Charlie threaded his fingers through his wife's slender, tapered ones as they exited the plane. Madison bobbed a few feet in front of them, nearly bent in half by the weight of her carry on which she'd over filled, but refused to let anyone else carry for her. She was a stubborn little girl and it made Charlie laugh to see how much like her mother she was. Connie wasn't the type to admit when she needed help either, she was determined to be strong and independent.
"You know, she's just like you." He ran his thumb along the side her of her hand with a smile.
Connie just shook her head. "I don't think so, I see more of her father in her everyday."
Her husband flinched slightly at the comment, he knew Guy was Maddie's real father, but he just didn't like to think about it. Every time it was mentioned it was a like smack to his face, that stung worse then any he'd ever sustained in hockey. If life had been perfect, if things had gone right, he would've been the one she married all those years ago, his blood would flowing through the veins of Connie's daughter.
"I don't, Guy was quiet when we were her age and shy. She's definitely more like you."
"I wasn't talking about Guy, I meant you." She kissed his cheek and smiled lovingly up at him.
Charlie smiled and squeezed her hand, the wheels of thought moving slowly in the back of his mind. There was something he'd been meaning to ask her, something he'd hoped taking the trip would make easier. His question, would be almost life changing.
Connie sighed and pointed "Do you see that?" She gestured with her hand to where Madison stood riding the luggage carrousel. "And you think she's more like me?"
As she ran off to chase the little girl through the airport, he watched her. Her silky brown hair bouncing, her smile lighting up the airport. He remembered the day he first noticed how bright her eyes were, the way her body was toned and curved in just the right places, and how that patch of freckles on the back of her neck seemed to form a heart. They day he realized she was more to him then a childhood friend, his blood brother's girlfriend.
Goldberg's family had had their yearly fourth of July bash at the Deli and the team stuffed themselves with sandwiches. As they laid on the grass in the park, resting their stomachs and staring up at the sky, Connie and Guy stood off to the side, arguing over one thing or another. They always quarreled over stupid things, it wasn't uncommon. It was almost a ritual that they have at least one fight during summer vacation where they break up for a while.
As Guy stormed off toward the edge of the park, Connie started back in the direction of the group to watch the firework display. She spotted Charlie, lying a blanket, looking up to the clouds and headed to where he was. She stopped at his feet and chewed her bottom lip softly.
"Can I sit with you, Charlie?" Her voice was soft and sad, her dark eyes misty with unshed tires.
Before her friend could answer, the fireworks began to ignite in the air, illuminating the sky like huge flowers. Blossoms of color exploding behind her head as Charlie looked up at her. He'd heard of people seeing fire works when they see someone beautiful, but that had always sounded ridiculous to him. Right then though, he thought for sure he was falling love. The warm summer air had made her cheeks slightly pink from the heat and her full lips where bright red from a snow cone she'd eaten shortly before.
She kicked his foot lightly to gain his attention, not realizing she'd had it completely since she walked over. "Charlie…?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, Cons, sure sit." He rambled scooting over on the blanket to make room.
Connie forced a smile and laid down beside him, her arm brushing his gently as she made herself comfortable. A shiver ran the length of Charlie's spine as he sat there next to her, watching her chest rise and fall as she gazed up at the sky.
It seemed like only an instant and she went from the girl he use to play Ninja Turtles with in his back yard, to gorgeous girl that embodied everything he'd ever hoped to find in a girl. His fingers grazed her hip, has he rolled onto he shifted slightly and he wondered if she too had felt the spark. If she had, would she ever admit it?
Later that night, after the fire works had ceased, and the Ducks began to get ready to leave the park, Guy resurfaced. He had a bouquet of flowers in his hand and Charlie watched silently as Connie walked to her boyfriend with an enormous smile on her face. She took the roses, kissed Guy passionately and slipped her hand into his. As they walked away together, Charlie felt his heart in his throat. There was his answer. She's always be his best friend's girl, there was no denying it.
And so he kept it secret. Bottled up his feelings in the very bottom of his heart. And on the day he stood up for Guy at his wedding, he wanted so badly to object, but he couldn't. He couldn't admit his feelings, nor could he ruin the pure love that his two friends shared. He'd forever be the best friend.
