A Father's Emotions

II

She holds the leads as he passes the ginger kid the money as the kid processes it through the till. 'These guys are okay here, aren't they?' Hope asks.

'If they went to the toilet before coming in, yes,' the guy, with his nametag reading Karmi, replies. Hope smiles before looking at her dad who picks up their ice-creams. 'You two make a nice couple.'

Their blue eyes connect, the father and daughter laughing. 'No, we're related, we're not dating.'

Karmi regards the pair confused. 'How?'

Hope watches as her dad chooses a table. 'You wouldn't believe me if I told you.' she leaves the counter and goes to the table.

Death pushes the ice-cream towards Hope as she puts her foot through the loops of the three dogs leads. 'Who's the girl?' Death whispers.

'Oriana, the girl I met at school,' Hope mumbles. Her eyes go to her phone on the table that is still ringing due to Oriana.

'Your soulmate.'

'Of course.'

'With someone else.'

'It's karma for me not going to that party. She was looking to make a move, but I said I wasn't going.'

'If she were going to make a move, she would have found you instead of going.'

'She needed liquid courage. Her family aren't as great as you.'

Death smiles at his daughter before answering the phone. 'Hello?'

Hope tries to grab the phone from his grip and the calls stop. 'Now you've done it.'

He looks up as the door opens to see lavender hair. 's**t,' Death mumbles making Hope stop digging through her ice-cream.

'What?' Hope whispers.

'Don't look up and keep your foot on the leads.'

'Hey, Karmi,' the woman says.

'Hey, Aunt Li,' Karmi replies. 'Your usual ice-cream?'

Death and Hope look up confused at the same time. 'Aunt?' Death and Hope say at the same time. Life looks back at the pair with a smirk.

'Now I see how they're related,' Karmi comments as he passes Life her ice-cream.

Life pays before joining the pair at their table. 'How's life treating you?' Life asks.

'Hilarious. Absolutely rubbish,' Hope replies going back to her ice-cream.

'Which is why we have ice-cream,' Death adds giving his sister an odd look. 'Where's your oddball of a husband?'

'Parking the car,' Life comments.

'Great.'

Hope stares at her phone, waiting for the screen to light up, but it doesn't.

The door opens again making Death groan. 'Dean!' The guy exclaims making Hope choke on a laugh at the horror on Death's face. 'And you have the puppies! Oh, Hope. Didn't recognise you with the blue.'

'I'm going to take these guys home,' Hope mumbles. She stands and leaves with the dogs before anyone can protest.

'You two like ruining my time, you get off on it,' Death complains.

'You wish,' Life says, winking at her brother while eating her ice-cream.

Hope halts at the sight of worn trainers and her eyes flick up to meet her cousin's. 'Great,' Hope mumbles.

'What's that supposed to mean?' Fear says amused.

'I know you get off on pain, stop giving me pain.'

Fear shrugs. 'You're doing that to yourself.'

'You're delightful as ever.'

'I know.'

'She'll come around. You won't be hurt again.'

Hope eyes her cousin wearily. 'How do you know that?'

'I know fears, it's my job. Your dad's fear is losing you, and you're scared of being hurt by the one you're meant to love. You aren't hard to read, Hope.'

'I've got the get these guys home.'

Fear smiles softly at his cousin, tipping his hat slightly as she leaves, crashing into the one person she left.

Oriana stabilises Hope before frowning slightly. 'I thought you were with your admirer but seems like you're on another,' Oriana comments.

'That's my cousin,' Hope replies, glaring at her smirking cousin who disappears into the ice-cream parlour.

'And the other?'

'You wouldn't believe me.'

'What's wrong?'

'It doesn't matter. I have somewhere to be.' one of the dogs yaps having sniffed Oriana's leg making Hope groan internally.

'Who's this?'

'Bee?' Hope notices the husky with the faint markings beside her look up at her. 'That one is Rus. I've got to get these guys home.'

'I'll text you.' Oriana watches Hope walk away hurriedly, knowing something is irking the female walking away from her again.

He looks at the trio that had ambushed him. 'What do you want?' Death asks. 'Are you looking for a slap again?'

Life laughs as she grins at her brother. 'No, not really,' Life replies before smiling at Love who tucks hair behind her ear.

Death looks out the window, ignoring the pain in his heart.

'She's fine,' Fear says quietly watching his uncle. The sharp blue eyes meet his. 'Hope is fine. Trust me.'

'Why should I?' Death responds.

'She ran into Oriana who thinks you guys fucked.'

'You're terrible.'

'I know.'

Death smiles slightly before looking at the time. 'I'll head off, meet Hope at home.'

'Are you sure?' Fear ignores the sharp look his mother gives him.

'Not anymore.' Death sighs before going to the toilets.

Karmi moves from behind the counter, the hat off his head and a jacket covering his top. His eyes watch as his mother gets out of her car. Juno enters the parlour, smiling when she sees a pale Love and a smirking Fear and Life. 'You okay there?' Juno asks.

'Smashing,' Love replies giving his wife a sharp look.

'What is it?' Love shakes his head making Juno frown. Juno looks at Karmi. 'Good shift?' Juno asks.

'You just missed this woman with blue hair, blue eyes and three puppies, the guy is still here. The f*****g tall thing with black hair and blue eyes - what's wrong with your face?' Karmi asks running after his mother who darted from the ice-cream parlour.