Chapter 13
Lip and Charlie pick up a 12-pack of beer and three bottles of wine before heading to dinner at the Gallagher house. They don't plan to drink any of it, but they know the others will enjoy it.
Lip stands with Charlie on the front porch before opening the door. He kisses her and says "Please don't hold anything that is about to happen against me."
"You worry too much. How bad can it be?" He opens the door and she walks through it first. They are immediately greeted by Debs, and Lip proceeds to do all the introductions. Everything is set up like it is at Thanksgiving, and everyone is in a festive mood. Lip passes out the beer and V opens a bottle of wine.
"Thank you for doing all this Fiona," he says while handing Fiona the glass of wine V has poured for her.
"I had lots of help, and I'm looking forward to it," she replies before taking a long sip.
The room is a hubbub of conversation. Carl is with Charlie asking her about all the things he's heard about Vegas. Charlie is patiently answering him and not holding back. Carl is seventeen, and she's sure he's heard it all before.
"But you can be in Vegas and not see any of that stuff. There is plenty of trouble to be found, but you have to know how to ask. Mostly, the town is full of tourists that are there for the atmosphere, the shows, and some innocent gambling."
"Yeah, you have to pay attention to notice who is actually a prostitute. The scantily dressed ladies coming off the elevators at 4 or 5 in the morning are the obvious ones." Lip adds to the conversation.
"It sounds like my kind of place," Kevin interjects while V elbows him in the ribs.
Everyone works on setting the table, and Debs finishes feeding Frannie. With Frannie's cold, she plans to take her upstairs to sleep while everyone eats.
They all hear the front door slam, and Frank comes through the living room. He doesn't look too intoxicated, but sometimes it is hard to tell. "Well hello family and friends. Have the festivities started without me?" Frank practically shouts to the crowd.
"It doesn't look like it," V says knowing Frank's been at the Alibi for a couple of hours.
"Ah, this lovely thing must be Charlie." He says as he approaches Lip and Charlie.
Charlie puts her hand out and says "It's nice to meet you Mr. Gallagher."
Fiona's wine almost comes out her nose as she laughs at Frank being called Mr. Gallagher.
"Well, it's nice to see someone with manners around here." Frank says as he lifts Charlie's hand to his mouth and kisses it.
"You are going to want to use some hand sanitizer on that hand now." Lip says as he hands Charlie some soap and points toward the sink.
"Well, that wasn't very nice my son." Frank says to Lip pointedly.
"Let's eat, I'm starving." Ian suggests. He just came off a long shift.
The crowd makes its way to the long table and everyone finds a spot. Frank finagles himself across from Charlie, and Fiona sits at the end where Frank should be. Fiona asks Kev to sit at the other end so he can carve the turkey while lasagna and other varieties of foods are passed around.
"Charlie, we don't usually eat with a theme. We like a bunch of different stuff, so you should be able to find something you like." Fiona explains.
"It looks like a great selection. Don't worry about me." Charlie replies after plopping mashed potatoes on her plate next to the lasagna.
Everyone gets a chance to put what they want on their plates, and Franks grabs a bottle of wine. He fills his glass before beginning to pour some into Charlie's and Lip's. "No thank you, I'm fine." Charlie says to Frank.
Frank ignores her and fills her glass and Lip's. Lip immediately passes the glasses down to Kev and V.
"What up with that? We are celebrating. One glass of wine won't hurt you." Frank questions.
"Don't make a big deal out of it Frank." Lip says as he continues eating.
"I know my son is a recovering alcoholic Charlie, but what's your reason?" Frank says in an accusatory manner.
"Lay off Frank." Lip interjects.
"It's okay Lip." Charlie says while slightly squeezing Lip's hand under the table. She turns back to Frank. "I just don't drink. My life is complicated enough right now without adding that."
"Yes, school. How is that going for you? Are you as smart as my son here?" Frank actually sounds a little proud. He indirectly thinks Lip being smart is a reflection of some level of intelligence on his part.
"She's smarter." Lip informs Frank.
"Really?!" Frank is taken aback.
"I wouldn't say that. We are both smart in different ways." Charlie says while looking at Lip.
"Well, if you are so smart, why aren't you at Harvard? Isn't that the best school?" Frank is getting a little riled up.
"Drop it Frank." Fiona commands from the end of the table.
