Lurking
"Hi, sweetie, how are you?" AJ smiled, walking into Thea's house the next morning, finding her on the couch whilst James was on his little mat in front of her, lying staring up at the toys hanging over him, content and happy as always.
"Hi, mom." Thea smiled tiredly.
"You look tired." AJ frowned, walking over and giving her daughter a gentle hug.
"Yeah, I've been finding it hard to sleep." Thea nodded, "I didn't know you were coming today." She said.
"Yeah, it's my day off." AJ smiled.
"You should be out doing something fun on your day off, not sitting here with me." Thea said modestly.
"Oh, be quiet." AJ shook her head, "Did Jude stay over last night?" She asked, crouching down on the floor to say hello to her grandson, "Hi, handsome." She smiled, playing with his hands as Thea smiled.
"He'll pull on your hair." Thea said cautiously.
"Oh, that's ok." AJ smiled, giving her grandson lots of kisses.
"Jude stayed last night, yeah. She's not staying tonight, though. Said something about going out with Kirsty into town and then staying with Sean." Thea said as AJ nodded, "She told me you guys went to the tree last night." Thea said as AJ nodded.
"Oh, yeah. We did." AJ smiled, standing up from the floor, taking her coat off, "It was so pretty. I hope you get down to see it."
"Yeah well I wanted to go down and put James' name on it-"
"Oh, we did. That's what I said to your dad, the first time we've put four bobbles up instead of three." She said.
"I guess I kinda wanted to go down and make it my own tradition, with my own family." Thea shrugged as AJ nodded, "Doubt I'll make it down there, though."
"Hey, you might. You don't know." AJ rubbed her arm softly, "How is the pain?"
"It's ok just now. It's agony in the morning." Thea shook her head, "I can barely shower on my own." She said, "The physiotherapist is coming out in a few days to see me so I'm hoping that takes off soon, so I can start moving more. It's just so frustrating sitting here doing nothing."
"Oh, I know, sweetheart." AJ sighed, "But it won't be like this forever, you just gotta remember that." She said, "You'll build up your strength and you'll heal." She nodded, "You'll be as good as new in no time." She smiled.
"I hope so." Thea sighed stressfully.
"How is Dominic? Is he at work?" AJ asked, sitting in amongst the cushions on the couch beside Thea.
"Yeah, he's at work." Thea nodded, running her hand through her hair, biting her lip to try not burst into tears right there and then. After finding out Dominic had been drinking, it really took a toll on her mental state. She talked to him, and she never shied away from the subject matter, but being so injured, she felt like she couldn't help or support him the way she wanted to.
"Thea, honey, what's wrong?" AJ noticed Thea biting her lip. She knew her daughter. She knew when she was anxious or worried.
"Oh, nothing. I'm being stupid." Thea said, catching her tears, "I'm just frustrated, that's all."
"Hey, talk to me." AJ nodded, "What's bothering you?" She questioned. She could tell it was more.
"It's Dominic." Thea said as AJ looked at her, "He's been drinking." She said as AJ looked across at her and nodded.
"I-I know. Your dad found out and told me." AJ sighed.
"No, I mean… he's been drinking bad. Every night when I was in the hospital up until two nights ago." Thea said as AJ raised her eyebrows.
"N-No, he told your dad that it… it was just one-"
"Well he lied. Addicts lie and you know it." Thea said, "I called him out on it. I didn't tiptoe around him. I said we'd go back to the AA meetings and get control of it before it goes any further." She said.
"Yeah, of course." AJ nodded.
"But I feel like I can't actually do anything to help him because I can barely move. I mean I can barely give him a cuddle." Thea shook her head, "And he needs me right now."
"Thea, you also need him." AJ reminded her, "You've both had a rough couple months, you need to lean on each other right now." She said, "You're right, the quicker Dominic stops, the easier it'll be to bounce back from it." She said, "Do you want me or your dad to talk to him?"
"No… no, he'd be mad that I'm even telling you." Thea said, "He said we'd deal with it on our own. He's at work right now but then I'm like… doubting him." She cried, "Like… is he at work? Or is he at the bar?" She questioned stressfully, placing her hand on her forehead as AJ sighed.
"That's just the trust you have to put in him right now." AJ nodded, "And you just have to be there for each other." She said, "I think it's a good idea for him to go back to the AA meetings, and maybe now that he sees you're getting better, it'll help him." AJ said as Thea nodded, drying her tears.
"I just know how bad he must be feeling." Thea sighed.
"Well I think that's the good thing about your relationship, you both know and understand each other, and that for sure is gonna help." AJ said, rubbing her arm softly, "Are you sure you don't want me or your dad to do anything?"
"No… no, I think it's best if we just deal with it on our own." Thea nodded, "I know he'll get it together. If not for himself then for James. I know how he feels about… going off the rails now that he's here." Thea said, looking over at James.
"Exactly." AJ nodded, "I have no doubt that this is just a little hiccup. You've had a tough time, and it's obviously hurt him to see you like that and he's gave in, but he can fix it." AJ said as Thea nodded.
"I know he will, I just feel like I can't properly help him." Thea said.
"Hey, your support will always be enough. You have each other." AJ nodded, "Things will get better." She said as Thea nodded. She could see her daughter was struggling emotionally and mentally. It took a lot for Thea to cry over anything. That's when AJ knew it was really bothering her, and it broke her heart to see her so upset and worried.
