Needless to say, the ride back from the hospital was completely silent; the children staring out the window, trying to process everything that had just happened. It was about 2 in the morning, as the family stuck around to comfort Barry and Casey as they cried their eyes out, until Casey eventually passed out in Barry's arms. Seeing that sight wretched Daisy's heart. It almost reminded her of her mother's funeral, when she held Linnie close as he cried and sobbed.
When they got back, Linnie had put the children to bed while Daisy dug around her fridge for something to drink, finally settling in some tea she had sitting on the bottom shelf. Unable to get much sleep, she turned on the TV and propped her feet up on the coffee table, not caring that dirt was getting all over it. After about 20 minutes of so, she heard one of the bedroom doors shut and Linnie emerged from the hallway, looking down sadly at her.
"Are you ok?", he asked softly, taking a seat next to her and rubbing her back gently. Daisy flinched upon contact, but eventually allowed him to continue, given that gentle touch was a way he showed love most often, other than calling people pet names like "sweetie" and "honey". Daisy never understood why he did that, but given Linnie's soft gentle nature, stuff like this didn't surprise her.
"I-I don't know Lin. I-I think I'm just having a hard time believing it. I mean, just a few months ago she was fine and now..", Daisy sighed, trying not to cry, "I don't know. She was too young, I think. She had her whole life ahead of her and now she's gone."
"I'm so sorry, Daisy. I wish I would've known sooner. I really would have liked to help."
"What is there to help with? I don't think there could have been anything you could do."
"Yes, well, at least make her and her family more comfortable.", Linnie said, "I just..I'm still so sorry. I know how close you two were."
"Yeah well at least I know she's not in pain anymore.", Daisy sighed, "Think I'll be swinging by her place over the new few weeks or so to check on Barry and Casey, make sure they're ok and see if they need help with anything. I'm not sure when the funeral is, but I think Barry's trying to figure all that you think you'll be ok here with the kids by yourself?"
"I-I think so.", Linnie said, though he frowned and twiddled his fingers while looking down, much like he used to do when he was younger.
"What's wrong?"
"I-I don't know..I-I think I'm just worried if me and the kids are alone, then…she might come back."
"Why do you think I had extra locks installed when you guys moved in?"
"I-I know it's just..Nora's not nearly as dumb as people make her out to be. Uhm..Jorgen often regards her as one of his best instructors and he's not the type to just let anyone teach at his camp so..I don't know.", Linnie squeaked, "I'm not quite as worried for myself as I am for the children, especially the boys. You know, it seems like Nora has been targeting Darren mostly lately, and Cosmo is so young, I just..I want to protect them but all my efforts seem to fail. I dunno…Daisy? Am I a bad father?"
"What? Of course not. Why would you think that? I think you're a wonderful father."
"I-It just kills me that the kids are always in some sort of danger around me, and I feel awful for abandoning them for 3,000 years. You know what I saw when I was finally able to come back?
"Wait..abandon? Where did you go?"
"Cosmo accidentally turned me into a fly while we were trying to teach him how to use a wand. I've tried begging Nora multiple times to start Cosmo off with a baby wand, but she insisted that he learn to use an adult wand right away. She said it would give him a good challenge so he could be ahead of his peers, but all that did was put every one in danger. Honestly, it's a miracle I'm still alive. I don't think I can erase the memories of all the spiders that had tried to eat me every time I'd get caught in a web."
"Wait..why the hell didn't you tell me any of this? I called your phone a million times after I hadn't heard from you for a while! Why are you just now telling me this, Linnie? Nora would've had her ass kicked a long time ago."
"I-I-I I..uhm…I-I really d-didn't want to worry you…I-I didn't want you to think I was overly dependent on you. T-That I couldn't take care of myself."
"I dunno Linnie. The fact that you kept this a secret is making me think just that.", Daisy snapped, causing Linnie to squeak and tear up, apologizing profusely. After a little bit, Daisy let out a huffy breathe, "You know what, Linnie? It's fine. You're here now and that's all that matters. What were you gonna say you saw?"
