2019-11-13 - Wishbone

It's about mid-morning, brisk as all autumn days tend to be. The skies are clear, for now, but there's clouds looming on the fringes of town it feels like. Threatening that rain could fall from the sky at any minute.

Kelsey is out with Wishbone, figuring letting him run around the dog park for a while would be the start of a good apology for leaving him with Garrett for a week and a half. Though, the way he tackled her when he saw her - you'd think she left him for YEARS. She's leaning up against the fence, keeping an eye on him. Occassionally tossing his big blue tennis ball when he brings it over to her.

Her hair is tossed up in a ponytail and she's wearing a pair of ripped jeans with a white tank top and a black flannel over top. Her typical attire - cold weather be damned. PLUS, she doesn't feel like she's getting sick anymore. Which is good. It must have just been a trick of the mind or something. Some kind of a paranoia. Definitely nothing to do with the slightly off tasting Liptop chicken noodle soup she'd put together last night.

The man repairing the carousel is having a break, sitting on the edge of it, drinking coffee from a flask. Beside him, his toolbox seems half in use, scattered across the floor in some semblance of order. The arrival of a dog earns the creature a grin, the man clearly a dog person. He isn't really dressed for cold weather, just an old shirt and jeans, covered in paint and oil. He doesn't look sick, just a bit tired, and when the grin for the dog fades, his expression is taut, the lines around his eyes and mouth engrained and deep, his eyebrows furrowed in thought.

Midmorning on a Wednesday is usually a time where children are in school -- but not every child, it seems, since there is one that's walking along the pathway in the park with a man who is probably her father, judging by their appearances. She looks to be about eight, and she's grinning in the sort of way children might do when they feel like they're getting away with something. Probably not being at school, considering everything. Her eyes widen when she sees Kelsey's dog running around in the dog park, though. "Aww, look, he's so cute!" she says as she starts toward the fence, leaning against it from the other side to watch. "See, I want a dog like that."

Her father lets out a little put-upon sigh, though there's fondness in his expression as he replies, "You want a dog like every dog we see." He does stop too, though, indulging her, and there's a polite nod to Matthew as his gaze catches on the other man.

Kelsey leans down as Wishbone runs over to her again with the ball. "Okay, okay. A couple more times. You've been running like a mad man." She gives the mastiff an affectionate scritching with one hand while she removes the ball from his mouth with the other. Matthew gets a bit of a wave, recognizing him from the Diner the other day and she laughs when she overhears the little girl. "I dunno. This dog might get too big for you." She winks and looks up at Ciprian. "She can pet him if she wants to. He's super friendly." And Wishbone did indeed seem friendly. Sitting there obediently and wagging his tail. Though his attention was motioning on the tennis ball in Kelsey's hand, wanting her to throw it already.

The nod receives one in reply, Matt's face returning to his more usual good-natured friendliness, and he lifts a hand in return for Kelsey's wave, his grin coming easily once more. "Nice dog." His call is friendly enough, and he empties his mug, his expression hidden for a moment. When he lowers it again, the good-natured smile is back, flickering back into place.

The little girl gasps in what can only be described as rapture, and she turns her gaze on Ciprian, who has to let out a little chuckle at the expression. "Go ahead," he says, and his daughter beams, starting toward the gate to open it. She makes sure to shut it behind her before she starts toward Wishbone, though she stops a few steps away and holds out her hand, letting the dog come to her if he will.

"Having a dog that's bigger than her is part of the appeal," Ciprian admits, though while his laugh has faded, his tone is still good-natured. "Thanks for that," he says as he looks to Kelsey. "She's been begging for a dog for months now. I'm still hoping she'll move on before she wears me down."

Abby is on a break. At least, she must be on something like a break, because she's out in the park. It's obvious where she comes from. Addington Memorial Hospital is right over there, and here is Abby wearing scrubs. The scrubs are light blue and have rocket ships and funky astronaut girls on them. She's also wearing colorfully polka-dotted clogs. But she is wearing a yellow windbreaker on top of it, because, really, the scrubs won't cut it in this weather, even if the drink in the cup she's carrying is piping hot. She has a sip as she takes a stroll along the park, smiling at people as she goes by, with a long pause to watch the dog.

