Chapter Twenty-Three
"Annie!" Ella squeals as the door to our Father's house opens.
"Ella." I say and walk inside then Finnick does who is carrying Nick.
The plane ride was only two hours but it seemed to last forever because Finnick and I were those people. You know the type as soon as you get on a plane. You pray that the people with a child won't sit next to you because you fear they'll be crying the whole time.
I remember when Nick was first born and I took him to the grocery store. He was crying up a storm one time and I couldn't calm him down easily. I could feel the stares of everyone in my vicinity as if they've never seen a crying baby before, but you know why they are staring. The are staring because they just want you to quiet them and if you can't do it quickly enough, you get judgy and annoyed stares as if you're doing it on purpose. Eventually you get over all that stuff because guess what world, young babies cry when they want something because they can't communicate any other way.
The plane ride was only two hours long so the looks we got when Nick cried (which was pretty much the whole trip) were awful. The man who got seated next to us actually asked one of the stewardesses (loudly) if there were any vacant seats. There weren't of course.
Finnick never seemed to be phased by it. He took the lead most of the time but I was thankful (as well as everyone else) when we landed. I was just happy it wasn't an international flight when people sleep.
I'm also hoping since the plane ride was so horrible that seeing my Dad won't be. He seemed to be 'well behaved' when he came to see me but I'm still weary.
"Finnick." Ella says when he comes inside. "And my little nephew." She says and blows Nick a kiss. He smiles at her which makes me feel better, even if it is just gas.
"Dad here?" I ask. If the answer is no I will be slightly annoyed.
"He went out to the store, needed something for dinner." She says as we get ushered inside. Finnick sets the car seat down and takes Nick out of it.
"Ell." Nick says and points to Ella.
"Close enough cutie." She says with a smile.
I see Ella's boyfriend is here as well.
"Nathan." I say a little surprised. It's not like I've never met him but I wasn't expecting him.
"Annie." He says and hugs me.
Nathan is the kind of man my Dad wanted me to marry. Nathan is currently in law school and wants to practice environmental law. Being a lawyer would be score number one, but doing it while trying to save the earth is something else entirely. He also comes from a good family, both his parents are doctors and is sister is studying to be one.
"Good to see you." I say.
"Same." He smiles and goes over to talk to Finnick. I see Ella is holding Nick and he isn't crying.
"He's not crying." Ella says and kisses his cheek.
"No he's not." I say and smile surprised.
My Dad comes home a few minutes later.
"Annie." He says and hugs me. Finnick and Nathan are talking about something presumably funny because they are laughing their heads off while Ella keeps kissing Nick causing small giggles to escape his lips.
Ella, myself, and my Dad start making dinner. We would always make dinner as a family. My Mom sometimes would just watch from the family room sipping a glass of wine or vice versa. My Dad opened a bottle of red so everyone can have some. My Dad always liked drinking while cooking. I never understood why.
I don't drink any because the stuff my Dad buys is always so dry. Ella sips some as we cook and Finnck and Nathan drink while in the family room.
Nick is looking at Nathan with worry. I can't tell if Finnick has noticed this or not but if Nick isn't crying he must be alright.
We eat and drink. Some of the conversations are painful awkward between my Dad and Finnick but my Dad is trying. I have to keep reminding myself this. My Dad could've never come to visit me. I would've been fine with that but since he did I should give him a chance.
After dinner my Dad does what he always done when having a dinner party, although Ella and myself are highly a party.
He asks if people want coffee or cognac with their dessert. He wouldn't care if we had something else but I think it's supposed to be eloquent.
He starts with Ella who I know will say coffee because she hates cognac, neither do I. Cognac is a strong alcohol that burns all the way down and not the good kind of burn either.
I don't want either I feel weird drinking coffee at night. Nathan says he's never had cognac so my Dad insists he tries some so he can have 'the best'.
"Finnick?" He asks.
Please say no. I think to myself. He's had lots of wine tonight… a lot of wine. I can tell he's slightly drunk and the alcohol level in cognac is high.
"Sure." He says.
I sigh but I don't think anyone noticed. While my Dad is doling out the drinks I go to put Nick on his baby blanket. He's getting tired. We should probably go to the hotel after dessert.
"Annie and I got it Dad." Ella says as she starts clearing off the table.
"Oh sweetie I think Finnick and I should go to the hotel, Nick's tired." I say to her.
"I think you can spare twenty minutes." She says and starts to clear away the table. I notice her taking the wine bottles to the trash.
"Doesn't Dad collect those?" I ask.
"Not anymore besides I don't think they're 'fancy' enough." She says and I smile.
I look around the house and didn't realize how much I missed this place. Not my Dad, but this house. This is the place I grew up in. I have many fond memories here.
I smile.
"Right Annie?" Ella says bringing my mind back to the present.
