“Now it’s my turn to be embarrassed.”She laughed a little and told him that she was sorry again.“I didn’t mean to embarrass you at all.Just that my mouth gets ahead of my brain and I tend to say things that aren’t appropriate.”
“My wife says the same thing about herself.She is just as lovely, too.Mac will be jealous that I got to meet you.”Thanking him again, she was ready to go when they brought her car around.It was perfect, and she was glad that she’d gotten it tonight.“You drive carefully and don’t hesitate to call if you need one of us.”
She was ready to get going and got Harri into her car seat.The dealership had brought her old car to their lot, and she was able to get her car seat out of it with the other things that she’d left behind.She knew that Aaron wanted to ask her questions, but she didn’t want to have to answer anything right now.One more week to go and she’d be on her own again.She was just glad that she’d been able to gethelp with her car.It was more than she could have hoped for.
Anna drove the two of them home and was glad that it wasn’t too late for her to get Harri in bed.Even though she didn’t have school tomorrow, she liked to be on a schedule.As soon as they were home and in front of the television, the two of them started yawning.She’d bet that they’d both sleep in a little late, as stress had a way of doing things like that.
By eight-thirty, they were both in their pajamas and ready for bed.Harri was usually in bed by nine, so this was just a little early for her.Anna went to bed at ten on most nights but wondered if she could make it tonight.It had been a long couple of days for the two of them, and she wanted things to be normal.As soon as her lights were out, she was fighting sleep in order to set her alarm for nine.She usually didn’t sleep that late, but she had promised Harri they’d go to the melon fest in the morning, and she was going to keep her promise.
They were both up by seven, and Anna felt good.Harri was in a great mood and didn’t put up a fuss when she asked her to wear jeans instead of a dress.She didn’t know what kind of activities were going on at the melon fest, but she knew that Harri would want to be a part of it.As soon as they were on their way, she knew today was going to be a better day than they’d had in the last few.
She hated to admit it, but the melon fest was a big disappointment.There were garden tractor pulls, the only thing that the two of them enjoyed, but they were loud and kind of smelly.The arts and crafters were selling things that had to do with melons, all right, but it was more than she wanted to pay for a pair of earrings.Harri got herself a princess halo and had fun running around with it in her hair, but other than that, it was a bust.Trying to think of something else they could do, she heard someone talking about the Conservatory in Columbus, and after looking up reviews, she decided that would be the perfect place to go.As they were walking up the hill to leave the little park, she saw Zeno and his parents.
She tried her best to ignore him, but Harri saw him before she could tell her.When she started crying, she just knew that people were going to think that she beat her child.She wouldn’t even stay on the same sidewalk as Zeno, and she could tell that he was pissed off.
“We’re leaving.”He asked her what she was doing here, his voice much calmer than she’d ever heard it before, probably due to his parents being there.“We came to see the melon fest and are leaving.You don’t have to worry about us being around you anymore.”
He nodded and then introduced his father to her.She’d not gotten to meet him the other day when she’d been there.After shaking hands, Harri and her set off for the parking lot so that they could get out of here.She didn’t want to have another round with him out in public, especially with his parents so close.She’d had enough of him.
The two of them stopped for another burger and fries and were headed to Columbus.It was Alaric who called her to find out where they were headed, and she didn’t mind telling him at all.Once they were at the park, she wanted to go home and cry again.He’d made her so tense in that few-second meeting that she had a pounding headache, as well as her belly was starting to rebel.
Once they started walking around the beautiful park, she knew that Harri had all but forgotten the man.She was nearly working on it when she saw him again.Talk about stalking, she thought.When she found herself in line to get something to drink for Harri, he said he was sorry.Sorry, wasn’t going to cut it, and she told him that.
“Did Alaric tell you where we were going?”He said that they were brothers and he could read his mind.“Well, keep out of my business.Harri and I are here to have some fun after the melon fest, and we don’t want you around us.As I said, we’re here for a good time.”