When the girl comes into the park, Kelsey motions- with the hand that's holding the ball so Wishbone would look. "Let's say hi Wishbone." Wishbone looks like he might almost already be the size of the girl if they were laying side by side. The pup gives a happy kind of bark and moves closer, carefully sniffing at her hand before licking it. "What's your name?" She asks the girl. "My name's Kelsey." She offers to her and to Ciprian. "It's nice to have someone else around the house but I don't know a thing about having a dog and a kid. So you're on your own there. Stay strong." She winked and laughed.

Flashing Matthew another smile, "Thanks. He's a handful but, I love him anyhow." Kelsey chuckled and gave a little wave to Abby too. Vaguely remembering her too. As one of the nurses who had rebandaged her arm when it was still in bandages. "Long time no see." She offers to the woman.

More coffee, that is what the world needs, and Matt pours himself another before he rises to his feet to return to the work. It seems one of the horses needs adjusting, and he settles there with a wrench in his hand, leaning back against the ground. "Kids don't move on from wanting a dog." The call out is amused, but slightly muffled, and he adds, "Get a puppy, you know you want to." There is a clunk, and half of a curse before he cuts it off. He emerges with one hand pressed on the other, his face set in a frown.

The girl is clearly delighted with the lick, and then she starts to scratch Wishbone's head. "I love him too," she announces, before she continues, "I'm Ashira. That's my dad." She turns back to the dog with a grin, continuing to pet him gently. "I'm glad I didn't go to school today. I'm not even sick!" Her head turns to include everyone around in this statement -- Abby, too, when Kelsey addresses her. Everyone should know this important detail.

That particular comment makes Ciprian give a little pained look, and he reaches his hand up to rub it over his face. He looks over to Matthew then, a little amused huff escaping him. "Thanks," he remarks dryly, but still in a good-natured way, though the smile fades at the clunk. "Are you okay?"

The handy-man tosses his tools into the box, grabbing it and heading off towards his car, one hand carefully held against himself. Whoops, workplace injury...

Abby wanders over and raises a hand in a friendly wave for Kelsey. "Hi there! Well, in my line of work it's usually a good sign when I don't see people in a while," she replies with a sunny smile and takes another sip. "How are you feeling?" She asks, allowing only the slighest touch of concern to etch a wrinkle on her brow.

Even that tiny suggestion of a frown melts into a big friendly smile as the girl looks her way. "I'm very, very glad you aren't sick, then!"

"Ashira, that's a pretty name." Kelsey offered and laughed softly. Wishbone pressed into the scratches a little more. "Oh I think he likes you too." Tail wagging faster. She grins a bit, looking back to Ciprian. "Hey, everyone needs to take a mental day now and again." She offered, watching Matthew take off. "Hope his hand's alright." She mused.

To Abby, "Oh I'm doing fine. Thought I was getting that flu sh-stuff. But I wasn't. Also - no more bandages on the arm and all that. Though it still looks like it belongs on Frankenstein's monster." She looks back to Ashira, offering her the ball. "Do you want to throw it for him?"

"Thank you," Ashira replies to Kelsey at the compliment. She's clearly pleased at the dog's reception of her, as well -- there's no hint of her wanting to run off to the playground now. She does nod at Abby's words, though. "Me, too," she says. "Isn't Wishbone cute?" Already on a first-name basis with the dog she has met three seconds ago, but that is, of course, the way of children who have not yet learned to keep at least some of their feelings to themselves. When the ball is offered, she nods vigorously, taking it and turning back to the dog. "Look," she says, holding it out to him, before she tosses it past him.

Ciprian watches Matthew as he heads off, looking a little bit concerned, but he doesn't follow, instead turning back to the others. "Ciprian Kosimar," he says, gesturing to himself as he looks from Kelsey to Abby. "Nice to meet you."

Abby leans in and nods in very serious agreement with the little girl. "Wishbone is very cute," she gives the statement the assertive solemnity it deserves.

Straightening up, the nurse takes a long sip from her cup and flashes Kelsey a smile, "That's good to know! I hope not to see you around for any more bandages for a long, long time then. And you're lucky you didn't have the flu. I had it right around Halloween, ended up just staying home and taking pictures of my cat in costume." Abby makes a sad a face for the time it takes her to look in Ciprian's direction and offer a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you too! I'm Abby." She starts to point at her chest, then stops herself when she realizes she's wearing a windbreaker covering up her name badge. "You'll have to take my word for it."

