'm sorry I don't even know you. I'm an idiot, I just feel a connection. I felt electricity in that touch" he states
"Name ?! I say through a gulp.
"Daniel Ray and my daughter is Anne and My son is James. But back in the day, when I was a jerk. Just an idiot who had lousy parents and hung out with the wrong crowd they called me Badger. That was my nickname" he replies replies.
A tear trickles down my eye
"Mallory Wells, Heartland, Clint"
The biggest smile appears on his face.
"I've thought a lot about you over the years. After I left heartland. I want to cry" he states
"Me too but I have a boyfriend I'm living with him" I reply
"Ranger Roy.?. Jake please tell me not Jake" he giggles
"Yeah" I say through a smile. I can't help but smile because when I see him giggle it makes me want to smile too.
"Well I understand. And it was a long time ago can I have my coffee?"
Badger takes his coffee. And gets up and takes the hands of his two kids. On a second though he places a card with his number on the table.
"Yeah thanks"," I state
"No problem Mallory" he" he replies through a small giggle.
His kids wave and I wave back. I smile and laugh to myself as they exit the diner. I can't believe I just saw badger after all these years apart. And he's a father. Go figure. By his age and the looks of it. I can predict they weren't planned children. But I know he loves them. I imagine those two kids are his second chance.
Marie walks over she see's the look on my face and blushes.
"Daniel Ray?" Marie states
"Badger it's Badger" I" I state through new freshly fallen tears.
"Well whatever he is. The word my boyfriend gave me is he use to be this bad boy. But he got his girlfriend pregnant. That's what made him clean up his act" she" she said.
" I'd imagine" I reply
I finish my shift and come home to find a note on the counter.
"Going to visit mom and dad for the summer. I'll be back on August 2nd. Sorry it's short notice. I caught a red eye flight mom has cancer. Call me babe. Love you. Love, Jake the letter states
I sighed and put the letter down.
The letter to me wasn't a goodbye to me.
It was more like hello
More like Hello Badger