Right After (A For All Time ficlet)
Oh help. Well, I wrote something. It may stink. But here it is.
Right After (from Mary's perch)
by Littlepink80
disclaimer: umm.... yeah. poor single mom, taking a break from studying. need I say more?
*** My very first For All Time ficlet, picks up shortly after Charles Lattimer saves the day.****
Mary Brown kept her arms wrapped firmly around her mother’s waist. It had been hours since the massive explosion had ripped through the park and everything seemed fine now, but the little girl wasn’t taking any chances. Her mother wasn’t getting more than two feet away from her.
And it appeared as though Mr. Lattimer wasn’t letting either her nor her mother more than three feet away. She’s watched as the two adults had spoken in soft, clipped voices.
"Laura-"
Her mother had made an odd, strangled sound at the use of her given name.
Mr. Lattimer had paused, "Mrs. Brown." He’d glanced down at Mary, tried to give her a smile and then looked back at her mother. "Mrs. Brown. I owe you-"
"You owe me nothing."
…
There it was. The hard edge to her mother’s voice. It was the same tone of voice she’d had the last time Mr. Lattimer had left. Her mother had been upset over something. Her grandmother had tried pushing and there had been a coldness at their dinner table that night… one Mary had blundered into, she realized later.
But it had been such a happy day today- her mother had been so excited. She’d come up with a plan to interview Mr. McKinley for the paper. And Mary was excited for her mother, especially since she’d received a treat of some pocket money for the day. Then Mr. Lattimer had appeared out of no where and had frightened her terribly as he’d picked her up and raced toward her mother.
Mary bit her lip and tightened her grip around her mother’s waist. It was enough to stop the strained conversation going on above her head.
"Mary, Sweetheart?" Laura Brown smoothed the loose hair from her daughter’s face.
Mary looked up into the most beautiful face she knew, "Can we go home now, Mama? Please?"
"Yes, Sweetheart. Right now." Laura shifted her gaze back to Charles Lattimer. "I don’t know, Mr. Lattimer. I do not know."
"Please, just hear me out. That’s all I’m asking."
"You’re asking an awful lot."
"I know."
"Mary needs to be home." Laura shifted gears. "I’ll be at the paper tomorrow. Perhaps… perhaps I might be able to find a moment then."
"Thank you."
With that end to the exchange between her mother and the strange, but funny man from St. Louis, Mary felt herself being propelled in the direction of their wagon.
"Mama?"
"Yes, Mary?"
"I thought you said Mr. Lattimer wasn’t coming back."
"I thought that at the time."
"Is he leavin’ again?"
"I don’t know, Mary."
"We should have him to eat again."
There was a definite sigh, "Mary…"
"I love you, Mama."
"I love you, Sweetgirl."
AND THAT'S THE END.......