In the parking lot a Maserati pulls into a slot and the engine is turned off, killing the growly noise it was making upon entry. After reaching for a bag, she climbs out and closes the door behind her to be followed only by the beeping/chiming sounds of the security system being turned on. There's a glance towards the carousel then towards Addington House only to notice a few familiar faces. Deciding not to pass on by, Erin approaches with a smile. "Hi, looks like the weather is holding out. A nice day for once."

"Kosimar? I'm guessing you're related to Minerva?" Because how many Kosimars were in Gray Harbor really? Kelsey asked with a quirked brow. "I actually got Wishbone from her a while back. In any case, it's nice to meetcha."

The ball, likely, doesn't go far. Nonetheless, Wishbone rushes after it. Picking it up and prancing around for a few seconds with it before he trots back up to Ashira and drops it a her feet - looking rather expectant. More ball throwing pleaseeeeeeeeeeee.

Kelsey grinned. "I'm hoping I don't have any more bandages too soon either. I've had enough of injuries to last me a the next few months at least." Pushing a hand through her hair as she looked back towards Wishbone and Ashira, then back to the adults. Which means her attention also turns to Erin, offering up a smile. "Heya." Though she hasn't actually met the woman.

Abby's last words draw a little chuckle from Ciprian -- small, but genuine. It does fade a second later, though doesn't quite take away the smile that's still on his face. "Hi, Abby," he says. He doesn't seem given to big smiles, unlike his daughter who is grinning from ear to ear when the dog runs after the ball that she's thrown for him. When it's brought back, she takes it readily, tossing it again and clapping her hands delightedly.

Casimir turns to Kelsey then, and the guess gets a nod. "That's right," he confirms. "I'm her brother. Maybe I should finally give in and ask her for a dog for us, too. It seems like she has a line on the good ones." If Wishbone is any indication, that is. His attention is caught by Erin's arrival, though, and he turns that way, lifting a hand in greeting. "Hi, Erin," he adds. "Nice to see you."

Abby touches a hand to her chest and lets out an overwrought sigh of relief a Kelsey, "Well, that's good! All this treating patients really cuts into my card-playing time, it's awfully inconsiderate," she says in playful admonishment, but then her tone grows less jokey. "I'm glad you're feeling better. I'm sure Wishbone helped." Her gaze strays over to the dog and the girl playing fetch with him. The new arrival stirs her away from the sight and she flashes Erin a friendly smile. "Hello! It is a nice day so far, isn't it? Hopefully that doesn't turn into real rain," she lifts her eyes towards the clouds for a moment.

"It is a beautiful day. A little humid but.. it's nice. I wouldn't mind a big storm rolling through though. Just to take some of the humidity with it." Erin loves storms though so she always says that. "It's good to see you." Kelsey gets a smile as she watches her and the dog. "Do you know Sergeant or Detective Andy? Maybe she'd seen him around. "I dog sat for him and it's almost convinced me to get one. Some day. That ones a cutie. Was he from the shelter?" As the dog comes back and drops the ball near the young girl, she smiles between the four, dog, Kelsey, child and dad. "Hi Ciprian, it's nice to see you again. Hi," she greets the daughter with a smile. She remains back though, careful not to interfere with the current happenings.

"I was just going to talk with the person running the carousel a moment."

When the ball comes back to her again, Ashira picks it up off the ground and shakes it a little bit for Wishbone before she tosses it again. "Hi," she says when Erin comes over, waving cheerily at the new arrival. "I'm Ashira," she says, before she takes off after the dog to play some more.

Ciprian glances over at the carousel when it's mentioned, before he turns back to Erin. "The guy who was there just took a break," he says. "I think he hurt his hand on something, but I'm not totally sure." He looks from her to Abby then, before remarking, "This is why we desperately need you all here. Everything's out to get us in this town." His expression is still relatively deadpan, but there's a tiny thread of humor running through it that indicates he's probably joking. Or mostly, anyway. The town does seem out to get them sometimes.

