"C'mon- it isn't that bad. Ingrid and Henry are having fun."
Kerry shook her head, "The things I do for my son."
Kim laughed at that. "So…"
"So-"
They both took their gazes from their children at the same time and glanced at the other and chuckled. Kim sighed, "Why was this easier ten years ago?"
Kerry corrected her, "Fourteen actually, going on fifteen. but, I get your point. and I don't know. More life experience?"
"How long did it take before you could move on after Sandy?" Kim winced, "Totally inappropriate question. I'm sorry."
Kerry shook her head, "It's okay. Two and a half years."
Kim blew out a breath, "It's been three, and…" Kim shook her head. "
"Tell me about her."
Kim was silent for a long time. "She was beautiful. SHe had the darkest black hair I've ever seen, and her eyes, I was with her for ten years, and I never really knew what she'd say or do next. Her eyes always twinkled with happiness. She was caring and wonderful and…" Kim cleared her throat, "She was a surgical nurse. I met her my first day at work in San Francisco. I think she stole my food from the fridge. THough she never admitted to it." Kerry tried to stop it, but a laugh escaped anyway, "Yeah, yuk it up. I ranted at her- she took me out to lunch."
Kerry shook her head, "You always were too smooth for your own good."
"Oh, and how did you meet your Sandy? Standing in line at the grocery store?"
Kerry looked up and followed Henry's movement as he went from one game to another, Ingrid trailing after him. "She tackled me when I was about to get electrocuted by a falling power line."
"Oh."
Kerry nodded, "She had hurt her hand earlier, didn't like doctors. But, for whatever reason she trusted me. We had bumps, multiple bumps in our road, but- we were happy for a good stretch there. And we had Henry too."
"So...we both sit here- watching our kids and reminiscing, while avoiding the Pink Elephant."
"Years ago, it may have been a very big pink elephant. Today… it seems like a cute fluffy stuffed animal pink elephant. I've been through so much." She glanced at Kim, "It sounds as though you have as well." She paused, "And that's how we always did things, isn't it?"
Ingrid lost at a game and let out a big sigh. Kim started to stand, but Kerry put a hand on her shoulder. "Wait."
Henry finished his game and went over to Ingrid. He handed her a token. She said something, trying to hand it back, but Henry just shook his head and gestured towards the game, pointing at a couple of things.
Kim turned in her seat towards Kerry, "How did you know he was going to do that?"
"Because a few years ago we were here on vacation. He went to one of Henry's cousin's birthday parties. He lost at that game with his last token, I wasn't one of the chaperones, but his Uncle Carlos, Sandy's little brother, said that Henry's cousin Samuel had one token left, pushed Henry physically away from the game and won on it." Kerry paused, "Carlos felt bad about that, but apparently he was dealing with another one of the cousin's who was throwing up quite intensely. Oh, and, just to warn you- Henry will probably give his tickets to Ingrid."
Kim frowned, "Why? He earned them."
"He's done it before."
Kim smiled just a little, "Let me guess, with his cousin who couldn't hold in her pizza?"
Kerry nodded. "I believe he thinks that's what his Mom- Sandy I mean- would do."
"Go out with me for real. Just one date, the two of us."
Kerry gave Kim a look, "Because my son will give your daughter his Chuck E. Cheese's tickets?"
Kim smiled, "No. For old time's sake. Unless you're seeing someone of course."
"I'm not. Just one-"
"For old time's sake."
Ingrid came running up to them, "Mom- Mom- Henry gave me his tickets. All of 'em."
"Did you say thank you?"
Henry stopped next to Ingrid, not having run over, "Thank you Henry." She threw her arms around Henry, the tickets flopping around, "Thank you, thank you."
Henry cleared his throat and blushed very deeply, "You're welcome. Do you wanna go pick something?"
"Yes, yes." She took his hand and pulled Henry after her.
Kim shook her head, "I've never seen her like this."
Kerry smiled, "I have once with Henry. He's the second oldest cousin in the Lopezes cousins. He helps out with Maria…"
"...the puking cousin."
Kerry nodded, "...yes. But, other than that, he's an only child so…"
Kim smiled sadly, "He does seem to have taken to the older brother role with Ingrid." Kerry put an arm over Kim's shoulders. Kim put her hand over Kerry's. "Everyone should have a big brother for at least a little while."
Kerry stood, pulling Kim up with her, "I think that maybe Ingrid has picked her own. Let's go see what trouble they're getting into while picking her prizes."
As they walked over to the prize shop Kim didn't pull away and Kerry didn't remove her hand, though she moved it down to Kim's waist. Kim spoke, "I was wrong about what I was most thankful for this year. Yesterday, today, I didn't realize how close to the end of my rope I was. You and Henry… thank you Ker."
"You're welcome Kim, and… we're never setting foot in this restaurant ever again."
Kim smirked and let out a little chuckle, "That's what you think."
oOOOOo
Fin ~ November 28th, 2014
