I took the twins to the park near home, letting them run free as I trailed behind them. They were so hyped up on sugar that I couldn't possibly take them to dinner until I ran it all out of them. I had to hide the evidence of my snack crimes. The drive here had been an experience I won't forget. I got a loud, sometimes cute, mostly ear bleeding, rendition of every song from Encanto. By the time I released them from their car seats I was ninety nine percent deaf and almost ninety five percent sure I didn't want any small humans of my own.

"Awnty O" Alba called from ahead of me on the path to the swings. "Theodore stepped on poop"

Make that 100% certain.

"Halp me" Theodore called, starting to scream at the disgusting sight of his shoe covered in dog poop.

The moment he started screaming I ran like my life depended on it, reaching for him and lifting him into the air to stop the blood curdling sound coming from his small body.

"Theo, don't be so dramatic" Alba called from the swing, her legs already getting high as she stretched them out mid air.

The smell of what was on Theodore's shoe was so strong I almost gagged. I held my hand over my mouth and nose.

"Halp" he asked with zero chill. "Fix it"

"Use a stick" Alba suggested.

"No" I called back "it's too... engrained"

There was no fixing this. I wasn't about to poke that out with a stick. I dropped my hand from my mouth, and slowly peeled off the offending shoe. I held it out in front of us at a distance and walked to the nearest trash can. I threw it inside.

"Wha about this one?" Theo asked, sticking out his other foot.

I eased it off of his right foot "no use in having just one" I remarked, taking it off and throwing it in the trash with its friend.

Alba was still swinging as she watched us approach "those were new" she told me.

"They were covered in dog poop" I reminded her "and I can take you guys to get new shoes tomorrow with Mama"

Alba barely missed my arm as she swung out and pointed her feet at me, giggling at the near miss "Moira won't be happy. She said that she sold a kidney for them"

I backed out of her way, and shimmied Theo up higher on my hip. "You still call her Moira? She's your Grandma. Isn't that nicer?"

Alba shook her head "She said if we called her grandma she would disappear in a puff of lavender stinking smoke"

"When she's got ole grey hairs" Theo added "then we can caw her gamma she said"

I smiled, that sounded like Moira.

I tried to put Theo down, but his feet dug into my flesh as he crawled back up me like a monkey on a tree. "No shoes!!" He squealed.

Not sure how I forgot that bit. "Sorry kid. Gonna have to throw you up to the viewing platform instead"

I lifted Theodore by his waist, straight over my head until his legs were dangling down either shoulder and his hands were wrapped around my neck to steady himself. I held his ankles above his pristine white socks, and walked him around the play area. He laughed as I ran after Alba, his little body being thrown around up there like he was on a rollercoaster. She gave me a run for my money around the park, no doubt scouring the place for a stranger to talk to. She didn't have to wait long. Only it wasn't a stranger, not to me.

Daisy was walking toward us with a golden retriever off of the lead beside her. She was clearly trying to go incognito with her hair up and tucked in a jacket, and a cap on covering the rest. Her shades were so large that you couldn't see much of her face. Local fame had come for her too, but even with all that cover up I could see it was her. I'd know her anywhere.

Alba went running toward her, as expected. "Hey Daisy" she called with a big smile.

I frowned. How did she know Daisy?!

"Hey Alberta" Daisy called back, smiling back warmly as she bent down to talk to her. "How did nursery go on Friday? Did you finally teach that kid Jarrod not to take out of your lunch?!"

I listened as Theo and I walked up behind them.

"I did like you said. I told him no, and took out of his lunch. I took his cheese. He didn't like that. It's his favourite"

Daisy high fives her "he learnt his lesson. That's good. Now he knows how it feels. Don't do it again though sweetheart. Once is okay to teach him the lesson, but twice would mean we would be as bad as him, right?!"

"Right" Alba agreed, taking her hand as they turned to acknowledge us. Daisy stood up, observing, as I stroked the golden retriever, and bent down so Theodore could do the same. I tried not to lose him as he slid down my shoulder giggling.

"This is my Awnty O" Alba introduced.

I stood back up. Daisy's right eyebrow raised as she looked me up and down, taking off her shades, and offering me a hard stare "I know. We actually met a long time ago when we were at high school. I know your Aunty O very well"

Alba looked amazed "really?!" She asked excitedly "are you friends?"

"Once upon a time" she replied, looking away to  see where the dog had taken off to across the grass. She clipped her shades onto the neck of her blue sweater. "A long time ago"

"Did you lose her?" Alba asked innocently, like I had been a lost toy.

