Finding Love

The mall. The mall was something that Sidney personally hated. Of course, his girlfriend and his daughter both loved the mall, the concept of the mall, and anything that had to do with the word mall.

Bridget lived for the mall, and though she never got to buy anything on her own because she had no money, she often would go by herself and would just look around, thinking about the beautiful clothing.

The small group had gone in the car together, Ariel strapped in the backseat and Bridget and Sidney in the front.

“So, Brig, I’m going to go to the sport’s store and stuff like that with Max while you, Ariel and Max’s girlfriend go shopping wherever you want to go,” Sidney explained as they pulled into the garage-parking center.

“Sounds like a plan,” Bridget smiled, getting out of the car, stretching both of her legs, happy that they the broken one was finally healed.

“Let me give you my debit card, try to stay under $3,000, oh and when your done shopping for yourself and Ariel, we can pick out some Christmas stuff for each other,” Sidney winked as he handed over his platinum debit card.

Bridget’s jaw dropped, “Babe, what am I suppose to do with $3,000?”

“Shop until you drop, and I’m not kidding. I want the best for you,” Sidney answered while he got Ariel out of her car seat.

“Daddy go shopping with Maxy?” Ariel yawned, she had just awoken from a nap during the car ride.

“Yes baby girl while you go shopping with Brig,” Sidney kissed her on the cheek before handing her over to his girlfriend.

“Have fun with Max,” Bridget kissed her boyfriend while they saw the Talbot range rover pull up.

“Max, Emily!” Sidney greeted both of them. Emily was a short girl, with blonde hair and green eyes. She was really tiny, and Bridget towered over her, though she did have some very nice curves.

“Hey Brig, and who’s this cutie?” Emily ran over and gave Bridget and Ariel a hug before taking Ariel into her own arms.

“Emi!” Ariel smiled and hugged her friend. As the boys and the girls parted their ways, the conversation between Emily and Bridget began flowing.

“Well, I graduated from Cambridge three years ago with a degree in biology and I scored an awesome job here and I met Max at a hockey game a few years back,” Emily rattled off her accomplishments. Bridget was beginning to be annoyed, having to constantly listen to Emily ramble about useless things.

Bridget was fine with stating a few things your good at, but Emily was what most would call a bragger. She talked on and on about her new vacation house in Guam, and the ski resort they were going to Christmas next week.

Currently, they were shopping in Nordstrom in the children’s section, where Ariel was picking out adorable outfits while Emily wouldn’t shut up.

“Cool,” Bridget would often say, not even paying attention anymore. She thought she would be making a new friend, but she would have to tell Sidney this will never be happening again.

“So like for Christmas I think I’m going to have Maxy buy me a diamond ring, but I kind of want a maid instead,” Emily considered.

“A maid? Really?” Bridget snorted. Bridget knew that she would never ask anyone to do housework for her. Sidney of course had a cleaning woman to come and tidy up the place once a week, but she didn’t need someone slaving over her every waking hour like Emily insisted she had.

“Just because you poor person cannot afford it, I can,” Emily sniffed, Ariel looking up in confusion at her suggestive tone.

“Okay, I think I should call Sidney and tell him that I want to go home,” Bridget wanted to avoid conflict, and hopefully dealing with Emily this way by just ending it would help.

She had already bought everything she needed, shirts, jeans, sweaters, boots, sneakers, jackets, everything that she could ever want was in her hands from expensive stores. Also, she scored Sidney a Christmas present, a gold watch that she found at Neiman Marcus. Also, she bought Ariel a bunch of new clothes and a few toys also.

Bridget was defiantly ready to leave this horrible woman, never wanting to even hear her nasally voice anymore.

“What? You cant face the fact that your just going out with Sidney because you need the money?” Emily snickered.

Bridget couldn’t believe she had just said this, she had gone too far with this, she had to do something, “Excuse me? He’s my boyfriend because I love him, something you obviously know nothing about!” Bridget felt bad that she was presenting herself this way in public, in front of a child especially, but she couldn’t help it. Ariel was hanging on to Bridget’s leg, peaking from it every so often to look at Emily’s annoyed face.

“All right bitch, you wanna go?” Emily started taking her earrings off, and Bridget couldn’t help but start cracking up.

