Simon sat on the couch with his legs tucked to his chest as he tried to focus on the movie. He knew that he wasn't supposed to sit that way on the couch but it was the only way he could think to calm himself. His mother had informed him that there was something important happening in the next few days three days ago and with every passing second his anxiety over what it could be grew. Maybe he was moving several states away and would never see Grace again.
Maybe his parents were getting divorced or worse, maybe his father had… Simon didn't let himself finish that thought. It was too dark even for his nervous brain. Still, maybe they'd fallen on hard times and were losing the house. With his father gone what if it was up to him to help support the family? Simon made a mental note that he'd find a way to help his mother in any way he could in case that happened.
The nervous thoughts that plagued Simon's mind kept him from focusing on the movie he was trying to watch. Looking over at Grace who was playing some game on her phone he sighed and turned it off. No use in wasting electricity when neither of them were watching it. Especially true if Simon would have to start worrying about bills in case his thoughts about their financial situation were true. Simon tucked his legs closer to his chest and Grace looked up at him from her phone.
"Are you okay? You've seemed really worried about something all day." she said. Grace looked genuinely concerned and Simon felt awful about it. He hated making Grace worry about him because she never made him do the same. Grace never seemed to need help with anything and yet she constantly needed to calm him down. And this was going to be yet another example of that. Simon let out a sigh and decided to tell the truth about what was going on.
"My mom says that something importanting is happening soon and I guess I'm just really nervous that it's something bad." he explained. Grace put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry. If it was something bad do you really think your mom would keep it from you?" she asked. Simon subtly untucked his legs but still kept them near his chest. He looked away from her.
"I guess not." Simon responded. Grace gave him one of her winning smiles that he knew she practiced in the mirror so that they'd be perfect when she needed to use one.
"Then don't worry about it, especially because whatever happens i'll be there for you." she added. Simon smiled at this before frowning. He posed his best friend a question
"Hey Grace, what if I lived really far away? Would you still be my best friend?" To his surprise Grace nodded quickly and gave her answer in response.
"Of course! I'd call you everyday and we'd spend time together on weekends because I'd come and visit you." she explained. Now it was Grace's turn to frown. "Simon, we're always going to be best friends, don't ever think differently." Grace added. Now Simon smiled for real and took his legs off of the couch completely as he relaxed. Grace was always really good at calming him down. Simon was unsure how he'd ever managed without her. He reminded himself that he'd have to be the best friend ever to pay her back for it.
"You're the best Grace." he said. Grace laughed at his complement before responding.
"Yeah, I know." she said and before Simon could hit her with a pillow in response the sound of the doorbell ringing was heard. Simon waited expectantly for his mother to answer but instead a different turn of events occurred.
"Simon, I have my hands full could you get that?" his mother called from the kitchen. Simon did as was asked and walked over to the front door. He opened it casually not even bothering to look up at first.
"No hug for your old dad?" the person in the doorway said. Simon knew that voice, of course he knew that voice. He looked up awestruck at his father. Simon wasn't sure that this all wasn't a dream he was having to make himself feel better about his dad being gone. Then again his dream usually had a lot more fish and swimming pools for some reason, so it was possible that this was reality. His dad hugged him and Simon knew it was real.
"I missed you so much." Simon choked out through happy tears as he hugged his father in return. Eventually his mother made her way from the kitchen and joined in the hug. Simon had never felt as happy or as complete as he did in that very moment. Eventually the family hug ended and his dad began talking again.
"I wanted to be there for your birthday but dates got moved around and flights got canceled, but I'm here now, I'm sorry I was late." he said. Simon wiped his face and shook his head.
"It's fine, I'm just happy that you're back." he said. Simon mind raced a mile a minute as he tried to decide what he'd tell his dad about first. So much had happened since he left that he'd wished he could talk to his dad about. Maybe he'd have some advice for him about being a friendless loser. Simon of course didn't think that would actually be possible, both of his parents had tons of friends growing up.
But maybe he'd tell his dad about creating the Esmoroth trilogy first and mention how he'd been inspired by the stories they used to write together. Maybe he'd mention that he was really interested in astronomy now and show him the really big star chat that he'd made that now hung over his bed in it's glorious detail. Or maybe he should start with stories of all of the funny things that Archduke Franz Ferdinand had done while he was gone considering that the dog was now running around barking just as excited for his fathers return as he was.
