Author's note: Sorry, this just had crossed my mind today and I had to insert it. FLUFF ALARM ! :-D
Also sorry for any mistakes or poor language but this is a quickly written thing (notes on the way to work, typed into my mobile, not a full hour of forming clear sentences and re-reading it when I was back home) ...
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February Barbecue - Stevie and Snorre
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... - 7 - ...
Barbara had just come from the toilet when she saw the open door to the music room. There stood a little miniature Tommy sucking his thumb, firmly pressing his cuddly toy bear into his chest and watching with big eyes into the world. Barbara knew that he had been laid down there to take a nap while his single father, not having found a baby-sitter for this evening, still was celebrating. The boy was Tommy's godson, the son of his cousin Phillip. He looked so much like Tommy with his dark unruly hair Barbara immediately thought that their own son probably would look the same. She had just recovered from her blush when she arrived at the door.
"Hello, sleepy head." She knelt down and smiled. From up close she saw how similar to Tommy the little boy looked. His face almost was just big green eyes. She swallowed. His dark hair and my green eyes.
"Are you ok, little man?"
The little man shook his head.
"Did you have a bad dream?" she asked and the little man nodded, sudden tears rolling down his face.
Barbara hugged him. "Oh, sh, baby, don't cry. You're Stevie, aren't you?"
Stevie nodded again and snuffled.
"You remember me? I'm Barbara."
"Barbaa?"
"M-hm. Here, I'll dry your face." With a clean serviette she still had had in her pockets since the barbecue she wiped his face and nose. Tenderly stroking his cheek she asked him if it was better now.
Stevie nodded.
"Who's that?" Barbara whispered pointing her chin at the bear.
Stevie whispered: "Snorre."
"Did he cry too?"
Stevie nodded.
"Come here, Snorre." Barbara wiped the Teddy's face too. "You take care of him, do you, Stevie?"
Stevie nodded and yawned.
"Do you want to talk about your dream, Stevie?"
Stevie shook his head. "Dere's a munster in de cupperd."
"Should I chase it away or do you want me to help you and Snorre find your dad?"
Stevie held out his little arms so Barbara could get up with him propped onto her hip.
"Find daddy." He looped his arms around her neck, suddenly wide awake, distinctively bolder and courageously curious about what went on in the house. Barbara remembered where she last had seen Phillip so she went into the living room with the boy on her arm until they reached him and he took over his son.
"Would you tell Tommy that I'm sorry I had to leave?" the father asked. "I know he will understand."
"Of course." Barbara mumbled.
"Taking over responsibilities, Barbara?" Tommy's sister cheekily asked with a broad grin and put a glass of champagne in Barbara's hand. Before the blushing woman could answer something grumpy Judith already was out of earshot. Barbara was a bit shocked because she realised that this was the second time a guest had left the party unexpectedly earlier than planned and bid her goodbye instead of Tommy. This was too much. She quickly had to take a sniff of fresh air on the veranda. Tommy was out of sight though she had seen him seconds ago when she had come back to the party. He had seemed engrossed in a conversation and since she had been busy with the boy she only had caught a quick glance from his shiny eyes.
Barbara downed half of the champagne in one big gulp.
All the time Judith had watched her brother intensely looking out of the door where she had seen Barbara disappearing. She knew he just had waited for her to come back. She had seen how his face had lit up every time their eyes had met. When she had seen Barbara re-entering the living room with the boy on her arm Judith had looked back at her older brother. Tommy visibly had melted. Tears had shot in his eyes and he quickly had excused himself from the conversation he had held at that moment. His sister knew that those were tears of his old pain but much more tears of joy now that he obviously had found the woman with whom he will try again all the love and family things he so had wanted his whole life.
Judith was entirely happy for Tommy.
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