Charlie doesn't let Frank get to her. "Actually, I started working for a company after high school that competes with Harvard for research grants. If I went to Harvard, where I was also accepted, I would have to forfeit my place on the fellowship team. I think our team does better work, and didn't want to step away from it. Lip and I are at a great school."
"Good answer," Ian says, annoyed with Frank.
"I want to know about your card dealing in Vegas. When people hand you wads of money, can't you slip some in your pocket?" Carl asks enthusiastically.
"We are all on cameras. There are very strict procedures for taking money. It is counted in view of the camera, and placed in a chute while being closely monitored."
"I'm sure someone has figured out how to get some of that cash, or even chips into their pockets." Kevin continues the conversation.
Lip intervenes so Charlie can eat. "Everything they do is on the table in clear view. Even when she is given a tip, is has to be placed on a certain part of the table in view before she is able to put it in the tip bag.
"The tips must be good," V asks.
"Most of the time. Of course, the winners tip better than the losers." Charlie smiles at V.
The table conversation continues, and Fiona strategically pulls the focus off of Charlie. She asks Carl about military school and he shares some of his military school stories. After lots of laughter, Kev and V fill everyone it on the stories circulating at the bar.
Lip winks at Charlie, and is glad she held her own with Frank. He figured she would.
Lip is ready for this meal to be over so Frank will leave to find someplace else to get drunk. He slides his chair away from the table, and starts to gather dishes. Everyone carries dishes and glasses and food into the kitchen.
"Since everyone worked so hard, please let me and Lip wash the dishes." Charlie says to Fiona as she's stacking dishes on the counter.
Lip takes the dishes Charlie is carrying. "No, we'll clean up. I'd rather you sleep some. I saw you hiding yawns all during dinner. Come with me." Lip takes Charlie's hand and takes her upstairs to the bottom bunk so she can rest. Being with his family can be exhausting, and she's done enough.
Lip bounds back down the stairs and starts cleaning up with everyone while more beer is passed around and Frank makes himself comfortable at the kitchen table with a freshly opened bottle of wine. At least he's drinking it out of a glass. It's an improvement.
"Didn't Charlie get enough sleep today after she landed?" Fiona asks Lip.
"Uh, no. I kept her a little busy this afternoon." He says with a smirk.
"I don't blame you." Kev says while covering food. "I think she's sexy as hell, in a smart kind of way."
"I think she's very nice, and she seems to keep you straight." Fiona remarks.
"She's got some guts to her. I like that." V chimes in. "She didn't seem to have any trouble handling Frank."
"I'll give her credit." Frank says as a surprise to everyone. "But, the sad part is, I have no doubt my son will fuck it up."
"FRANK!" most of the room says in unison.
"Why would you say that?" Lip says somewhat defensively.
"Oh, she's smart and pretty and all that trivial stuff, but mostly, she's a no-nonsense person. She not going to put up with the stunts you like to pull Lip."
"Lip hasn't been pulling any 'stunts' Frank." Fiona shoots back at Frank.
"But he will. Gallaghers have it in their blood. There's no getting around it. And when he does, she'll drop him like a hot potato. That girl's got determination, something my dear son sorely lacks. The minute he steers off her path, she'll cut him loose and move along her way."
"Frank, don't you have somewhere else to go?" Ian suggests. He's very hopeful for his brother, but he knows some of what Frank says is true. It seems to be in the Gallagher blood to destroy anything good.
"Yep, I do. That's enough family time for today." He saunters out the back door with the wine bottle in his hand.
"Don't listen to him Lip," Deb says to try to comfort Lip.
"Don't worry Debs. I quit listening to Frank a long time ago," as Lip continues to dry dishes and V puts them away.
When everything is cleaned up, Lip goes up the stairs to retrieve Charlie.
When he gets to the boys' room, he sees Frannie sitting on Lip's pillow. Charlie has her head on Frannie's lap and is sleeping soundly. Frannie has her hands in Charlie's hair and looks up at Lip with snot running out of her nose and says "Pretty."
"Yes, she's pretty." Lip repeats as he picks up Frannie. He carries her to Debs' room. "Debs, did you know Frannie was awake and wandering around? She was in with Charlie and probably sneezed all over her."
"Oops, I'm sorry. I generally just make sure the gate is latched on the top of the stairs, and she can walk around if she wakes up."
Lip goes back to wake up Charlie. She looks so peaceful that he hates to wake her. He carefully moves over her and slips under the covers behind her. He wraps his arm over her and puts his face near her hair. He breathes her in, closes his eyes, and falls quickly asleep.
