WHO: Eva Marple & Gregory Marple WHEN: December 2012 WHERE: Silver Spoon SUMMARY: Daddy Daughter ice cream date WARNINGS: none
It was a tradition. He had a thing with each of his girls. And while technically ice cream was not only a him and Eva thing, these little trips were. One on one time, just them. It made it special. Plus there was nothing wrong with indulging in some ice cream now and then.
“You know, I thought I might be a bit exciting today.” he chuckled over his cone. “Don’t say that your old man is boring. I sprung for this new salted caramel with sprinkles instead of my tried and true mint chocolate chip.”
“Well, if I ordered the same thing every time we came here, I’d still be eating that neon-colored bubblegum monstrosity,” Eva replied, wrinkling her nose at the sickeningly sweet flavor that had been her favorite as a child. “But let’s not get so carried away with excitement that we forget to claim our favorite table!”
Luckily, the two-seater with the best window view was open. If it hadn’t been, they would’ve had to sit in the corner and hatch increasingly silly plans to drive its current occupants out of the Silver Spoon, according to tradition. But with the bruise of Camila’s absence still tender, Eva didn’t think her heart would be in the game. It turned out making people leave was easier than she’d thought.
She dug a spoon into the generous scoop of cookies ‘n cream in her cup. “So, how are things at work? Are all your patients behaving?”
“You know I never quite understood how you were able to eat that. I tried it once and I thought my teeth would fall out.” he chuckled as he followed his daughter to their seat. And it was their seat, insomuch as it had been the place they had sat since she was a little girl and they had started this tradition.
He pondered over his salted caramel for a moment before answering. “I can’t think of any who haven’t been. Really though a lot of times they’re not feeling their best so I’m pretty generous on behavior. Though if you’re hankering to stop by and help out I wouldn’t say no.”
“I’d love to stop by!” It wasn’t as if she had much else to do with her time right now, having graduated college but not yet found a real job. And besides, with all her visits to the vet’s office over the years, Eva felt she loved all the pets of Fall City almost as much as her own. It was like visiting old friends.
“I swear, you and mom have the best jobs for a daughter to visit. I don’t know how Camila and I got so lucky.”
“Well then, I'll get your volunteer badge all ready and shined for you.” He chuckled with a easy grin. He always enjoyed the company when his girls came to visit and now that they were older and living lives of their own it was even more of a treat.
“About as lucky as your mother and I were to have both of you as our daughters, I'd think.”
“Aww, Daddy!” Eva gave her father a big grin and held it for a moment before her face turned serious. “Do you know some of my friends from college don’t even like their parents? It’s crazy. I think we’re all lucky to have each other.” The words stuck in her throat a bit, thoughts of Camila giving them a bitter aftertaste, and she shoveled more ice cream into her mouth.