Brad and Stella sat down under the shade of a broad oak tree on a blanket which Brad had helpfully brought along.<br/><br/>"Brilliant, Brad," Stella had said admiringly as with a flourish he had unfurled the blanket and helped her sit down on it before he folded his lanky frame down next to hers.  They chatted softly while watching children chase around, mothers feeding babies, fathers tossing balls with their kids. It was lovely, and yet... awkward. Stella felt and Brad looked forced and awkward. Somehow they gelled better at work than here outside. The two made small talk and realized that other than their shared work they had little in common. Brad loved to do carpentry in his spare time and was an ardent fish keeper. He had too many tanks he confided with a rueful laugh, but he loved his fish so much. He had African cichlids, and these Rift fish were a temperamental lot which required a great deal of his time. His elderly mother was about to move in with him two weeks from now. She could see he was not happy about it, but she admired his determination to have her be at home with him as long as possible.<br/><br/>"...her dementia is progressing slowly but steadily," he said despondently, "I sold her car already, and she is trying to pack, but even there I started seeing confusion. She packed her books in bubble wrap but but the china in a box without any padding of any sort." Stella felt for him, but she was sure they both knew that nothing would come of further attempts at a relationship between them.<br/><br/>The laid back and enjoyed the concert, each lost in their own world until it was over. Schubert was always an easy crowd pleaser and a few pieces of Mozart had rounded it out.<br/><br/>"Now for the ice cream" said Stella when Brad had folded up the blanket, and they headed toward the Plaza.