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"Can I have ice cream, mommy?"
Dave has asked Aunt Veronica the same thing at least ten times now. And every time time he gets the same answer - no. But hats off to his determination, he's still pestering her to no end. He clutches the bottom of her dress in his small hands, pulling at it. "Please mommy?"
"No means no, honey. Ice creams are not meant for lunch." She scolds him, making him pout in disappointment. He huffs loudly, walking back to the living room couch, and takes a seat next to Ridge, who's talking to his brother on the phone.
We had gone to the hospital after having breakfast where we found out that neither his mom or his dad had shown any type of movement or response. Even though it crushed him to leave the place, Anne convinced him to head back with me because he looked like a zombie with those bags under his eyes. A clear indication that either he didn't sleep all night or he woke up in the middle of the night, and didn't get back to sleep after.
I can practically feel the anxiety and the deep melancholy radiating off him from the dining table as he hangs up the phone and closes his eyes tight, massaging his forehead with his fingers. I've already asked him to take a nap but he doesn't budge from his decision, that he wants to say awake in case his parents wake up. It's understandable but he's hurting himself and worrying me in the process. And I don't like this at all.
"Ridge, can we go out to the park?" I hear Dave ask him in his soft voice.
Ridge glances my way, a silent question in his eyes. I nod, making down at him, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Of course buddy. But we'd have to ask your mum first. If she gives us permission, then we can go."
He runs to his mom, tugging at her dress, yet again. "Momma, can we go to the park?"
She smile down at him. "If you promise to be a good boy and not trouble Ridge or Lydia, I'll let you go."
"I'll be a good boy. I promise." He promises, giving her a toothy grin. She smile at him, pinching his cheeks. Then, turns to us.
"I hope you guys will be fine taking him to the park. This kid can be a handful sometimes," She smiles sheepishly at Ridge, throwing a grateful look his way.
He shakes his head, "It's fine. He's a sweet kid."
So, we take him to the park, and since it's walking distance, we don't take any car this time. It's a sweet atmosphere outside, the cool breeze is blowing, brushing against my skin, birds are singing, perched up in the trees, the roads are not too busy at the moment, and I can see a few shops flooded with customers. A contrast to what our mood is today.
Dave is walking between us, one of his hand holding my left one and his other hand holding Ridge's right hand. He is skipping forward, a big smile on his cute little face. I notice Ridge looking at his phone again and again, as if someone's gonna pop out of it soon to give him a good news.
"See, there's ice cream," I hear Dave's excited voice, his fingers pointing towards his right, to Scoops. "Can we go there?" He tugs at our hands, his lips forming a small pout.
"That's why you wanted to come to the park, right?" Ridge looks down at him, a knowing smile on his face. Dave looks at him sheepishly.
"Please." He smiles.
A giggle escapes my lips. "Don't tell mommy or she'll skin me alive." I demand, giving him a hard look. He nods hurriedly, sprinting towards the shop happily.
"Come on." Ridge gestures towards the shop, here Dave is waiting for us, rather patiently, since he isn't tall enough to open the door himself. Ridge opens the door for us, and we step inside, heading straight for the counter. Dave presses his nose on the freezer, eyes twinkling with excitement as looks at all the different flavours.
"Last time it was just the girl, now it's a child too. Man, you play fast." The boy standing at the counter smirks at Ridge, who's rolling his eyes. I see his name tag - Danny.
"Shut up Dan. He's not my child. He's Lydia's cousin." Ridge remakes. I stand there, listening to their senseless banter.
"So, the girl's available?" He grins, giving me a teasing look. I mirror his grin, immune to the harmless flirting.
"Sorry, but this one's mine." Ridge remarks, wrapping his arm around my waist in a rather possessive manner. I laugh loudly, rolling my eyes at Danny who's acting like he's been shot.
"I'm hurt." He mock frowns, putting his hand against his chest.
"Will you give me my ice cream now?" Dave interrupts in an annoyed voices, putting his hands on his waist.
"Alright, buddy. What do you want?" Danny nods, giving him a friendly smile.
Dave puts his hands out in the front as if to say pick me up so Ridge picks him in his arms, holding him in front of the flavours. "I want chocolate and strawberry. With those colourful sprinklers." He points towards his desired choice.
"Do you guys want something?" Danny turns to us. Ridge shakes his head, declining. Even I don't feel like having anything right now so I say no. He nods and asks us to wait in one of the booths till the ice cream is ready.
Danny serves Dave's ice cream, and walks away, winking at me just to spite Ridge, who gives him the finger in return. Dave launches onto his ice cream, savoring it happily. Ridge and I sit there with him, both of us lost in our own thoughts. My eyes are looking out of the window, looking at the distant tree, on the corner of the road. It has no leaves, or any flower or any bird perched up on the branches. It looks rather alone.
Ridge's phone ringing snaps my attention towards him. He takes his phone out of his pocket, picking it up.
"Anne, yes? Is everything alright?" His voice comes out frantic.
