Welcome to Stonebrook

Fifteen

~Clay~

"Daddy?" 

"Yes baby?" 

"Where is everyone?" I looked over at Tate, my heart breaking with every passing second. The party started at 11. It was 12.30. Not a single person had showed outside of immediate family. Her entire class was invited. I handed out the invitations myself. To the parents who said they would be here. I poured my heart into this. Knowing how much Libby wanted it. Knowing it was her first birthday party where people outside of her family might actually show up. 

There's a knock at the door and I can finally breathe a sigh of relief, ignoring her question as I dash for the door. But pulling it open, I have to slip out onto the front porch because it's not the crowd of 7 year olds I was hoping it would be. 

"Hey. Sorry I'm late I-" 

"No one showed." Lorelai's obviously fake smile dropped off her face and that's just something I'll have to deal with later. "It's literally just me and her family. No-" 

"The kids didn't show?" I shook my head. "Little fuckers." She shoved a rainbow polka dot bag into my hand and I watched as she fished around in her handbag for her phone. "I swear, I talked to them about bullying Clay. We spent like 3 hours on it. How can they fucking do this?! Gimme 10 minutes I'm gonna fix this. Go inside. I've got it." 

"Lor-" Lorelai shook her head, turning my shoulder and pushing me towards the door. 

"No. They're not fucking with my girl like this. I've had enough of people's toxic shit this weekend. Hey Wells. Are you guys all free?"  Lor opened my door and pushed me inside, slamming it shut behind me. 

"Was that Miss Turner?" Libby's face finally lit up. 

"Sure was. She's just on the phone but she'll be in soon, I promise. Hey! What's Uncle Dean doing out there?" Libby turned her head to her Uncle who was now sat at a long table in the back yard, on a chair way too small for him, doing a paint by number. The good old distract and redirect. 

I spent 15 minutes pacing the living room but eventually, the commotion outside caused me to head to the window. There I stood a bunch of kids and their parents peering up at Lorelai, bright red face looking like she was trying not to combust. I couldn't hear what she was saying but I have never seen her like that and the parents, they looked down right ashamed of themselves, all of them avoiding eye contact with Lorelai, Wells and Tess who was now stood with her arms crossed looking just as wound up. This town loves Tessa and I can imagine all it took was one word from her to make them all drag their asses out here and do the right thing. 

"God, she works quick doesn't she?" Tate whispered behind me, like speaking normally might draw too much attention. "Even got Tessa in? Girl knows how to play to her strengths." 

"Uhuh." I stared at Lorelai through the glass. What the fuck was I doing? 

This girl is fucking stunning, has pulled my daughter out of her shell, has just managed to round up her entire class and their parents in 15 minutes, called Olivia 'her girl', and then proceeded to bollock them so hard they all look like they've been told they have been aiding homeless puppies be put to sleep. 

There's a knock at the door and I clear my throat, walking over to pull it open and Lorelai is stood front a center, fake smile back. She takes a puff of air. 

"Right. Let's try this again. What do we have to say to Mr Fraser everyone?" There's a chorus of sorrys and everyone looks downright miserable. "Good. Now. Go inside and play nice. If I see a single one of you not looking like you're enjoying yourself you'll be sitting out of the Olympics on Friday and sat writing Olivia and Mr Fraser an apology letter for ruining their well planned party."  A dozen kids and parents enter my house and I watch as fake smiles become real when they see the activities I planned for everyone. The sweet tables, the pinata, the bounce house that's practically an obstacle course. 

"Hey Clay! How are you?" Tessa climbs the porch with a soft smile. 

"I'm- I'm better now. How are you?" 

"I'm good thank you. Dean here?" 

"In the back probably being dressed up as a princess right now." She grinned. 

"Ha. Perfect, I needed a reunion photo for our homecoming king." She slapped my shoulder and came into the house and I managed to step out before Lorelai came inside. She kicked the bottom step of the porch, not aware I was out here with her. 

"Lor?" 

"Oh." She turned to face me, plastering that smile right back on. It didn't reach her eyes, there was no dimples either. It's that version of a smile you have when you work in customer service and you have to smile and pretend the customer isn't a complete douche. Her eyes are wet though. Glistening like I could say 2 words and she'd break into tears without warning. "Hey. So I had Wells call around-" 

"Thank you." I stepped down to the floor, a few inches away from her but very aware there were parents around, Tate and Dean and Wells. All people that really shouldn't see me kiss her like I want to right now. And fuck do I want to. I want to grab a hold of that perfect face and kiss her until she can't breathe then pick her up and take her upstairs, show her just how much this means to me.  

"Don't worry about it. It pisses me off when people say they'll be some where and then don't show. Singling Lib- Olivia sorry. Singling Olivia out isn't fair. I don't know what came over them but I'm gonna speak to Mrs Johnson when we all go back and see if there's something we can do because this isn't the kind of kids we want to be-" 

"Lor?" She swallowed. "Are you okay?" 

"Me? Yeah. What? I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" 

"You're rambling, Honey. You look like you're about to-"

"No. I'm fine." She sniffed, shook her head and chuckled, pushing past me. "Come on, I believe there's a 7 year old wanting a birthday party somewhere around here, I am ready to dance it up to baby shark!" 

Something's wrong. 

I don't know what it is but my stomach is clenching and it's giving me goosebumps. I step forward as Lor starts up the steps, grabbing her wrist and tugging so she turns around. 

"You're not okay Lor." 

"I'm fine."

"Lorela-" 

"I said I'm fine Clay." She was fighting tears now. They were filling her eyes and I want to know who did this to her. Who hurt her, why she's on the verge of crying and why she feels like she can't tell me something is wrong. "Where's the birthday girl?" 

"Uh- backyard." 

"Got it." She nods once and shakes her hands out by her side before pushing the door open. "Hey Koda! Oh look at you. You should stay away from the paint table babe. They'll turn you into a zebra next."