It had been a fun night with Sophia, but Carol was exhausted. Her parents were meeting them for the buffet breakfast, so with Sophia in tow, Carol walked across the casino floor. When they got there, they were surprised to see Daryl and Ella waiting outside the lines.
Sophia immediately saw Ella and ran to her like a long lost friend. After the girls hugged, Carol and Daryl met each others eyes and smiled. Each was happy for the girls and the budding friendship.
"Any chance you up for breakfast with us? I don't think Ella is going to let go of Sophia's hand any time soon." Daryl smirked.
"We would love to but are meeting my parents here for breakfast."
"Do they bite little blonde girls or dudes with tattoos?"
"Uhhh . . . . .not that I am aware of" she laughed.
"Well then, I will invite them to join us if that is ok with you?"
"Sure! I could use the conversation since Sophia and them are usually talking non stop. They won't mind at all."
As if on cue, Andrew and Dixie came across the casino floor. "Damn it Andrew, I was THIS close to wining that Viper car."
"You can get back at it after breakfast Dixie. Now hush your foul mouth. There is a child around us. Make that children." He had pointed at the foursome of Carol, Daryl, Ella, and Sophia.
"Hi mom and dad. This is Sophia's friend Ella and my friend Daryl. They are here on vacation as well, and our girls have become inseperable. Hope you don't mind two extra bodies at the table."
"Of course not" said Dixie and Andrew together. "But maybe we should warn Daryl that we are the type of grandparents that give out ice cream with breakfast." said Andrew.
Daryl smiled. "We are on vacation. She can eat anything she wants."
"Good. Now that we got that settled, Dixie and I will get the breakfast bill as long as you let us get to know Ella better. Her and Sophia can chat with us and you two can relax."
"Let me leave the tip then" Daryl smiled. "Ella, do you want to walk with Sophia and her grandparents? Daddy and Carol will be right behind you and sitting with you, so don't worry, ok?"
"OK daddy. Hey Sophia! Look! They have ginormous cinnamon rolls with heaps of frosting on them!"
"Guess they are fine with this" laughed Carol.
When everybody had their food the round robin introductions and resultant discussions got under way. Daryl told everybody that he owned his own mechanical shop and custom painting business in Atlanta. He and Ella were getting ready to look into moving into a larger apartment soon that was closer to his work and her new school. While Ella was in pre-K now, her new school would be holding Pre-K classes at the same elementary school she would later go to to kindergarten in. This way, Daryl could make use of the after school care programs in case he had to work late.
Ella told them all that her new school had a statue of the Atlanta Braves Mascot out front. Sophia gleefully told her that was the school she went to. The girls hugged when finding out they would be going to the same school.
Carol and Daryl just looked at each other surprised.
We just moved into the Lexington Apartments. They are three blocks from school so I can walk Soph over every day. I have her in the after school program too so she can make more friends. Small world?
"Or the world trying to tell me to ask if there are vacancies in your building." Daryl whispered then laughed.
Just then Dixie and Andrew asked them both permission to take the girls to the pool after breakfast. The parents just stared. "Uhhhh dad, I don't mind you guys taking Sophia, but you just met Daryl and Ella. Not sure how Ella would take going with a str -"
"Daddy, can I go with Sophia and her grandparents to the pool? Please, pretty please with sugar on top?"
"See! She is totally fine with it! We are going to the gift shop and buying one of those multi person rafts so we can float across the pool!" said Dixie.
"Uhhhh . . . . . Ella, are you sure about this?"
"Yes. Please! I wanna play with Sophia!".
"Carol?" Daryl asked.
"I guess if it's fine with them . . . . you better keep my number on speed dial though dad. You know how Sophia can get, and you don't know Ella."
"We will be fine" Andrew gently said. "Now go have some adult fun. That's an order!"
"Somehow when he said adult fun, I didn't picture myself standing in a girly aisle at Wal-Mart" Daryl said.
"Oh hush. I am tired of people thinking I am old. I am dying my hair back to it's natural color, and you are gonna help me pick one out."
"Yeah, I get that. I can do that. But why do you assume your hair makes people think you are old? The rest of you ain't old."
"Well, how old do you think I am?"
"Uh Uh. I am NOT falling for that one. Nice Try Carol. Just choose your Clairol or whatever and let's get outta here."
"Oh you are no fun. I am 27 by the way."
"No shit? Uh, sorry" he said when he caught her glare.
"Just for that Dixon, I am making you be the hairdresser of the two of us."
"Yes ma'am."
That earned him a punch to the arm but he laughed all the same.
"Since your parents confiscated the kids until dinner tonight, what are we going to do that falls into the genre of 'adult fun'?" he asked in a mischevious voice while waggling his eyebrows.
"What do you suggest Dixon?"