Chapter 55

That's Life

Darcy sleeps a lot these days. She can't get comfortable but she tries. She feels weak and constantly is indoors. She looks pale and she is seen losing some weight despite her regular eating habits. Spinner noticed when he arrived home from work as she was sleeping while sitting up on the couch in front of her was her laptop. "How's the job search going?"

"Huh?" She asked spaced out jerking herself awake.

"I see you're on Indeed, but you were kind of a spacecase."

"I put a few applications in but no dice." She murmured while yawning, "but on the bright side I've gotten a few emails back with questions about the missions in Kenya and college. I started emailing and then I don't know. I feel confused and spaced out like all the time."

"Maybe you should see a doctor. What if it's serious?"

"I just haven't been sick enough to like go see and besides don't employers like look into how often you go to the hospital or having doctor appointments? Wouldn't I lose out on opportunities?"

"I suppose you're right but it could just mean you're overdoing it. I mean last night you made that smorgasbord and then as soon as you eat you doze and maybe you're exhausted but I don't know why since you sleep twenty-four-seven practically."

"I'll make an appointment, fine but I'm pretty sure its nothing. In the worst case, I'll have to take a medicine or whatever."

"That's my girl." Spinner kissed her on the cheek, "I'm gonna start dinner."

"Dad's not coming home, he's going to see that Meredith again. He sucks at being discreet when it comes to dating."

"Oh they flirt it up all day at work I'm not really surprised."

"Oh? Is she his secretary?"

"Yep. She's kind of new but they have quite a bit of chemistry and she's good at her job."

"Maybe I can work with dad and he can get me something at his office. I am a pretty good typist and I'm pretty detail oriented."

"I don't see why not but keep looking. Do you want me to make you a coffee?"

"Sure, Spin. I think that's just what I need to plug away at this applications." She bared a grin and opened up a file for her resume and plugged it into the computer while Spinner made her some coffee and started dinner. She closed eyes for a moment and sighed thinking to herself what could possibly be wrong? It's been going on for a few weeks now perhaps Spinner is right maybe it's something serious. She opened up a google search and typed in her symptoms in a separate tab.

Craig was speaking at group and feeling uncomfortable, but spotted a familiar face walk in during his speaking time - it was Ashley. He hadn't seen her in a few years not since the tour. She uncomfortably managed to say, "Sorry I'm late."

"Take a seat. Craig was just getting through his story. Go on Craig."

"Anyway, all in all, I've never been so open before or candid about things - it's never easy to go through losing a parent young and then lose the other who you always thought you hated." Craig read from his notebook, "people say there's always some sort of silver lining and I like to believe that because I have a family and a good support system. I think if it wasn't for Joey or Angela my mom's second marriage and my half-sister I don't know where I'd be. I was always screwing up things in my life from relationships, to friendships, to drugs and going off my medicine when I think I'm doing fine and I think I can do better without them. Medicine means being level-headed and stable and for the first time in a long time I can say I'm finding my way back to stability. I made some big mistakes before coming here but I didn't have a place to speak like this. I've always liked group therapy more than one on one because I know I'm not alone in these feelings and thoughts. Last week I got served with a restraining order from my ex and I'll admit if there was a way to have her forgive me I'd do anything. I know we'll never be together but I can't stand the notion she could be mad at me for as long as I live."

"What happened?" the group leader asked.

"I stalked her. I refused to take no for an answer I wanted to die I felt that bad. I've never had violent tendencies but I wanted her to hear me out so I . . held her at gunpoint. I felt like I didn't have a choice and I was off all of my medicines and I was drinking and doing a lot of drugs. My drug of choice was cocaine. I'm not proud of what I did in my manic stage. It's not the first time I went postal. I've hurt a lot of people with my actions and my words."

"What would you say to her if she was standing here?"

"I'm sorry." He looked up at Ashley and she at him and he then reiterated, "I'm sorry for everything." It was the most sincere he had ever been. Ashley was surprised but she also was understanding. It was the first time Craig had been truly sorry about anything and this time he meant it.

