A New Start

[Soliloquy]

Suddenly oblivious to Magnolia's reactions, Augustus instead cheerfully lead the way to the picnic table, the young girl in tow. He held both her and his ice cream cones and lifted her up onto the seat, placing himself on one corner with Lilian in the middle before they returned to eating their ice cream.

 

[Betty Bogey]

Lilian giggled as he lifted her up while Magnolia gave a small scowl. How dare he? Magnolia was sure that he would run the moment he found out that he was a father. That's exactly why Magnolia wouldn't let him know.


"Hurry up and eat, dear," said Magnolia, sitting on the other side of Lilian. "Then you can go play."

 

[Soliloquy]

As the trio enjoyed the sweet treat, Augustus was occasionally turning to Lilian, scrunching his face up in a variety of silly manners. Every time she'd laugh he beamed for a moment before turning to a fake serious voice. "Now, now, no playing, you need to eat first," he teased and would wait until she returned to eating to make another face.

 

[Betty Bogey]

Lilian giggled once more before returning to her ice cream. Magnolia tried paying Augustus no mind. She needed to find a way to get Lilian away. She needed a moment to yell at Augustus for using her.

 

[Soliloquy]

Cautiously, Augustus peered around at Magnolia, unable to make contact with her eyes he frowned, returning to focusing on Lilian. The small child was so innocent and happy, he couldn't help but feel a wave of jealousy. Near the picnic bench and tree there was a duck pond tucked away in the corner. His eyes followed their movements as they waddled around, chuckling.

 

[Betty Bogey]

Lilian's eyes followed Augustus' and she giggled at the ducks. "Mamma said I was duck once," said Lilian, sounding quite proud. Magnolia, though she didn't want to, giggled.

 

[Soliloquy]

He turned to look at the child surprised. "You were a duck!" he exclaimed, raising an eyebrow. "Oh my, I don't think I have ever been so fortunate to be a duck. I imagine you were a cute little duck though." He couldn't help but smile at Magnolia's small laugh, a sound he hadn't heard in so many years.

 

[Betty Bogey]

Lilian nodded excitedly. "Miss Carter, she watches me while Mamma's at work, made me yellow dress," said Lilian. "When Mamma saw me, she said she thought I was a duck."

 

[Soliloquy]

Augustus happily laughed at the child's sweet innocence. She seemed to be quiet the cheerful child, despite her caretakers previous interactions with a ward...


"Well, little Lily," he winked at the girl, "I'm sure you were quite a cute duck."

 

[Betty Bogey]

Lilian beamed at the compliment, and Magnolia couldn't help but smile, however, it quickly faded. She did not want Augustus near Lilian. She did not want him to leave Lilian, the way he had left her. Magnolia knew she was to blame for what happened, but Lilian was not. She most certainly did not deserve to suffer.

 

[Soliloquy]

Finishing the sticky sweetness of his ice cream, August moved closer to the duck pond, tossing bits of his waffle cone to them. Brushing the crumbs off on his trousers, he turned back to the two. A bitter look on Magnolia's face caught his attention and he froze, staying at a distance. He badly wanted to ask why she had to be aggressive to him. Hadn't she hurt him enough all those years ago?

 

[Betty Bogey]

Lilian soon finished her ice cream and walked up to Augustus, giving him a cheerful smile, as she imitated him and threw part of her cone into the pond. "I don't know why Mamma's so mad at you," said Lilian, catching her mother's look. "You're nice."

 

[Soliloquy]

The cheerful child was a much-appreciated distraction and he shrugged his shoulders. Picking up a piece of the cone that had fallen short he tossed it closer for the ducks to reach. "I don't know why either, little Lily," he sighed, "Your Mamma used to smile around me and then one day she just decided she would rather be mad."


Lifting the girl up with a forced smile he tossed her gently into the air. Catching her, he saddled her on his hip, holding her securely. "Between you and me, if you can even find out what makes Mama's mad in the world, all the menfolk will be awfully glad," he said in a joking whisper before heading back toward Magnolia. "We better get you back to her though, before she tries to chomp on my head!"

 

[Betty Bogey]

"Mamma's not like that all the time," said Lilian. "She's like that around men. I told her I want a Papa, but she says there are few men like my real Papa." It was, of course, part of Magnolia's lie. Magnolia thought Lilian should know that she had a father who loved her, rather than a father who used a woman and left.


Lilian giggled as he picked her up and tossed her. She liked Augustus. She couldn't imagine why her mother didn't. The bitter look on Magnolia's face turned to sadness as she watched them. It was a reminder of what she had always hoped, but never got. She found it rather cruel of Augustus to taunt her this way.

 

[Soliloquy]

Returning to the picnic bench, Augustus carefully set Lilian on the bench next to Magnolia. He stood back again, sensing something was off with her, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his trousers. The little one seemed fond of him, but the elder, did not seem to want to be in his presence.


"Well, ladies," he spoke after a few minutes, flashing the child a smile and carrying it over as he looked to Magnolia. "I want to thank you both for such a lovely afternoon treat. I wouldn't want to keep you from enjoying the park." He turned to leave.

 

[Betty Bogey]

As Augustus placed Lilian on the bench, Magnolia softly placed a hand on her's. "Goodbye then, sir," said Magnolia, her voice soft and her eyes turned away from him.


Lilian, however, was not as eager as her mother was to let Augustus go. She liked him and she didn't understand why her mother didn't. "You don't have to go, mister," said Lilian, her smile wide, and her eyes hopeful.

 

[Soliloquy]

The young man offered the little girl a weak smile. She seemed to be a happy bundle of a child, and while her emotions felt contagious, he was also well aware of Magnolia and how ready she was to leave.


"It's okay little Lily," he said, patting her on the head gently. "Your Mama looks like she wants some time with you. It's very important that Mamas and their babes have time together."

 

[Betty Bogey]

"Please?" Lilian begged, her eyes wide. She had often used this trick on her mother for a treat or a few extra minutes to stay up. However, this trick had been used so many times, Magnolia was practically immune to it. "Just a few more minutes?"

 

[Soliloquy]

Augustus, not nearly as immune as Magnolia was to the young girls big eyes, had an almost helpless look on his face. He would greatly enjoy time with the young girl, as her chipper spirit was contagious, and would even appreciate time with the cold older female. Heart ache in his youth had not curbed his feelings for her, even if it was not a bilateral feeling.