{"id":33704,"date":"2023-03-03T12:16:29","date_gmt":"2023-03-03T18:16:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/?p=33704"},"modified":"2023-03-03T12:16:29","modified_gmt":"2023-03-03T18:16:29","slug":"chapter-5-dr-mrs-collins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/2023\/03\/03\/chapter-5-dr-mrs-collins\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 5: Dr. & Mrs. Collins"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cToby, darling!\u201d exclaimed Ribbons n\u2019 Lace upon seeing her son enter the restaurant. She stood up from her bench in the entry area, and presented her cheek for a kiss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great to see you both,\u201d Toby said with the requisite salute, while his father ambled over to the reunion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo you have a special someone joining us, Toby, dear?\u201d Ribbons n\u2019 Lace continued with an arch look.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy \u2018special someone\u2019 is out of town on business,\u201d Toby admitted, \u201cbut she is looking forward to meeting you tomorrow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, lovely,\u201d Ribbons n\u2019 Lace beamed. \u201cI am looking forward to catching up. We\u2019ve heard so little from you.\u201d She waggled her hoof at him reproachfully.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis mare we\u2019ll be meeting\u2026 what\u2019s her name?\u201d Toby\u2019s father, Dr. Andrew Collins, asked as the party was led to their table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAthena, Athena Ainsworth,\u201d Toby supplied.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAinsworth\u2026 Ainsworth,\u201d Ribbons n\u2019 Lace repeated. \u201cWhere have I heard that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe tourism pamphlet from the visitor\u2019s bureau,\u201d Andrew prompted. \u201cThe mayor, I believe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Mayor Ainsworth is Athena\u2019s mother,\u201d Toby explained as the party was seated at a table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe look forward to meeting her,\u201d Andrew said, nodding approvingly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does she do, dear?\u201d Ribbons n\u2019 Lace asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe works in the fundraising sector,\u201d Toby disclosed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, delightful! I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll have a lot to talk about,\u201d Ribbons n\u2019 Lace enthused. She herself was involved in many philanthropic ventures back in New Pony.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear, did you tell him about the funding you secured for the United Medical Campaign?\u201d Andrew queried.<\/span><\/p>\n

After some chit-chat, Ribbons n\u2019 Lace changed the course of conversation with: \u201cToby, have you seen Thomas recently?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Toby\u2019s napkin dropped from his hoof. \u201cWe see each other occasionally,\u201d he said guardedly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he told us where he was setting up his practice, you could have knocked me over with a feather when he said Misty Hollow!\u201d Ribbons n\u2019 Lace prattled.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know you were in touch,\u201d Toby said stiffly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ribbons n\u2019 Lace nodded in the affirmative. \u201cOh, yes, we still exchange Christmas cards. It’s so nice to have someone you know nearby.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve lived here six years, Mom. I have friends,\u201d Toby pointed out with a wry smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course you do, dear,\u201d she said in the patronizing tone of a mother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLeave him alone, darling,\u201d said Andrew, chuckling. \u201cI\u2019m sure he doesn\u2019t need you meddling in his social life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I know you doctors,\u201d said Ribbons n\u2019 Lace with a withering glance at her husband. \u201cYou\u2019re all the same, caught up in your work. So, a gentle reminder to <\/span>socialize<\/span><\/i> is never remiss.\u201d She turned back to her son. \u201cWe\u2019d like to invite Thomas to dinner while we\u2019re here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026 um\u2026 it would be short notice,\u201d Toby said vaguely, hardly wishing to go into details on what had recently gone on between him and the veterinarian. \u201cI\u2019m sure he\u2019s otherwise\u2026 <\/span>engaged<\/span><\/i>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can help me with his direction; I\u2019m afraid he didn\u2019t send details,\u201d Ribbons n\u2019 Lace fussed, apparently not finding that a reasonable excuse to back down from her plan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Andrew, perhaps seeing something in his son\u2019s face, attempted to turn the conversation. \u201cAre we still on for a hospital tour tomorrow?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure there\u2019s a blog, or a tweet, or whatever you kids have these days,\u201d Ribbons n\u2019 Lace went on, \u201cbut you know how I am at that sort of thing. I did find this phone number–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMom!\u201d said Toby, uncharacteristically sharp when speaking to his parent.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ribbons n\u2019 Lace looked at him expectantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe thing is,\u201d said Toby, softening his tone, \u201cwell\u2026 Thomas is the reason Tabby broke up with me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026 oh!\u201d said Ribbons n\u2019 Lace, imbuing the syllables with great understanding, and no more was said on the topic.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