Daisy looked back, her gaze finally lingering long enough on mine for me to read her. Her blue eyes looked like they wanted to ignite, but the spark was far too dampened "Something like that. One minute she was there... and the next she was gone"

Alba dragged Daisy over toward us, taking her hand and stretching it out to place it in mine "Here Daisy... have her back"

Daisy and I both laughed with the way I was offered back to her. Albas cute words making it sound so innocent and sweet. We both looked down to our hands pressed together by little fingers. My entire body flushed at the warmth of her skin on mine. She looked up, far too close for comfort as she searched my eyes slowly. I watched her gaze dart over my face, every inch of it. Not an inch left uninspected or a feature not scrutinised. It was like she was checking it was all the same. Her eyes left my lips and trailed back to my eyes. The intimacy I had felt from that one look had left me feeling naked and exposed. She had undressed me slowly, not in a sexual way, but a familiar one. 

"You don't talk much anymore do you" she poked, removing her hand from mine.

It was true, I had yet to really say a meaningful word to her. My mouth felt dry and unable to function as I attempted to form a sentence.

"How do you two know each other?" I asked, gesturing toward them.

Daisy looked down to Alba and smiled sweetly "I walk Charlie for my dad, just whilst I'm staying with him at the moment. Alba befriended me on one of those walks. She was with Harper. In the summer. Her little dog hated Charlie. We got talking whilst Harper put the little dog back in the car. We were soon best friends, little Alberta, Theodore and I. Right little ones?"

Alba nodded profusely "yes"

"Now Awnty O has two friends too" Theodore piped up above me.

Inside I folded in half. Noooo kid don't do me like that. Please don't let Alba add the details.

"Two?" Daisy asked, her eyes brightening at my obvious discomfort. "Is Cameron the other?" She asked Alba.

"No" Alba returned "Uncle Cam is just uncle Cam. I meant Candy lady"

"Candy lady was pweety" Theo added.

Daisy rolled her eyes slightly "Oooh... that type of friend"

"Now she has two pretty friends" Alba said happily "in one day"

Daisy shook hear head disapprovingly "Picking up friends with the kids. Nice Olympia. Nice! Enjoy your new friend won't you"

"And you enjoy yours" I replied a little irked at the tone of her voice.

She looked annoyed right back "I will... perhaps not quite as many as you seem to have"

Alba curled around my thigh, her cute smile at Daisy made her lose the annoyed glare. "She's single" Alba told her "and lonely"

I placed my hand down, covering Albas face "Hey" i cursed "that's not true"

"Not single?" Daisy asked.

"Not lonely" I replied, as Alba fought to free her cute face from my hand covering it.

"No" she agreed "I can't imagine you ever get lonely"

"You?" I asked.

"I'm ..." but before she could reply, she caught sight of her golden retriever humping a poor unsuspecting old lady across the park. "I have to go. My dad's dog is a little amorous today. See you soon Alberta and Theodore" she told them, giving them each a quick tap on the nose "make sure your Aunty O behaves" she called back.

"We will" they called after her.

I looked down at Alba and shook my head "did you have to tell her I was single and lonely"

Alba giggled "you are"

"That's your opening line to every woman we've met so far. I've only been out with you for three hours, but I suddenly feel like an old maid living on a hill with ten cats, and not a friend or lover in sight"

"We have more than ten cats" Theo mused "does that make Mommy an old maid?"

"No" Alba told him with confidence "Mommy has Mama... everyone has someone but Awnty O"

"Not true" I argued with two four year olds. If only I could see how stupid this looked "Josephine doesn't"

"Awnty Josie has Awnty Veda"

"Does she?!" I asked intrigued. "Did I miss something?!"

Alba reached up, and I took her hand, holding Theo's ankle with my other. "I saw them kiss in the summer...so I think so"

"Okay" I replied stunned, this was new information. I had some questions for my little sister.

"Let's get you back for dinner. Theo's feet are turning blue" I joked "they might fall off if we stay out any longer"

Theo screamed, and I laughed "joking"

Daisy was talking to the old lady that her dog had accosted, but Theo's scream had got her attention, and now she watched us as I watched her. She shook her head, and if I wasn't mistaken... she smiled, most probably at my expense.

"Can you and Daisy be friends?!" Theo asked from above me.

I took a deep breath, and rested my head backwards against a little chest, an upside down Theo above my head smiled down at me "If she texts me first" I told him.

"Text her first" Alba ordered me, as I looked back to her "teach her a good lesson ... then she will know how it feels good and text you back"

I heard Daisy's lesson coming out of Albas lips and I couldn't help but find it adorable.

"What if she doesn't text me back?!" I asked.

Alba shrugged "not everyone can be friends. That's what Mommy says. But we should always be kind even if we are not friends"

"That's true" I replied "very wise Albuquerque"

"Text candy lady too" Alba suggested "then you won't be lonely anymore if Daisy doesn't want to be friends"

I didn't know if I was brave enough to text Daisy first, but I would definitely text Reva and organise hanging out. The only issue I ever had with making friends, was finding genuine ones. Some people used you for fame, others used you for money, and some just wanted good seats at the games. It had made me a little shut off to friendships over the years too. My friends were mostly my team mates. I could rely on them, and they knew this life. They didn't sell me out. I would have to tread gently with Reva, and meet her somewhere a little more private. I didn't want to see her on the restaurant tabloid wall anytime soon.