"Kaitlin hon, not to high!" Racheal called to her daughter as she swung up and down on the swing set.
It was a beautiful day at the park and Racheal and 6 year old Kaitlin, were spending it at the Tulsa Community park. Racheal thought she would suprise Kaitlin with a treat, so she went over to buy her a Snow Cone.
"Okay Em, what do you want?" Asked a tall blonde haired man to the small brown haired girl beside him.
"Um...watermelon. No!...blueberry!" The girl replied and tried to peer up over the counter.
"I can do half-in-half. Half watermelon and half blueberry," The man said from behind the counter.
"Yeah!" The little girl said as the tall blonde man gave the cashier the money.
'Em' took her snow cone and turn to go, but she bumped into Racheal.
"Oh..." Stammered the small girl as she back away from Racheal.
"Say excuse me Emily," The blonde man repremanded her softly.
"Sorry Ma'am" Emily said and she and the man (who was probably her father) walked on.
Racheal bought two watermelon snow cones, one for herself and the other for Kaitlin and returned to her bench. The bench that was now occupied by the tall blonde man.
"Uh..Im sorry. Were you sitting here?" He asked and was about to stand up.
"No, that's fine. Could I join you?" Racheal asked politely and the man nodded.
She sat down beside him and they sat in silence, while Racheal took a bite of her snow cone.
"I haven't had one of these in a long time," Racheal said outloud, though she was talking to herself.
You got two? You must be hungry," The man replied and gave her a quick smile.
"Oh, no. One's for my daugher Kaitlin. She's playing over there in the swings...I couldn't possibly eat to," Racheal replied taking another bite.
"My brothers and I used to fight over the last few peices of ice when we were little," He commented quietly.
Racheal looked over at him and for a split second, she thought he looked strangely familiar, but she quickly dismissed it.
"You had a brother? I was an only child. My parents got devorced when I was little," She said and looked out over the park landscape checking for Kaitlin. She found her swinging with Emily.
"Yeah. Actually I had six other brothers and sisters, but I made the seventh kid," The man said and took a drink from the cup in his hand.
"Wow! Seven kids in one house? Your parents must have had it rough...What are you drinking?" Racheal exclaimed, almost in disbelief.
"No. We traveled around alot, as a big group, so we got along really well," He replied and shook his cup. "And this...is good old Dr. Pepper. I love this stuff"
Then Emily came running up to him and Kaitlin was right behind her. Kaitlin quickly began eating her snow cone as Emily spoke. "Daddy, my ice broke off," She said and held up her half empty container. The (now) purple ice was smushed down into one big glob.
"You can have some of mine. Can she have some of mine mommy?" Kaitlin asked her mother shyly. Racheal was shocked by her daughters quick thinking and said "You two can share. That would be nice."
"Okay. Thanks Kaitlin," Emily said and took the ice cup from her. She then sat up in her fathers lap and put her head on his chest.
"This is my daddy. Mr. Taylor Hanson," Emily replied softly as her father put his arms around her. Racheal could see he had a faint smile.
Racheal was struck by the name Hanson, but the Taylor really made her sit back against the seat.
"Why don't you go play now hon?" Taylor said and Emily and Kaitlin ran off again.
"Taylor Hanson. That sounds familiar," Racheal said, not realizing,
that she said it outloud.
"Yeah...I was in a band with my brothers a few years ago. We were Hanson...ya know 'MMMBOP'?" He said with a small laugh.
Racheal looked at him closely and finally recognized his face. He had the same blue eyes and smile that she remembered so well. Yet, he seemed much older then the 19 year old boy she recalled. Now he must be at least 35 or so.
"Oh! It's nice to meet you. I was a big fan since 'Middle Of Nowhere', but I've never been able to meet you guys. How are you doing?" Racheal asked trying to stop herself from sounding like a kid again.
"We're doing okay. But we haven't been doing any touring in a while. Since Isaac and I have wanted to start our own families. Zac is still waiting for the right woman. But he does date off and on," Taylor said quietly.
"How are you doing with that? Your wife must be thrilled to have you and Emily.." Racheal started until she saw the sollen look on his face.
"Oh...Anna passed away when Emily was born. She had complications with the pregnancy and when Emily came, it was to late," He stopped and seemed to stare out over the playground.
"Oh...Im terribly sorry. I had know idea," Racheal suddenly felt bad and she decided to change the subject. "How are Isaac and Zac doing?"
"Oh...They're good. Everybodies gone completely mad with Emily, the girls take care of her almost better then I do. Isaac and his wife Jan are expecting a boy in October. And my parents love Emily to death," He said with another quiet laugh.
"My sisters Jessica and Avery own their on photography place together. Mackenzie works at 'Music Mania' in the mall and Zoe's off at college. She want's to be a freelance artist or something."
"It must be great to have a big family. Im an only child and Im devorced. So my support system is kinda limeted," Racheal gave a big sigh and continued.
"Kaitlin's dad is a jerk. He doesn't pay any child support even though he's loaded. He works for some big marketing corporation out in California or so he says. He left me right after I told him about Kaitlin because he said he 'couldn't handle it'...
"That must be crap, taking care of her by yourself. Where do you work?" He asked looking at Racheal intensly.
"Im a school teacher. 7th grade English, so it's not the most thrilling job in the world. Kaitlin goes to 1st grade this fall. I can't believe it already.." Racheal stopped as she tried to stop the flow of tears from coming. "It's just so hard raising her on my own. My parents live in Newton and we visit them as often as possible, but I can tell that their still mad at me for the stuff I did back in college...Im sorry, Im telling you all my past..I must be boring you to death," Racheal stammered as the two little girls came running up.
"Daddy, I think Aunt Jessi's ready to go," Emily said and pointed over to the gate where a young blonde woman was standing.
"Oh yeah. That's my sister, she's been taking me around for the past few days while my car is being fixed," He said and stood up. Racheal quickly wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and took Kaitlin's hand.
"Well, it's really been nice meeting you..."
"Racheal...Racheal Green. And it's been good to finally meet you Taylor. Maybe we should get together sometime..Our kids could play and..."
"Come on Daddy, let's go!..By Kaitlin.." Emily pulled on her fathers arm and Taylor began to walk with her.
Racheal held onto Kaitlin's hand as she watched them walk toward the girl at the gate.
"Mommy, I'm hungry," Kaitlin whined and it pulled Racheal away from staring.
"So, what do you want for supper Kaitlin?" She asked her daughter as they walked hand in hand to the park enterance.
"Strawberry icecream...That's Emily's favorite!" Kaitlin exclaimed.
"Alright then. Strawberry icecream it'll be," Racheal replied with a smile. Knowing it had been Taylor's favorite to.
