The Carousel

Dix

"Impossible."

"Just you watch," Ondine slipped under the comforter and put her phone on speaker on the bedside table. "Jay?"

"Hmmm?"

"I'm in bed now. Time for me to say good night."

"Okay, good night. I'll see you soon, babe."

Jared arrived in New York City after a couple of days. Aiden and Emily Jane picked him up because Ondine was with her parents. They were to meet up for brunch at one of the city's top eateries. Jared was disappointed that her face wasn't the first thing he saw upon arrival, but he couldn't get in the way of her spending time with her parents. This was a special weekend for her, and of course she wanted to celebrate with her family first and foremost. Aiden parallel parked his rental car in an empty spot on the street and put some quarters in the meter to pay for parking. He walked behind Aiden and Emily Jane to the restaurant, and he spotted her right away. She looked ethereal in her starched white oxford blouse, distressed skinny jeans, and black patent leather loafers. Her hair was down framing her face, a lot shorter than he remembered, the last time he saw her. She stood up when she spotted them enter the restaurant, giving her brother and future sister-in-law obligatory kisses on the cheeks, and then stood face to face with Jared. He wasted no time, he gathered her in his arms, hugging her tightly.

"Hi, babe."

"Hi."

"I missed you," he whispered into her ear.

"How was your flight?" she asked in a normal voice when she pulled away from him.

"It was okay."

"Good. You've met my parents before, right?"

"Yes, I have. Through Em J," Jared answered and shook hands with Owen and Ava Carter. He pulled Ondine's chair out for her and assisted her before taking the seat next to her. "Nice to see you again, Owen, Ava."

"You, too, Jared," Owen regarded the young man who was seated next to his daughter.

"What are you having?" Jared glanced at Ondine, drinking in the sight of her.

Ondine smiled at him as she looked up from the menu. "Chicken and waffles! I'm definitely pigging out this weekend...dad's picking up all the tab," she winked at her father.

"Yes, princess, I'll pick up the tab," Owen laughed at his daughter's antics.

"What are you having?" Ondine turned her attention back to Jared.

"What's good here, babe?" he asked her, sharing his menu with her.

"Everything! Can you get something with bacon? I'm gonna bum a slice from you."

"Ames, why don't you just order a side of bacon?" her mother Ava good naturedly asked her.

"Mom, I'm having chicken and waffles and you want me to get a side of bacon? I'm not gonna be able to fit into my graduation dress!" she laughed.

"Well don't get one of Jared's. You can have one of mine," Ava told her daughter.

"That's alright. I don't mind Ames getting one of mine," Jared smiled at Ondine.

Ondine did get one of Jared's bacon, but in turn she gave him her leftover chicken and waffles. She could only eat one a piece, to which Jared laughed and told her, 'so much for pigging out'. After breakfast, Ondine found herself in the restroom with her mother, washing their hands side by side. Ava looked at her daughter in the mirror, studying her face.