"I think I could probably do without a storm. Things always get a little crazy at the hospital when the weather does." Abby crinkles her nose slightly, then raises her eyes to the sky, adding after a brief silence. "Though they can be pretty, can't they? When I'm off-duty, anyway, they can be pretty then," she admits, then takes another sip from her coffee, flashing a smile just over it in Ciprian's direction. "That's why I get paid the big bucks! Well, the hospital is... it's a lot busier than I expected for the population it serves." There. A nice, neutral, statistical observation.

"Hi Ashira, I'm Erin. It's nice to meet you." She doesn't offer her hand, not wanting to distract the little girl from her playing with the dog. She just watches her go a moment before returning her attention back to those nearby. "She's so cute." The description was terribly lacking, but the best she could do without making things awkward. "Oh did he?" A glance towards the Carousel with a touch of a furrow to her brow. "I am assembling gift bags for the next fundraiser and thought about putting passes in there. Remind the locals it's here and invite the new people in town to try it." Her lips curve into a smile and she glances over to Abby. "There's our professional right there." A look of understanding at the mention of the hospital and the storm. "I was there when the power went out once. It was absolutely insane. So yeah I can understand it waiting until you're off duty." And the reminder of the town and hospital business has her glance off after Ashira again, sort of protectively.

Abby's very diplomatic response gets another little snort of amusement from Ciprian, and there's a bit of a knowing look that meets hers, but he just nods. "I hope you get paid the big bucks," is what he says in reply, "but I'm guessing that however many it is, it isn't enough." He sticks a hand into the pocket of his coat as he glances to his daughter running around with the dog, before his gaze shifts to Erin. "Thank you," he says. "As I'm sure she'll tell you when she remembers, we're playing hooky today."

Abby shrugs at Ciprian, with a little smile playing on her face. "They could be bigger bucks, but... well, it's not so bad. It's quieter than Seattle," she comments, nodding to Erin. "Right? As long as someone else has to deal with it, storms are nice. Preferably indoors with a cup of tea. Maybe in a little cottage overlooking a windswept moor, and... that sort of thing!" She moves one hand like she's trying to paint the scene with broad gestures, then goes quiet behind her cup of coffee, glancing at the carousal and thinking. "Gosh, I haven't been on it in ages."

"Playing hooky? Oh fun! I hope you'll hit all the fun places like Sweet Retreat and then look for some shells on the beach. They stack up in the winter with less people out and about looking for them. May even find a shark tooth or a sand dollor if you're really lucky."

A smile is offered to Abby, "I love across from the rocky beach on Bayside, if you ever want to come over and watch the storm roll in over the ocean, you're more than welcome to. Nothing like it. There's a rock down by the beach, large and flat. It's the best place to sit until it gets too close. Then I go inside and watch it from the safety of my own house." Tilting her head, she smiles. "Are you an artist also?" Maybe noticing the strokes like painting.

"Well, at least there's that," Ciprian replies at Abby's observation. "And there are some pretty good storms, though better seen from inside, like you said." He glances up at the sky, as though in expectation that it will open up at any moment -- luckily, it does not do so quite yet. He looks back down to Erin then, eyebrows raising. "Oh, I see you're an expert," he continues, still in that same tone that is probably joking, even if it's hard to tell for sure. He does sound friendly, though, even if his face doesn't really change expressions. "I feel like I should be writing this down so we don't forget to do anything important."

His daughter has caught the mention of Sweet Retreat, though, and she turns quickly after she throws the ball again. "Yes, yes, yes!" she calls, nodding quickly a few times.

Abby lets slip a light laugh, "That does sound like a prime storm watching location. Much better than my place, anyway! I'd have to stare at the storm rolling over the... clogged storm drain?" She jokes, making a face at the unfortunate location for storm watching. Then she quickly shakes her head, and while she's at it waves a hand too in a dismissive gesture. "No, no, no, I don't have any artistic talent, really. I can draw a little better than stick figures, but that's about the level of skill I have to work with." Her smile brightens up at Ashira's reaction, and she hums along in agreement, "Hmmmm! I wish I was playing hooky."

