[Theme Park]
Kate's POV
The theme park was exactly what I expected and not in a bad way. It was crowded, noisy, and colorful. Not to mention the soft kid music playing through those high speakers. Kids were everywhere, squealing, laughing, or crying with equal volume. It smelled like kettle corn and sunscreen.
Charlie walked beside me, holding Lily's hand on one side while she clutched Mr. Waffles on the other. She was practically bouncing as we passed a cotton candy stand shaped like a giant pink cloud.
"I want that one!" Lily pointed, and Charlie leaned down to her level.
"Which one, the cotton candy or the actual stand?"
"The stand," she said matter-of-factly.
He nodded solemnly. "We'll ask if they do home deliveries."
She burst out laughing, the kind of open, belly-deep laugh that only small kids can pull off without shame. I smiled, watching her look up at him like he had just invented the concept of fun.
'She looks so happy with him. Like she's known him longer than a day.' I didn't say it out loud, but the thought pressed gently on my chest. Lily had never had that look before with anyone who wasn't me or her sitter. I mean, it's barely half a day since they met.
We made it to the kiddie rides section, and after some enthusiastic pointing, we ended up in line for the spinning teacups. Charlie insisted we all go in the same cup. Lily squealed as it spun faster than I thought legal for a ride meant for toddlers. Charlie did the spinning, laughing like a kid himself, while I clung to the center wheel and tried not to let my lunch revisit me. Lily's laughter rang out every time we made a full spin.
They're both five years old today. I'm the only adult here, and honestly, I wouldn't change a thing.
After that, it was the little train ride, the miniature Ferris wheel, and then a pony ride that Lily demanded but refused to finish halfway through. After all that fun, she was exhausted. Her cheeks were flushed pink, and she looked like she might fall asleep standing up. Yet, she tried to look tough.
Charlie bent down in front of her without a word.
"Want a ride, Captain Lily?" he asked.
She gave a nod, and he scooped her up onto his shoulders like it was the most natural thing in the world. Her small hands gripped his head like handlebars, and she rested her cheek on top.
She giggled softly. "You're tall."
"Only on Tuesdays," he said.
I walked next to them and couldn't help but smile. She looks so happy today, and so am I.
She had grown up without a father. I had always told myself she had enough love from me, that we were fine. But seeing her up there, smiling and happy, made me realize how much more she had room for.
We stopped at a shady bench by the snack bar. Charlie helped Lily down, and she lay across the bench with Mr. Waffles tucked under her arm.
"She's out," he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead.
"She'll wake up for the carousel," I said, sitting beside her.
He passed me a bottle of water and sat on the armrest next to me. For a moment, we were quiet, just watching people go by. Parents pushing strollers. Kids begging for more popcorn. Someone in a hotdog costume waving at no one in particular.
Charlie glanced at Lily. "She's great, you know."
"She's a lot," I said.
He smiled. "She's also magic."
I looked at him then, really looked. Not as the guy who brought donuts. Not as the man who once chickened out on a phone call. Not as the rising music star who made girls scream. Just as Charlie. And in that moment, he didn't look like someone playing a role. He looked like someone who belonged here.
'God, if only he'd walked into my life a couple of years earlier.'
I didn't say it. But I felt it everywhere.
Then Lily stirred and sat up slowly. She blinked at both of us.
"Carousel?" she mumbled.
Charlie stood up like it was a mission.
"Let's ride a horse," he said.
And just like that, we were off again.
....
[3rd person POV] [A few minutes later...]
They found a shaded picnic table near a food kiosk with bright umbrellas and the smell of grilled onions in the air. Lunch came in disposable trays. Lily munched on chicken nuggets and fries. She dipped each nugget carefully into ketchup like it was a science experiment. She also had one of those packaged apple juices.
Charlie bit into his burger, nodding with approval. "Greasy, over-salted, and perfect."
Kate smiled across the table and took a sip of her pineapple juice. "I think they nailed the food pyramid here. Carbs, sugar, nostalgia."
Lily reached over and stole one of Charlie's fries. He looked mock-offended but chuckled, offering her one more.
After lunch, they walked around the place, watched a magic show, and almost rode all the rides.