After group took a ten minute break, Ashley was getting coffee and Craig was preparing a cup at the other machine beside it. She managed a polite greeting, "Coffee sucks here but the things you learn here are incredible. It's good to see you Craig."

"Likewise. What brings you here?"

"Starving artist trying to live out her dreams and let go of past demons work for you?"

"I'd say the same."

"Please, your music is everywhere starving artist my ass."

He genuinely had to laugh he sipped the piping hot coffee and put it immediately in the trash, "You're right about the coffee."

"I heard through the grapevine you're living with Joey and Ang now. How old is she now?"

"Sixteen."

"What an age."

"Looking at her now makes me feel so old and uncool."

"Last time I saw her she was playing with Barbie's." Ashley reminisced with a smile.

"She practically looks like one now. It's weird seeing her after all these years, kind of like seeing you. What have you been doing?"

"Still pursuing music, living place to place, doing impromptu shows at bars with my band Three girls and the Keyboard and hoping one day to get discovered."

"We made a pretty good team you know," Ashley made a face, "musically speaking of course. We should I don't know jam sometime?"

"Maybe." Ashley grabbed a cookie from the table with a napkin and gave Craig one too. "We'll see."

The group leader clapped his hands and sat back into the chair after talking with another person one-on-one, "All right breaks over. Let's reassemble."

It had been a couple weeks since Carson moved in and so far it's been smoothly but Emma and Sean had an excuse to go out and visit Snake and Spike for a weekend brunch at Casa Simpson-Nelson. It had been awhile since they last sat down as a family. Connor was home sick so he mostly stayed away from everybody and hid out in the basement. Emma had an interview at one with Alex and knew she didn't have a crazy amount of time but enough time to at least eat and politely make conversation. Sean didn't mind staying after because he had to ask Snake a very serious question.

"So Sean, how's life?" Snake asked cutting his food with a knife before taking a bite.

Sean was cutting his food too and he simply smiled and looked at Emma and then back at Snake, "Great. I've been living pretty healthy lately. I'm sure Emma's told you about the bundle of joy."

"She has indeed and while I haven't even been getting any gray hairs from this one over here," Spike grinned with excitement gesturing to Emma, "I'm ready to be a granny or whatever you like to have me be called."

"How about Gram or Grammy?"

"I think Gram is perfect." Spike beamed.

"What about me?" Snake asked.

"Pop?" Emma asked.

"Well then it's settled. It's got a nice ring to it. Pop and Gram."

"Gram and Pop." Spike nodded positively, "I'm looking forward to it. How far along is the surrogate?"

"Camille is about eight months along." Emma answered uncomfortably, her parents didn't really know the origins of her but Emma likes to call her by her name and not simply the surrogate. Given the circumstances Sean and Emma both agreed. "She says she'd like an open adoption and you know, I'm perfectly fine with that. She lives in Wasaga Beach and takes care of Sean's father. She's in nursing school."

"Oh? What's wrong with him?" Spike asked curiously.

"How is he?" Snake uncomfortably looked at Spike and then to Sean and asked calmly, despite knowing that Sean rarely talks about family. Emma didn't interrupt because she knows that Sean is in a much better place now. His temper is in check, his mood is mostly positive and most importantly he's reconciled with his parents, especially given the decline in his father's health.

When Sean was in basic and even periodically when things got hard Sean and Snake would talk on the phone. He knew the basic gist of his family dynamics and Sean opened up to Snake because when it came to parental figures Snake was the closest he had come to one. Sean cleared his throat, "Well he's here and there, he can't really leave the armchair but - mom says his health is rapidly declining. It's not cancer or anything he essentially has no liver he drank himself to death to tell you the truth." Sean murmured, "he can barely manage a coca cola his doctors recommend he go to dialysis but mom's old and he's a bigger guy so Camille drives him. Soon she won't be able to and he'll have to have medical transportation take him."

Spike and Snake exchanged sad looks but then changed the subject seeing that it was bringing Sean's mood down a bit. Emma was focused on Sean, but also eating her broccoli cutting them into smaller pieces before taking a bite, quiet dawned on the group. "I was thinking I can stick around a bit you know with you Mr. Simpson while Emma's at her interview."

