29th November, 2022 - Los Angeles, California
The bell above the shop door jingled as Vincent led Lux and August into the cozy little pottery painting store.
Luckily, the bug which August and Vincent had only lasted one additional day before everything was back to normal. Now, Vincent had taken the little ones out to a small pottery shop in downtown LA so that they could paint something for Sebastian's birthday which was only a little over a week away.
The air smelled faintly of clay and acrylic paints, and the walls were lined with shelves displaying an array of mugs, bowls, figurines and lots more, all waiting to be chosen and brought to life.
Lux's eyes widened as she took in the sight of all the different pieces. "Wooooah," she breathed, gripping Vincent's hand tightly. "We paint stuff?"
August, standing beside her, clapped his hands excitedly. "Paintin'! We make somethin' for Daddy?"
Vincent chuckled, relieved that they seemed so excited. "Yeah, that's the plan. We're going to paint something special for Daddy's birthday. You two can pick whatever you like and make it all nice for him."
A friendly-looking woman in an apron approached them with a smile. "Welcome to Painted Dreams Pottery! Are you here to paint today?"
"Yes, we are," Vincent replied, adjusting the bag on his shoulder. "We want to make birthday gifts."
"That sounds wonderful! Feel free to look around and choose any pottery piece you'd like. When you're ready, I'll help you with the paints and brushes."
August immediately scampered off to the other side of the shop, his hands already reaching towards a ceramic puppy figurine with big, floppy ears. "This one! Daddy likes puppies!" he declared excitedly.
"Careful Auggie." Vincent warned, knowing the mix of over excitable boy and breakable pottery meant potential disaster. He moved closer, steadying the ceramic puppy in August's hands. "That's a great choice, buddy. But remember, we have to be gentle."
"I be gentle." August said firmly, already making a b-line towards a small painting booth in the corner of the store.
Lux, meanwhile, stayed glued to Vincent's side, gazing shyly around the store.
Vincent crouched beside her, giving her an encouraging smile. "See anything you like, sweetheart?"
Lux pressed her lips together, scanning the shelves with a deep, concentrated frown. She wanted to pick something perfect. August had been quick to decide, but Lux needed to be sure. She needed to be sure she got the perfect thing for her daddy.
Finally, her gaze landed on a heart-shaped trinket box on the top shelf. It was simple, smooth, and small enough for her tiny hands.
Perfect for Daddy's rings.
Lux pointed. "That one, Papa. Daddy can put his rings in it."
Vincent followed her gaze and nodded approvingly. "That's a great choice, sweetheart. Daddy will love it."
Lux beamed as the shop assistant carefully climbed up a ladder and took the trinket box from the shelf and placed it on the painting station along with August's puppy figurine.
Once their pottery pieces were settled in front of them, the shop assistant handed each of them a small apron to wear. Lux giggled as Vincent helped her tie the strings in the back, making sure it wasn't too loose. August, already antsy to begin, fumbled with his apron before Vincent stepped in to fix it properly.
"All right, you two," Vincent said as he rolled up his sleeves. "We've got a bunch of colors to choose from. What do you think Daddy would like?"
August hummed thoughtfully, staring at the paint bottles lined up along the table. "Rainbow! Cause, Daddy likes all the colors!"
Vincent chuckled at August's enthusiasm. "A rainbow puppy, huh? That's definitely unique." He reached for a few paint bottles, setting them closer to the little boy. "You can use as many colors as you want, but try to take your time, okay?"
August nodded vigorously, already grabbing a brush and dunking it into the bright purple paint. He carefullyâwell, as carefully as August could manageâstarted painting one of the floppy ears. "Gotta make it special," he murmured to himself.
Meanwhile, Lux studied her trinket box with the same level of seriousness she had when unlocking the front door the other day. Her tiny fingers traced over the smooth ceramic surface before she reached for a soft shade of pink.
Vincent watched her carefully pick up the brush and dip it into the paint, smiling at the sheer concentration on her face. "That's a nice color, baby," he encouraged.
Lux nodded without looking up, her brows furrowing. "Daddy likes pink," she said matter-of-factly.