"Nothing expert about me. I wing it. I just know what I like." Erin doesn't know him well enough to have a read on him yet, when he's joking or not. "I didn't mean to come across as presumptuous, honestly." A reminder she was only passing through this morning, she glances back towards the carousel. "Really there's nothing to be forgotten, just suggestions." Despite everything, Ashira gets a smile at her return, an apologetic one to her father. "I hope that you all have a wonderful hooky day no matter what you end up doing."

Abby is given a warm smile. "The invitation stands. I should go and try to find the person about the carousel. And a few other errands today."

Ciprian's smile widens a little bit at his daughter's words, and he replies, "All right, in a little while." Ashira thrusts a fist excitedly in the air as she runs off again, spurred on by the promise of sugar. Ciprian turns to Erin then, though, shaking his head. "You weren't," he says. "Those are great suggestions. You've got her seal of approval, too. I'm not known for my ability to wing it, but I could probably do with a little less structure." There's a sympathetic glance to Abby then, and he adds, "If you decide to take a leaf out of our book, I promise I won't tell."

Abby gives Erin a small doubtful expression, then shrugs and breaks into a wider smile. "Well, sure! I'll keep an eye on the weather forecast then." She winks, then stops and points at herself, leaning in slightly. "I'm Abby, by the by. Have an amazing day too!" She lifts a hand to wave, then adds in Ciprian's direction with a cheery smile. "Oh I wish! But they have these computer thingies that keep track of that sort of thing, and then there's the patients. Ugh. I suppose I shouldn't keep them waiting, in case it's anything serious." There's a big dramatic sigh. Patients. She finishes her coffee.

Erin also watches Ashira in her excitement as she bounds back over where she had been playing. There's a touch of a wistful smile there but it's gone before she is looking back towards the others. "I've heard structure is important at her age. It looks like she's happy and healthy. You must be quite a dad." With what seems like an invite in the works for Abby to join them, Erin takes a step back, "Number 5 Bayside, or across the street from it at the Rocky Beach. I look forward to it. Oh, I'm Erin Addington, anyone in there can vouce for me, you're safe." She motions towards Addington house then dips her head in a farewell sort of thing. "It was a pleasure seeing you both again." Erin looks a touch more guarded than at her arrival, but after a moment she turns towards the Carousel, hoping maybe to find a phone number on there to call. "Take care." A wave to them both then a smile and wave to Ashira as she walks across the park towards the machine.

Ciprian shakes his head, clicking his tongue after Abby's mention of her patients. "See, that's what you get for being conscientious and doing your job," he remarks, but it's with a smile. "Probably a good idea, though, and I'm sure they appreciate it." He looks over at Erin then, and it seems he's pleased with the compliment, even though the changes in his expression are subtle. "Thanks," he says. "I got lucky -- she's pretty good naturally. Ashira," he calls then, turning toward his daughter, "let's go."

Ashira sighs dramatically, but the promise of sugar still lingers in her mind, and so she gives Wishbone a few parting scratches before she runs back to the gate, letting herself out and closing it behind her. "It was nice meeting you!" she says, looking from Abby to Erin, and then calls over her shoulder, "Bye, Wishbone!"

"Nah, it's all about the big bucks, you know?" Abby responds to Ciprian with a wide smile and a small shrug, glances back towards the hospital, then checks the watch on her wrist. "And with that said, I should go see if the place didn't explode in my absence. See you!" That first is for Ciprian, then there's a slightly more enthusiastic one for Ashira, waving a hand. "It was very nice to meet you, Ashira!" After a few moments more spent taking in the quiet of the park, she turns and heads back towards the hospital, humming to herself.

"She looks like she's a joy to hang around. I know it's weird from a common stranger, but if you ever need a babysitter, you know where to find me." She'd just blurted out her address. "I have references and all." Another wave to the girl. "Sure nice meeting you, Ashira!" Erin turns back for the Carousel where she'll take down the number for contacting later.

"Bye, Abby. I hope the rest of your day isn't too stressful." Ciprian nods to her, lifting a hand in farewell, before he turns away as Ashira runs a little way ahead of him. He starts to follow, but then Erin's offer has him looking that way in vague surprise -- but certainly not unhappy surprise. "Thank you," he says. "I may take you up on that." With that, he takes a couple quicker steps after his daughter to catch up, and soon enough they've disappeared from view.