Another one for you... ... I'll try to post the second part to this tomorrow evening - If I haven't lost the will to live - waist deep in yr 11 exam prep and assessing my yr 10's and 9s this week...
Thank you for bearing with me...
Previously - Vic moves to the sofa and settles down...
"So Walt's coming round tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I told Dad I was busy today... so he'll be here tomorrow afternoon... he said he was busy with things today"
"Yeah I bet... Never did miss those days.." Vic has a quiet moment to herself thinking back when she was working in the sheriff's department... the unusual incidents that took place... "My grandma said that munchkin ... (pointing in Williams direction) ... needed to know who Walt was... that he was getting to that age, where he'd ask questions."
Cady responds "what three and half?... " - She laughs, trying to imagine what she would have been like at that age...
"Grandma knows best!... Vic responds.
##########
Chapter 10
At the office, it's early evening when a weary bunch of deputies arrive back...
"Well that was massive shit-storm.." declares Dash wiping off the remnants of god knows what, that he fell in...
"It was funny... seeing you fall face first into the manure" laughs Jamie...
Ferg smirks... "Admit it Dash... it was funny.."
Dash smiles "yeah... it was, but now I smell like shit... (he smells himself, and shakes his head in utter disgust)... it's going to take me ages to get ready for my hot date tonight"
"Yeah? ... What's her name?" asks a curious Ferg...
"Don't know yet... but she'll be one lucky lady" - smiling in the direction of the other deputies...
Walt storms "they'll be no lucky lady, until you lot get your reports completed" ..
He storms off into his office, closing the door behind.
Dash replies "okay... which one of you... (pointing his finger in the direction of Ferg and Jamie)... pissed in his cornflakes this morning?"
Ferg hushed... "Something else is going on... he hasn't been 'happy' for days... not since.." –
Ferg realises none of the new deputies knew Vic...
"Oh... come on Fergie baby... spill?... you cannot leave us hanging like that?!" replies Dash.
"It's nothing... sometimes when Walt goes all moody... best thing to do... Is either stay quiet or just avoid any confrontation with him"
Dash and Jamie looked at each other... they weren't buying what Ferg was trying to sell.
########
Sitting at his desk, Walt contemplates why Vic would come back, after all this time... - why now?
She'd been gone four years... She left him – he opened the lower drawer in his desk and looked at the folded paper – the one that Vic wrote, giving her two weeks' notice.
He didn't open it...
He held it to the light... and sighed... placing the note back in the drawer.
He balled his fists and slammed them on the desk...
Out of the corner of his eye.. He saw the red flash on the phone... he pressed the button.
"Hi dad!... Just reminding you about coming round tomorrow... don't forget! - Love you! "
Walt smiled; at least Cady was still talking to him.
For that he was thankful.
###########
It was mid-afternoon the following day, when Vic, Cady and William arrived back to the house...
Cady had persuaded Vic to go shopping with her... and had brought William his own big kid bed.
Much to Vic's chagrin... Cady would not take No, for an answer... All Vic could do was - Capitulate.
Cady and Vic were carrying the big box into the house, with William trying to carry a bag into the house behind them.
They spend an hour or so, unpacking and building it...
"There!... who needs a man!" Cady exclaims... looking at the bed they both assembled together.
Vic replies "seriously?!" they both laugh...
"I suppose we should make the bed "Cady replies...
"Didn't we just do that?!" Vic retorts
"Oh, you know what I mean"...
They put the sheets, duvet and pillows on the bed... All three look on...
Cady "So munchkin... what do you think?!"
William looks at the both of them... "Mine?"
Vic smiles at her son..."yes, sweetie... It's all yours"
William jumps on his bed, face first into his pillows...
Cady responds... "There you go... the Longmire seal of approval"
Vic winces at the thought... that William would no longer be just her little boy.
She looks to the clock on the wall...
Cady looks at Vic and sees her visible concern.. "do you want me to take William out? ... while you and Dad talk?"
Vic nods "that maybe a good idea... " Cady knew that little 'ears' were not meant to hear arguing and hurtful words spoken, that maybe said in the heat of the moment.
"When Dad arrives, I'll take munchkin with me... and we'll leave you to it." - she rubs Vic's arm in support...
##########
It's almost four in the afternoon, by the time Walt pulls up outside Cady's – he notices Cady's SUV and also the rental car that Vic was driving.
He gets out and walks up the path... he was just about to ring the doorbell, when Cady opens the door.
"Hey Dad.."
"Punk" – she moves aside, as he enters the house.
"Busy day?" she asks as Walt takes off his hat.
"Yep... Everything alright with you?!" - trying to figure out; why Cady wanted him here at this particular time.
He knows Vic is here, but he doesn't see her.
"Yes, I'm fine ... Sit down Dad" she gestures for him to take a seat.
He sits down looking around, and fiddles with his hat.
Vic nervously walks in... "Walt"
"Vic"... he looks serious... and Vic nervously rubs her hands on her jeans. oh god!... she tries to find her inner strength.
Cady interrupts - "I'm going to head out now"
"Cady? ... Wait! - .. You're leaving?" Walt is slightly unnerved... causing him to stand up.
"Dad... You and Vic need to talk!" Cady says as she walks towards the door – William waves as they leave the house...
Walt looks at Vic "why does Cady think 'we' need to talk?"
Vic remains silent... Walt sits back down, and fiddles with his hat, looking for answers...
There was an awkward silence between them.
Walt without thinking, replies defensively. ... "You left!" – He points his finger angrily towards her.
"I... I couldn't stay... everything I touched back then ... it was toxic - (she feels the tears welling)... you know I ...I was in a bad place and it didn't help with you... you made my life here ... (Trying to gain composure)... You made my life unbearable. "Vic retorted
"You were doing a good job of that on your own Vic... You left us high and dry... We were already one man down"
"I'm a replaceable part – you said that to me..." was the only response she could muster..
"Well... we managed just fine without you!..."
Vic huffed - "that's not what I heard" - keeping her tears in check.
"Why did you come back? ... It's been four years... "Walt wanted answers..
"I wish I hadn't come back now... My son deserves better" Vic replied.
"What's he got to do with all this?" Walt puzzled.
Vic looks angrily at Walt... that was all she could do...