"That would be great."

"Sean was really excited to come by." Emma chimed in.

"I was thinking I can help clean up. By the way the chicken was great, Christine."

"You know Sean, you can call me Spike. It makes me feel less like a gram and back in my heyday."

Emma snickered and shook her head, "Mom, you're still cool even if formalities are off the table." Emma was finished with her plate and looked at her watch, "Sugar, I gotta jet but I'll see you later on Sean. Let me know what's up tonight, I have to do some paperwork in the office and hopefully train my new hire so I shouldn't be later than seven." Spike and Snake stood up and collected the plates and kissed their daughter on the cheek before Emma turned and kissed Sean on the cheek as well, "Bye!"

"Well this meal went much more smoothly than our first sit down meal." Spike recollected once Emma left, "you were so nervous and look at you now. You've really grown up we're so proud of you Sean."

Sean murmured uncomfortably. "I was nervous. It was like to me a huge set up that I found out about last minute but thank-you it means alot, Spike."

"Emma didn't tell you we were having dinner?" Spike shook her head as she placed the dishes in the sink, "she was probably scared to introduce you formally to us herself. Ah young love. I'll let the guys have guy time. Don't worry about cleaning up."

"You sure? You guys made lunch. It's the least I could do."

"I'm sure, you two go have your pow wow or whatever guys do."

Sean and Snake decided to go back to the backyard and sit down. It was a pleasant fall afternoon, the leaves were a lovely shade of orange and red and the sun was out with clear skies they took their seats and Snake turned to Sean, "Like the new set up. Spike just got me that grill over there for my birthday it's how we grilled that chicken you liked so much. It does steaming and grilling, isn't it great?"

"Charcoal or gas?" Sean looked over and admired it. "Pretty cool if I do say so myself."

"Charcoal - lower emissions Emma would kill me if we used propane. All joking aside, what did you want to talk about?"

"I wanted your blessing for something and since you're her dad and all, would it be alright if I made a proposal to Emma. I want to spend the rest of my life with her, I'm in love and I don't plan on screwing it up and I really want your blessing."

"Anything. Sean, you were always a member of this family blood or not. We'd love to have you. Do you have a proposal plan?"

"I was thinking something super special for a special girl." Sean beamed, "so is that a yes?"

"You have my blessing." Snake smiled, "come in for a Snake Simpson bear hug." Sean stood up and hugged Snake before sitting back down and admiring Snake's handy work in the yard. He gave him a tour and Spike joined them for some coffee in a few minutes where Sean told Spike about his big plan. She was on board and now it was time he asked Emma to be with him forever and always. He hoped she'd say yes.

Elsewhere Emma is interviewing Alex who decided to move back in town. She lives in a sober living house down the street and has a somewhat strict and rigid schedule to keep her mind and body busy as she worked through her personal goals. Emma could tell she was nervous so she tried to go easy on her. She glanced at her resume and noticed a lot of gaps in employment. Some of her odd jobs only lasted a few months and she didn't put Zanzibar since she left on bad terms with her owner but she decided to take a chance on Alex and put her to work. Emma heard her last answer and she was impressed with her food service job at the mall in her resume so she had experience. "So do you have any questions for me?" Emma asked.

"What is the uniform?"

"Black shirt, we supply one but if you wanted to buy more I believe it's $15 but I can double check for any additional, black apron we supply that and black pants."

"Okay, an improvement from brown polyester."

"What would be the hours I'd be working? I live in a sober house and we have to be home by nine."

"We close at 8:30 but I just won't schedule you for closing shifts." Emma put her hand out, "If that's your only question welcome aboard."

"I got the job?" She asked cautiously taking Emma's hand and shaking it.

"You did. You got through your interview and you passed with flying colors."

"I got the job! Yes!" Alex beamed with enthusiasm and excitement.

"Your first shift is tomorrow bright and early. Bring your A game but in the meantime I'm going to teach you how to work our machines and then you can go." Emma walked to the back room and found her a tee and an apron, "put these on and I'll show you how it's done."

"Thank-you Emma."

"I'm happy to have you."