What Simon would start with was chosen for him as hearing the commotion Grace walked over to the door and stared at all of was a pause as Simon realized that Grace had never met his father before. He started to introduce them when his father started instead.
"Simon, you didn't tell me you got a girlfriend while I was away." he said through laughter. Simon felt his ears grow hot with embarrassment at that being the first thing his father said to his best friend. In all honesty it could have been worse but that was certainly up there in terms of things that would make Simon want to crawl into a hole and never be seen or heard from again.
"She's not my girlfriend." Simon corrected. "She's my best friend." he clarified. His dad chuckled and ruffled his hair just like his mom always did.
"I'm just messing with you." he responded. The knowledge that his father was joking didn't make Simon any less embarrassed and he probably would have said that if not for Grace introducing herself.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Laurent, my name is Grace." she said politely. Simon was always shocked by how quickly Grace could go from being childish and silly to being a prim and proper symbol of polite society. The first time he'd watched her introduce herself to an adult it had been whiplash to see Grace go from sticking her tongue out at him and calling him a huge nerd to speaking with an air of haughtiness. It was even funnier to see her use that act on her dad who was probably the last person who needed it.
"You can just call me Doug." he offered kindly. Grace quickly shook her head in response.
"I'm sorry but physically I can't do that." she said. "But, it's very nice to meet you, Simon has told me a lot about you." she added. Simon knew that what she'd said wasn't technically true and he was sure Grace knew it as well. But Grace had once told him that sometimes to make a good first impression you have to stretch the truth just a little and it was true that Simon looked up to his father so he didn't see anything wrong with it.
"All good things I hope?" his father responded. Grace nodded and smiled her professional people pleaser smile.
"Of course! He really looks up to you." she said. Simon's father looked at him in response with a proud smile. Simon had missed having his father around to feel proud of him. He almost wanted to hug Grace for giving him this moment but then again one of his parents would probably make a comment about her being his girlfriend and then he'd be all embarrassed again. The moment was over quickly as his dad came inside to sit on the couch and his mother went to the kitchen to get snacks. Simon did his best to update his father about everything he could, while Grace gave details that she was there for.
The atmosphere was calm as they all sat there sharing stories of the many adventures of Grace and Simon as well as doing their best not to get distracted from telling the stories by joking around with each other. As the room settled down and the air began still in between stories Grace brought up something that was on her mind.
"Can I ask you something Mr Laurent?" she asked. Simon's father nodded. "Laurent is a French last name, do you speak any French?" she asked. Simon's father laughed and gave his response in french.
"Je parle français, Grace. Merci d'avoir posé la question." he responded. Grace looked around nervously.
"I don't actually speak French so I don't know what you said." she replied. At that his father let out a hearty laugh.
"I do speak French." he said to add clarity. "You speak any other languages?" he asked. Grace nodded quickly.
"I'm fluent in Spanish, passably conversational in German, and I can speak a little Manderian. No french though, my parents didn't think it was a useful language. No offence." she added quickly. Simon's father waved her off.
"None taken. And that is a very impressive list of languages." he said before turning to Simon.
"Do you remember any of the French I taught you?" he asked. Both his father and Grace now stared at him expectantly. Simon felt his heart race at the idea that he'd be disappointing both his father and his best friend in one fell swoop unless you could conjure any of the French he'd learned years ago for right now. Simon tried to calm himself down, it was okay that he didn't remember, no one would be mad at him for it.
"I don't remember any, it's been a long time." he said embarrassed. His father grinned at him.
"Well don't worry, now that I'm back there's plenty of time to teach you more." he offered. Simon felt like a weight was lifted off of his chest. His dad really was back.
"I've got to show you something." Simon said before rushing upstairs. He entered his room and cursed himself that he wasn't more organized as he shuffled around piles of empty granola bar wrappers, scratch paper, and half finished Esmoroth notes to find what he was looking for. Rushing back downstairs Simon proudly revealed what he'd been working on to his father. His first ever carving, which happened to be of Isiah from the Esmoroth trilogy. His father held the figure in his hands as he examined it.
"You made this?" he asked after looking at it for a while. Simon nodded. "It's amazing." his father said. Simon swelled with pride at the complement.
"They're not as good as yours yet but I'm getting better." Simon responded. His dad smiled in return.
"That's what matters, that we all get a little better everyday." he said. Simon wanted to cringe at the sappiness of his fathers statement but maybe because he was happy to have his father back or maybe because the sentiment was truly moving, Simon nodded instead.