"What?" I ask.
She smirks.
"I said we really got into the wine tonight."
I nod. I see four empty bottles
"Almost four bottles and you don't even seem tipsy." Ella says.
"I didn't have any." I say.
"I only had a glass and a half." She says.
"And Nathan?" I ask.
"He had two." She says. "I wouldn't think Dad would be drinking heavily because you're here." She says.
"What does me being here have to do with drinking?" I ask.
"Good impression, he doesn't want you to think he's a bad person." She says and starts loading the dishwasher. "How's Finnick?" She asks more like whispers. I know she has wanted to ask me this as soon as she saw me, but she won't do it in front of him and since the water is draining out our voices it seems like a good time.
"He's… okay." I say.
"Okay?" She says. I can tell by her voice she wanted more info than that.
"He can't get over the fact he killed someone." I say softly.
"Well that's understanding." Ella says. "But he did it to protect himself and his Mom…right?" She says.
"Yes." I say. If I killed someone, even if it was to save someone I don't think I would ever get over it. I'm still not over getting into a car accident when I was eighteen and that was just a fender bender.
She nods
"Nick is turning one soon you two doing anything special?" She asks steering the conversation away from Finnick.
I shrug.
"Not really. I haven't even thought about it."
Ella looks at me surprised.
"But it's the first one, you should be doing something special." She says.
"Maybe, but it's not like he will remember." I say.
"But you will." She says.
I nod.
"Maybe I'll make a cake." I say and she nods and looks towards the living room. She's looking at our Dad and Finnick and Nathan.
After we finish I tell Finnick we should go. He nods, he looks sick, but I know why it's because he's drunk.
I take Nick who starts to become fussy when I pick him up.
"You're okay baby." I say and kiss his forehead. "Mind if I leave this all here?" I ask and motion towards his rocker.
"That's fine Annie." My Dad says with a smile.
I get Nick settled in his car seat before we head to the car.
"Ann." Ella says as Finnick and I are about to walk outside.
"Yes?" I ask trying not to wake Nick up.
Her eyes linger on Finnick.
"What?" I ask.
"Just make sure you drive." She says.
"I've got it Ella." I say and she nods. "See you guys tomorrow." I say and we leave.
Once Finnick I get back to the hotel I set things up for Nick. Finnick just plops on the bed. By the time Nick is sleeping peacefully I see Finnick has passed out right on top of the covers. His shoes are still on and everything.
I sigh.
I thought I only had one person to take care of. I take off his shoes and place them near the door. I don't bother with the rest he'll probably wake up in the middle of of the night anyways.
"Good night Finnick." I say after I'm ready for bed. I kiss his cheek and turn off the last light.
I hear faint cries but they soon stop.
I open my eyes and see Finnick is soothing Nick. I look towards the clock and see it's eight in the morning.
"Mommy's awake." Finnick says and kisses the top of his head.
Finnick looks terrible. His eyes are bloodshot and it looks like he didn't sleep at all. He must've gotten up in the middle of the night because he did change into his flannel pajama pants.
"Yes Mommy's awake." I say and reach for him.
I can tell Nick is still tired. He probably doesn't like sleeping somewhere he's never been. I don't like hotels too much either.
I kiss the top of his head.
"You look terrible." I say to Finnick
"Didn't sleep well." He says.
"I bet." I mutter.
"What?" He asks.
"Nothing." I say.
"I just had a bad dream." He mumbles.
"I don't think that's all it was." I say trying to sound nice. He's been having nightmares since it all happened.
"What else would it be?" He asks.
"You drank a lot last night Finnick… a lot." I say. I know he drank at least one of those four bottles of wine by himself that is, if Ella was telling the truth about how much everyone else drank. I know she could tell as well. Why else would she make sure I was driving?
"Annie it was a dinner party." He says.
"My Dad making dinner does not make it a party." I say.
"Are you mad?" He asks surprised.
"I don't know." I say. I think disappointed and worried are the right words. "I'm worried about you Finnick."
"I'm fine and since you're so worried that I'm turning into a drunk, I promise I won't drink anything today." He says. I don't think I would be as worried if he didn't have a stage like this after Olivia died. Although he was much better at hiding it then and because I was so depressed then I didn't really care.
"Okay." I say. "I think you should talk about this in therapy." I say softly.
"Annie you don't get to tell me what I can or can't talk about in there." He says slightly angry.
"Alright." I say. I've boughten this up before, not about drinking, but about things I think he should talk about. Although I'm not supposed to figure things out for him he needs to realize it himself.
"Besides I don't feel too great anyways." He says.
"That's because your hungover." I say trying to sound nice./
We go over in a few hours. The more I see my Dad the less awkward it seems to be. I think the day is going well until I see Finnick sneak a drink from one of those baby bottles of vodka you can find in hotel rooms.