Mothers
Listening to the soft sounds of the drum and violin, he rhythmically stroked Archie's fur as he let his gaze glide over the people enjoying the beautiful weather in the park that Sunday.
"Excuse me, sir, is the seat next to you still available?"
The corners of his mouth twitched. She wanted to play their game now? Very well...
"Milady." Douxie merely tilted his head in greeting so as not to wake Archie. "Of course, you may claim this seat for yourself."
"I thank you, sir."
Gracefully, Zoe settled down beside him in her short black skirt and looked thoughtfully at Archie.
"Is everything okay with Archibald? He doesn't usually sleep at this hour."
Sighing, Douxie closed his eyes for a few seconds. "Archie'd been awake for the rest of the night, making sure I felt safe. Zoe..."
Where was he going to start with the explanation? But before he could put his thoughts in an acceptable order, she grabbed the second stud hanging in front of his shirt and put it in her ear. For a few moments she listened to the music and then shook her head.
"You listen to Irish instrumental music? Shit, this is really serious."
Bending her leg on the bench, she turned fully toward him and looked imploringly into his eyes. "What happened yesterday, Douxie?"
"It was... a flashback. Something I experienced as a child, before Archie found me. It's been a while since something like that happened to me, and I thought I was past it. But apparently that isn't the case. I'm afraid that I won't be able to go to the new bath with you anymore. I'll probably avoid the sauna in the future as well, now that that memory has come crawling back out of my subconsciousness. Otherwise it could trigger me again. I'm sorry, Zoe."
"Hey, it's okay! I'm also constantly trying to avoid the demons of my past," she assured him and gently cupped his cheeks. "But look at me, Douxie. Do you want to talk about it? I'm here if you want to."
He knew that telling her about it would certainly give him relief. But at the same time, everything in him resisted the thought of even going near that memory again.
When he noticed over Zoe's shoulder a familiar person sitting on a bench some distance away, however, Douxie knew how he could start. With a nod in the appropriate direction, he indicated that Zoe should turn once in that direction, which she did.
"Do you see the woman there next to the teenage boy? She's a doctor and a single parent. From what I picked up at work, the boy's father left them ten years ago. But still, she kept and keeps going. Working like crazy at the local hospital to provide for her son and herself. Along the way, her boy has become very independent, and I bet eventually becoming a chef."
"Is that so? And how do you know that?"
Laughing softly, Douxie fondly recalled the day...
"Last year for his birthday, they were out to dinner while I was on shift. Aside from the fact that they always tip very well, the boy was talking to me while his mother was in the bathroom. He asked me the exact ingredients of the new dishes, which we had just added to the menu a few days earlier at that point. He had wanted to recreate them at home because his mother likes to eat our food but they don't have so much money that they can eat out all the time. His mother overheard a few snippets of our conversation and assured me that her son is a truly gifted cook, unlike her," Douxie chuckled. With a caring smile, Douxie let his gaze wander further.
"And you see that woman there? At first glance, she seems downright married to her work. But I've often seen her sitting here in the park with her daughter and toddler, like right now, looking at a picture book with the little one while talking to her daughter."
And as Douxie let his gaze wander further to the many mothers and also fathers who were present with their children, he saw from the corner of his eye that Zoe was also letting her gaze wander.
"I sometimes wonder what my mother would be like, what she would be doing today, if she had stood the test of time like we have."
Instead of a direct reply, he felt Zoe lean her head against his shoulder and intertwine her fingers with his.
"I'd have loved to have met your mother. But you know, there's one thing I know with one hundred percent certainty. If she were here today, she'd be proud of you."
Her words made his heart beat on painfully.
"You think?" he asked in a strained voice, feeling the embrace of her fingers around his tighten.
"Hisirdoux Casperan, you're a master wizard of all magical fields. And that's despite the fact that you're not even officially a master wizard yet! You're hardworking, just like that mother over there, down-to-earth, help others and haven't lost your will to live and sometimes really annoying cheerfulness over the every so often really crappy centuries!"
Straightening up, she cupped his face again and looked at him with a seriousness that sent a shiver down his spine.
"Your mother couldn't help but be proud of you, Douxie. I know I am. And so much more. If it weren't for you, many a time I'd have just called it quits with life. Thanks to you," she quickly continued when he tried to say something with a shocked expression, "I'm still here today in this time period that I'm actually enjoying again."
Then she stood up and simply pulled him along while he quickly shouldered the still snoring Archie so he wouldn't accidentally drop him.
"But actually, I came here to show you a surprise that I got for you and I'm sure would have driven your mother crazy."
"What-?"
"No questions, just come with me."
Douxie couldn't help but feel emotionally drained. For Zoe's confession brought another weight to his heart. But at the same time, her snarky yet compassionate manner had always been able to snap him out of his sometimes dull and heavy thoughts. And seeing her at that moment with a grin and so full of anticipation for his reaction gave him joy himself.
And so he let himself be pulled along without resistance and simply looked forward to this surprise.
