Author: Lexa
Email: c_rossingjordan@yahoo.com
Rating: PG
Synopsis: Abby has to face coming 'home' for Christmas.
Spoilers: Don't think there are any.
Comments: Hope you're enjoying it so far. This chapter is different than what I posted at FanForum, EGroups, etc. It's been edited. I just don't remember how much. It's still the same idea, just more sarcastic thoughts on the part of Abby.
The song is STILL "Sunny Came Home"
Disclaimer: I think we've established the fact that these characters aren't mine.
"So how's Richard?" My father stupidly asks as he hands me my coffee and sits across the table from me with his.
"We're divorced." Thank God. Or else right now I'd be sitting here wondering which whore he was in our bed with at this moment.
"Oh. Since when?" Who cares? We're divorced, I'm not his wife anymore. That's all that matters.
"Since last summer."
"I'm sorry to hear that." He pauses for a moment and just looks at me. I avoid his eyes by looking down at my coffee (because it is very interesting). "You seeing anybody?"
"Yah." Never thought I'd actually get the attention of a decent man, did you dad? Well, neither did I. Just make sure you don't blink, because when you open your eyes, he might just not be there anymore. Kind of like you.
"Are you going to tell me about him?"
I sigh. Does he really care? Probably not. He's probably just making conversation. Although, I should probably thank him; There are more difficult things the two of us could be talking about than my love life.
"His name is Luka. He's a doctor."
"What kind of name is Luka?" I don't know, what kind of name is Greg Wiezinski?
"He's Croatian."
"Is he nice?"
"No, dad, he's a horrible person. That's why I'm dating him." Oh boy, this is going to be a really long Thanksgiving.
"Well excuse me for trying to catch up with my daughter."
I fiddle with my cup, and finally take a sip. It tastes worse than the coffee at the hospital. It's nice to see some things never change.
"I've missed you Abby," he says quietly.
I look back up at him. "Don't act like it's my fault. You could have called me more than once in every five years."
"Why? It's not as if you ever made any effort yourself. Every time I did call, it was like pulling teeth just trying to get you to talk." I'm not a dentist, I'm a nurse.
I knew this was a bad idea. I should have stayed in Chicago with Luka, a frozen pumpkin pie, and take-out food. I push my chair back and start to get up.
"Abigail, please. Don't just keep running away from this like you have from everything else in your life."
"Oh yah, you're the one to talk."
"Abigail-"
"And can I ask you something? How would you really know anything about me?"
"I'm your father."
"Yah, and a great one you've been too." Just as great as Richard was a husband. And you're almost as good at being a father as Luka and I are at communicating. That's pretty impressive.
"Before you walk out of here again, can we please just talk about this for once? It's been twelve years Abby. Twelve years since I've really felt like I have a daughter."
"And it's been 22 years since I've really felt like I have a father."
Neither of us says anything else for a moment, although it seems like forever. The silence is almost deafening, and my heart is telling me to jump in my car, drive to Chicago, and never, ever, look back again. But my head is telling me to at least finish this conversation. So my heart replies, 'I think it is finished, isn't it?'
Finally. He breaks the silence. "We don't have to talk about this now."
I look back up at him just as he starts to leave his chair.
"But please stay. Your brother is coming tomorrow and I really wanted to able to spend some time with the two of you." I unfold my arms, and for once since I've arrived here, I look at him in the eyes for more than three seconds. "You probably need to call Chicago, so why don't I fix us something to eat while you're on the phone?"
I nod and head the other way towards the stairs.
"Come back down in about a half hour, it'll be ready by then." He calls up to me just as I reach the top.
"Alright."
I walk into the room, throw my clothes off my bed and collapse on it.
This probably really is the closest thing to home I'll ever have.
***********
She says days go by I don't know why
I'm walking on a wire
I close my eyes and fly out of my mind
Into the fire
Get the kids and bring a sweater
Dry is good and wind is better
Count the years, you always knew it
Strike a match, go on and do it
**********
Email: c_rossingjordan@yahoo.com
Rating: PG
Synopsis: Abby has to face coming 'home' for Christmas.
