Licorice, 21
Author: sunsetsinthewes
Challenge: Licorice, 21. To fetch a pail of water
Word Count: 477
Rating: G
Story: Polyfaceted; the title of this story is Fetching.
Summary: Following Gina Sophia on her journey to find her father.
Notes: The time period for this is set sporadically throughout 1995 to 2021. This is also for RATS Olympics: Pocky Chain (gold medal for No Name Team).
***
"I'm sorry, I almost forgot. Mr. Corlioni, this is Ms. Winch. She's a recent addition to the firm, but she's proving to be an invaluable asset already. You don't mind if she sits in on the negotiations?"
Augusto takes his time, letting his gaze slowly travel from the woman's open-toed heels, over her form-fitting pencil skirt and blouse, to the sight of her plump lips and wavy hair. When she registers the attention she's receiving, he notices the appealing way her blush spreads from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.
"Course not," he replies. "It'd be a pleasure."
***
"Mommy? Will you tell me the story about Daddy?"
Virgina hesitates, one hand on the light switch. "Again? Honey, you must have heard this a thousand-- okay, okay. I met your father in the first week of law school, when I looked up to notice the handsome man sitting across the room."
"Was it love at first sight?"
"Instantly," Virgina assures her daughter. "I knew he was the one."
"Do you miss him?"
"Every day."
"Mommy? Do you think Daddy would have liked me?"
"Oh, honey..." She swallows hard. "He would have loved you completely."
***
The words begin to blur before Gina Sophia's eyes and still, snatches and phrases leap out at her. Things like mistake, and I'm so sorry, and never knew his first name. If it wasn't for the neat signature scrawled at the bottom of the letter, she'd never be able to believe it.
A single word manages to break through the shock and betrayal flooding her system, and it's to this word that she clings in an effort to keep from floating away from the earth entirely.
Alive.
***
"I've started keeping it with me," she explains, handing the too-short letter to Johnny. "In my wallet."
He scans the letter quickly, asking, "Ya sure that this is legit?"
"As best as I can be," she replies, and Johnny's struck by the sudden realization that she's a dead-ringer for a younger Teresa. "So you're not..."
"No. 'm not him. But I think I know who is." He hates to extinguish the sudden brightness in her eyes, but he barrels on. "I'm so sorry ta tell ya this, Gina Sophia, but your father died last month."
***
"I met him in my father's shop, actually. He was there for business."
"Was it love at first sight?" Gina Sophia leans into the rolling pin, expertly flattening the dough.
"Something like that, I think."
"Do you miss him very much?"
She's quiet for a long time before softly admitting, "Every moment. Like a part of me is gone."
Gina Sophia lifts her head, catching Martina's gaze and holding it despite the rapid watering of her eyes. "Do you think he would have liked me?"
There's no hesitating this time. "He would have loved you more than anyone else could."
***
Challenge: Licorice, 21. To fetch a pail of water
Word Count: 477
Rating: G
Story: Polyfaceted; the title of this story is Fetching.
Summary: Following Gina Sophia on her journey to find her father.
Notes: The time period for this is set sporadically throughout 1995 to 2021. This is also for RATS Olympics: Pocky Chain (gold medal for No Name Team).
***
"I'm sorry, I almost forgot. Mr. Corlioni, this is Ms. Winch. She's a recent addition to the firm, but she's proving to be an invaluable asset already. You don't mind if she sits in on the negotiations?"
Augusto takes his time, letting his gaze slowly travel from the woman's open-toed heels, over her form-fitting pencil skirt and blouse, to the sight of her plump lips and wavy hair. When she registers the attention she's receiving, he notices the appealing way her blush spreads from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.
"Course not," he replies. "It'd be a pleasure."
***
"Mommy? Will you tell me the story about Daddy?"
Virgina hesitates, one hand on the light switch. "Again? Honey, you must have heard this a thousand-- okay, okay. I met your father in the first week of law school, when I looked up to notice the handsome man sitting across the room."
"Was it love at first sight?"
"Instantly," Virgina assures her daughter. "I knew he was the one."
"Do you miss him?"
"Every day."
"Mommy? Do you think Daddy would have liked me?"
"Oh, honey..." She swallows hard. "He would have loved you completely."
***
The words begin to blur before Gina Sophia's eyes and still, snatches and phrases leap out at her. Things like mistake, and I'm so sorry, and never knew his first name. If it wasn't for the neat signature scrawled at the bottom of the letter, she'd never be able to believe it.
A single word manages to break through the shock and betrayal flooding her system, and it's to this word that she clings in an effort to keep from floating away from the earth entirely.
Alive.
***
"I've started keeping it with me," she explains, handing the too-short letter to Johnny. "In my wallet."
He scans the letter quickly, asking, "Ya sure that this is legit?"
"As best as I can be," she replies, and Johnny's struck by the sudden realization that she's a dead-ringer for a younger Teresa. "So you're not..."
"No. 'm not him. But I think I know who is." He hates to extinguish the sudden brightness in her eyes, but he barrels on. "I'm so sorry ta tell ya this, Gina Sophia, but your father died last month."
***
"I met him in my father's shop, actually. He was there for business."
"Was it love at first sight?" Gina Sophia leans into the rolling pin, expertly flattening the dough.
"Something like that, I think."
"Do you miss him very much?"
She's quiet for a long time before softly admitting, "Every moment. Like a part of me is gone."
Gina Sophia lifts her head, catching Martina's gaze and holding it despite the rapid watering of her eyes. "Do you think he would have liked me?"
There's no hesitating this time. "He would have loved you more than anyone else could."
***