"Yeah, I did get her from the shelter," Zach confirms. "First day I went there, I spotted her and fell in love." He grins. "I'd like to think the feeling is mutual but it might just be the doggy treats she likes."
Hearing about Beth's sister, Zach barely hears the rest of her phrase. His mind seems to halt. Cocking his head, he seems to study Beth a little more deeply. Did she know her eyes said so much? He wondered. "I do like cats," he answers absentmindedly. "Cats, dogs, birds, hamsters, reptiles - whatever."
His expression remained pensive, despite the light topic. Before he allows the subject of animals to continue, he reverts back to Beth's previous statement. "You said both your parents were gone? So... with your sister... I mean..." He wasn't trying to draw attention to it, but his tone of voice said more that he was intrigued and undoubtedly compassionate. "That's gotta be rough." There was no pity in his words - perhaps it was rather a gentle understanding. He was clueless about the situation - maybe Beth had nothing to do with her sister. But he had an inkling that wasn't the case. And maybe...maybe he did understand more than one might think.
He sips his drink and gives her a small smile. "I guess it's a small world. I... have a great uncle at Brookshire. Not too many people know about it," he admits. "The family likes to keep it quiet. Uncle Harry was in Vietnam and a few years after he got back, the memories got the best of him. His wife couldn't handle it anymore so he was taken to Brookshire and...never left."
Zach gives a slight shrug. "I go see him sometimes. Usually he's just sitting staring out the window. But every once in a while I get a smile. Sometimes he'll even converse about the weather - those days make it worth a trip."
Chuckling softly, he shakes his head. "Not even the guys I work with every day know that. Consider yourself special."
A little bit of color enters Reese's cheeks but he holds his gaze on Angelica. A smile curls his lips. "I think I like that answer." His voice had grown quieter. "You know that I... have a bit of history. A small corner of my heart will always belong to Wyatt's mother. But for a long time I didn't even think the rest of my heart could belong to anybody else. You, Miss Lockheart, have proven me wrong."
The heavy subject of the Elite is forgotten and his eyes sparkle with a renewed youthful vigor - something few would ever witness. "You're so much more than I ever thought... and you mean so much more to me than I've probably ever said. I know sometimes I get so busy with work that that's all I talk about and sometimes I forget to tell you how important you are to me. So for the record... I've fallen in love with you, Angelica. And I don't plan on stopping any time soon."
The last thing Eric expected from the young girl was a hug, so as he's pulled in, there's a moment of hesitation and his eyes go wide. But the moment is so very brief. For in that simple gesture, he felt the unexplainable warmth of innocent acceptance. No matter what anybody else thought of him... no matter his past mistakes... no matter if he felt he fit in here at the ranch or not... Ashlee accepted him for who he was, shown through her willingness to show him affection. Perhaps Eric wouldn't realize all that until later... right now, it was as simple as him feeling so very good.
Chuckling, he wraps his arms around Ashlee in a strong hug. "Well thank you too... for being you." Giving her an extra squeeze for good measure, he draws back and smiles at her. Tilting her chin up with a gentle finger, he winks. "You just keep on being you and everything will turn out just fine."
2/14/12
By your side
Beth loved hearing about Zach and him working at the animal shelter. It showed there was a softer side to him. A side that showed he cared and that he could be gentile by nature.
"Button...thats a cute name. Did you get her from the shelter?"
Taking another sip and letting her eyes roam the little cafe for a moment Beth turns her attachen back to Zach.
"No, I don't have any pets at the moment. I've been to busy with visiting my sister..."
Beth is silent for a moment before searching Zach's face wondering what he would think.
"...She lives at the bookshire Hospital. She got sick a long time ago and never recovered from it. I've got more time now though so maybe I'll a cat. They dont need to much attachen. Do you like cats?"
Beth rolls her eyes. Real smooth.
Looking deep into Reese's eyes Angelica wondered about his question for a moment. But dosn't think to hard on it. Instead she would just let her heart speak.
"Yeah I have. Its changed alot since I met you I know that. Like I never though I would be sitting here on a date with someone before."
Angelica gives a smile as her finger absentmindedly rubs Reese's hand. No matter what she once though now being here with Reese and having his companionship she wouldn't want to trade it for anything. It was a change in her life that was good and she loved it.
"In five years from now I plan to be right where God wants me and I am hopping that, thats by your side still. If asked if I could imagine you in my life, every day for the rest of my days I would say yes."
Continuing to rub the oil into the leather once again Ashlee listens to Eric and gives a small nod. What he said made sense and she understood. Hearing his world made her feel good though and reassured. It was not harping, nagging or someone trying to say they new it all. It was simple, to the point, and soft all at the same time.
"Maybe thats why Mick was so mad at Dylan too. Because he was just scared his son was missing. I wish he was still around to tell him that."
Finished with the leather she had been working on Ashlee just holds it for a long moment mulling over Eric's words. Her nest big task would be to talk to her mom and tell her she was sorry. That was a whole new thing its itself. But Eric seemed to give her the courage even if he didn't know it.
Turning to Eric Ashlee gives a genuine smile to him. She'd never had a dad, and she never told anyone she wished she did but in those few short moments she felt that warmth that maybe was what it was like to have one.
Not saying anything Ashlee couldn't help the feeling she felt, and the warmth that seemed to spread through her. It was comforting, and it just felt good. Leaning over she puts her arms around Eric's neck and pulls him into a big hug.
"Thanks Eric, for just....being you."
"Button...thats a cute name. Did you get her from the shelter?"
Taking another sip and letting her eyes roam the little cafe for a moment Beth turns her attachen back to Zach.
"No, I don't have any pets at the moment. I've been to busy with visiting my sister..."
Beth is silent for a moment before searching Zach's face wondering what he would think.