Vincent settled into a seat beside them, content to just watch as the littles worked. August was already making a messâhis rainbow puppy had a big splotch of green on its tail, and his hands were covered in paint. Lux, on the other hand, was meticulous, slowly painting even strokes along the edges of the heart-shaped box.
Once the lid of the box was fully coated in the light pink, she reaches for the sliver paint, and dips a thin paintbrush into it. Carefully, she takes her time as she outlines the edge of the lid with the silver, making the heart shape really pop.
As Lux painted, her little tongue poked out in concentration, and her small hands were so careful, it made Vincent smile. He had expected a bit more chaos, especially with August being so energetic, but Lux was focusedâcompletely absorbed in her task.
Vincent leaned back in his chair, watching the two of them with soft, fond eyes. He noticed the way August kept giggling every time he dipped his brush into a new color, and how Lux, despite her serious expression, would occasionally look up at him with a twinkle in her eyes.
"I want it to be just right for Daddy." Lux says softly, as she moves onto the actual pot part of the trinket, reaching for the pink paint again.
Vincent's heart swelled. "He's going to love it. You're both making such special gifts."
Lux nodded solemnly, as if to say, of course it had to be perfect. She dipped her brush into the paint, working her way carefully around the sides. The lid was starting to dry, and it was already looking so pretty, the little silver outlining giving it a delicate touch.
August, meanwhile, was happily splattering paint all over his puppy, creating a colorful explosion that seemed more like a modern art piece than anything he had intended. "Look, Papa!" he giggled, holding up his puppy for Vincent to see, the purple ear completely covered in orange now.
Vincent tried not to laugh too loudly at the sight. "That's... certainly something, Auggie."
August's eyes sparkled with pride. "Daddy's gonna love it! I make it bright n' beautiful so he smile."
"Bright and beautiful, just like you," Vincent replied, squeezing his shoulder gently.
By the time the two had finished, there was paint everywhere. August was a walking canvasâpaint smudges on his cheek, hands, and even in his hairâbut Lux's trinket box was a work of art. It was soft and pretty, and Vincent had no doubt that Sebastian would treasure it forever.
Once they finished painting, the shop assistant came over to inspect their work. She smiled at Lux's neat strokes and August's explosion of color. "You two did a great job," she said warmly. "These pieces will look wonderful once they're fired and glazed."
Vincent looked down at August, who was still admiring his puppy with great pride. "Looks like we'll be picking up two masterpieces soon," he said with a chuckle.
"We don't get to take them home today?" Lux pouted, watching as the assistant gently placed her and August's pottery onto a tray to take away.
The assistant gave her an apologetic smile. "No, sweetie, they need to be fired in the kiln so they can harden and the colors can really pop. It takes a couple of days, but you'll be able to come back and pick them up once they're ready!"
Lux frowned, her bottom lip jutting out. She was clearly disappointed. "But I wanna show Daddy now..." she said softly.
Vincent smiles softly at her pouty expression, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I know, sweetheart," he said gently. "But trust me, when you give it to him, it will be even more special. It'll be like a surprise, and he'll love it even more when he sees it all shiny and perfect."
Lux looked at her painted box, her serious expression returning. She nodded slowly, the disappointment melting.
"Okay. I'll wait," she said, as if deciding that the surprise was worth the wait.
August, however, wasn't as patient. He tugged on Vincent's sleeve, his eyes wide with concern. "Papa! When we get 'em back, can we paint more stuff?" His voice full of hope.
Vincent chuckled at the way his little one practically vibrated with energy. "Maybe, buddy. We'll have to see. For now, let's get these packed up and head out for some lunch. How does that sound?"
"Yay!" August cheered, bouncing on his toes. "Food!"
Vincent took a deep breath, straightening up with a smile. He helped August and Lux put on their little coats, both of them still excited from their session. They walked up to the counter so that they could pay for their pieces.
"Your pieces will be ready in a couple of days. Just give us a call when you're ready to pick them up." She said as Vincent beeped his card onto the small machine.
"Thanks," Vincent said with a smile, wrapping his arm around both Lux and August as they left the shop. The bell jingled behind them as they stepped out into the crisp afternoon air.
"Food! Food!" August chanted happily, already skipping ahead.
