Eddie's shift felt like an eternity; his mind was still racing over the information he had been told about Buck; he was glad that his shift was over so he could cash up and head home, but one thing was nagging him more than anything, the fact Buck didn't introduce the woman to him or acknowledge she was there till she said something.
Slipping his closed sign up he looks over to Nathan sorting the mail while Claire serves. Getting the cash out he starts to sort and organize it hoping this task will take his mind off certain things. Counting the cash he gets distracted by someone standing at his window. It annoyed Eddie as the sign was clearly up and his light was off but he looked up and smiled.
"I'm closed sir, what is it you're after?" Eddie polity asks.
"You boy, to serve me, I'm not waiting in a queue." The man states.
"As you can see sir my light is off and the sign does clearly state that i'm closed, sorry you will have to wait like the rest of the customers." Eddie explains and starts to count again.
"And you are sitting there, so you can serve me, and you can do it now." The man snarked, Eddie had to bite his tongue and just smiled.
"Like I said, my till is in cash up mode which means I can't serve you, plus there's people before you so you will have to join the queue." Eddie explains making sure his tone was more stern.
"Just serve me, instead of being an ignorant migrant who can only work here because they don't know what else to do." The man states and that was it.
"Excuse me, what did you just say? I don't have to take your bs, I'm here to work and serve people, but my shift is done and I have a child at home to look after, so I suggest you leave before I have you dragged out you ignorant old man." Eddie snarks and walks off, he knew he had to walk before something else was said.
"Oi, don't walk away from me." They guy shouts.
"You ok Eddie?" Nathan asks.
"Yeah, just going to get Nick to deal with this prick before I deck him." Eddie says.
"Ok, I will jump on." Nathan says and moves to go to his counter.
"Nick, come deal with this arsehole before I put him on his ass." Eddie states as he walks into the main office.
"Ok, stay here and calm down." Nick says.
Eddie watches as Nick goes out and turns to watch the CCTV, he can see Nick at his counter talking to the man who's waving his hands like an idiot, Eddie chuckles to himself, why do people think they can talk to people like that.
Eventually the guy leaves with the help of security and Eddie walks out, a quick chat with Nick and Eddie continues to count and make sure his till balances, once it does he packs it up and heads to the office to lock it away.
"You ok?" Nick asks.
"Yeah, nothing I ain't had to deal with before, thanks for sorting him though." Eddie replies as he pushes his till in the safe.
"It's fine, what I'm here for, go home and enjoy your afternoon." Nick replies.
Eddie knew he wasn't going to enjoy his afternoon, it will be filled with overthinking about Buck who he thought was flirting with him but had a girlfriend and having to sort something for Chris.
He knew Abuela would be on his case about a carer for Chris and then any information on Buck to which when he explains Buck has a girlfriend she would go mad.
"Thanks, Nick, see you in two days." Eddie says.
"Yeah, kinda wish you were in, Ruth and Nathan for the next two days will drive me mad, oh, your next shift can you do all day?" Nick asks.
"Can I let you know tomorrow?" Eddie says.
"Yeah that's fine, have fun." Nick replies.
Eddie leaves the office saying goodbye to the others and leaves the main fortress area and walks through the shop, as he does he gets distracted and walks into someone.
"Shit sorry." Eddie says.
"It's fine hunny, nothing is hurt." The woman says.
"Still, I'm sorry, is there anything I can do?" Eddie asks.
"Unless you can get these care applications there today then no." She chuckles and Eddie notices her health badge.
"You work as a carer?" Eddie finds himself saying aloud.
"I am indeed, Carla by the way." She says.
"I'm Eddie, I hope this isn't too forward of me, but are you for hire or know anyone who can help with a kid with cp?" Eddie questions.
"My aren't you forward, but I may be able to help, here's my card, text me your address and I can see if I'm free." She replies.
"Are you sure? I mean it would help so much. Feel like I'm being pushy, sorry if I am, it's just.."
"Hard, I get it, caring for someone is hard especially when you're working. Look no promises but text me address like I said and i'll see what I can do, I best get these posted." Carla explains.
"Thank you." Eddie replies before walking off, and out the building.
He sees Abuela sitting in the car, Chris in the back and waves to them as he hops in the car, as they set off Eddie quickly texts Carla his address.
"How was your day? Did you see Buck?" She asks.
"It was ok, can we not talk about him please." Eddie says.
There's a look from her but she doesn't say anything, a ping from his phone makes him look at it and sees a message from Buck, he just swipes it away he didn't want to see what was said just ignore the whole thing, he felt like a idiot liking someone who could so easily lead him on.
"Dad, can we watch a film later?" Chris's voice breaks Eddie out his thoughts.
"You can after food and a chat." Abuela says.
"A chat about what?" Chris asks, Eddie knew they would have been careful as Chris was smart and knew he would pick up on things.
"Later." Eddie says, and it goes quiet, the whole trip back.
Eddie can't help but notice they all were making awkward looks at each other, obviously no one knew what to say and Eddie felt bad he had caused this.
They eventually get home and head towards the front door, Eddie trails behind playing with his phone and sees the message from Buck pop up again so he reluctantly presses it.
