Chapter 7: Endings and Beginnings
Sharon had invited the Flynn's over for a movie night.
Unfortunately, Francesca wasn't able to make it due to a previous commitment, but Andy and the kids arrived right on time at 7pm.
"Hey. Come on in," Sharon greeted them as she let them in.
"Hey. Thanks," said Andy from behind the kids.
"Are you two ready to watch The Lion King?" Sharon asked Nicole and Brandon.
"Yeah!" exclaimed both children.
"The pizza should be here any minute. Why don't you two go play with Ricky and Emily for a little bit," suggested Sharon.
The children complied and walked down the hall to find Emily and Ricky.
Sharon meanwhile began walking towards the kitchen to grab some cups for the kids and some glasses for her and Andy.
"So, I have a bit of an awkward question to ask you," stated Sharon.
"What?" asked Andy nervously.
"You see, I've never been in this type of situation before. So, I don't know if there are rules or protocol for this type of thing-" said Sharon before Andy cut her rambling off.
"Just ask the question, Sharon," Andy told her reassuringly.
"Okay. Do you mind if I have a glass of wine?" asked Sharon nervously.
"No, I don't mind. For god's sake, Sharon, it's your house. Do what you want," Andy told her.
"Are you sure? I don't ever wanna do anything to trigger you or threaten your sobriety," Sharon asked unsurely.
"I'm positive. I was always much more of a bourbon drinker than a wine fan anyways. Have a glass of wine if you want. It won't bother or tempt me," Andy assured her.
"Okay," Sharon let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding.
"Relax, Sharon. Let's just have a nice movie night. There's no need for it to be awkward," Andy told her.
"Okay. What would you like to drink? I've got kool aid, cranberry juice, water, and milk," Sharon listed off.
"I'll take some cranberry juice, please," said Andy.
"Alright, here you go" said Sharon as she poured and then handed Andy the glass.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"That will be the pizza guy," said Sharon.
"You get the drinks and I'll get the pizza," Andy told her.
"I can't let you pay for the pizza," said Sharon.
"Yes you can, Sharon. You invited us over for movie night. The least I can do is pay for the pizza," said Andy.
"Are you sure? I can totally get it," said Sharon.
"I know you can. I want to. Just let me do this one thing," said Andy.
"Okay, but the next meal we share will be my treat," Sharon agreed under that one condition.
Andy went to answer the door and paid the pizza guy before bringing the two boxes into the kitchen.
"Here you go," said Andy as he set the boxes on the counter.
"Okay. I'll go get the kids," announced Sharon.
"Where are your plates?" asked Andy.
"In the top right cabinet there are some paper plates we can use," explained Sharon.
"Alrighty," said Andy as he opened the cabinet to get the paper plates out while Sharon left to go get the kids.
About fifteen minutes later, the kids were situated around the coffee table with their pizza and drinks and The Lion King was playing while Sharon and Andy were in the kitchen.
"So, how's work been going?" asked Sharon as she leaned back against the counter.
"It's been pretty slow, which is always nice," replied Andy.
"Yeah. Things have calmed down for us too," said Sharon.
"That's good," said Andy.
"It is. I like getting home at a decent hour and being here until the morning comes," said Sharon.
"Yeah. Working in robbery homicide, we have a lot more late night roll outs than I'd like, but it's just part of the job," said Andy.
"Yeah. Luckily those happen sparingly for me," said Sharon.
"Well, if you ever have a late night rollout, you've got two people who'd be happy to take the kids for you," mentioned Andy.
"I know. Thank you for that. It's nice to know I'm not always in this parenting thing alone," replied Sharon.
"You're not. Both of us are glad to do it. We know you'd do the same for us," said Andy.
"I would. Anytime you need a sitter and I'm available, I'm in," replied Sharon.
"I know. Thanks for that. It's nice to not always have to rely on my Ma for everything when it comes to childcare," said Andy.
"But she is a lifesaver when you do need a sitter," said Sharon.
"That she is," replied Andy as he smiled at Sharon.
"So, where is Francesca tonight?" asked Sharon.
"Oh, she's having a girl's night with her friend, Beth," answered Andy.
