The next day were spent the way Seth knew it should always be. Lazy mornings with breakfast in bed and days of just doing what came to mind.
On the 2nd day they drove to Chicago to visit Ellie's parents. Seth could tell that this was something that really affected Ellie.
When they pulled in front of the house Seth kissed her hand.
"You can just text me when ur ready for me to come get you" Seth smiled
Ellie moved in her seat to face him.
"Come in. Meet them... I know they will love you but they can't know the truth. I want you to meet my father in case the whole Phil situation doesn't sort itself out before my dad passed" Ellie looked down
"That's fine. What ever you want" Seth followed Ellie inside the house
Once inside Ellie went over to her mother and her father who was in a hospital bed and gave him a kiss on the forehead.
"Dad this is Seth, he's a friend and coworker.. I'm sure you've seen him" Ellie smiled a reassuring smile at Seth
"Ouch is that the damage you did
With that chair sweetie? How did you forgive her" Ellie's dad extended his hand out to Seth
Seth shook his hand and laughed
"She was forgiven even before it happened. Nice to meet you, Sir" said Seth
Ellie's dad gave Seth a suspicious look.
"where did all these new machines come from?" Ellie looked at her parents
"Phil didn't tell you?" Asked her dad
"Phil had them delivered yesterday. Didn't he tell you? It's a 175 thousand dollar machine I for sure thought he would have mentioned it" said Ellie's mom
"Oh.. He knew I was coming he probably wanted me to be surprised" Ellie tried to smile. Knowing it was another thing she couldn't afford for her parents that she now owed Phil for.
The rest of the day Seth and Ellie spent it with her family having a good time and being extremely careful not to give out any hints.
Towards the end of the night Seth sat in the dining room table watching Ellie in another room helping her Dad to bed.
"I see the way you look at her you know." Said Ellie's mom
Seth nearly had a heart attack
"It's just different seeing her with her dad.. It's hard to believe it's the same girl that hit me with a chair on my head" Seth tried to insert humor
"I know my daughter. She looks at you the same way." Ellie's mom stopped cleaning the kitchen
"Now she doesn't tell me much. I am sure it's so we don't worry but I catch things. Phil is a very generous man... We've known him since he was born.. He and Ellie became friends at a very small age. He had a very difficult upbringing and Ellie always protected him. Always invited him over for dinner and holidays were spent together. I guess it's natural that they eventually started a relationship." Continued Ellie's mom
Seth looked at his hands. Knowing that even if he wanted to he couldn't provide the things that Punk had provided. He also knew they saw Punk like a son so he was feeling insecure.
"But he changed. Once he got older he started getting angry, bitter and extremely manipulative towards Ellie ... And I love him and I know he loves Ellie in his own messed up ways ...but I knew he wasn't being good to my girl... Slowly Ellie had started to lose a lot of her joy, she looked tired and worried all the time,but she always had to be there to protect "her Phil". Now I have never been one to mingle in my kids love life so I never said anything to Ellie. Today I saw the old Ellie. She has that sparkle in her eyes that she was missing" Ellie's mom put her hand on Seth's shoulder
"It was very nice to meet you Seth and I hope to see you around more often" she said with a smile and gave him a hug and walked away
Ellie was giving Seth a tour of the house she grew up in. Sitting down on a bench in the backyard.
"So this is it. This is where I came to be" she smiled at him
"And punk." Said Seth
"Yes .. A lot of Punk around here too.. He and my brothers actually set up a wrestling ring in this backyard but why even talk about him." Ellie looked up at the stars
Seth was starting to wonder if they would ever be able to fully move on past Punk. He wanted to believe that they will one day be happy together and not have anything tying her to her husband but the more he learned about her the move he saw just how much Punk was a part of her.