Chapter Text
I blew out a breath as I stepped out of the car, trying to let the fresh, cool air calm me down. I loved my children, but having all of them in one vehicle, at these ages, was not for the weak. My ears were still ringing from the shriek Eloise had let out because Benedict refused to stop tugging on her pigtail.
The doors behind me opened, and the ones that could, ran free the moment their feet touched the ground. Colin lagged behind, placing the snacks he was munching on back in his backpack and putting it on his back.
“Do you need any help, Dad?” Colin asked, still chewing on the last handful of whatever he’d put in his mouth before packing it away.
I smiled, grateful that at least one of my children had manners. Well, some, at least. “I’m fine, son. Thank you, though.”
He nodded, turning around to go inside as I leaned in to unbuckle Eloise from her carseat, her tiny face already scrunched up with impatience. “I know, I’m sorry.”
He only could’ve taken a couple of steps before I heard him gasp. “Pen!”
I jumped, my head nearly hitting the roof of the car.
I stood back up, carefully, and turned to see what Colin was yelling at. My breath caught in my throat. “Colin!” I yelled, having turned just in time to see him run across the street, barely looking both ways. I let out a relieved breath as the car that was approaching slowed down. I closed my eyes for a second, willing my heart to slow down. These kids would be the death of me one day.
I opened them back up to see Colin at the house across the street, hugging a little girl that I could barely see before he started spinning her, her giggles traveling far enough for me to hear. Even then all I could see was a yellow dress and long, red hair.
Eloise made a frustrated noise, pulling my attention back to her. She had her hands on the straps of her carseat, looking like she was trying to force them off of her by pushing them until they broke. Thankfully, it wasn’t working.
I glanced back at Colin quickly, making sure he was alright, before reaching back in to free Eloise. “I’m sorry, El, come here.”
I pulled her out, her feet instantly kicking to be put down, so I did. She instantly ran towards the house, obviously having something more important to tend to.
I looked back across the street; the kids, thankfully, were still in my sight. I made my way towards them, crossing much more carefully than my son did. They were laughing about something as I walked up to them; obviously they knew each other from somewhere, though I’d certainly never seen the girl before. I highly doubted I would forget a child so... colorful.
“Colin,” I said, grabbing his attention. “You can’t run off like that.” I scolded, though he didn’t look remorseful at all.
“I’m sorry, Dad, but I saw Pen and I had to come over!” He said, eyes wide, arms outstretched, as if that explained everything.
I sighed, catching sight of the girl dressed as a sunflower slowly creeping behind my son, seemingly scared of getting in trouble by someone she’d never met. I met her eyes, softening mine.
“You’re not in trouble, sweetheart,” I comforted her, then my eyes went over to Colin. “Though my son may be.”
“I’m sorry.” Her tiny voice wavered. “I didn’t mean to get him in trouble.”
I shook my head. “You didn’t get him in trouble. Trust me, Colin does that just fine on his own.” I looked over at him, a small smile on his face. Not troubled at all.
He looked over at her, putting his hand on the top of her head, just below a yellow hairclip that matched her dress. “Don’t worry, Pen. I’ll be fine.”
She looked up at him, saw the smile on his face, and relaxed a bit. She looked over at me again, unsure.
Great. Now I’d scared a little girl.
I smiled at her, putting my hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to come over here and sound mean. Colin just scared me, is all.”
Colin looked over, a sheepish look on his face. “Sorry. I was worried I’d never see Pen again! I got excited when I saw her across the street! She lives here!” His face got more animated as he kept talking, showing just how truthful his words were.
The girl, Pen, I suppose, blushed, a small smile on her face.
“Get away from my daughter!” I heard a voice shout from behind the kids, my head darting up to see who it was. By the looks of it, it was the girl’s mother, the spitting image of each other. One was just much taller, and much angrier. It was only in this moment that I realized how bad this looked.
I raised my hands and took a step back, trying to show her I wasn’t trying anything horrible. “I’m sorry, I live right across the street, and my son is friends with your daughter. He ran over here without telling me and I just came to get him.”