"Just… just tell me about what you and dad yesterday." Thea nodded, drying her eyes up, "I don't wanna sit here and feel sorry for myself." She shook her head.
"Hey, you're allowed to be upset." AJ nodded, "Things will get so much better. And Dominic will be ok. We're all here for you and him. Whatever you need."
"Thank you." Thea smiled, "Seriously, what did you and dad get up to? Take my mind off of all of this." She said as AJ nodded.
"We did our usual. Went to Eddie's for dinner and then headed to the markets. Went to the tree and put the bobbles on." AJ said as Thea smiled.
"I love that you guys have done that every year." Thea smiled, "Well… excluded the eight years dad was in prison." She said as AJ nodded, "Thirty years is a long time to be with someone."
"It is." AJ agreed, "And it's been the craziest thirty years ever." She said as Thea nodded, "You look like you need a coffee." She smiled to her daughter.
"Thought you'd never ask." Thea groaned as AJ smiled, getting up from the couch, brushing her hand through Thea's hair motherly as she headed on through to the kitchen to make them a coffee.
"I have one more essay to do and then I'm finished for Christmas." Jude said, sitting in a cocktail bar with Kirsty that night, enjoying wine and bar snacks, as well as all the wonderful Christmas decorations outside in the street and in the bar.
"I have two." Kirsty groaned, "I should have started the second one last week but my entire family were over." She said.
"Are they gone now? Do I have my bed back?" Jude chuckled.
"Yeah they left last night." Kirsty nodded, "Hey, you know I could have gotten them a hotel-"
"I'm just teasing." Jude chuckled, "Probably worked out best anyway since I was staying with my sister to help her."
"How is she?" Kirsty asked.
"She's… ok, I guess." Jude said, "Frustrated more than ever. She's a super stubborn person who likes to do everything on her own so… this is just a nightmare for her."
"She'll make a speedy recovery, I'm sure." Kirsty said.
"Yeah, well she's already came on leaps and bounds from when she was in hospital." Jude nodded, "It's just gonna take time." She said as Kirsty nodded, "Did you get those pictures developed from the other day?"
"Yeah, I took them back to our apartment." Kirsty nodded, "Yours printed kinda weird, though you might wanna look at it." She said.
"Yeah, I can never work that darkroom properly." Jude groaned as Kirsty chuckled, "What are you doing for Christmas? You going home?"
"No, I don't think so." Kirsty said, "My folks came to see me last week because they're going to one of my cousins who lives in Canada for Christmas. So they gave me my gifts then and… I guess I'll just watch Christmas movies on the couch this Christmas."
"Hey, you should come to my parents for Christmas, they'd love to have you." Jude nodded.
"A day of drinking wine, eating turkey and staring at your dad… count me in." Kirsty smirked.
"I genuinely hate you." Jude shook her head as Kirsty chuckled.
"Will you be seeing Sean's family this Christmas?" Kirsty wiggled her eyebrows.
"I don't think so. I think he'll go to his family and I'll go to mine, and then maybe we'll see each other later on." Jude nodded, "The other night he was talking about going to one of those log cabins for the weekend."
"Oh." Kirsty raised her eyebrows, "Sounds fun."
"Yeah, I was… I was kinda surprised actually." Jude nodded.
"By what?" Kirsty asked.
"Just him moving the relationship along so fast." Jude said, "I'm not… I'm not complaining. He just… he has this guard up, right?" She said as Kirsty nodded, "I just… I feel like we're always talking about me and nothing about him."
"So ask him about him." Kirsty shrugged.
"Well I do but he always finds a way to divert it." Jude huffed, "I just wish he was just a little more… open with me, that's all." She said.
"So if you go on this weekend getaway with him, maybe that's a good opportunity to get to know him more. I mean, you've only been dating a few months remember." Kirsty said as Jude nodded.
"Yeah, I know. I know. And I don't wanna be too pushy and scare him off with questions." Jude said.
"Maybe he just needs to get a little more comfortable. People are different when it comes to sharing things." Kirsty said as Jude nodded.
"Yeah, I guess." Jude nodded, "Ok, the seal is opened and I need to pee. Get another bottle." She said, hopping down from the bar stool, picking her purse up and walking down the bar, just as she bumped into someone, "Oh, sorry." Jude shook her head, looking up, "Oh, hi Jeremy." She nodded.
"Hey Jude." Jeremy, a boy from their class smiled pleasantly. He was a handsome guy, tall, dark hair, a little edgy smile. She always caught him staring but she never thought anything of it. She never took much notice at all.
"I didn't know you came to places like this." Jude said, not knowing what else to say as he looked at her a little awkwardly, almost intently staring.
"No… not usually. On a date." He explained.
"Oh, nice." Jude smiled as he nodded, smiling to her, not budging out of the way, "I uh… I was just on my way to the bathroom." She pointed, "Can I squeeze by?" She smiled politely.
"Oh, sure-" Jeremy paused as she brushed up against him, not intentionally, trying to get by him as he smiled a little.
"I'll see you late." Jude said, walking on down the rest of the bar to reach the restroom as Jeremy smiled, his eyes never leaving her as she disappeared into the bathroom. He then turned around and left the bar, not really being there for a date.