||Hello Neighbour: A Better Timeline||

||Chapter 53: Aunt Lisa's Visit||

Aaron scanned the street, it was quiet and nothing much was happening as usual but he was looking for something to do.
Maybe make something with Nicky and Mya, meet up with the others or-
A car pulled into the street, Aaron ducked and stared down the car that pulled into their driveway.
"Holy Golden Apples."
"What?"
Mya got up, then she even froze as the car engine turned off.
"Holy-"
"What is it?"
Mya turned to Nicky, he too approaching them and trying to see what they saw.
"Our Aunt Lisa is here."
"Oh, you mentioned her, is she. . . Visiting?"
Aaron shrugged,"I dunno. . . She never visits, doesn't call either.", peaking out the window with them, their aunt came out of the car and she definitely looked like she meant business.
White blouse, jeans, flat shoes and she had her hair tied up in a bun, and wearing glasses.
. . .
"Do you. . . Get along with her?"
"Well. . . Yes, but we don't see her much so we're not close. . . "
"So why is she here??"
Admittedly, Aaron and Mya were curious.

=

Downstairs, there was tension.
Theodore, Ike and Diana had no idea she was coming, no calls, text or emails.
Yet here she was.
Theodore cleared his throat,"Lisa; I didn't expect you to visit, we would have prepared something if we did.", Lisa nods,"I'm not staying long, I've rented a place a bit out of town for some business but I also wanted to drop off some decorations for Halloween.", Ike leaned against the doorway,"Oh, uh, you not. . . Celebrating this year?", her eyes were sharp,"No; Halloween isn't something I celebrate.", her words were icy, Ike and Diana glanced at one another, and Ike personally never talked to Theodore's sister much as she kept her distance when they were kids so. . . This was awkward.
Theodore looked upstairs,"Kids; Your Aunt Lisa is here, come say hi and you can go back to playing.", and then Mya and Aaron peaked downstairs,"Hi, Lisa.", "Hey.", Nicky stayed at the top of the stairs, just didn't want to get in the way of the family.
"Mya and Aaron."
Getting a better look at her, she had green earrings, gold rimmed glasses and had some silver bracelets.
Lisa noticed another person upstairs,"Who's upstairs?", "Our friend, Nicky.", Aaron waved him down,"You can come down, it's fine.", Nicky came downstairs, he somehow felt so much pressure from her staring him down,"Sorry, I uh. . . Didn't want to get in the way.", "It's fine, her visit was unexpected.", Lisa took in Nicky, at first she had assumed the friend was a girl but no, she was incorrect, he smiled awkwardly,"Hi. . .", Lisa cleared her throat, handing her keys to Aaron,"A pleasure to meet you, Nicky; You kids can go to the boot of my car and look at the decorations.", Aaron nods, immediately grabbing Mya and Nicky to get them out of this situation.

~

"That was. . ."
"Awful."
Aaron unlocked the car and opened the boot,"Lisa is a Professor in University, she lives a few states away I think and we haven't seen her since I was. . . 3?", "For me, it was like 5 maybe: I don't remember.", Aaron peered into the boot, finding 3 boxes worth of Halloween Decorations.
"Nice."
"Should look through them in the backyard?"
Aaron nods, grabbing one,"Yeah, I'm not walking through a house of tension.", so they each grabbed a box, closed and locked the car, Aaron opened the front door and placed the keys in the bowl and followed Nicky and Mya to the backyard.

~

Lisa watched front the front window as they carried the boxes to the backyard.
"Tea?"
Lisa took the cup from Diana,"Thank you, Diana. How have things been, I heard Theodore attended therapy?", Diana nods,"Yes, we've. . . Talked a lot, and things have been a lot better.", Lisa nods, guess he finally did get some help.
"And you'll be celebrating Halloween."
"Yes, Aaron and Mya love Halloween and the fair is rumored to be coming back."
Lisa nods, though her expression was cold as she sipped the tea, looking at her brother who avoided her gaze.
"I see."

Diana nods, leaving the room with only Lisa and Theodore.
. . .
"Lisa, can we talk about. . . Everything?"
"Halloween."
Theodore nods,"Yes. . .", Lisa sighed, putting the tea cup down,"I can't believe you moved back here after everything, Theodore.", Theodore nods again, picking at his gloves,"I know.", the silence between them was heavy, so much to say but not sure where to even start.
"You still celebrate Halloween."
"Yeah, I mean. . . Of course, the kids love Halloween and. . . You know, it was his favourite holiday too. . ."
Lisa nods,"I know. . .", Theodore looked at her,"Uhm. . . Lisa, if you have time, maybe came by Halloween. . . I'm sure the kids would love to spend more time with you.", Lisa looked at him, she wanted. . . She wanted to breach the gap between her, Theodore and his kids.

But it just felt like a gap too far wide to bridge.
"I'll think about it Theodore."

~

"Thanks again."
"No problem."
Mya pulled out a Scientist coat,"Oooh, maybe you could he a mad Scientist?", Nicky pulled out a beaker that had a Cork and fake liquid in it.
"Wonder where she got this, she doesn't celebrate Halloween you said?"
"Maybe she bought some stuff for us?"
Lisa glanced at them, smiling and going through the decorations.
She sighed, got in her car and drove off.

=

"Well, it was nice to see her."
Theodore stared at the coffee. . .
Clearing his throat,"Uhm. . . Diana, we need to talk about something.", she nods, sitting down next to him on the sofa,"Yes?", "Uhm.", Theodore took a deep breath,"We agreed, no more secrets. . . And, I've been talking to my therapist about, this for a while.", he reached into his pocket, pulling out a picture and handing it to Diana.
Diana held it, it was a family picture of her husband's family; His father, mother, sister, Theodore and. . . Another boy, much older and looked like Theodore but it wasn't.
"That is. . . Franklin Peterson. . . My older brother."
Diana looked at him,"You never mentioned him. . .", "I know. . . He had, passed away when I was 11.", Diana held his hand, Theodore slowly recounting that night, like it was yesterday.

". . . And. . . I should have told you, but. . ."
"Oh, Theodore. . ."
Diana just smiled, her smile was gently and full of comfort; No judgement.
"I can't imagine living with that, and you weren't comfortable telling me that and I understand, it probably took a lot to talk about and tell me. . . He must have been an amazing brother."
. . .
He nods,"He was. . . I wanted to tell you, and maybe the kids, but. . . I don't want to ruin their Halloween or. . .", Diana smiled,"You can tell them when you're ready, dear. There's no rush.", Theodore nods, pulling his wife in for a hug and barely able to hold back his tears,"Thank you, Diana. . . For standing by me despite everything. . .", Diana nods, and they sit in a comfortable silence.