The woman, understandably, was not swayed. Not if her face had anything to say about it. She reached over, grabbing her daughter’s arm and pulling her closer to her. “Then why were you touching my daughter?”
Shit. That definitely didn’t look good. “Again, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. When I came over, I’m sure I sounded angry and she was worried I was mad at her. I was just reassuring her that I wasn’t. That’s all.”
Colin moved so he was between us, looking up at his friend’s mom. “I’m sorry, Pen’s mom, it’s my fault. I crossed the street while my dad wasn’t looking and he thought I was gonna die by a car.”
I closed my eyes, shaking my head at his lack of filter, trying not to chuckle at his choice of words. This was certainly not the time.
I rubbed my hands over my face and opened my eyes, gauging the situation.
Thankfully, she seemed to have calmed down, if only slightly. Her eyes going between Colin and I warily. “We haven’t lived here that long. How did you meet my daughter?” She asked me.
I looked down at Colin, unsure of that, myself. He smiled, apparently happy to tell the story. “We met at the bookstore! Pen said you owned the hair place next door! I think that’s really cool, Pen’s mom!”
Her face softened slightly, clearly believing him. Also, maybe reacting to his honest childlike compliment.
I now understood why I’d never met her. “That makes sense.” I said, the woman’s eyes rose to meet mine. “My wife takes them to the bookstore every so often, so I wasn’t there. I had never met your daughter, so when my son ran off, I wasn’t sure where he was going.”
This certainly wasn’t the way I planned to meet our new neighbors, but here we were.
I held my hand out, hoping she would take it as a peace offering as well as an introduction. “I’m Edmund, and this is my son, Colin.”
He looked up at her, giving her a big smile, and waved. “Hi, Pen’s mom!”
I dropped my head, a chuckle sneaking out before I could stop it.
Thankfully, I could see a tiny smile start to appear on the woman’s face, as well. She reached over and grabbed my hand, shaking it firmly. “Portia. Portia Featherington. This is Penelope. Or Pen, apparently.”
The small girl, silent during the whole debacle, waved at me and said a quiet. “Hi.”
I smiled at her. “Hello, Penelope. I’m sorry I had you worried.”
She shrugged. “My mom says I worry a lot.” Her voice still tiny, but confident in her words. I saw Portia close her eyes and shake her head.
I chuckled, knowing the feeling. Kids really did say whatever came to their minds.
I heard my phone go off in my pocket, knowing exactly who it was. “Well, that’ll be your mother. Let’s go home and get ready for dinner, son.”
Colin looked up at me, his eyes sad. “But I just found Pen!”
I nodded. “I know, and she’s right across the street. Maybe sometime soon you two can play together, okay? If it’s alright with her mother.”
His shoulders fell and he looked over at her. “Could she come over tomorrow, Miss Portia? We have a lot of books! And she might like my sister, Eloise!”
She looked at him, then down at her daughter, whose pleading eyes looked very similar to my son’s. She pursed her lips, taking a deep breath and looking over at me.
“It’s fine with me. I understand if you’re not comfortable with it, though.” Certainly after the misunderstanding she walked out on. “I can have my wife come talk to you, if that would make you more comfortable.”
She stood there for a second, thinking. “I think it would, actually.”
I nodded. “I understand. I’ll have her come over in a few minutes, if that’s alright with you?”
She nodded, her eyes still slightly hesitant.
I knew it was time for us to go, better to quit while we’re ahead. “Alright, Colin, let’s go get your mother.” I placed my hand on his head, urging him to turn around.
He pulled away and walked over to hug Penelope, her tiny arms coming up to wrap around him, too. “I’ll come back with my mom, Pen. I’ll see you in a minute.” He reassured her.
She nodded, a happy look on her face. “Okay.”
He turned around, running across the street. “I’ll be right back!”
My heart skipped a beat again. “Colin!”
“Sorry, Dad!”