Pumpkin Patch Playdate....Part 2

Picking up where we left off. Luke and Shaun are left to watch over Leila and little Fin. The guys decide to let the two little ones down so they can explore the pumpkin patch. Leila and Fin closely stare each other off as they take in each other's presence. Toddlers are a very curious age group, Leila is on the cusp of this new chapter in life. She should be walking any day now. Phineas is only 10 months older than his cousin and he is walking and starting to explore the big world. Leila watches with fascination...

*Shaun* "Leila looks quite interested in the fact

 that Fin can walk...Mari says she should be walking any day now."

*Luke* "Oh yeah, totally she is right at that age. Get ready man, no more chasing

 women you'll be chasing this little lady to make sure she's safe..."

*Shaun laughs* "Shit, I already do...Scary to think she will be a 

beautiful young woman one day..."

While the guys continue to chat and watch the kids. 

Leila and Fin get more acquainted. Leila sucks on 

her pacifier as Fin comes in closer. He's never seen a pacifier.

*Fin* "Dat!...."

Fin reaches out he's very curious. Laura never used pacifiers but Fin was one of those babies who loved to suck on all his toys. The sensory for some babies is very strong. 

So now he wants to try out this interesting new toy that Leila has!

Leila swats her arm out at Fin and squeals. Taking a pacifier from another toddler is a serious offense! Don't take my nomnom!!

*Fin* "Dat!...."

*Leila* "Nmmmm! Nmmmm!...."

Leila pushes back as Luke and Shaun react to the minor scuffle. Fin is determined to discover what this new toy is and

 Leila is determined to keep her pacifier.

*Luke* "No, Fin...That's Leila's..."

*Fin* "Dat!...."

Phineas swats back trying to grab the pacifier...

*Luke* "Fin!...Stop it..It's not yours..."

*Shaun* "Maybe we should grab them before they start really going at it."

*Luke* "Yeah..."

Luke and Shaun reach down to separate the two toddlers and before they can decide what to do next to keep them entertained

 to young girls quickly come up on them.

*Girls* "Hi!...."

Luke and Shaun both know what is going on. The brunette 
girl already has her phone out and ready. Great, just great, 

groupies was the last thing they wanted to run into 
all the way out here in the country...

*Brunette* "Ohmygawd, like are you Shaun Harris?..."

*Shaun* "Who's asking?..."

*Brunette ecstatic* "We are like your biggest fans, Mr Harris!....Can we

 please take a picture with you?!"

Shaun rolls his eyes behind dark sunglasses, but knows he can't say no.

The girls immediately catch the attention of another couple 

there at the pumpkin patch. Heads are turning 

to see if they heard correctly....

*Shaun smiles* "Sure thing ladies..."

*Brunette* "Ohmygawd! Thank you...you are so amazing!..."

Shaun turns to Luke.

*Shaun* "Hey man, you mind holding my girl for a moment?..."

*Luke* "Naw, it's fine, do what'cha gotta do..."

*Brunette* "Your daughter is so adorable!...She looks like you so much!"

*Shaun* "Thanks, I think, she takes after her mother."

*Blond* "I heard her mom is a gorgeous European supermodel...She's 

gonna be super talented and beautiful I just know it!"

*Shaun smiles* "Alright ladies lets take these pics then so I can

 get back spending time with family...."

*Girls* "Okay!!!...."

So Shaun does what he needs to do to placate these young 

enthusiastic fan girls, he just hopes that they don't draw 

in too much of a crowd he'd like to enjoy the rest of

 his day without too much interruption.

 *Brunette* "Okay smile!...."

💥 CLICK! 💥

The girls quickly switch so the other can take her 
picture with Shaun. And now a small crowd 
has gathered as people realize who he is...

💥 CLICK! 💥

Even Cassie is now realizing who he is, she loves the 
band Rock Candy. Their album had been a big summer 
hit.  She talks with Marilyn and fills her in on who Shaun is.

*Marilyn* "I dunno are you sure? Maybe people are mistaken..."
*Cassie* "Well it sure looks like him....And he recently had a kid, so it has to be him. I can't believe we have a rock star shopping at our Pumpkin Patch!
*Marilyn* "You know the fella he's with looks very familiar....That's it! He 
was at Benji's wedding. You know I think that rock star fella was too..."
*Cassie* "Really?!...no way..."

Laura and Amari finally make their way back with a calm 
Phoenix, but are shocked to see a crowd has gathered it does 
not take them long to figure what is going on.
Amari though is worried about Leila...

*Laura* "What's going on?...Oh no do you think it's...""
 *Amari* "...groupies. Yeah you know it is. I better get Leila,
 before she gets fussy."
*Laura* "I guess this means we better not stay too long then, huh?"
Amari looks back at her cousin, she is disappointed too. 
It's so hard to go anywhere with Shaun 
now without being noticed.