'Hey Eddie, sorry about earlier, Taylor can be pretty full on, how was your day? Hope it was ok?'
Eddie looks at it, there was no clear explanation of this Taylor woman so Eddie decides to just play it cool.
'Hey, it's fine, I'm used to people like that, thanks for the drink again. Day was ok had an arsehole guy as I finished but it was good, what did you get up to?'
He hits send and places his phone in his pocket, as he makes his way inside, as he does he sees Abulea with an unimpressed look.
"Don't start, I've had a bad day, Where's Chris?" He asks.
"He is in the garden, thinking he has done something to upset you. I get you have had a bad day but you can't be like that, not when it's just us." She replies.
"I know, I'll go speak to him, oh I bumped into someone who does care work she gave me her number and i've texted so fingers crossed. I'm going to tell Chris about his mum, wish me luck." Eddie says.
He places his bag down and makes his way to the kitchen and can see Chris sitting in the grass playing, Eddie's phone pings so he quickly looks at it.
'Was an ok day, I went to a restaurant and had some ppsh food not for me, then to some show that Taylor wanted to see, going to relax now she's gone, maybe get some proper food. What have you got planned?'
Eddie couldn't be bothered to reply, it felt like all Buck was doing was rubbing his nose in the fact Taylor had been with him, he puts his phone down and walks outside and towards Chris and takes a seat.
He knew this conversation was going to be hard, how do you explain to a kid their mother doesn't want you anymore, Eddie knew he wasn't the best with words at any time so this was going to be a challenge.
"Hey buddy, what are you doing? I'm sorry I was angry earlier, it's been a hard day." Eddie explains.
"Just playing with lego, are you mad because I'm here?" Chris asks, the question throws Eddie completely.
"No never, why would you think that?" Eddie asks.
"Mom, I heard her on the phone telling whoever that she wanted to sign some papers to give up rights to me, are you going to do the same?" Chris says and sniffles.
Eddie moves and wraps his arms around his son and holds him close and Chris lets a sob out and starts to cry.
"Never, I'm always gonna be here, you're never going to lose me, okay?" Eddie says.
He tries to hold back the anger, he couldn't believe Shannon could be so careless, though it wouldn't surprise him if she did it on purpose.
After a while Chris had stopped crying and Eddie felt bad his son was having to deal with this, though slightly less anxious that he had to tell Chris Shannon wasn't coming back.
"Chris, I know you're upset about your mum, but you can't hold things like that in, you need to tell me ok? It's not good for you to bottle it up." Eddie says and he felt a hypocrite.
"But you do." Chris sniffles.
"And I've learnt I shouldn't, tell you what, how about we get cleaned up and we go get pizza, see a new place downtown." Eddie says.
"Ok, can we eat there?" Chris askes.
"We will see, go get ready." Eddie says.
He sits in the garden for a while, once he hears the door open and close he lets a deep sigh out, how could Shannon do this, not only to abandon Chris but make him feel unloved.
Getting up off the floor he heads in and to his room to get all showered up and dressed to go out, his body was still aching, so after he showered he laid down on the bed and nodded off, he woke up to Chris next to him nudging him.
"Dad, wake up, I thought we were going for pizza." Chris says..
"Just resting my eyes." Eddie mutters.
"Dad, that was three hours ago." Chris chuckles.
"Oh." Eddie mutters, but mentally curses himself. "Come on then let's go." He continues.
Walking through the hallway Chris by his side he sees Abuela sat at the kitchen table drinking a brew and she shakes her head at him, the eyes say it all and Eddie smiles.
"Abuela, he's up, we can go for pizza now." Chris cheers.
"Hmmm, last I saw he was snoring away, does that mean some little devil woke him?" She teases.
"Woah, I do not snore, though you should have woken me sooner." Eddie states as he grabs his trainer's.
"Well you obviously needed it, Chris go get ready and we will set off." Abuela says and Chris goes to grab his stuff. "Now are you going to be a bit more cheerful or grumpy?" Abuela asks.
"Sorry about earlier, just a customer as I cashed up demanding I serve him as I was there and only there as if I was a migrant." Eddie says and he can see the anger in Abuela's face.
"He what?! I want to know the details." She says and Eddie chuckles.
"It's fine, nothing I haven't heard before, it got dealt with, worse was I found out Buck has a girlfriend so that made my mood worse so sorry." Eddie says.
"Oh Edmundo, I'm sorry. Let's go eat and forget him." She smiles.
They head to the car and start on the way, Chris in the back explaining what he wanted on his pizza which had changed several times already, Eddie sat there enjoying his son's excitement, especially after everything, he starts playing with his phone and naturally he felt bad he hadn't replied to Buck so sent a quick but simple message, even though the picture of Buck thirst trap was still there.
'Sorry, I crashed, I don't think my body has recovered fully. Sounds like a fun day, what are you getting for food later?'
He places the phone away and joins in with Chris talking about pizza, eventually they get to the pizza parlor and head inside and once they start to sit and start looking at the menu, looking over the menu he can feel something behind him, so he turns to see a figure standing there.
"Hey Eddie." Buck's cheerful smile staring back at him.