Vincent chuckled softly, his heart swelling with affection as he watched August bounce ahead. Lux, her little hand nestled securely in his, was quiet, but he could see the contentment in her small smile.
"You ready for some lunch, Luxie?" He asked, tucking some hair behind her ear.
"Yeah" Lux mumbles. "M'hungry. Where are we eating?"
"I was thinking we could go to that little diner around the corner that we passed on the way." Vincent said, giving Lux's hands a reassuring squeeze.
"Really?" Lux grinned.
Vincent smiled, nodding.
It was a short and pleasant walk to the diner with the winter sun shining down on the trio. Soon enough, they were being seated in the a bright red booth with menus already neatly laid out on the table.
"I want fries! Lotsa fries! With ketchup!" August said, his grin spread wide, and he bounced in his seat with enough energy to power a small city.
"Auggie you didn't even look at the menu." Vincent chuckled. "Surely you want something a little more than just fries."
August pouted for a moment, his hands still gripping the edges of the table as he stared down at the menu. "I want fries... and... maybe chicken nuggets," he said slowly, as if just realizing there were other options. "Yeah! Nuggets! With fries!"
"Let's try with manners this time." Vincent promoted.
"May I please have nuggets n' fries." August said, more calmly this time.
Vincent nodded approvingly, his lips curling into a proud smile. "Good job, buddy. Lux, what about you?"
Lux, who had been quietly studying the menu, looked up at him. "May I please have... a grilled cheese? The one with tomato soup."
Vincent smiled at his daughter's thoughtful choice. "Of course, sweetheart. Grilled cheese with tomato soup coming right up."
After placing their orders with the cheerful waitress, Vincent leaned back in his seat, taking a moment to savor the peaceful atmosphere around them. The diner was cozy, with red vinyl booths and the clinking of silverware from nearby tables. It wasn't very busy but there were a few other families scattered around, enjoying their lunch together.
"Papa I need to go... potty." August says quietly, wriggling in his seat.
They had been working on getting the boy used to using the bathroom again out in public areas since it was a lot more convenient for everybody, but of course at home, he was still in diapers.
Vincent nodded, his smile warm and understanding. "Okay, buddy. Let's go." He stood up and helped August slide out of the booth, gently holding his hand.
"We'll just be a minuet Luxie. You'll be okay?" Vincent asked.
She didn't seem to be in any type of headspace right now so Vincent trusted her alone for 2 minuets whilst he helped August.
Lux hums, nodding in confirmation. "Can I have your phone though? For games?"
Vincent smiled, reaching into his pocket and handing Lux his phone. "Just be careful with it, okay?"
Lux nodded again, typing in the password and finding the games. Vincent wasn't really one to have many games on his phone but he had downloaded a few simply to keep the little ones busy during times like this.
"Thanks, Papa," she said softly, her eyes lighting up as she started a game she'd been playing recently.
Vincent nodded, glancing down at her one final time before guiding August up and over to the restrooms, leaving Lux in the booth.
She was now happily engrossed in her gameâthe objective being to catch all the falling stars in the night sky while avoiding the clouds. She leaned forward, her small fingers tapping the screen as she guided her little character through the glowing stars with absolute focus.
The soft hum of the diner, the clink of plates and silverware, and the gentle laughter of families around her blended into a comforting background. It was one of those quiet moments where she felt completely at ease, her world narrowed down to the simple task at hand.
She had always been a little quieter than August, who was constantly on the move. She liked it when things were peaceful, when she could just focus on something without distraction. And the gameâwell, the game was just the right kind of distraction.
She glances up from the phone for a second, her eyes darting over to the restroom to see if August was done yet when she catches a glimpse of a familiar face.
Lux didn't quite recognise the man at first, but something about the way he was sat alone in a booth with boxy glasses perched on the tip of his nose stood out to her. She could of sworn he wasn't there a few minuets ago.
The sound of voices, the clinking of silverware, and even the low hum of background music all seemed distant for a moment. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied him.
And then it came to her all at once.
Was that Mr. Collins? She thought.
Lux's fingers froze on the screen, her game momentarily forgotten as she stared at the man in the corner booth.
