Side Effects

Paper Boats

Beau sat there with his head in his hands, "Like a fucking band-aid," he thought, "You just have to rip it off quick." The woman who had so oddly introduced herself moments ago had taken her leave, as in, leaving Beau alone with his grieving daughter.
"Why didn't you tell me what the fuck was going on, Dad?" Mel could barely articulate the words coming out of her mouth through her sobs.

"I brought us here so I could tell you. I thought it would kind of help to break the ice or something." Beau looked at Mel from across the table, her crying face made him feel awful. She spoke through her sniffles.

"What a great idea, Dad; take me to a steakhouse and tell me you're gonna die. Are you insane?" Mel took the napkin her silverware was wrapped in to blow her nose. Beau looked around the room to make sure he wasn't making too much of a scene. He leaned forward and spoke lightly to her.

"Hey, look at me, everything is going to be okay." Beau spoke in a reassuring tone. Apparently, this was not the tone Mel wanted to hear, as it prompted her to eject from her seat, almost screaming.

"Nothing is going to be okay!" She made for the door, though it was unclear of where she intended to go.

As Mel made her dramatic escape, Beau attempted to chase after her, though it was evident that his brittle bones wouldn't allow him to keep pace. By the time he was able to finagle his way out of the booth, Mel was already outside. Beau bounced around the groups of people on his way to the exit, like a cell phone in a tumble dryer. When he finally got out the door, he immediately saw Mel, sitting on the curb, crying. Beau hobbled over to where she was sitting, careful not to spook her like a startled doe.

"You know, I didn't even get my steak." Beau tried joking with her. Mel gave the most forced chuckle. "What are we going to do though, Dad?" She asked with her quavering voice.

"I have no clue, sweetie, you'd go with grandma, probably." Beau wrapped his arms around her.

"Grandma always wants to watch MASH though, I hate that show." Mel sniffled.

"Grandma just loves that show, I don't get on you about all the wacky shit you watch." Beau shrugged.

"I just don't want you to die, that would really suck." Mel tucked her head into her Dad's arm.

"It's not even that bad, Mel, I feel fine!" He hugged her extra tight, even though it sent searing pain through his arms.
Beau and Mel sat on the curb for a moment, silently sharing a moment that seldom happened between the two. After the emotion and somber tone dissipated, Beau picked himself up off the curb and looked down at the red-eyed, snot-nosed daughter that sat before him. Seeing her cry for him made his heart sink, but it also made him happy. Beau offered his hand to her.

"Can we please go in and eat now?" He smiled lightly.

"But everyone is gonna be looking at us, at me." Mel wiped her nose and took his hand.

"Who cares? You have a dying father, nobody will be able to talk shit. Come on, Doodle-bear, lets get some grub." Beau held her hand as the two of them walked back into the restaurant.