"I-I saw the house in quite the state. I-I don't think I've seen so many ants in the kitchen before. A-And all the food was either eaten, or opened, left to rot away and be covered by those ants."
"Was Nora even home?"
"No. Darren had told me she went to the bar."
"Of course, that bitch.", Daisy groaned, turning the TV volume down, "You know, I dunno why you even bother with that low-life. She doesn't deserve you, and she's clearly too stupid to treat you with any ounce of common respect. I mean, doesn't she ever looks herself in the mirror and tell herself, 'Hm, maybe I shouldn't keep beating and hitting the man I love?' I mean, what pathetic ass woman does that?"
"I-I don't know..I guess she kind of charmed me when I had first met her. I'm not exactly sure how I fell in love with her though. We met when she needed some paper while I was working at the day care, when it was around at the time. We went on our first date to that really fancy restaurant downtown, one then led to another, I had gotten pregnant with the kids, and now, we're here."
"But she obviously doesn't treat you right, and you let her continue to do so? Why? Are you afraid?"
"I-I guess so. I really would hate to hurt her, but I dunno…I actually have been saving up to get my own place, but I just don't have the money or the time to do so. I've applied to a job as an editor for a parenting magazine, but I hadn't heard back from them yet. A-and I guess I just worry if I'm so busy working, I won't have as much time to watch over the children."
"I thought you said this was a work-at-home deal?"
"It is, but I just worry I might get so distracted and busy with me work. I don't know..I-I've been trying, Daisy. I really have. After the whole Mother's Day thing, I've figured that Nora doesn't appreciate me like she used to, and I-I just don't want to deal with in anymore."
"I'll be frank, Linnie. It never seemed like there was a 'used to'. I still remember when you introduced me to her, and she was holding onto your shoulders like you were a puppy. And all those snide jokes about 'making you her little bitch' and 'he'll look real nice in the kitchen' never really sat right with me. Of course, she might have been drinking, but I honestly don't think she ever truly loved you, especially now that she's been beating on you and such."
"Well..she didn't used to beat me, but when she found out I was pregnant with our kids, she just..lost it. I dunno. I think she needs therapy or something. I-I just don't understand why she's like this."
"Again, it's probably all that whiskey and shit she buys on a regular basis. Have you thought about applying for divorce?"
"I-I don't think I have that kind of money for that right now, and plus, I would need Nora's consent. I don't think she'd go for it. She doesn't think I'm worth that kind of money. She's always telling me I need to 'make the marriage work' since it was my fault I left."
"What if we talked to Barry about it? I'm sure he's got some lawyer friends willing to help out?"
"I don't know..I really don't want to bother him in his time of need. I-It just seems like he's just going through a lot right now."
"Well, I mean it couldn't bother to at least ask. And I don't mean right now. Just maybe after the funeral, and after giving him some space and time to grieve, then we'll ask. I mean, it's not like we're asking him to buy us a million dollar house, am I right?", Daisy finally used her normally light-hearted tone in that last sentence, something Linnie hadn't heard since they got to the hospital.
"I-I don't want to be inconsiderate."
"Linnie, asking for help isn't inconsiderate. I really wish you wouldn't be so selfless all the time.", Daisy said, "You let everyone walk all over you all the time. Shouldn't it be time someone helps you out."
"W-well I..I just.."
"Nope. No I just's about it. We're gonna talk to him. I can't stand seeing you live your life like this anymore, Linnie. We need to get you outta there for good. You don't deserve to get abused like this. I'm tired of it.", Daisy finally said, now turning the TV off and turning the kitchen light on, putting her glass in the sink, "I'm sorry Linnie, but I honestly think this is for your own good, not to mention the kids. I know how you always say they need a mother, but Nora's no mother to them, believe me. I don't give two shits if they are blood related. A real mother doesn't treat her kids like shit."
"Well..when you put it that way…I guess so, but I don't want to force Barry to do anything."
"We're not forcing, Linnie. We're just gonna have a conversation with him, see if he at least has some insight. Besides, I think you could use a friend to support you at the time. I can't always babysit you, ya know.", Daisy yawned, "But for now, let's just head to bed. We'll worry about all this later. Goodnight Linnie."