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It was nearing around 6:00PM when they finally made their way toward the last part of the shrine. Olivia felt and heard her stomach grumble.
"Say, how about we see this last part and then get something to eat?" Olivia proposed, hoping they would hop on board.
"Yes," Ella violently nodded her head. "Can we please get some ice cream, too?"
Olivia nodded her head and glanced over to Peter who was on the other side of Ella, who was nestled in between the two of them for warmth and safety.
"Now, Olivia, you know I would never give up an opportunity for cheese steak." Olivia smiled and wondered if Peter was actually enjoying himself or if it was all a pretense to just be nice.
Peter felt a tug at his jacket cuff and looked down at Ella. "Can you swing me?" Ella asked simply. When he just looked at her perplexed, she asked again and then looked at her aunt. "You know, like Mommy and Daddy used to do. Just grab one arm and on the count of three, swing me! Just don't let go. That hurts."
"Ella maybe…" Olivia started but Peter was already counting. Ella waited for it and then squealed when she glided momentarily in the air. Peter had to laugh as well until he noticed the look etched on Olivia's face. His brows burrowed and he silently decided he would bring it up later.
The way Mommy and Daddy used to do…
X
"Here we are. The very last part," Olivia spoke. "Isn't it beautiful?" she whispered. Peter kept his gaze on her and breathed, "yeah…"
Ella however was not happy. "But I can't see!" she stressed. Both adults peered down at the girl between them and then the tons of rather tall adults in front of them. Peter bent down and offered for the girl to get on his shoulders. He saw other people do it, it shouldn't be all that difficult.
Olivia mumbled "are you sure" and he scoffed at the idea of considering thisto be the most dangerous thing they've done. She agreed and helped Ella climb on top of Peter's shoulders.
"How's that? Better?" Peter asked. She squeezed his neck in an effort to thank him.
Olivia chuckled and replied that "Peter needs to breathe."
X
"Thanks you know for everything today. I'm not sure if I tell you that enough," Olivia finding the courage, spoke, her eyes still on the road.
"You're welcome. And trust me, I should be thanking you," Peter smiled warmly at her and felt it.
Olivia peered in the mirror and watched Ella's head begin to droop. "She really likes you, you know," Olivia smiled at the thought.
Peter laughed and with wit replied, "it seems I have something over the Dunham family." She smiled thinking of how braze he sometimes, or always, was.
X
Shut cut the ignition and wondered out loud, "Maybe this wasn't a good idea. She looks exhausted."
"Yeah, but hungry," Peter chided in. True.
"Ella, we're here. Time to eat," and with that Ella's eyes snapped open.
"I wasn't sleeping!"
X
"Cheese steak, large fry, grilled cheese kid's meal cut diagonally, and a hamburger deluxe, extra pickle." The server placed the food down and asked begrudgingly if they needed anything else. Peter shook his head no and was glad Olivia was in the bathroom…he could steal some of the fries.
"Hey, save some for Aunt Olivia!" Ella exclaimed, kneeling on the vinyl cushions. Peter laughed when she took the plate away from him.
"So, Ella, tell me what else did your mom and Aunt Liv say about good old Peter?" he asked. He knew he shouldn't stoop so low as to interrogate a five year old but he couldn't help himself.
"Well, my mom thinks your handsome and Aunty usually does this with her eyes," Ella paused to act out both her mom and aunt.
Now Peter was laughing loudly. This was way too much fun. "Does your aunt say anything else?" Peter pressed.
"This one night when they were drinking this red juice and they thought I was sleeping I heard my aunt say that Peter had a firm, round toush. Whatever that is…" Ella wondered.
Peter grinned and replied the same way any other adult would have, "when you're older." A few seconds later Olivia reappeared at the table.
"So, what'd I miss?"