An Affair To Remember

Chapter three

“Okay Mr. Ted, where should we go?” I ask the little blonde boy in the backseat of my Range Rover. “Ummmm the place with the pancakes with the chocolate and strawberries on it?” He asks, his giant grin lighting up his face. The spitting image of his Daddy. “Sounds amazing, let’s goooooo!” I say, pulling out of our driveway, and driving away from our mansion.

I drove towards our favourite breakfast spot almost on autopilot, as the Wiggles played in the background. Singing along together.

Before long, we had arrived at our favourite spot, “The Early Bird”. We arrived about 20 minutes after they opened, and noticed our favourite table is still available. “Mummy, look! Charlie is working today!” I hear Ted call from the backseat.

Charlie was one of the few people who Ted warmed up to instantly - and who could blame him? He never looked at Teddy and saw a little boy in a wheelchair, he saw a little boy who loved dinosaurs and pancakes! It was always such a relief to see him working, he would always start our day off right.

He waved to me through the window, and started rushing with the detachable ramp to try and get the entrance set up before we got to the front door.

“Hang on Charlie, I’ll help”, I called out as I watched him struggle to hold the door open while trying to place the ramp. “Honestly Mrs Tucker, you shouldn’t have to! We should have a permanent one knowing that we have the coolest little dude coming in every day!” I giggled at the formality. “What’s gotten into you? I’ve known you since high school, surely we are on a first name basis by now?”

“Ahhh Piper, I just have to remind myself that you’re a married woman” he replied with a wink, after checking to see that Ted wasn’t listening. God he was gorgeous - just over 6 foot, gorgeous dark brown eyes, with perfect clear brown skin. We finished laying down the ramp, and Ted made his way to our booth, before Charlie came over with a pen and paper pad in hand.

He was the exact opposite of my husband, and I’d had the biggest crush on him, since he transferred to our school in year 8. I always thought he wasn’t interested, but too late now I guess..

“Hey Charlie, my mummy said she needs the biggest coffee in the whole world today, and I need the biggest hot choccie!” Ted said excitedly - it was his favourite part of the week, when we got out to our booth to watch the sunrise, and have some one on one time. “Sounds good little man! Long black for mummy?” Charlie asked with a smirk. He was not subtle. “Sounds absolutely delicious, and I think we both wanted eggs on toast today!” I laughed and shook my head as he walked away.

“Okay Ted, today you have school, then I’m going to pick you and your sister up, then we are going home to get ready, and watch your sister dance!”

It was always a challenge to make sure he didn’t feel left behind, in such an active family, and I always tried to give him a bit of extra time around his sisters recitals, as he has expressed jealousy and sadness about not being able to play sports in the same way as her in the past.

“Mama, is daddy coming to this one?” The kids always notice when he breaks a promise. It breaks my heart.

“Umm, I think so baby! He said he was going to, but he has a really busy job, and sometimes he has to work late. He has to work a lot, so we can pay for our house, and Albus’ doggy treats!” He laughed and joked about our dogs appetite, but I couldn’t help worrying that he was noticing his father’s absence.

I watched my sweet little boy playing with his toy car while he waited for his meal, and let my thoughts wander to his father.

When Ted was diagnosed, it was incredibly hard on Rory. He was so sick when he was born, he couldn’t hold him for a month. He struggled to bond with him, and often said how much he wished Ted could kick a footy, or run around like the other kids.

Of course he would never say it in front of the kids, but I always worried that our kids could feel his subtle detachment. I had begged Rory to come to therapy with me, to find a way to accept Ted’s disability, but he maintained that he didn’t need it, and he loved him and provided for him, so it was selfish to talk about it like he wanted to change

“Breakfast for my two favourite customers”, Charlie’s deep voice rang out, interrupting my thoughts. I reached out for our plates, and smiled with gratitude “we have missed it here the last few weeks! Ella isn’t much of a morning person, and I’ve been flying solo while Rory was away for work.” Charlie shook his head, “I don’t know how he can go away so often, he must miss you like crazy. You do such a good job” he said, placing one of his hands comfortingly on my shoulder. Electricity danced through my body from that slightest touch, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was joking, or if there was something behind all his jokes..