Eric went into the kitchen, calling the pizza place because he wasn't in the mood to cook. He knew the kids wouldn't mind and he wouldn't have to do the dishes. After hugging his daughter, he pulled away and starting chatting to Matt about Chicago, as if nothing had happened. Julie ran off to find her baby sister, hoping her dad would clear things up with his very confused eldest daughter.
Once he finished placing the order, he realized that even though he didn't have to wash the dishes for dinner, he still had to wash the leftover dishes from the morning. As he was washing, he couldn't help but start singing. He started off with a low, soft, soothing voice and in that moment, everything felt right. He started cleaning up the kitchen, picking up old newspapers when he sang the lyrics to one of his favourite songs.
The strands in your eyes that color them wonderful
Stop me and steal my breath.
And emeralds from mountains thrust towards the sky
Never revealing their depth.
Tell me that we belong together,
Dress it up with the trappings of love.
I'll be captivated,
I'll hang from your lips,
Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above.
He waited before belting out the chorus, forgetting that he had three other people in the house.
I'll be your crying shoulder,
I'll be love's suicide
I'll be better when I'm older,
I'll be the greatest fan of your life.
Eric didn't realize Julie was standing at the doorway, listening to his voice. She couldn't remember the last time she heard her dad sang and it felt nice. He didn't do it often. She cleared her throat and her father turned around. She swear she saw tears in his eyes, but he forcefully wiped them away and gave her a smile. She didn't buy it for one second.
"That's a nice song Dad. I forgot how nice your voice was. It could always get me to sleep." Julie had her hands in her pocket, searching for clues on what was up with her father.
Eric smiled, but looked down at his feet. He mumbled: "It was one of our favourite songs when we were dating. Me and your mom. I always denied it, but she knew I loved it. I just felt like singing it I guess. Sorry if it bothered you."
Julie inched closer to her father. "Don't be sorry, I love hearing you sing. Haven't heard it in awhile and it was nice and soothing. But dad, you have to tell me what's going on. I'm not a little girl Daddy, I'm 23. Can't you tell me what's going on with Mom?" Her voice trembled and her lip quivered.
"Things are just a little tough right now, that's all. We'll be a'ight. We've always been a'ight havent we?" Eric said in a small voice.
Julie looked at him and under the light, her father looked really old. He looked as if he had been crying these past few nights and not been able to concentrate. His face looked weary and he just looked older than he actually was. Eric was still in his early 40's, but at that moment, he looked a day over 50.
"Dad you're not alright. I've never seen you like this and you're going to have to tell me what's bothering you, whether you like it or not. I am your daughter and I love you. Me and Matt are here for you, tell us what's wrong.
Eric opened his mouth as if to speak, but he was saved by the doorbell. He went over to kiss Julie on the head, "Pizza's here. Let's eat sweetie." He started to walk out of the kitchen towards the front door.
"Dad! We're not finished here!"
He looked over his shoulder and sighed, "Julie, pizza's here. I'll tell you later, I promise."
[*]
The four of them happily ate pizza together, Matt and Julie telling them the newest news about Chicago.
"Matt, how's the art gallery going? Still got good business?" Eric licked his lips as he reached for another slice of pizza.
"Uh..it's going good Coach, I mean..Eric. I mean we're really happy and it's been fun, but me and Julie have been talking about-" Matt stopped abrupt when he felt his wife kick him from under the table. He muttered a small yelp as Julie coughed to cover Matt's mistake.
Fortunately for the pair, Coach Taylor wasn't listening as he went to grab Gracie a napkin. Julie sighed in relief and decided to change the subject.
"So, Gracie..how's school? Are you liking it so far?"
Gracie said, with her mouth full, "I lurve it! It's super duper fun!"
"I'm so happy for you Gracie Belle! School is a fun place."
Gracie swallowed what was in her mouth, knowing her father would scold her if she didn't. "Uh huh, but I like afterschool the best! Daddy picks me up and sometimes we go to the park, or get ice cream and he even lets me come to football practice!" She giggled.
Julie and Matt laughed and Matt reached over to mess up her hair, knowing how much she hated it. It was so cute how mad she got.
"No kidding, Gracie likes football, who know?" she joked at her father who was smiling at the end of the table.
"It's in the Taylor blood. She has to love football." He teased Julie back.
"Sometimes, I wish Mommy would come to the park with us. She's no fun lately, all she does is work." Gracie huffed out, crossing her arms and pouting her lips.
The whole table went quiet, Matt and Julie unsure of what to say. They looked at each other, no one daring to speak. Eric got up and cleared his throat.
"Come on Gracie Belle. Matt's going to take you to brush your teeth, then he's going to tuck you in okay? You've had a big day today and you're going on that field trip to the museum tomorrow remember?"
Matt got up and picked Gracie up, carrying her upstairs to prepare her for bedtime.
Julie looked back at her father and he shook his head. "I'm going to grab a beer and I'll be on the deck. Could you clean up, I can't really think right now and just need some air." He circled to his daughter, squeezed her hand and headed to the kitchen to grab a beer. He signaled five fingers meaning give him five minutes alone, before she came out.
Julie brushed back tears and got up to clean everything up.
What is happening to my family?, she thought, shaking her head.
Eric sat on his deck with a beer in his hand. He knew Julie and probably Matt would be coming out to talk to him, and he was figuring out what to say. Where would he start?
How he was heartbroken when they got onto the plane and flown thousands of miles away from his homeland? How Tami gushed over the new house, but he didn't think it was home-y and comforting? How one day in Dillon (spending time with her) was equivalent to a week here in Philly? How he was treading water, afraid to drown from his miserys?