"Oh, that sounds like fun," said Sharon.
"Yeah. She deserves it," said Andy.
"It's nice that you have a good relationship with her," said Sharon.
"We do. It was a little rocky while I was drinking. I think she saw a lot of my dad in me and that upset her a lot. Once I vowed to quit drinking though, she's been there for me ever since," said Andy.
"God, I hope Ricky doesn't follow in his father's footsteps. That sounds like it was probably really difficult for her," said Sharon.
"I hope so, too. For both of your sakes. Believe me when I say it's not an easy road to go down," said Andy.
"If you don't mind me asking, what was it like being an alcoholic?" asked Sharon.
"I don't mind that you ask about it. I'm pretty open about it nowadays. First of all though, no matter how long I'm sober, I'm still and always will be an alcoholic. That's just how it works. It's just about managing my temptations and urges to drink. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't wish I could have a drink after a difficult day. That's what got me in trouble in the first place though. One drink after work would turn into five or more. Plus, there are too many important things and people in my life that keep me from wanting to give into that temptation. That and AA is what saves me every day. I go to meetings at least twice a week still to this day. It's not always easy with my work schedule and the kids, but I make time to go because I wanna be the best father and son and man I can be for them and for myself. Because if AA has taught me anything it's that I deserve better than drinking my life away," explained Andy.
"Wow. That's such a powerful story. You should be proud of the life you're living now," Sharon told him.
"I am, but I've learned never to be complacent or too comfortable with my sobriety. That's when a lot of guys fall off the wagon," said Andy.
"That's understandable," said Sharon.
"If you don't mind me asking, has Jack ever tried AA?" asked Andy.
"Oh, yes. Many times. He'd always give up soon after he started though. He'd lie about going sometimes, but I'd eventually find out the truth of where he really was. Usually with some 20 something secretary of his," said Sharon.
"Oh, man. That's rough. You deserve better than that," Andy told her.
"I know," said Sharon meekly.
"If you know you deserve better, then why do you stay married him?" asked Andy.
"That's a bit of a personal question, don't you think?" posed Sharon.
"No more personal than the one you just asked me," retorted Andy.
"True…I guess the main reason is because I'm Catholic and they don't exactly believe in divorce. I just don't wanna be looked at differently nor have my kids looked at differently because I'm divorced. You know how judgmental some people can be," said Sharon.
"I know I'm only one person, but I'm Catholic and I wouldn't look at you differently. Hell, if Sandra had lived, I'd most definitely be divorced. It's not that different," said Andy.
"Forgive me for sounding blunt, but it's not the same. People look at you with sad eyes because you lost your wife and your kids lost their mother. They'd look at me like I failed somehow because I couldn't keep my husband around," explained Sharon.
"I'm sorry. It was insensitive of me to make it sound like our situations are the same. I understand where you're coming from. I just…I just wish people could see that your marriage failing isn't on you, but on Jack and his refusal to get help for his addictions. I hope you at least see that," Andy told her.
"I do… most of the time. I'm not perfect either though, Andy. I have my faults," said Sharon.
"We all do. That doesn't mean you should shoulder the blame for what happened between you and Jack. I'm sure what he did to you far outweighs anything you might have done to him," said Andy.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," replied Sharon.
"Hell, if you wanna know more about how to deal with a drunk husband, just ask my Ma. I'm sure she'd be glad to talk to you about it if it would help you somehow," said Andy.
"That's nice. Thank you," Sharon told Andy as she faintly smiled at him.
"Let's go watch The Lion King and forget about this bullshit," suggested Andy.
Sharon cracked an even bigger smile at Andy before she said to him, "Sure, but be warned, there's some bullshit in this movie too."
"Great. Can't we just have a happy ending?" asked Andy as they walked towards the living room.
"It does have a happy ending. It's just got some sad parts in between," Sharon told him as they sat down on the couch as the children lay on the floor watching the movie intently.
"I hope so," said Andy as they turned their attention to the movie.
Sharon wasn't really focusing on the movie though. She was thinking about how good of a guy Andy had showed himself to be tonight.
She didn't know why, but it surprised her, and maybe even made her feel a twinge of something.
What that something was she wasn't quite sure yet.