The last ride was a little boat ride where the kids sat in tiny tugboats and rang bells as they floated in a slow circle. Kate and Charlie knelt by the railing the whole time, cheering her on like she was crossing the Atlantic.
By evening, Lily was already in Charlie's arms again, and she was sleepy. They walked to the car. Kate opened the back door, and Charlie helped her into her seat. She leaned against the side window almost immediately, eyelids heavy.
The drive back was quiet. Kate kept one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on the gearshift. Charlie looked out at the passing streets, sunlight flickering through bare branches and storefronts. Occasionally, he glanced back at Lily, who had dozed off mid-sentence, her juice box still half full.
By the time they reached home, Lily was fully asleep. Charlie carefully unbuckled her, lifting her carefully. She didn't even stir as he carried her up the steps.
...
[15 minutes later]
Kate had changed into leggings and a loose sweatshirt, her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Charlie was sitting at one end of the couch.
Kate came in from the kitchen with two mugs of tea, handing one to Charlie before settling into the armchair across from him. She tucked her legs underneath her and let out a quiet sigh.
"Thank you for coming today," she said. Her voice was softer now, the kind that carried more weight because it wasn't dressed up. "Lily's never had that much fun in one day."
Charlie smiled, holding the mug. "She's easy to have fun with. She's got a big imagination and no filter. That's the best kind of kid."
Kate looked at him with something like gratitude and something else beneath it. "I mean it. You didn't have to do all that. The rides, the jokes, the piggyback. You were completely in it the whole time. Most people would have tapped out after the first meltdown or sugar crash."
He shrugged lightly. "It didn't feel like effort. Honestly, it felt good. Like I got to hit pause on the rest of the world and just be... there."
She nodded, her fingers curled around the mug. "You were more than there. She lit up with you. She doesn't do that for strangers, or even most people she knows. But the way she laughed with you... It was different."
Charlie let that sit for a moment before responding. "Maybe she just saw something familiar in me. Or maybe it's because she got to choose all the rides today. Oh, not to mention the ice cream."
Kate smiled gently. "That might be it. Or maybe she just really liked the cake."
He laughed, tipping his mug slightly in salute. "Never underestimate the power of dessert diplomacy."
She leaned her head back against the chair. "Still, thank you. For today. For everything. I don't know what I expected when you asked me to breakfast, but this wasn't it. In the best way possible."
Charlie took a sip and glanced at her, his expression relaxed but thoughtful. "I just wanted to see where it could go. No pressure, or angles. Just something honest."
Kate met his eyes. "And now?"
He held her gaze. "Still honest."
After a few minutes of companionable silence, Charlie finished the last sip of his tea. He set the mug on the table and stood, stretching a little.
"I should get going," he said, reaching for his jacket that was draped over the back of the couch. "My flight's in a few hours. Back to LA."
'Leaving this soon?!' She thought.
Kate nodded, trying not to show the sudden heaviness that settled in her chest. She stood up. "Are you coming back to New York anytime soon?"
"Maybe next month," Charlie said, slipping one arm into his jacket. "Could be sooner if something comes up with a shoot or a meeting. Either way, I'll call. This time, I mean it. No chickening out. Oh, if you are in LA, you better come see me. I'll show you the beach, my tiny studio, you can meet Lisa and Laura, and the world's most dramatic housekeeper. You'll love it."
She smiled at that. "I'll give you a call."
Charlie took a step toward her. He reached out, slow and sure, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Today was really good, Kate."
"It was," she agreed, her voice low.
They stood there for a moment longer, a beat suspended between goodbye and something else. Then Charlie leaned in and kissed her gently on the cheek. It was warm and close and just long enough to feel like more than a polite farewell.
He stepped back, gave her one last look, then made his way to the door. Kate followed him.
Charlie opened the door. "Tell Lily goodbye for me when she wakes up."
"I will," Kate said.
He smiled, then stepped outside. She watched him walk down the steps and into the street. No drama, no slow-motion turns, just a man who had made good on breakfast and a whole lot more.
Kate stood there for a while before closing the door. The silence was back again. She leaned back on the door and felt something she hadn't felt in a long time. And she knew exactly what it was... Hope and love.
...
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