Pointdexter: A Swooning Over Stan-fiction

Chapter Fifty-Three: First Day of Summer

Alice took a long drag from her cigarette, her hand shaking as she numbly watched Dipper and Mabel trying to encourage Ella to play with them. The sound of Carson's voice was muted in her ears as she flicked the ash from the end of the cigarette, letting it fall to the grass as she sat on the back porch.

Ella was in Gravity Falls and she didn't know what to do.

"Are you even listening?" Carson yelled on the other end of the phone.

"Of course, I'm listening," Alice snapped, her lips twitching in annoyance, her gaze flickering up to Ford standing next to her. Ford's presence at her side was both comforting and a constant reminder of the conflict at hand.

As he stood in silence, he watched the kids before them, his face betraying his confusion. On the other end of the phone, Carson's voice continued to berate her, the sound of his voice grating on Alice's already frayed nerves.

"You what?" Alice asked quickly, her hand shaking as she rested her arm on her leg, cigarette dangling between her fingers. "A week? Carson, you left her alone for a week?"

Something about an unexpected work trip and a nanny came back as an excuse. Alice stubbed out the cigarette on the step, slipping the butt into her pocket and pressing a hand to her temple.

"She can stay the week," She sighed into the phone. "I have an apartment. What- No? It's just me here, why would I buy a house?"

Alice growled, accusing questions from her ex-husband grating her ears as she tried to soothe the anger in her chest.

"I don't have to explain anything to you," She snapped, hanging up the phone and sliding it into her pocket. Ford stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Are you alright?" He asked, his voice soft but filled with concern. Sighing, Alice leaned forward, resting her head in her hands and tearing her gaze from the kids in the yard.

"No," She answered honestly, closing her eyes. "Carson's out of the country and Ella escaped her babysitter."

Ford's grip on her shoulder tightened, his thumb rubbing small circles against her skin.

"How did she get here?" Ford asked, his voice low and calm as he watched the kids. 

Alice snorted, shaking her head and lifting her gaze to follow his. Dipper and Mabel had found an extra water gun and were trying to coax Ella into playing with them, but Alice's daughter scowled, her arms crossed in front of her.

"She stole a grand from her dad," Alice elaborated, smoothing her hands over her knees. "And bought a bus ticket to Gravity Falls from Connecticut. Apparently, she's been acting out."

"Acting out how?" Ford prompted, his voice low and careful. 

"Stealing, fighting in school, arguing with the house staff," Alice elaborated, pressing her lips together. "If I know Carson, he's more focused on work than her, and she wants her father's attention. She's always been like that."

"It's a difficult situation," Ford said with a nod, his grip on her shoulder relaxing. "What will you do?"

Alice shook her head, a scoff escaping her, "She'll stay the week and Carson will fly in to pick her up. She has to go back, he has full custody."

"You can't be serious," Ford stated, his voice filling with frustration.

"I don't like it either," Alice protested, turning her gaze up to him. "But the judge made the ruling and there's nothing I can do about it. Ella chose him after all and Carson made it law."