Chapter 12

Nan’s POV

Patti had never been to an amusement park before. When I'd had her on my own, we were never able to afford it, since most of my earnings went to bills or her medications. So of course, when Vera learned this fact, she insisted we immediately go to the closest amusement park and spend the whole day as a family.

Vera was so excited to show Patti her favorite rides and characters around the Magic Gardens park. Patti was excited to go and experience it with her sister, her father, and me. I was just excited that I got to spend the day with the girls, and that I got to see them both so happy.

Of course Lionel had paid for the most expensive tickets, so that the girls didn’t have to wait in line. As we started to enter the entrance line for our VIP tickets, Lionel’s phone began buzzing incessantly. He pulled it out of his pocket and looked down at the caller ID with a sigh.

“I think I've got to take this. I’ll meet up with you all in the park.” He said with a nod.

The gentle demeanor he used with the girls disappeared as he answered the phone, stepping out of the line. I watched him go, feeling somewhat glad that he wouldn't be here for a bit. If Lionel wasn't there, then I could relax a bit.

I shooed the thought away immediately, feeling guilty at the thought as the girls exchanged a disappointed look with each other. I looked down at them. “Girls, what are you most excited about for today?” I asked brightly.

They were distracted from their disappointment easily.

"I'm excited for the fireworks!" Patti said, grinning.

"You're gonna have so much fun with the rides! I like the teacups the best, but there are a lot of fun ones." Vera responded.

As we entered the park and started our day, they quickly started having a blast.

“That one! That one!” Patti exclaimed, pointing to a ride with a princess painted on the side of the building.

I laughed as Patti and Vera started dragging me towards the VIP line. “Okay, okay!”

I glanced behind us at the bodyguard that Lionel had assigned to us for the day. The stoic man in sunglasses was following close behind us. It was kind of funny that someone as serious and threatening was following us into line for a prince and princess themed ride.

I looked back to the girls who were already at the front of the VIP line. I smiled at them, walking up to join them.

“Excuse me, why is this line shorter? My son and I want to be in this line.” I recognized the shrill voice almost instantly.

The voice belonged to one of my former friends, Eileen. My last boyfriend, David had left me for Eileen after I decided to adopt Patti. I had been heartbroken, but I tried to be the bigger person and wished them well.

Until I found out that David had been cheating on me with Eileen for months before I found Patti.

It stung seeing Eileen, but I tried to just move along so I could have a good day with the girls. Eileen slipped under the rope that separated the VIP like from the other line.

“Excuse me, ma’am. You need a super magic pass ticket to enter this line.” The employee at the front of the line explained with a semi-forced smile.

“They normally check that at the front of the VIP line, but I can check your ticket now.” The employee offered out her hand.

I groaned quietly from where the girls and I were watching the interaction. It was frustrating that the girls had to wait so Eileen could harass some poor employee, but the girls at least seemed somewhat entertained.

Eileen snapped her head back to look at where the sound had come from. I saw recognition in her eyes almost instantly. She sneered at me, looking me up and down.

Lionel had told me not to wear my uniform, so I was dressed simply, just in a pair of jeans and my favorite t-shirt. As Eileen’s eyes landed on the shirt, she rolled her eyes derisively.

“Wow, Nan, I really didn’t expect you to be living so… poorly.” She tilted her head, turning her nose up at me.

The employee cleared her throat. “I’m sorry ma’am, you don’t have the right kind of ticket to be in this line. If you’d like you can go find a ticketing booth towards the front of the park to upgrade your passes, or you can just go to the regular line-“

“You.” Eileen wheeled back around to me and the girls. “You clearly need the money if you’re still wearing the clothes you wore when we were friends.”

She reached into her purse, digging out a wallet. “Let me buy your tickets.”

“Ma’am-“ The employee tried to interject. Eileen glared at her before turning back to us.

I blinked at her in surprise, uncertain how to even begin to respond to her.

Vera luckily, knew just how to respond. “No.” She responded calmly. “You can’t afford our tickets.”

Eileen laughed haughtily. “I can afford anything. Name the price, I’ll pay for the tickets and because I’m generous, I’ll do what you paid for them and then half of the ticket price.”

“Okay.” Vera responded, crossing her arms over her chest. “Each ticket was three thousand dollars.”

“What?” Eileen demanded. “No they weren’t!”

“You’re scalping tickets!” Eileen hissed, her glare turning to me. “You lying little-“

“Eileen, don’t.” I responded, stepping forwards. We didn’t need to make a scene.

“Or what?” Eileen snapped back.

I blinked at her, wondering if she was seriously going to do something at an amusement park in front of our children. Of course the children acted first. Eileen's son raised his hand to strike at Vera.

Patti pulled her arm back and punched him as hard as she could. Immediately after the hit, I could tell it was going to leave a black eye.

"Ow! Mommy, she hit me!" The boy cried, as if he hadn't threatened Vera first.

"Your brat hit my kid." Eileen said, nostrils flaring as she rushed towards me. She pulled back her fist, but thankfully the bodyguard stepped in between us.

"I think you need to calm down." The man said in his gravelly voice, as he grabbed Eileen's arm, keeping her away from me. I took a deep breath, looking at Eileen as her face quickly changed from being full of rage to being full of fear.

"Nan, do you know this guy? Tell him to let me go." Eileen said, trying to pull her arm out of the man's grip.

A crowd started to form around us, people watching as if we were a show. I felt my face flush in embarrassment. I didn't want a crowd, or to cause anyone else to have to wait longer for the ride.

The bodyguard looked to me, face impassive behind his dark sunglasses. I nodded at him. "You can let her go. Thank you."

He shrugged, as if to say that it wasn't the decision he would make. Finally he let Eileen go.

"Thank you." Eileen let out a breath, dusting herself off.

She then lunged towards me, rearing her hand back with an open palm. I had told him to let her go, and she responded by trying to slap me. I briefly wondered why we had ever been friends to begin with.

I tensed to receive the hit, but it never came. Someone grabbed Eileen's wrist and flung her hand aside. I looked to the hero and saw Lionel.

"What is going on here?" He said, his voice a low growl in his chest as he looked between us.

Eileen's face had gone almost completely white. She looked so terrified, it was if she had seen a ghost. It was clear to me that she recognized who Lionel was.

"Daddy!" Patti exclaimed, relieved. She rushed forward, wrapping her arms around his legs.

"Thank you for coming and helping us! Right, mommy?" She looked back to me with a wide grin.

I didn't know what to say. I nodded, silently. The main thought I had in the moment was how odd it felt to hear her call me and Lionel those things in the same sentence.