Page 46 of Silver Tears

It’s early, so the café is relatively quiet when I enter. Gina looks up when I reach the counter. She smiles and attempts to place where she knows me from. “Ah, you're Milly’s friend, right?”

I nod my head, smiling. “Yes, that’s right and the names Seb. I’m Milly’s boyfriend.” I’m not sure why I tell her this. Yeah, actually, I am. It’s because I know it will bug her and I love getting a rise out of my little Mills.

“Are you now? Well, it’s about time Milly had someone to look out for her. That girl is carrying too much on her young shoulders. What can I get you?”

I glance at the menu on the wall behind her. “Can I get eggs, bacon, and hash browns for Charlie? Three bacon sandwiches, a white coffee, two sugars.” I scratch at my forehead. “I can’t remember whether Mills likes a vanilla iced latte or caramel.”

“Caramel. She always orders caramel,” Gina says confidently.

“Excellent, one of those, and a black coffee for me.” I spot some delicious-looking muffins on a cake tray. “We’ll take four of the muffins as well, please.”

* * *

When I arrive back at the house, laden with boxes of food and a drinks tray, Charlie is awake. He jumps up and down at the sight and smell of the food. Milly cocks a brow in question when she sees the food boxes from Gina’s.

“I thought I’d save you the job of cooking this morning. Are you hungry Charlie?”

Charlie rubs at his tummy and jogs alongside me into the kitchen. He watches in anticipation as I unload the boxes.

“Charlie, go sit at the table and stop getting under Seb’s feet,” Mills tells him in her gentle but firm way.

He happily skips off to the dining table and sits down. “Where’s your mum?” I ask, noticing her absence.

“She’s gone back to bed. I’ll take her coffee and bacon sandwich up now.” She takes the cup and box from me and disappears to sort her mum out. While she’s gone, I put Charlie’s food onto a plate and take it through to him. He claps his hands together like an over excited seal. “Here you go, hash browns, the works. Don’t tell Milly, but I got you a chocolate milkshake.”

Charlie presses his finger to his lips. “I won’t say anything.” He soon focuses on his food, his mouth too full to speak. I bring mine and Mill’s food and drinks through. I put them down at the table and take the seat opposite Charlie.

I watch Mills as she sits down and glances anxiously at her phone. “What’s troubling you?”

She glances at Charlie before she replies, “I’m worried about leaving, but I’m due at the rescue at twelve.”

“Hey Charlie. Do you want to go to the zoo today?” I ask the little man. His head whips up at lightning speed.

“The zoo?! I’ve never been to a zoo.”

“What are you doing?” Mills hisses at me.

“Your mum is in no fit state to look after him. You have somewhere to be. Charlie and I can hang out today.”

She looks at me with a mixture of surprise and worry. “You don’t have to do this, you know?”

I shrug my shoulders. It’s no big deal. My plans consisted of the gym and gaming. May as well make myself useful for once. “It’s no biggie, precious. Besides, I enjoy spending time with Chops.”

Charlie grins up at me. “Will they have tortoises?”

“Probably. There will be every animal you can think of there,” I assure him. Seeing how excited he is makes me feel good. The kid gets ready super quick, eager to get in the car and go to the zoo. Milly gives him the safety talk about making sure he stays with me at all times and that he does as I say. When we drop her off at the shelter, she hesitates on the path, looking back at the car. I shoo her off with my hand and pull away before she changes her mind and cancels her shift at the rescue shelter.

* * *

Charlie and I have a great day at the zoo. I must admit I really enjoy it too. Charlie is so full of enthusiasm that you can’t help but let it rub off on you. The kid also has me wrapped around his finger, and I spent a small fortune in the gift shop before we left. Charlie sits in his car seat, mouth open, fast asleep, hugging his three new soft cuddly animals to his chest. I pull up at the shelter to wait for Milly to come out. I don’t have to wait long before she comes out of the entrance alongside an older lady. They both chat away, laughing and smiling. The two embrace and the woman heads off towards a car over the road. I place my finger on my lips as she approaches the car and I gesture towards the back seat. She follows my eyes, and her eyes melt when she sees her brother sleeping in the back.

“Hey,” she says, as she quietly opens the car door and climbs into the passenger seat. “How has he been?”

“He’s been great. No trouble at all. Chops is a lot of fun.”

“Did you buy him all those cuddly animals?” she asks, shaking her head. “Oh, where’s the car seat come from?”

“What can I say? We got in the gift shop, and we got carried away. He loved every second, though. You should have seen his face when he saw the elephants. The elephants mesmerised him. I bought the car seat this morning on the way.”

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