She had only seen him briefly at their house the other day when Papa had firmly told him they weren't interested in whatever he was selling. But now he was here, alone, in the same diner as them? That was weird, right?
Lux bit her lip, trying to remember exactly what had felt off about Mr. Collins that day but everything was a blur. She just remembers feeling little and confused. He had seemed friendly at the door but the way Vincent had snatched her up into his arms and ushered the man away had Lux wondering if her first impressions of him were incorrect.
She furrowed her eyebrows, trying to think.
Mr. Collins hadn't noticed her lookingâat least, she didn't think he had. He was stirring a cup of coffee absentmindedly, his gaze fixed on something outside the diner's window. But why was he here? Was it just a coincidence?
Lux wasn't sure.
She didn't want to jump to conclusions, but her stomach twisted uncomfortably. Something about it just didn't feel right.
Vincent always told her and August to trust their feelings. If something didn't feel right, it probably wasn't.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to look away, staring back down at the game on the phone screen. She wasn't sure if she should tell Papa or not. Would he think she was just imagining things? That she was being silly?
But then, as if drawn by an invisible string, her eyes flickered back toward Mr. Collins.
And this time, he was looking directly at her.
Lux's breath caught in her throat.
Mr. Collins smiledâjust a small, polite smileâand then looked away again, taking a sip of his coffee as if nothing had happened. But Lux had seen the way his eyes had lingered just a second too long.
She suddenly wished Papa and August would hurry up.
She swallowed hard, suddenly feeling a lot smaller than she had just a few minutes ago. The phone in her hands wasn't as interesting anymore. Her fingers tapped at the screen, but her mind wasn't on the game.
Then, she felt a presence beside her.
"Hey, sweetheart, we're back," Vincent's warm voice broke through her thoughts.
She flinched slightly, startled, before quickly looking up at him. He was standing there with August, who was still wiggling happily from the successful bathroom trip. Vincent frowned, instantly noticing her expression.
"What's wrong, baby?" he asked gently, sliding back into the booth across from her.
Lux hesitated. She wanted to tell him, but what if she was wrong? What if she was just being weird?
"Nothing," she mumbled, looking down at her lap.
Vincent didn't look convinced. He reached over and gently took her hand in his. "You sure? You look upset."
Lux bit her lip, debating. Then, in a very small voice, she whispered, "Papa... Mr. Collins is here."
Vincent's entire posture changed in an instant.
His body stiffened, his usually relaxed demeanor replaced with something sharper, something protective. His eyes flicked up immediately, scanning the diner.
And then he saw him.
Mr. Collins was still sitting there, sipping his coffee, completely unawareâor maybe completely awareâthat Vincent had just spotted him.
Vincent's jaw clenched, his grip on Lux's hand tightening just slightly before he quickly softened it. He took a slow breath, forcing his expression to remain calm for the sake of Lux.
"Okay," he said carefully, his voice low and steady. "Did he talk to you?"
Lux shook her head quickly. "No... but he looked at me."
Vincent's eyes darkened. He turned back to August, who was still blissfully unaware of the tension at the table. "Bud, why don't you scoot over and sit next to your sister for a bit?"
August frowned but did as he was told, sliding in beside Lux. Vincent then turned his full attention back to Mr. Collins, his mind already racing through the possibilities.
Coincidence? Maybe.
But Vincent didn't believe in coincidences.
The waitress arrives back at the table, carrying their plates with a bright smile, oblivious to the sudden shift in tension at the booth.
"Here we go! One grilled cheese with tomato soup, one order of nuggets and fries, and for you, sir, the club sandwich with a side of fries." She set each plate down in front of them.
"Can I get you anything else?" she asked cheerfully.
Vincent forced a polite smile, shaking his head. "No, thank you. This is perfect."
She nodded and walked off, leaving them alone once again.
"Papa I want Daddy." Lux mumbles quietly, her eyes darting around the room.
Vincent's heart ached at the soft tremble in Lux's voice. He knew how much she gravitated toward Sebastian. Especially when she was feeling unsure, and right now, she was clearly unsettled.
"Eat your lunch, baby," Vincent said softly. "I'll take care of everything."