Temps

@uestemps (Cooper) & Simon

“Probably not.” The thought of having this conversation with his father scared him. Isaac wasn’t as bad nowadays thanks to his new wife. But Cooper still remembered that scary man he got to know growing up. And looking at Isaac, that’s all he saw. “Fine. I’ll have lunch with him. But remember I’m doing it for you.” He turned to his sister with a raised eyebrow, speaking low so the little boy could keep being distracted. “How did they take it?”

“We like pasta, don’t we?” He asked the little boy in his arms as he placed him on the ground and helped him into the car, getting in after him. His face instantly twisted in a frown when Ivy spoke of their father, giving her the side eye. “You couldn’t have told me that before I got on the plane?” It’s not that he didn’t want to have lunch with his father. But Cooper and Isaac never really bonded and being in the same room always felt sort of awkward. Especially now that Cooper was keeping such a big secret. “Have you told him about...?” He nodded toward the boy between them.

Cooper’s heart melted as he watched Ivy hugging Simon. He could see the overflowing love in there. He wrapped his arms around his sister when she finally approached him, kissing her cheek as Simon hopped over to stand by their side. He laughed as Simon answered the question for him, picking up the little boy to that they were at eye level with him. “Dinner sounds perfect. We skipped the airplane food. There’s hardly anything healthy in there. But I doubt this little guy is tired. He slept through most of the flight. Where do you want to go?”

Ivy arrived at the airport much earlier than she needed to. There was no chance that she was going to be late for this. As she sat down at a coffee shop and ordered a tea, Ivy couldn’t help but wonder how different things were going to be this time. Would he look different because she knew he wasn’t going to leave? It wasn’t like the times before when they’d only have a couple days together. This time was bigger. It was for good, and nothing made her happier. She finished her tea and tried to read through a magazine but couldn’t concentrate. Her eyes kept flickering to the time on her phone and then back to the arrivals board to make sure they were still on time. When the time came, her stomach was filled with excitement. She practically bounced in place as she waited for them. And then there they were. Ivy touched her fingertips to her lips to hold back the part laugh, part cry. There he was, standing beside her brother. His dark hair, his bright eyes, thick glasses. The rest of the world disappeared and she started towards them. @uestemps