I hear her mumble something unclear to which Ridge's eyes widen, followed by a breath of relief leaving his lips, a smile forming on his face. "They are both awake? I'll be right there in five minutes."
We don't even take another second before sprinting out of the shop, promising Dave to get him more ice cream next time. Being the good boy he is, and understanding the urgency, he obeys silently, as we walk towards my house to drop him off and get the car keys so that we can drive to the hospital.
We drop Dave off, telling Aunt Ver about Ridge's parents, and drive away to the hospital, with Ridge sitting in the passenger seat since he cannot contain his relief and excitement. Upon reaching there, I park the car and we stumble out fast, and head straight for their rooms, where Anne and Miles are already present. She smiles wide when she sees us, pulling Ridge in a hug, followed by me.
"They are both in this room," she gestures towards room no. 012. "We've already talked to them, you can go now." She gives him an encouraging nod.
Ridge takes hold of my hand, eyes boring into mine. "Can you come with me?"
I squeeze his hand affectionately. "Of course. I'm right here."
With a little hesitancy in his movements, Ridge opens the door, revealing the room where my eyes fall on two people. A woman with dark brown hair, a warm smile on her face as she laughs along with a man, with black hair, and a small mark on the right side of his forehead.
Ridge's dad's eyes fall on us, a bright smile lighting his features as he gets up from his chair, walking towards us. He engulfs Ridge in his embrace, which causes Ridge to cry out loud. Tears stream down his face as he hugs his dad, tight. "I missed you dad."
His dad chuckles. "I wish I could say that but I don't really remember anything."
A strangled chuckle escapes Ridge's throat before he pulls away. "You always have to joke. No matter what the circumstances are."
"We'll, gotta live up to the fact that I'm a better comedian than your mom." He smiles proudly, patting his chest.
"It's been just a minute, and both the boys have already forgotten about me." His mom's sweet voice reaches our ears, making Rigde rush to her side, engulfing her in a hug. She laughs loudly, kissing his head multiple times as he sniffs quietly, resting his face against her neck.
He pulls away, placing a light kiss on her forehead. "No one can even forget about you."
She pinches his cheeks in a teasing manner before her eyes fall on me, making me give her an awkward smile. She sits up straight on her bed, with the help of Ridge and gives me a motherly smile. "You must be the infamous Lydia my boy gushes about all the time."
"Mom." Ridge whines in a child like voice, scratching the back of his neck, a faint red brushing his cheeks.
I laugh at his expression, before turn in towards them. Ridge walks towards me, grabbing my hand to pull me with him near the bed. "Mom, dad, this is Lydia. The girl who I apparently talk a lot about."
"Well, with that beauty, I would talk a lot too." His dad remarks, giving me a warm grin.
"Dad, seriously?" Ridge rolls his eyes. "Mom is right here."
"Don't worry, after I leave this boring place, I'll make sure that he gets to do the laundry and the dishes for a whole year." His mom smiles sweetly at him. "Oh wait, how can I forget the food. I'll give Anne a long holiday so that you get to prepare the breakfast, lunch and dinner for all of us for a really long time."
"Geez woman, I'm sorry for joking." He rolls his eyes, but a look of uncertainty crosses his eyes.
His mom laughs, then turns her attention to me. "It's so good to finally meet you honey. I know we were actually supposed to meet over dinner but everything happens for a reason."
I feel Ridge's hand stiffen in mine, his body going rigid for a second. I squeeze his hand a little, giving his mom a small smile. "I know that this is not the best circumstances but it's nice to meet you too, Mr. and Mrs. Meanders."
"Call me Cara dear." She smiles sweetly at me.
"And call me Daniel. Mr. Meanders makes me feel old." His dad remarks, running his fingers through his hair. I recognise the gesture easily because Ridge has the habit of doing the same, running his hands through his hair until it's a mess atop his head. "I'm still young and handsome."
Cara rolls her eyes. " It won't change the fact that you're old, honey. Those grey strands in your black hair are live examples."
"Mom and dad, I think that you guys should give it a rest. Do not stress yourself so much." Ridge comments, though there's a smile on his face. A smile that I've seen on his face after so long. Right now, he looks the happiest. And that makes my heart feel content. That's how I want him to be, happy, carefree and smiling.
"Picking on your dad comes to me naturally honey. I'm not stressing myself. You can ask Lydia, she can relate, I'm sure." She gives me a teasing look, making me giggle.
"That's true. Women don't have to put efforts into teasing their man. It's all in their blood." I retort, giving Ridge a light shove.
"They have already started ganging up on us." His dad remarks, giving Ridge a knowing look. "Start counting your days son."
The sound of the door opening with a bang captures our attention. At the doorway, stand Anne and Miles with a bag in his hand and a grin on his face. "I got ice cream."
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I swear writing is so hard when you have no motivation, and junk food in your stomach because of lockdown. But I still managed to get his chapter out. So, kudos to me.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Next update soon!
Till then,
Stay Safe and Stay Happy! <3