"What are you thinking, Sweetie?" He was brought back from his thoughts by Connie's tender voice. She stood in front of him with Madison latched to his leg.
Charlie smiled and asked the question he'd been holding in for weeks. "What do you think about moving to Canada?"
"You know, she's just like you." He ran his thumb along the side her of her hand with a smile.
Connie just shook her head. "I don't think so, I see more of her father in her everyday."
Her husband flinched slightly at the comment, he knew Guy was Maddie's real father, but he just didn't like to think about it. Every time it was mentioned it was a like smack to his face, that stung worse then any he'd ever sustained in hockey. If life had been perfect, if things had gone right, he would've been the one she married all those years ago, his blood would flowing through the veins of Connie's daughter.
"I don't, Guy was quiet when we were her age and shy. She's definitely more like you."
"I wasn't talking about Guy, I meant you." She kissed his cheek and smiled lovingly up at him.
Charlie smiled and squeezed her hand, the wheels of thought moving slowly in the back of his mind. There was something he'd been meaning to ask her, something he'd hoped taking the trip would make easier. His question, would be almost life changing.
Connie sighed and pointed "Do you see that?" She gestured with her hand to where Madison stood riding the luggage carrousel. "And you think she's more like me?"
As she ran off to chase the little girl through the airport, he watched her. Her silky brown hair bouncing, her smile lighting up the airport. He remembered the day he first noticed how bright her eyes were, the way her body was toned and curved in just the right places, and how that patch of freckles on the back of her neck seemed to form a heart. They day he realized she was more to him then a childhood friend, his blood brother's girlfriend.
Goldberg's family had had their yearly fourth of July bash at the Deli and the team stuffed themselves with sandwiches. As they laid on the grass in the park, resting their stomachs and staring up at the sky, Connie and Guy stood off to the side, arguing over one thing or another. They always quarreled over stupid things, it wasn't uncommon. It was almost a ritual that they have at least one fight during summer vacation where they break up for a while.
As Guy stormed off toward the edge of the park, Connie started back in the direction of the group to watch the firework display. She spotted Charlie, lying a blanket, looking up to the clouds and headed to where he was. She stopped at his feet and chewed her bottom lip softly.
"Can I sit with you, Charlie?" Her voice was soft and sad, her dark eyes misty with unshed tires.
Before her friend could answer, the fireworks began to ignite in the air, illuminating the sky like huge flowers. Blossoms of color exploding behind her head as Charlie looked up at her. He'd heard of people seeing fire works when they see someone beautiful, but that had always sounded ridiculous to him. Right then though, he thought for sure he was falling love. The warm summer air had made her cheeks slightly pink from the heat and her full lips where bright red from a snow cone she'd eaten shortly before.
She kicked his foot lightly to gain his attention, not realizing she'd had it completely since she walked over. "Charlie…?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, Cons, sure sit." He rambled scooting over on the blanket to make room.
Connie forced a smile and laid down beside him, her arm brushing his gently as she made herself comfortable. A shiver ran the length of Charlie's spine as he sat there next to her, watching her chest rise and fall as she gazed up at the sky.
It seemed like only an instant and she went from the girl he use to play Ninja Turtles with in his back yard, to gorgeous girl that embodied everything he'd ever hoped to find in a girl. His fingers grazed her hip, has he rolled onto he shifted slightly and he wondered if she too had felt the spark. If she had, would she ever admit it?
Later that night, after the fire works had ceased, and the Ducks began to get ready to leave the park, Guy resurfaced. He had a bouquet of flowers in his hand and Charlie watched silently as Connie walked to her boyfriend with an enormous smile on her face. She took the roses, kissed Guy passionately and slipped her hand into his. As they walked away together, Charlie felt his heart in his throat. There was his answer. She's always be his best friend's girl, there was no denying it.
And so he kept it secret. Bottled up his feelings in the very bottom of his heart. And on the day he stood up for Guy at his wedding, he wanted so badly to object, but he couldn't. He couldn't admit his feelings, nor could he ruin the pure love that his two friends shared. He'd forever be the best friend.
"What are you thinking, Sweetie?" He was brought back from his thoughts by Connie's tender voice. She stood in front of him with Madison latched to his leg.
Charlie smiled and asked the question he'd been holding in for weeks. "What do you think about moving to Canada?"