“I came to tell you how sorry I am.Can I at least do that?”She asked him for what.Invading her privacy or just being a rude bastard?“Everything.I’ve been rude, and I’ve invaded your privacy.There’s more, too, but I can only say I’m sorry for so much before that’s going to be my entire conversation with you.”
“I don’t think you’re funny.”He said that he wasn’t trying to be that; Alaric was the joker.“He’s nice.So is your brother Aaron.I can only think that you should have been beaten more as a child.”
“As an adult, too.”He stretched his neck and told her he was sorry again.She was paying for Harri’s juice when he paid for it.“I got this.It’s the least I can do after treating you the way that I did.I had a talk with my grandda, and he isn’t happy with me either.Neither am I.And my grandma won’t speak to me until I get you to accept my apology.I am profoundly sorry.”
“That’s not my fault.”He said it wasn’t but his own and told her again how sorry he was.“All right.I accept your apology.I’m sorry too for letting you get the better of me.I shouldn’t have stooped to your level in your pettiness.”He burst out laughing, and she didn’t know what she’d said.But he had a nice laugh, and she felt herself smiling.
“You’re hard on a man.Thank you.”Harri wouldn’t look at Zeno, and she didn’t blame her.He’d hurt her feelings, and for a four-year-old, that was pretty harsh.“I’ve been here before.You guys have to go through the butterfly exhibit with me.There are hundreds of butterflies that are flying around, and they land on you.”
She could see that Harri wanted to see the butterflies, but she wasn’t giving up on her anger toward the man.As they stood in line to enter the exhibit, she could feel her tension building up.While she knew that he was trying to make amends, that didn’t mean that she would take his bullshit again.As soon as they entered, she didn’t see a single butterfly and wanted to lash out at him again for hurting her daughter.Then one landed on her shoulder.
“Look, Harri.”She didn’t think about anything but the fact that Harri allowed Zeno to pick her up so that she could see the butterfly.“He’s beautiful, isn’t he?”
There were hundreds of them just as he’d said.And the koi fish in the pond were lovely too.They were standing next to the exhibitor when two landed on Harri’s hand.She was so delighted that she squealed, scaring away the butterflies.
“Mommy, did you see them?”She said that she did.“They landed right on me like I was a flower.I’m so glad that I wore my pretty coat.They must have thought I was a big flower.”
Up until two o’clock, they enjoyed the butterflies.There were other creatures in the dense flowers, but they were also excited about the birds.She did wonder how they got along with the exhibit, but didn’t ask.It would be like a feast for the birds to be trapped with so much food.
After two, they decided it was time for some late lunch.They’d eaten on the way in, but now the excitement of the day had made them hungry.There was plenty of different kinds of food to choose from, so they had their meal there.Zeno joined them, but he was standoffish, and she thought that was best for them.
“Mr.Dresden, can you help me with my milk?”She started to say she’d get it, but he opened Harri’s carton and handed it back to her.“For a mean man, you did all right.”
“I’m sorry for hurting your feelings, too.I have a lot to make up for.”Harri set her milk down after taking a sip and looked at him.“I didn’t mean to make you cry, and I’m ashamed of myself for doing that.”
“You should be.I’m just four, and I have feelings too, you know.”He told her that he’d learn not to crush them again.“I should hope so.Your mommy must be really mad at you for making a little girl cry.I liked her.”
“I love her very much, and I did disappoint my mom when she found out what a mean person I was.”Harri looked at her, then back at Zeno.“Will you forgive me for making you cry?I’ll try very hard not to do that again.”
“Just remember what my mom says.To think about what you want to say before it goes out of your lips.Don’t you, Mommy?”She nodded and wondered when this twenty-something-year-old kid had replaced her daughter.“You are all right now, aren’t you?”
“I’m trying to be.”Harri finished her meal and wanted to play with the toys that were a part of the cafeteria.Since they were close enough that she could see them, she let her.But reminded her daughter that if she couldn’t see her, then she couldn’t see her baby girl either.
