Sequel to Sign of The Times
After being put on parole for "good behavior", Matthew West is relieved of his 40 year sentence. When learning about his abuser's release, Tom falls back into the dark place he was in after he got home the first time. The...
Tom lays in bed with a pillow covering his head. A harsh pounding beats his brain.
Molly opens the bedroom door and hands him a water bottle. "You have to drink more water."
He winces at the noise. "Can you please be quieter... my head?"
"Yes, Thomas, I'm sorry for causing any discomfort. It's not like fell into a table while my drunk husband laughed hysterically."
"It wasn't on purpose," he whispers. "I was ashamed And I couldn't tell them that I had an issue with drinking."
"You were ashamed? You weren't ashamed when I had to kick everyone out of our 5 year old daughter's birthday party because her alcoholic father got into the whiskey? Well guess what, I was. I was fucking mortified. I felt nauseous as I said goodbye to the people who came from Australia and England because one of the hosts was shit faced."
"I'm not an alcoholic," Tom snaps. "I had a little trouble but don't ever call me that again."
"Someone who needs alcohol with every meal is an alcoholic, Thomas. I didn't make the definition. Now I want to know what the fuck happened between you and Matt to cause you to start this because it was clearly something. You didn't just decide one day to lay in the fetal position in our bed and do 10 shots."
"Nothing happened, Molly."
"Right, nothing happened. I'll be downstairs with Lily writing apologize letters to our family so if you want to join us when you're feeling better, feel free." Molly snaps and walks out of the bedroom.
Tom felt horrible. He didn't mean for it to get that far. Actually, he didn't mean to even drink at all, but it was just so embarrassing to look at his friends and confess the problems he had before.
About an hour later, he drags himself out of bed and changes into comfortable jeans a sweater. "Goodmorning," he groans and walks down the stairs.
"Daddy!" Lily yells, causing him to since. "Good morning."
"Hello, dear. Be a little quieter, alright? Daddy's got a headache."
"I need to go to the store." Molly says. "We ran out of lighter fluid."
"I can go."
"You're going to go?"
"Why not? Want to come with, Lils?"
"Yes!"
"We'll be right back." Tom smiles and leans in to kiss Molly on the cheek. She stands still, not putting her cheek in to accept the kids. "I love you."
"Yeah, you too." Molly replies.
Tom holds Lillian's hand and takes her to the car.
"Why'd you sleep late?" she asks.
"Um... Daddy doesn't feel fantastic, love, if I'm being honest."
"Is that why Mummy called you a mother fucker?"
"Lily," Tom snaps. "Darling, that's a bad word."
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright," Tom makes a turn out of their suburb onto the road. "Um... yes, that's... that's why."
"Will she get mad at me when I don't feel good?"
"No, Lils, she won't. I uh... well, Daddy had a lot of adult drinks that made him sick, which was a very bad idea. It won't happen again so don't worry."
"Oh, okay." she shrugs.
Tom drives to the gas station and parks in spot 3. "Come on, dear, you gotta come in."
"Can I get a freezie?"
"A small, alright?
"Thank you, Daddy."
Tom smiles and holds her back as they walk into the gas station. "Do you need help?"
"No."
"Alright, kid. Go ahead."
Tom walks through the aisles and grabs a long lighter. He looks over the racks and sees Lillian pouring flavored ice into her cup. He walks up to the register and places it down.
"Hello, sir."
"Hello," Tom smiles. "$20 on 3 please, the lighter, and a small freezie." He points back to Lillian.
"You got it. Anything else?"
She notices Tom eyeing the glass case behind the counter. "N... no, that's all."
"Are you sure?" she smiles.
"Well... what kind of whiskey do you have? A small one, I mean." he quietly says.
"We have 12oz Jack Daniels."
"Get me one of those please and uh..." Tom grabs a package of spearmint gum and sets it on the counter. "This too please."
"Alright. Your total will be $42.74."
Tom slides his cad through the machine.
"You're set to go. Have a nice day."
"Thank you, thank you, you too." Tom smiles. Lily walks over to him, her lips blue. "What are you drinking?"
"Blue raspberry and cotton candy."
"Yeah? Let me see that."
Tom steals a sip of her freezie. "Oh, that's good. Get in the car, alright? I have to put gas in."
Lily smiles and climbs into the back seat.
Tom inserts the nozzle into the gas tank. He digs through the white bag and takes out the 12oz bottle of Jack Daniels.
His back turned to the car so that Lily couldn't see him, he opens the bottle and drinks it until only droplets are left.
With a sigh of relief, he tosses the bottle into the garbage can and takes out the nozzle, placing it into the holder.
"Alright, are you ready to head home?" Tom asks Lillian.
"Yes!" Lily exclaims, drinking her freezie.
Tom sighs as he backs out of the parking space, vision unable to focus.
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A little reminder, do not drink and drive! That's not good for anyone! Especially if you're with a child in the car... please be careful with alcohol consumption.
