I See The Light (Book #3 in LA Series)

Chapter Four

Dan's POV
"Kids your favorite uncle is here," I yell as I enter Cole's apartment.

Evan runs out of his room, along with his best friend Scarlett. "Hey Dan," he says.

"What's going on, kid?" I ask.

"Scarlett and I were working on a science project," he answers. "Robert is in his room, blaring his stupid music."

"It's not stupid," Robert says as he walks out of his room. "You just can't appreciate it, because you aren't cool."

Evan flips him off and Scarlett rolls her eyes at the pair of them.

"Dan in here!" Georgie yells. I follow her voice and find her breastfeeding one of the twins on the couch. It's not the first time I've seen her do this, so I just walk past her and plop on the armchair.

The first time I rushed out of the room with a hard-on.

"Cole just had to deliver a painting," Georgie says. "He won't be long."

"It's fine, I can wait," I mutter.

"Have you seen Beth yet?" Georgie asks.

I shake my head. Georgie told me about how Beth was standing outside the bar, looking like she might puke. That Beth might one day come back.

This week wasn't those days.

Her sister, however, Violet has been hanging around my bar a lot. She still wants a piece of this.

The front door opens and then Cole is walking into the living room. "Hey man, sorry I'm late," Cole says.

"Not too fussed, Georgie is great company," I say, winking at her.

Cole scowls at me. "Stop flirting with my wife."

I get up and softly tap the non-scarred side of his face. "Let's do this thing."

Cole and I walk back out of the apartment and into the one next door. When the couple first found out they were having another set of twins, they realised very quickly they needed more rooms.

Cole then figured out they were selling the apartment next door and quickly bought it. Once the babies are old enough to have their rooms, away from their parents, Robert and Evan will stay here. Cole just wants me to help him install a door connecting the two.

I knock on the wall and hum. "Hollow enough, but you'll need the building plans for electric cords and water pipes."

Cole sighs. "Yeah I thought so."

"You could just keep them separate," I suggest. "I mean they are seventeen next year and need some responsibility."

"It's Georgie who is a bit apprehensive," Cole says. "It's her babies you know."

I nod. "The apartment one hundred per cent needs sprucing up," I say as I look around. "Who the hell lived here before?"

"Some older lady," Cole shrugs. "I never talked to her."

"Rude bastard," I say.

*
It was my day off today and I was feeling a little down. So I do what I normally do and buy a bouquet and head to the cemetery. I get to Emily's grave clean off the muck that's appeared on it and pull out the weeds growing. I place the flowers into the purple vase I bought here a couple of years ago and crouch down in front of her.

"Hey Emily," I say out loud. "It's one of those days, where I'm feeling like shit and the only way to make me feel better would be one of your hugs," I croak. "I miss you."

I quickly wipe my tears away when I hear footsteps behind me. It was just Mr McLachlan. His wife was buried a row behind Emily and we always seem to see each other here.

"Good morning, Dan," he says. "Beautiful day innit?"

"Yeah, it is," I answer.

"Emily's parents were here last week," he says. "Though they didn't stay long and they could've cleaned it up a bit."

Emily's parents, Rhonda and Jim never liked me. Said I wasn't a good enough guy for her. Said that she could've gone to Yale if it wasn't for me.

Emily was her own person though. I didn't have any dreams till her. I wanted to help her get her bar. We had been celebrating the night she had her stroke. We just bought the bar, after a two-month bidding war with the Chen's who wanted to open a BBQ place.

We already had Kelly's Bar and Grill thanks.

I was going to name it Emily's but it was too painful at the time, so I named it Dan's. Beth created a Thursday night ladies' night, but we called it Emily's night instead of ladies' night.

It was quite popular since all they had to do was pay $90 and they got a free meal and unlimited drinks for two hours. I cut back the drinks menu for that.

I invited Emily's parents to the opening since I was technically fulfilling her dreams, but they said no because I was the man who killed her.

Emily wouldn't have wanted to live like that. In a wheelchair and not being able to live without a breathing tube. I did what was best for her. Not what was best for them.

"Will I see you next week?" Mr McLachlan asks. I stand up and turn to face him, seeing him sitting on his usual beach chair and playing some '60s music out of his really old radio.

He does this every Wednesday with her. He has for the last five years. His wife, Dorothy passed away from a blood clot. She had to have surgery and she got an infection. She was only 60 and Mr McLachlan said she had only just started on her bucket list.

"Maybe," I answer. "Will I see you at the bar?"

"Maybe after yoga," he states. "You know what those ladies are like on a Saturday morning."

I laugh. "Say hello to Marilyn and Beverley for me."

"See you!" He yells as I walk to my car.