Gina sat Isabelle on her bed and pulled her hair into pig tails. Isabelle just sat and giggled. Gina couldn't understand how she was always happy. She wasn't complaining though. When she was finished she started to tickle Isabelle.
"You ready to go to the park?" She asked. Isabelle nodded. "Where are your shoes?" Gina asked her, noticing they weren't on her feet. Isabelle shrugged her shoulders and stuck two fingers in her mouth. Gina pulled them out. "Don't do that." She said as she picked her up and headed down stairs. Isabelle smiled and shoved her fingers in Gina's mouth. "Thanks." She said with a smile and pulled them out. Isabelle giggled and pointed on the ground. "There, mommy." Gina looked and saw her shoes next to the coffee table. Gina sat her on the couch and put them on her feet.
Just then the phone rang. Gina walked to the phone and picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Gina? It's AJ."
Gina froze. She forgot he was going to call. "What's up?" She asked.
"What are you doing today?" He asked
"I'm taking Isabelle to the park." She heard a faint "Oh" on the other end. She didn't understand why she did what she was about to do. "Do you wanna come?" Gina asked as she smaked her head, not believing she just invited him.
"Only if you really want me to. I don't want to inturde." AJ stated.
"No, its fine." Gina said. AJ smiled. "Okay, I'll be there in a few."
They both hung up and Gina walked over to Isabelle. "Izzy, is it okay if one of mommy's friends comes with with us?" Isabelle smiled. "Its otay mommy, I don't mind." Gina smiled and kissed her the head. "You are so darn cute."
A few moments later AJ arrived. Gina answered the door with Isabelle in her arms. AJ smiled and stepped aside to let Gina out. "Do you mind if we take my car? The car seat is already in it and it would be easier." AJ nodded. "Sure, thats fine." They walked over to Gina's 1991 Ford Taurus. There were a few dents in it and the paint was chipped. AJ could tell it had been through hell. He opened the door to the passengers seat and got inside. Gina placed Isabelle in the car seat and then got in the drivers seat.
AJ looked around the inside of the car. It was beautiful campared to the outside. "This is a nice car." Gina rolled her eyes and started the car. "Yeah, compaired to your brand new Ford Explorer, this car is dirt." Gina said as she pulled out of the drive way and looked at his SUV that was parked in the front of the house. AJ smiled. Gina shrugged her shoulders. "I don't care though. As long as it gets me around."
They were both silent for a little. Gina glanced at AJ when she stopped at a red light. "What's with this sweater thing? You do know its 80 degrees out." "It's the tattoos. I get easily recognized by my tattoos, so I have to cover them up." Gina laughed. "Yeah, well you're also get recognized by having a sweater on when its 80 degrees out." AJ laughed. "Thats true." "Anyway," Gina said, "not many young people come to this park. Its one of those places were older people like to sit and watch the ducks. So, I'd say you're pretty safe." AJ nodded and pulled the sweater over his head. Gina continued to stare at his arms. He had gotten a lot of tattoos. She hadn't really noticed the night before. The light turned green and she pushed the gas pedel.
After a few more minutes of driving they arrived. Gina parked and undid her seatbelt. "Okay, Isabelle, we're here." Isabelle started clapping. "Yes, yes." She kept saying over and over. Gina and AJ both got out and Gina opened the door and reached over to take Isabelle out of her car seat. Isabelle wrapped her arms around Gina as she carried her to their favorite spot. AJ followed close behind. Gina placed Isabelle on the ground by the lake. "Remember, this is as close as the lake as you can go. No closer, okay?" Isabelle nodded. "Okay." Gina turned and sat on the bench under a tree that was only a few feet from where Isabelle sat. AJ sat down next to her.
"It's so peaceful here." He said as he watched the ducks play on the lake. Gina nodded. "I know. We come here all the time. I usually bring a book to read or just relax. Isabelle could sit there for hours. She loves animals." AJ stared at her. "I hardly have any time for myself. When I do I use it wisely." She said with a smile. AJ nodded. "I know what you mean. I've never been so happy to have a month off. We have been so busy." "Congratulations on everything, by the way." Gina said as she turned to smile at him. AJ smiled. "Thanks. We've worked so hard, I think we deserve it." Gina nodded. "You do."
They both sat and talked for a while. AJ told her stories about being on the road and Gina shared some experiences she's had at college and work. They both felt so comfortable with eachother, like they were never apart. Isabelle walked over. "Mommy, look what I found." She held a rock in her hands. Gina smiled. "Wow, thats pretty."
Isabelle smiled and walked over to AJ to show him. AJ wrapped his arms around her and placed her on his lap. He stared at the rock and smiled. "Thats beautiful, Isabelle." "I like rocks." Isabelle said. "Rocks and animals, huh?" He asked. Isabelle nodded. Then she giggled and smiled up at him. AJ looked over at Gina. "She's a flirt, just like you." Gina smiled. "What can I say? I taught her well." AJ laughed. Gina continued to stare at AJ as he tickled Isabelle. She almost cried at how perfect they fit together.
Gina looked up at the sky. "It looks like it might rain. We should head home." AJ nodded and stood, handing Isabelle to Gina. "Do you want to maybe come back to my house for some dinner. Although, I haven't gone shopping in a while so we probably don't have anything." "We can stop at McDonald's." AJ stated. Gina smiled. "Okay, sounds like a plan."