Spoilers: Don't think there are any.
Comments: Hope you're enjoying it so far. This chapter is different than what I posted at FanForum, EGroups, etc. It's been edited. I just don't remember how much. It's still the same idea, just more sarcastic thoughts on the part of Abby.
The song is STILL "Sunny Came Home"
Disclaimer: I think we've established the fact that these characters aren't mine.
"So how's Richard?" My father stupidly asks as he hands me my coffee and sits across the table from me with his.
"We're divorced." Thank God. Or else right now I'd be sitting here wondering which whore he was in our bed with at this moment.
"Oh. Since when?" Who cares? We're divorced, I'm not his wife anymore. That's all that matters.
"Since last summer."
"I'm sorry to hear that." He pauses for a moment and just looks at me. I avoid his eyes by looking down at my coffee (because it is very interesting). "You seeing anybody?"
"Yah." Never thought I'd actually get the attention of a decent man, did you dad? Well, neither did I. Just make sure you don't blink, because when you open your eyes, he might just not be there anymore. Kind of like you.
"Are you going to tell me about him?"
I sigh. Does he really care? Probably not. He's probably just making conversation. Although, I should probably thank him; There are more difficult things the two of us could be talking about than my love life.
"His name is Luka. He's a doctor."
"What kind of name is Luka?" I don't know, what kind of name is Greg Wiezinski?
"He's Croatian."
"Is he nice?"
"No, dad, he's a horrible person. That's why I'm dating him." Oh boy, this is going to be a really long Thanksgiving.
"Well excuse me for trying to catch up with my daughter."
I fiddle with my cup, and finally take a sip. It tastes worse than the coffee at the hospital. It's nice to see some things never change.
"I've missed you Abby," he says quietly.
I look back up at him. "Don't act like it's my fault. You could have called me more than once in every five years."
"Why? It's not as if you ever made any effort yourself. Every time I did call, it was like pulling teeth just trying to get you to talk." I'm not a dentist, I'm a nurse.
I knew this was a bad idea. I should have stayed in Chicago with Luka, a frozen pumpkin pie, and take-out food. I push my chair back and start to get up.
"Abigail, please. Don't just keep running away from this like you have from everything else in your life."
"Oh yah, you're the one to talk."
"Abigail-"
"And can I ask you something? How would you really know anything about me?"
"I'm your father."
"Yah, and a great one you've been too." Just as great as Richard was a husband. And you're almost as good at being a father as Luka and I are at communicating. That's pretty impressive.
"Before you walk out of here again, can we please just talk about this for once? It's been twelve years Abby. Twelve years since I've really felt like I have a daughter."
"And it's been 22 years since I've really felt like I have a father."
Neither of us says anything else for a moment, although it seems like forever. The silence is almost deafening, and my heart is telling me to jump in my car, drive to Chicago, and never, ever, look back again. But my head is telling me to at least finish this conversation. So my heart replies, 'I think it is finished, isn't it?'
Finally. He breaks the silence. "We don't have to talk about this now."
I look back up at him just as he starts to leave his chair.
"But please stay. Your brother is coming tomorrow and I really wanted to able to spend some time with the two of you." I unfold my arms, and for once since I've arrived here, I look at him in the eyes for more than three seconds. "You probably need to call Chicago, so why don't I fix us something to eat while you're on the phone?"
I nod and head the other way towards the stairs.
"Come back down in about a half hour, it'll be ready by then." He calls up to me just as I reach the top.
"Alright."
I walk into the room, throw my clothes off my bed and collapse on it.
This probably really is the closest thing to home I'll ever have.
***********
She says days go by I don't know why
I'm walking on a wire
I close my eyes and fly out of my mind
Into the fire
Get the kids and bring a sweater
Dry is good and wind is better
Count the years, you always knew it
Strike a match, go on and do it
**********