The following day, Saturday, Toby gave his parents a tour of his workplace; and for lunch they met Athena at Cafe Carousel. Andrew and Ribbons n\u2019 Lace both appeared impressed by the elegant mare in possession of so much social grace.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAthena, tell us about yourself. Toby says you\u2019re in fundraising?\u201d Ribbons n\u2019 Lace asked when they were settled in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I opened my own office after graduating from Swarthmare,\u201d Athena affirmed, name-dropping a prestigious university.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, how fascinating,\u201d Ribbons n\u2019 Lace said. \u201cI am on the boards of Helping Hooves and United Medical Campaign, you know. What is your business name?\u201d Athena reached into her purse and handed the mare a card. \u201cOh, lovely, I\u2019ll certainly be in touch,\u201d Toby\u2019s mother promised.<\/span><\/p>\n

Athena beamed. \u201cWe\u2019d be happy to help you with any of your fundraising endeavors,\u201d she assured the mare. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t know if you\u2019ve made plans for tomorrow, but my parents would be pleased to have you as their guests at the country club for brunch.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s so kind of them,\u201d Ribbons n\u2019 Lace said. \u201cYes, we would be delighted, wouldn\u2019t we, Andrew?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s fine, dear,\u201d said Andrew.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have delightful parents,\u201d Athena confided to Toby when they had a moment alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey found you enchanting,\u201d he assured her, \u201cas do I.\u201d He kissed her.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

At Royal Acres Country Club, Athena\u2019s parents George and Amelia were magnanimous hosts. After an elegant repast, George and Andrew were soon engrossed in a game of golf, settling into the easy camaraderie of those accustomed to living a life of ease.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour accent, Roseland?\u201d Andrew guessed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, the land of my birth. Not much would have convinced me to leave, but Amelia is a convincing argument,\u201d George stated with an admiring look at his wife, who was chatting over tea with Ribbons n\u2019 Lace.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMother just thought a foreign title would give her popularity a boost here at home,\u201d Athena said aside to Toby, overhearing the exchange. \u201cShe doesn\u2019t care about him. Not like your parents do for each other.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDoes Athena have any siblings?\u201d Ribbons n\u2019 Lace queried, smiling at her son and his companion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, my eldest, Adonis,\u201d Amelia disclosed. \u201cIt\u2019s a shame you can\u2019t meet him, but he\u2019s on a high-profile photo shoot in the Purple Mountains.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, he\u2019s a photographer?\u201d Ribbons n\u2019 Lace asked politely.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA model,\u201d said Amelia with great pride. \u201cBuilt on very fine, very classic lines. Even as a colt, I recognized that he was something special. He was the winner of Mestruna\u2019s Cutest Baby contest in 1986, you know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow marvelous,\u201d Ribbons n\u2019 Lace said. \u201cYou must be very proud of both your children.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed,\u201d said Amelia with a cool incline of her head.<\/span><\/p>\n

Athena and Toby went for a stroll through the exquisitely manicured garden off to one side of the golf course.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what I would have done without you, these past months,\u201d Toby said softly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, nonsense, I didn\u2019t do anything,\u201d she downplayed the praise.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAthena, I\u2026 well, you know that for the longest time I wouldn\u2019t let myself believe I could be happy with anyone other than\u2026 her,\u201d he said haltingly. \u201cBut,\u201d his tone brightened, \u201cyou have shown me otherwise.\u201d He gazed at her admiringly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have so much to offer the right mare,\u201d Athena said coyly. \u201cYou belong with someone who appreciates you. I\u2019ve adored you from afar\u2026 you have the most striking coloration, you know\u2026 I only wanted you to notice me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He kissed her like he meant it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe should get back,\u201d he said at length.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know you entertained hopes of making a match with Tabby,\u201d Ribbons n\u2019 Lace confided to her son in a moment alone. \u201cBut Athena is such a lovely girl. Things do work out for the best.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, they do,\u201d said Toby, smiling at the white pegasus across the room. Athena clearly admired him. If he kept telling himself he was happy with her, maybe he would come to believe it himself.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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