 *Amari* "I'm sorry, cuz...I know you wanted a big family outing day..."
*Laura* "No, it's okay...it's just been one of those days today."
So eventually Shaun, Amari, and Leila who is fast asleep in her carseat make it back to Shaun's apartment safe and sound. Amari
 sets down a large pumpkin she bought just before they 
left the pumpkin patch and just in time too. 

 *Shaun* "Where should I put her down?..."
*Amari* "Just set her down in the bed for now. She'll probably wake up soon."
Shaun goes to leave Leila in the bedroom. He comes back and 
Amari has already tidied up the living area. Motherhood has
 changed her so much...Shaun sees a new person 
every time he looks at her now.

 *Shaun* "Mari you really don't have to do all that..."
*Amari* "It's fine I don't mind at all."
*Shaun* "I'm gonna order some takeout you hungry?..."
*Amari* "Sure."
Amari finishes with the living area and 
sits down next to Shaun. 

 *Amari* "So what did you order us?..."
*Shaun* "Chinese...from that one place you like."
*Amari* "Oh! okay...Sounds good. At least here we can eat in
peace and not be harassed by groupies."

*Shaun* "I know you don't like it but it..."
*Amari* "I know, I know it goes with the territory....Still so many young
 girls just pawing all over you it's disgusting...."
*Shaun* "They're just fans Mari...don't tell me you're jealous?"
Amari looks at him and glares back hard. Jealous? No way! She is definitely over him. At least that is what she keeps telling herself.

*Amari* "I'm not jealous trust me...They're just so young."
*Shaun* "Again...They're just fans....They're harmless. You know one of
them thinks you are a European supermodel..."
Amari's eyes get wide and she slaps
 Shaun across the chest. Trying to laugh
 off his comment...

*Amari* "PUh-lease! Spare me...haha...No one thinks that about me.
I'm not anywhere near supermodel status..."
*Shaun* "Mari, don't say that...you're a beautiful woman."
Shaun tries to reach up to move some curls away from her  soft sweet face but Amari immediately stops him. The sexual attraction is always there but they agreed months ago that they would keep things friendly
 for Leila's sake and not mix their feelings for each 
other in with this coparenting compromise.

*Amari* "Shaun don't....We agreed to keep this platonic..."
*Shaun* "I know we did, it was just a compliment, Mari."
*Amari* "Then let's just leave it at that..."

Shaun respects her request and changes the
 subject, giving distance between them again.

*Shaun* "Okay...So you think we should wake up, Lala...She's been asleep for awhile now."
*Amari* "No I'll wake her up after we eat...She had quite the busy day."
*Shaun* "Yeah she did...She had fun though."

A short time later their takeout food arrives, both sit and eat while making small talk. Amari tries to keep it focused on Leila. She's glad she is leaving back home tomorrow, she needs a break from Shaun. All those walls she has built up could come crumbling down in one
fell swoop if she lets Shaun have his way. 

*Shaun* "Okay so you want to do the party here?..."
*Amari* "If you don't mind yeah...something small with just family."
*Shaun* "Sure...fine by me. Just let me know what you need help with."
*Amari* "It's fine I got it...And Laura already agreed to make the cake."
*Shaun* "I want to help, Mari...I can't believe she's gonna be a year old already."

*Amari* "Okay...I know, the time went by so quick...
It seems like it was just yesterday she was born."

*Shaun* "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you and her from the beginning. You know

 I do regret how I acted but it was hard for me at the time..."

Amari does her best to keep those walls up. When Shaun 

says stuff like that it makes her wish things

 could have gone differently.  

*Amari* "I understand...We both were struggling from bad choices we had made. But despite all that we have a beautiful daughter now. I would never ever change that...I know life is not easy Shaun, but she grounds me, she gives me purpose and focus in life that I never knew I could have.
It's true Amari has grown up by leaps and bounds. When Shaun
 looks at her now Amari is definitely not the same girl 
he left behind all those months ago. She's still feisty but with focus.

*Shaun* "I know she does...You are an amazing mother, Mari..."
*Amari* "Thank you...You're not so bad yourself, either."
*Shaun smiles* "A compliment...huh?...I'm moving up the
 Mari, ladder of approval."

They both laugh then continue to eat their takeout dinner, 
the silence is then broken by the soft sounds of Leila's 
voice coming from the bedroom.
The End!

Thanks so much for tuning in and being patient. Life threw me a curveball and it's been a bit hectic but determined to try and keep things going.
Stay Tuned I have new storyline coming on the 16th of November
See you all then!
😃😃😃