The Unfortunate Afterthoughts

3. My Partner

May ends up going home shortly after she cleans up Peter and mom and Josh come home. Mom deals with getting the boys settled in and they thank her, even Tate.

I fall asleep around 11 but wake back up due to someone opening my bedroom door and lightly shaking me. "Vinnie." Tates voice whispers.

I groan, "What?" He sits on the edge of my bed, "I can't sleep...my brain won't shut up." I sigh. Anxiety. I have it too. Most nights I can't sleep either.

I speak, "Is it really bad?" He nods after a couple seconds of silence. "Yeah...I'm shaking." He puts his hand on my arm and I feel his fingers tremble against my skin.

I sit up and turn on my lamp and see his red face and he looks up so I can see his red puffy eyes. He looks up at my ceiling as he tries to hold in a sob. "I feel so guilty...I know you forgive me but-"

I put my hand over his mouth and his wide eyes look into mine. "Shh." I brush my fingers across his forehead to get his sweaty strands of hair out of his face so I can see his blue eyes.

I don't think he's had a compliment in years since he's stayed in his room. I smile as I think of one and take my hand off his mouth.

"You have the most beautiful eyes Tate. I don't think I've ever seen anyone with your eyes. They're not just blue, they have a hint of green and brown but they aren't hazel. I could look in them all night."

His eyes shift to an emotion I don't know so I speak, "What?" He gives a soft smile. "I'm so glad I'm getting a second chance with you Lavender."

I lay down and he lays down beside me and we just stare into each other's eyes. He speaks softly, his voice is so soothing...it's so comforting. "I think the way the sun hits your skin is really beautiful. The way the sun hits your hair and eyes...the way you smile...the sound of your laugh...the way you would defend anyone even your enemy...that's what I love about you, Lavender Marie..."

Suddenly a feeling washes over me and I speak on it. "I feel so safe with you. Do you feel the same?" He nods, "Yeah. I feel the same."

A couple days pass by slowly. The boys and Beth visit me. She kicked Derek out and got a restraining order and made him sign divorce papers.

As I lay in my bed and scroll through old photos of me and the boys. I hear a knock on my door and mom comes in. "Someone is here to see you..." She gives a small smile and I sit up in my bed.

A man comes in but I don't recognize him immediately which makes him frown. "Hey Vin." My eyebrows knit together. "Dad?"

He smiles, "Yeah its me Vinnie." I get up and he scoops me up in a big but gentle bear hug. He groans, "Oh its so good to see you sweetheart."

He puts me down gently and he watches my foot so I don't hurt it. He speaks, "You're mom told me you didn't heal all the way...how long do you have left until you can dance again?"

I smile, "About 8 weeks." He frowns, "I'm sorry, Vinnie. That sucks. I know how much you love dancing."

I shrug, "I'm not so worried about it...but guess what..." I say intriguingly. He gives a crooked smile with narrowed eyes, "What?"

"I'm friends with Tate again!" He gasps, "What!? That's great! I'm so glad!" I look to mom and she smiles as she watches us. I wave her over as dad wraps me in another hug. He turns and speaks, "Come here..." he waves Mom over and she sighs and joins our hug. I see dad kiss mom's head and she smiles as she glances at me.

Suddenly I hear Josh's voice. "Dad?" We all break the hug and dad smiles as Josh rushes over and engulfs dad in a hug. This is the 4th time I've seen Josh cry. The first was when dad and mom were fighting and he had took me to his room to distract me with teaching me piano. The second was when dad left, the 3rd was when I had my injury and the last is today...right now.