He loved Tami. Ever since he met her his junior year in high school and she was a senior. She had been the pretty girl who got by on her looks and being the girlfriend of Mo McArnold. Eric was QB2, always shoving his head in books and the playbook, never really paying attention to anyone. He remembered Mo left her at the diner; noshow. He offered to get her ice cream and take her home. He remembered helping her study for the SAT's and falling crazy in love with her. He remembered her dumping Mo to be with him; Mo pounded his face and gave him a broken nose and a black eye. But it was worth it. It was always worth it when it came to Tami Hayes. He would do anything for her and he was more in love with her than when they were mindless kids.
He looked at the skies, remembering when she went off to college that whenever he really missed her, to always look at the stars and the moon. He would look at it and smile, knowing they were sharing the view of the same sky and that always comforted him.
He blinked back tears when he heard the screen door open, took a deep breath and turned around. He tried to smile, but Matt and Julie knew he was faking it. Eric motioned a hand to tell them to take a seat, Julie sitting next to her father and Matt across from them. They both had worried looks on their faces.
"How are you guys?" He started off, reaching for Julie's hand.
"Dad, we're fine, we're not here to talk about us. I knew something was off when I called and only you would pick up. What's going on with Mom? And you best tell us everything Dad. No more secrets, we're here to help." Julie told her father in a stern, but reassuring voice.
"A'ight. Well, you know how mom is the Dean and that's a very big job. Don't get me wrong, I am very proud of her and everything she's accomplished and okay, I'll cut to the crap. Your mother is working so much that me and Gracie never see her. Lately, I've been doing everything around here while she slays away at work. I know she works very hard and she is making lots of changes, but is it a crime for me to wish her home sometimes? Is it a crime that I miss my damn wife and feel as if she's drifting away from this family? Julie, if you ever get an oppurtunity like Mom, don't leave Matt for so long. Because let me tell you, I don't know how to deal with this anymore. Nobody said it would be this difficult and her job just swept me off my feet. Nobody told me how bad this was going to hit on our marriage, let alone my marriage. So tell me, what the hell am I supposed to do? Because I'm running out of options and I feel like I'm just going to break down."
Eric started laughing his crazy laugh, the laugh where he tried to make it seem okay, but he really wasn't. Soon the laughs turned into cries and it was Julie's turn to comfort her father, after he held her in his arms so many times before. Julie hated seeing her father like this and Saracen couldn't believe it got so bad.
"So that's my life in a nutshell. Pretty pathetic right? What am I supposed to do?" he bawled into his daughter's arms.
"Shh. Dad it's alright. You're doing the best you can and that's all that matters. Here's what you're going to do. After this visit, me and Matt were going to fly down to Dillon to visit Grandma Saracen in the hospital and sign papers and whatnot. You're going to take my ticket. You and Matt are going to go for a couple days and get out of here, back...back home. Back to Texas. Alright? That's what you're going to do. I'll stay here and take care of the house and Gracie."
Eric furiously wiped his eyes, slightly embarassed for letting out so much emotion in front of the kids.
"Are you okay with that Matt? Won't be a bother? Lord knows I need some time."
"Yes, sir. We leave tomorrow and get into Dillon in the evening. It's fine by me, you really need to get out of here for a bit."
"Thanks son. What about Chicago and the art gallery? Don't y'all need to work?"
Julie shot Matt a look, warning him to keep his mouth shut.
"Um yeah well I'm a writer so I can do that anywhere and Matt has a lot of accumulated sick days he can use, so it'll be fine" She clutched her father's arm and leaned onto his shoulder. "And don't worry about Mom, I'll talk to her. Just tell her you're going back to Dillon because Matt needed someone with him and I'm feeling a bit under the weather to fly. It'll be fine Dad, I promise."
With that, the three went back into the house and got ready for bed. It had been a long day for all of them.
Eric lay in bed when Tami slipped under the covers with him. He allowed her to give him a peck on the lips, before he decided how he would tell her about going back to Dillon.
"Sorry I'm late babe. Always crazy in the office and we got a lot of things dumped on us today. I noticed the guest bedroom door was closed. Who's visiting?" She snuggled in close to her husband.
"Julie and Matt" he said, showing no interest or emotion.
"You're kidding! Really? Wow that's a nice surprise. Y'all are filled with surprises today aren't ya?"
Eric stayed quiet and he could feel his muscles tensing up.
"Eric, babe, what's wrong?" Tami asked, with concern in her voice.
"I'm going to visit Dillon tomorrow. With Matt. Julie is going to stay and take care of the house and Gracie. We're leaving tomorrow and we'll be back in a couple days. I would've told you earlier, but I just found out and it's not like you'd have time to talk with me anyways. I know you're tired and I have a long flight tomorrow, so let's do both of us a favor and go to sleep. I love you. Goodnight babe." With that, Eric rolled on his side, towards the outside, feeling the hurt eyes staring onto his back.
I think I handled that pretty well, Eric thought, she deserves it. She's my wonderful wife, but she deserves it. And I'll be in Texas tomorrow, like ol' times. What I don't get is why are Matt and Julie being so secretive of Matt being in Dillon and about his job? He'd have to weasle it out of him tomorrow when Saracen was stuck with him on the plane. Yeah, I'll do that. He can't run away if we're on a plane beside each other.
Tami blinked back tears, what have I done? She thought to herself.
Eric knew he was being a little harsh and Tami was a sensitive woman, so as a peace offering, before he left to Texas, he rolled back on his back, and held Tami in his arms. The only downside to going to Dillon would be not sleeping beside his wife, no matter how angry and confused he was.
Author's Note: Chapter 3! Don't forget to review! Just want to let you guys know, I'm out of town this weekend so I won't be able to update sadly :(. Expect one on Monday, possibly even Tuesday, and hopefully not Wednesday. Glad people are enjoying the story so far and thank you for reading. Have a nice weekend.