“Are you being serious right now? You think I’m going to physically touch you?”

“Your scared?” Emily accused.

“No, but I’m an adult?” Bridget said as though it was obvious, why would she ever fight someone? She wasn’t five.

“Obviously a wimpy one. Now you’re going to call your Boo Bear to come help you,” Emily bitched. Of course, Bridget didn’t usually curse. It wasn’t like her, but the only word that Bridget was thinking at the moment was Bitch. This nasty woman was nothing but a female dog.

“It’s a shame you’re dating Max, he really is a great guy. A really good guy actually. Someone mature and responsible, you don’t deserve him,” Bridget was surprised that she found herself saying this to the woman, in-front of a little girl she thought of as her child at this point.

“Max loves me, something you wont ever have because your Mommy left you and your Daddy hit you,” Emily had won. Bridget couldn’t help but open her mouth in surprise.

Did that really just come out of those strawberry colored lips? That was horrible. Bridget knew that her family was messed up, but she also thought that no one would stoop that low and say something that rude.

She knew that she was weakening, her knees were wobbly and her hands were shaking as she took out her blackberry, calling Sidney.

“Baby, I’m at Nordstrom, by the kids stuff. Come now,” Bridget insisted as she saw Emily laughing.

“You sound upset, what happened? Is everything okay?” Sidney anxiously asked.

“Just come now okay?” Bridget whispered, then closed her phone. Picking up Ariel, she hugged her close.

“I love how I was right, you’re nothing without that boyfriend. That hockey star,” Emily battled off.

“Listen, I don’t care. Just shut the fuck up because I honestly don’t give a thought about how you think I’m poor and I have nothing, because no matter what, I will always, always have Sidney, he will always love me. Someone who likes me for me and is a man who really doesn’t care where I come from or how many houses I have. So instead of attacking me, think about your life. Just stop and think- does Max really love you? Do you really love Max? Honestly- I don’t think so. You can judge that for yourself,” Bridget finished. Judging from the look on Emily’s face, she was about ready to punch Bridget, fearful of this, Bridget put Ariel down. Ariel just looked confused, she had never seen two people be so mean to each other.

Bridget was right, because almost instantly she felt the stinging hand come across her face, slapping her hard. It tingled for a moment, though Bridget didn’t even hit back because Emily was walking away from her.

“Brig, what just happened?” Ariel looked up innocently with big eyes.

“Don’t worry sweetie, it isn’t worth your time. Did you have fun today?” Bridget kneeled down, taking the hair out of Ariel’s mouth.

“I did. I love my new teddy, and the dress we got with the pink, so pwetty!” Bridget grinned.

“I love the dress you bought too, maybe Daddy will take you somewhere special so you can wear it!” Bridget winked.

“Where is Daddy taking who?” Bridget looked up as she saw Sidney come up behind her, at least six shopping bags in his hands, Max close in his heels.

“Max Talbot. I am really annoyed at you. How could you have that puck bunny as a girlfriend?” Bridget stood up, pointing her finger at the man who was holding his hands up.

“Where is she?” Max looked around, searching the perimeter.

“After slapping me, she left,” Bridget rolled her eyes.

“Emily hit you?” Sidney sounded shocked, rocking Ariel in his arms.
Bridget recapped the whole fight, watching as the Penguins mouths dropped, unable to grasp words.

“I guess I break up with her now,” Max ran his hands through his hair.

“Dude, you have too, I think that you need to deal with that while I get home with Ariel, she’s falling asleep in my arms,” Sidney moved the sleeping girl to a more comfortable position in his arms, while still juggling the bags in his hand.

“Yeah we better get going, I bought tons of stuff that I wanted to show you,” Bridget grinned from ear to ear, revealing double the amount of shopping items Sidney bought.

“I’m glad you at least bought a lot. Well, Max, have fun dealing with Emily, I’m not happy about her hitting my girlfriend,” Sidney waved.

“Guys, I really am sorry about this. I had no clue. I’ll see you tomorrow Sid at practice, and Brig, again, really sorry,” Max apologized while they went back into the parking garage.

When Bridget, Sidney and Ariel all piled into their car, Sidney immediately began to drive the short ride home, finding that his two girls were fast asleep, tired from the eventful day he guessed.