Cheer Up Baby | Elijah Hewson

Chapter 6. Pizza with a side of awkwardness

𝕽𝖊𝖇𝖊𝖈𝖈𝖆

"So.....Rebecca......Where are you from love?" Questioned Ali, Eli's mother, with a kind hearted smile on her face.

We were all sitting at the dinner table in the dining room instead of the table in the kitchen since the dining room was bigger and had more seats.

"I'm from Swords, but I live in Howth now. I bought an apartment there two years ago. My parents are divorced and my mam moved to Italy while my dad moved to Blackrock, so I couldn't afford to keep the house. It was a hard decision to make, but I love my apartment very much."

Both Ali and Bono where taking in everything I was saying. They didn't make me feel awkward or uncomfortable. They made me feel welcome.

Moments after the bedroom incident we got dressed and headed downstairs. There was no awkward or strange looks from either of his parents, they were calm and were very interested in getting to know me. So that's how we ended up on the conversation of my life story.

"If you don't mind me asking Rebecca, what is your fathers name?" Bono questioned, me not knowing where he was taking this conversation.

"His name is Mick O'Sullivan, why?"

"Doesn't he have a popular plumbing business here on the South Side? Me and Ali always ring him up first if we ever have a problem with the sink or the water in the house."

Jesus Christ. I feel like the living ghost of my dad just follows me everywhere. After everything he put me and my mam through, and then later in life he put me through even more of his bullshit I just want rid of him. That's what I thought I did, but it clearly didn't work.

"Yep. That's him alright." I replied, looking down at my lap, clearly not feeling comfortable around this topic.

"Tell him me and Ali said hi and that the two of you should come over for dinner sometime."

Where am I supposed to go with this conversation. Should I be honest and tell him that me and my dad are not on speaking terms, or should I just bullshit him and say everything is rainbows and unicorns and that I love my dad so very much.......Fuck that, I'm gonna be brutally honest.

"Well, actually, You see, me and my dad don't talk anymore. When he remarried he basically left me in the dust to start his new family so I don't really want anything do with him. I was sick for a while as well during the first lockdown during Covid and he didn't even bother to ring me never mind send me flowers or a get well soon card when I was in hospital, so I think that proves where I stand with him."

I started to choke up towards the end of what I was saying. I like to believe that everything that happened between me and my dad doesn't upset me but in reality it breaks my heart. All I wanted was a dad that would protect me and care for me and even when I get older and moved out he'd come visit me and we'd laugh about all the funny memories we have had together, but I'll never have that. I guess you can't lose something you never had to begin with.

"Oh......sweetheart, I'm so sorry. Let me go get you a glass of water, I'll be back in a second." Ali said, reaching over the table to rest her hand on top of mine, instantly calming me down.

Once Ali left the room was silent, very silent. I don't think either Bono or Eli knew what to say. Bono was the one who brought up who my dad is and that he knows him, so he most likely felt some guilt, and then Eli definitely didn't know what to say because I never mentioned what my family life was like, or anything at all about me being in hospital. I just didn't feel the need to say it to him because I didn't want him feeling like he had to fix any of my trauma.

"I'm just going to help mam with the drinks. I'll be back in a minute Rebbeca. Okay?"

"Ye, that's fine."