research time (David)

David, Lucas and Artemis still shared the office they worked from and David was looking over the digital photos they’d taken as each stage of digging. A mug of tea was beside the laptop as usual. He heard his girlfriend and partner and together they went to check on their daughter.

Having daycare so close by helped a lot as they were never too far away from their daughter. “So far the project is going well. We’ve discovered other layers under the first level of dinosaur bones and the university is helping us to understand what’s been uncovered. It’ll still take a bit of time to finish” he replied. The three of them felt so complete as a family but now Peyton’s mother was here it would lead to things they’d have to deal with.

Peyton Coldstone

David did notice more about his daughter every day. It was clear daycare was helping her as well as she was handling wooden bricks with ease and playing with Sparky. Her sleep cycle was better too but there was still nights she got them up.

“Daycare really does seem to help Ella. She seems so good round people and have you noticed how well she gets on with Sparky?” he posed. Their projects did keep them busy but there was plenty of time for fun. You needed something good after the crisis they’d just been through. The broken glass and other physical damage to the island was repaired but there was plenty of things the people needed to recover from.

“We should do something good now things have settled down again my love” he added. Peyton was his life partner and they did make a good couple.

Peyton Coldstone

David knew about him bonding with pets when he was older than when Ella was now. She was trying to talk and walking quite confidently now so was following Sparky round when they played at the park. “It might be something with dogs in general as she takes after both of us and he knows whose boss. Perhaps he’s closer to an equal to her” he suggested. He certainly knew David and Peyton were his bosses but he was a middle aged dog already. When she was older he would be too.

“Do you have a suggestion about where to go?” he added. If not they could look together he supposed but this island was starting to get everything you’d find elsewhere. A music festival had been and gone and that also meant concerts throughout the year.

Peyton Coldstone

They were both scientists but picking a nightspot could be done in different ways. He tended to pick up on what colleagues said and then get more details later on. Peyton’s idea sounded valid enough to him.

“There’s plenty of options my love. So find a map and have a look” he replied with a smile. He knew the west slums were semi-safe, old town was safe too.

Peyton Coldstone

The map David seen showed plenty of possibilities with wild animals taken out the posed questions at least. He did have a question after he looked over this and asked “it looks like there’s possibilities but what idea do you have in mind?”

“Do you think you’ll go back there?” he added taking her hand. They were very close and while he’d met new people he did worry about Peyton.

Peyton Coldstone

Perhaps Peyton might go back there but a group of mothers had to be a good thing. They’d went through the same kind of things and it might well be good for children as well. “It’s good to meet other people and we might well meet more when we have our date night” he replied. By now they’d reached daycare and David swiped with his badge to allow them to enter. Children were playing and exploring in the rooms beyond them and through the windows they could see Ella playing in the sand pit with others.

“It looks like she’s being creative” he added softly. Just handling the sand was doing the job.

Peyton Coldstone

It was as if Ella had carved out her own little bubble of space in the sandpit as she worked the sand looking puzzled when it wouldn’t stay in the balls she moulded. The solution would be discovered soon enough if she kept her mind on the question. She did look up and seeing her parents looked excited.

Still sandy she ran over to David and Peyton. “Momma” she said this time. “Sand” as she pointed to the sand pit.

“Our little darling learns all the time. Just wait till she figures out adding water to sand makes it firmer” he remarked.

Peyton Coldstone