"...She lives at the bookshire Hospital. She got sick a long time ago and never recovered from it. I've got more time now though so maybe I'll a cat. They dont need to much attachen. Do you like cats?"
Beth rolls her eyes. Real smooth.
Looking deep into Reese's eyes Angelica wondered about his question for a moment. But dosn't think to hard on it. Instead she would just let her heart speak.
"Yeah I have. Its changed alot since I met you I know that. Like I never though I would be sitting here on a date with someone before."
Angelica gives a smile as her finger absentmindedly rubs Reese's hand. No matter what she once though now being here with Reese and having his companionship she wouldn't want to trade it for anything. It was a change in her life that was good and she loved it.
"In five years from now I plan to be right where God wants me and I am hopping that, thats by your side still. If asked if I could imagine you in my life, every day for the rest of my days I would say yes."
Continuing to rub the oil into the leather once again Ashlee listens to Eric and gives a small nod. What he said made sense and she understood. Hearing his world made her feel good though and reassured. It was not harping, nagging or someone trying to say they new it all. It was simple, to the point, and soft all at the same time.
"Maybe thats why Mick was so mad at Dylan too. Because he was just scared his son was missing. I wish he was still around to tell him that."
Finished with the leather she had been working on Ashlee just holds it for a long moment mulling over Eric's words. Her nest big task would be to talk to her mom and tell her she was sorry. That was a whole new thing its itself. But Eric seemed to give her the courage even if he didn't know it.
Turning to Eric Ashlee gives a genuine smile to him. She'd never had a dad, and she never told anyone she wished she did but in those few short moments she felt that warmth that maybe was what it was like to have one.
Not saying anything Ashlee couldn't help the feeling she felt, and the warmth that seemed to spread through her. It was comforting, and it just felt good. Leaning over she puts her arms around Eric's neck and pulls him into a big hug.
"Thanks Eric, for just....being you."
Smile
"Umm..." Zach thinks for a moment. "It's the one down on Fern Street. Briarville Shelter I think. Kinda hard sometimes when a pet doesn't get adopted but... I do like working with the animals and giving them some love, no matter the outcome. I'd adopt them all if I had the space."
He grins, taking a sip of his frozen coffee before using his finger to catch some of the whipped cream and lick it off. "I've got a little black cocker spaniel named Button. She's only about ten months old so she's quite a handful, lemme tell you." He rolls his eyes. "So what about you? Got any pets?"
Reese returns a smile, enjoying the look on Angelica's face. Still holding her hand, he cocks his head. "Have you... ever thought about..." He shrugs. "I don't know... further down the road? Like... where you'd want to be next year? Or five years from now?"
Eli quirks an eyebrow, slinging his arm over Ryan's shoulders. "That he does. Let's hope it stays that way, eh?"
Not explaining, he lets her go and heads for his bike. "Enjoy the glory. I'll see ya back at the apartment."
Eric listens to Ashlee, understanding where she was coming from. He'd seen her and Dylan hanging out together a bit and knew that even though Dylan was a few years older, he was the closest friend to Ashlee's age that she had around here. Losing him must not feel very good, especially how it happened. Then to have her mom upset... yeah, he could understand.
Though Ashlee pauses her work, Eric doesn't, just continuing to rub oil into an old leather halter. He lets a few moments of quiet pass before eventually responding.
"Well... we all disappoint people we care about sometimes. We just can't let that keep us from trying again and doing our best anyway. We can't change the past... but we can change our future."
He pauses, still working. "And if I had to make a bet, I'd say your mom was just more scared than anything that day. When a parent gets scared like that, sometimes it comes out like they're mad at us, but they're really just upset for not having seen it coming." He gives Ashlee a sidelong glance. "Your mom was probably more mad at herself for not seeing where you went, than at you for running off without telling her."
Finally setting aside the halter, he turns his head to look at Ashlee, giving her a gentle smile. "Growing up sucks. Just don't let it get ya down too far, okay? I miss your smile."
He grins, taking a sip of his frozen coffee before using his finger to catch some of the whipped cream and lick it off. "I've got a little black cocker spaniel named Button. She's only about ten months old so she's quite a handful, lemme tell you." He rolls his eyes. "So what about you? Got any pets?"
Reese returns a smile, enjoying the look on Angelica's face. Still holding her hand, he cocks his head. "Have you... ever thought about..." He shrugs. "I don't know... further down the road? Like... where you'd want to be next year? Or five years from now?"
Eli quirks an eyebrow, slinging his arm over Ryan's shoulders. "That he does. Let's hope it stays that way, eh?"
Not explaining, he lets her go and heads for his bike. "Enjoy the glory. I'll see ya back at the apartment."
Eric listens to Ashlee, understanding where she was coming from. He'd seen her and Dylan hanging out together a bit and knew that even though Dylan was a few years older, he was the closest friend to Ashlee's age that she had around here. Losing him must not feel very good, especially how it happened. Then to have her mom upset... yeah, he could understand.
Though Ashlee pauses her work, Eric doesn't, just continuing to rub oil into an old leather halter. He lets a few moments of quiet pass before eventually responding.
"Well... we all disappoint people we care about sometimes. We just can't let that keep us from trying again and doing our best anyway. We can't change the past... but we can change our future."
He pauses, still working. "And if I had to make a bet, I'd say your mom was just more scared than anything that day. When a parent gets scared like that, sometimes it comes out like they're mad at us, but they're really just upset for not having seen it coming." He gives Ashlee a sidelong glance. "Your mom was probably more mad at herself for not seeing where you went, than at you for running off without telling her."
Finally setting aside the halter, he turns his head to look at Ashlee, giving her a gentle smile. "Growing up sucks. Just don't let it get ya down too far, okay? I miss your smile."
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