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Hundred Scoop Sundae

“What’s happening?” Ivy pushed into the Ladies’ Room. “Meredith, honey, are you okay?”

Holly shrugged. “She’s madly in love with Toby, but she refuses to let go of something that happened a long time ago.”

Ivy knelt beside her friend. “Really? This coming from you? The queen of not letting go of resentment and pain?”

“I did so.”

“Guys, can this wait?” Nancy hissed as she knelt down beside Meredith. “Look, I know you’re holding onto something that has hurt you in ways we can’t possibly understand. We can tell you that whatever that was is something that Toby would never, ever do. He wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“That’s right, Meri.” Ivy rested a hand on her shoulder. “Toby is nothing like that Bobby guy.”

“From what I’ve seen of him, he’s just a big dopey Teddy Bear. I don’t think a devious thought could get into that shaggy head of his.” Holly stood with her arms crossed over her chest, her foot tapping impatiently.

“We’ve got this, Holly.” Ivy said.

“I guess we’ll see.” Holly turned abruptly, bursting from the bathroom.

“I see what you mean.” Meredith sniffled. “She’s got a temper.”

“She’s gone now.” Nancy took Meredith’s hand. “She’s not entirely wrong, though.”

“I know.” Meredith blinked to shake the tears from her eyelashes. “Toby is very sweet.”

“That’s true, but I meant she’s right about you not letting go.” Nancy squeezed her hand gently.

“Honey, you can’t let what Bobby did control the rest of your life. I’m sorry it feels unsafe to trust someone, but Toby isn’t like that.”

“He’s everything I could ever want in a guy.” She hung her head and cried. “I’m too weak to reach out and take it.”

“Meri, that’s not true.” Ivy hugged her. “You’re just afraid. You don’t have to be ashamed of being afraid.”

“That’s right.” Nancy dipped her head to seek Meredith’s gaze. “It’s okay to be afraid sometimes.”

She met Nancy’s eyes, still blinking the flowing tears away. “But I’m always afraid.”

Toby was scooping some cheese sauce from Bradley’s lower lip into his mouth with a spoon when Holly returned. “You’re almost as sloppy an eater as your dad and uncle.”

Bradley laughed and reached for his cup. “Soda.”

“At least someone is having fun around here.” Holly said peevishly.

“What’s the matter?” Frank asked, bouncing Frank Jr. on his lap.

“Oh, she’s having a meltdown in there. Chick has issues.” Holly sat down and dug into her lunch.

“Don’t we all?” Toby said, wiping Bradley’s mouth with a napkin. “Is she going to be alright?”

Holly shrugged. “Who knows? Depends on whether or not she can get her head out of her-”

“Mom, can I get some ice cream?” Kendra asked loudly.

“What? Oh, have you finished your lunch?”

“Yes, I ate everything.”

“Well then, go ahead. Not too much, though.”

“Yes, Mom.” Kendra hopped off of her chair. “Mr. Toby, could you come help me get sundaes for Chelsea and Lynn?”

“Oh, sure. That sounds like fun, doesn’t it, Bradley? Sundaes on Sunday!”

Bradley squirmed in his booster seat until Toby picked him up.

“Yay! Sundaes!” Lynn cheered.

“I’m having a hundred scoop sundae!” Chelsea cheered.

Kendra rolled her eyes. “I think two scoops will be plenty, Chelsea.”

“You’re a party pooper!” Chelsea ran off toward the sundae station with Lynn in tow.

“Poop!” Bradley laughed.

“Don’t go there, buddy.” Toby bounced him on his hip as he followed the girls toward the ice cream. “Let’s think about something nice, like ice cream.”

“Ice cream!” Bradley clapped his hands.

The sundae station was well provisioned with varieties of ice cream and toppings of all kinds. The children flitted around, looking for the makings of a perfect sundae.

“She likes you.” Kendra said as she scooped strawberry ice cream for her sister’s bowl.

“I like her, too.” He dabbed some whipped cream on Bradley’s nose with a spoon. “I wish it was that simple.”

“So do I. You guys are perfect for each other.” She got a scoop of chocolate for Lynn.

“It seems that way, but we won’t really know until we get to know each other better.”

She looked up at him. “That’s an excellent point.” She pushed her glasses up and got herself a scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream. “Chelsea, tell me what toppings you want.”

“Do they have strawberries?” Chelsea giggled as Toby lifted her with his free arm. “Oh, they do! I want strawberries and sprinkles and marshmallow and whipped cream and five more scoops of ice cream!”

Kendra huffed. “You’ll get a bellyache and I’ll get in trouble with Mom. I’ll get you one more scoop of ice cream if you promise to eat it all.”

“I promise.” Chelsea said as he lowered her to the floor.

“Alley-oop.” Toby said as he lifted Lynn for a better view of the sundae bar. “What do you want on your chocolate ice cream, Lynn?”

“If Chelsea is having two scoops, so am I.”

Kendra threw her head back in despair. “Okay, okay. What else?”

“Pineapple, walnuts, chopped peanuts, chocolate syrup, no! Hot fudge, whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles!”

“Ew.” Toby laughed as he set her down. “Better you than me. Can you top that, Kendra?”

“I wouldn’t dare try. I may have nightmares about this sundae, and I’m not even the one who has to eat it.” She shook her head as she fulfilled the order.

“Last, but not least.” Toby jogged around the sundae bar with Bradley on his hip. “Here’s the full tour, boy. What kind do you want?”

“That one.” Bradley pointed.

“Which one? This one?” Toby asked as he leaned the little boy closer.

“Yeah, that kind.”

“That’s coconut creme. It’s the same color as vanilla, but it tastes different. Do you want to try some first?”

Kendra handed him a clean spoon to scoop a sample. Bradley’s face registered something between horror and disgust.

“I don’t think he likes coconut creme, Kendra. Can we get a scoop of vanilla?”

“Sure.” She grabbed a scoop for her future cousin. “Mr. Toby?”

“Kendra?”

“Could I see your Sentinels collection?” She handed him Bradley’s bowl of ice cream.

“Sure, if it’s alright with your folks.”

“I think my dad would probably enjoy seeing it.” She returned to her bowl, swirling hot fudge over her ice cream and topping it with penguin mints. “Would you be willing to bring your stuff to our house?”

Toby breathed a sigh of relief. ‘At least I won’t have to clean up my bedroom. I’ll just have to find a box.’ He followed the girls back to their table. “Sure, that would be great. As long as your dad says it’s okay.”

“I’ll ask him.” Kendra held her sundae aloft as she focused on shepherding Chelsea and Lynn back to the table without spilling their sundaes. “Look, she’s back.”

‘She’s back.’ Toby suppressed a smile. ‘Don’t be too eager. You’ll scare her away again.’