Bob slowly limped out from behind the counter and walked up to the two that appeared to be a happy couple, Louise looked around the room frantically she knew that she was about to lose it and she desperate not to but then it happened. Bob simply held out his arms and in a second flat she was the weeping little girl that needed her daddy, the little girl that she had never really been before. The patrons in the restaurant knew the family well, and they knew that Louise didn't want them to see that. One by one they all got up patted Louise and Bob as they sat embracing each other and crying until the only ones left were Teddy, Logan, and the rest of the Belcher's. She wasn't sure exactly when Gene and Tina had gotten there but she was glad that they were.
Sappy moments weren't really Louise's cup of tea so she did everything she could to quickly pull herself together and Bob did the same. "Dad I'm so sorry."
Bob stared at Louise for a minute looking confused. "For what?"
Louise and Logan looked at each other for a moment curious about if Bob was unaware what had happened the night before, Bob was starting to get a bit tired so he sat down in a booth before turning his attention to Logan. "Well Logan, it's been a couple of years. I'm curious, how come every time you pop up my daughter comes home drunk?" Logan stood there stammering trying to form words while the rest of the family laughed as quietly as they could, they knew that Bob was just teasing him. "Don't worry son, she needs the break, just keep her safe." Bob stood up and patted Logan's shoulder as he began to walk away and gave Louise a kiss on the forehead. He was starting to get emotional again but knew that it wasn't the right time for it. He went to the kitchen to reacquaint himself with the appliances and make sure they missed him while he left Lin and the kids to give Louise some good news and some bad news.
"I always said you two would get married!" Louise jumped at the statement, she hadn't realized that she had started leaning into Logan again and quickly pulled away from him.
"What the fuck Gene?" She yelled while punching her brother in the arm "We aren't getting married!" Louise looked panicked as she frantically yelled at Gene, Logan found it pretty amusing though and decided to step in on teasing her.
"What's the matter Lou, don't wanna take my last name?" He asked with a wink. Louise looked horrified as he laughed knowing that she hated talking about personal things, especially in front of her family.
"Louise we gotta have a chat." She looked over at her brother as he spoke to her, he had changed quite a bit over the years; he had slimmed down a lot, even gotten a bit of muscle, he had also grown to be a few inches taller than Bob. Louise chuckled at him, she was so happy to have her brother back home. "What are you laughing at? Is there food on my shirt?" Gene looked down and then just stared at Louise confused.
She broke out into a fit of laughter before she finally responded. "No food on your shirt, I'm just glad that my large bro is home." Gene smiled as he pulled Louise into a hug, they were so rare but she seemed to be giving them out like hotcakes. He decided that it was the perfect time to drop the news to her.
"Good because I'm moving back home, Tina and I are taking time from work and moving back so that you can get a break, we really dropped the ball. We turned our backs on the family. We let you down. We're sorry Louise." He stared down at the floor as he talked to her and she felt her eyes start to sting.
She stood there trying to compose herself and taking in his words and then it hit her. "Wait, what about your pregnant wife?" She had barely finished the sentence before Courtney came bursting into the restaurant, bags in hand and screamed, "I'm hoooooooooome."
Louise stood there awestruck, she had never exactly warmed up to Courtney and now she was apparently living with her and she wasn't exactly sure if that was going to work out. "Okay guys, you have no idea how much I appreciate that but you don't have to do this.
"Yes we do Louise." Tina stepped up to her sister as she put her hand on her shoulder, "now grab your…friend? Go hang out and have a good day." With that Tina and Gene started pushing Logan and Louise until they fell out of the restaurant door. They stood there laughing as Linda poked her head out of the door, "be careful and remember no day drinking!"
Louise and Logan sat there staring at each other laughing. "Well you certainly have a supportive family." Logan finally said. "Of course as soon as I get to town with the intention of helping you your entire family steps up and makes me useless." He jokingly rolled his eyes as they both laughed a little more.
"Trust me Logan my family showing up in no way makes you useless, who else is going to pick endless fights with me, and steal my ears, and give me alcohol, and be my best friend." Louise looked down at the sidewalk blushing slightly as she spoke. She finally looked up at him as the events from the night before came rushing back to her and she wasn't exactly sure what to say.
Finally Logan broke the silence, "I tried messaging you this morning, your jacket and cigarettes are at my motel room, I forgot to grab them." Louise just sat there trying to remember when she lost her things so Logan finally continued, "we can go get them if you want."
She thought about it for a minute as it dawned on her that if they hung out around town all day then she was going to get bombarded with questions and she just wasn't ready for that. "Sure Logan let's go to your room." She smiled at him as he gave him a relieved look. "Can we just hang out there for the day? I don't want to face the town today." He smiled back at her and nodded as he grabbed her hand and started leading her down the street.
