Father Josh

Pieces Coming Together

"Hey Simon? Can I talk to you about Vik?"

I look up from watching Vik color.

"Yeah."

She gestures for me to follow and we walk out the door.

"Is Vik okay?"

I shake my head solemnly. Suzy lets out a heavy sigh and nods.

"I figured. He's been really down since music class last week."

"I was hoping you knew some of the details of what happened."

"I know some, based on what Dan told me, but I don't know much more."

I lean against the wall and slump a bit.

"I know Ethan and Vik got in a fight and that Vik was crying after the class. Dan said they were talking about marriage, but he didn't hear much about the conversation."

"I'll talk to him. Thank you, Suzy."

We hug and walk back into the classroom. Oh boy.

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"Josh."

"Hey, babe."

"We need to talk and quickly."

"Where's Vik?"

"Cleaning his room, now sit."

I push him down into one of the dining room tables chairs.

"Simon? What's wrong?"

"I found out more about the Ethan-Vik thing."

That gets his full attention. After Vik had told us that he no longer had his ring, he had completely shut down. Josh nudges me and I return to the current situation.

"I think Ethan and Vik broke up. Completely broke up."

Josh's face drops and you can tell he's seconds away from either crying or going on a tyrannical rant.

"I'm calling Ruth."

Before I can stop him, Josh has his phone out and is already waiting for her to answer.

"Papa? Daddy?"

Vik is standing at the end of the table, eyes wide and slightly frightened.

"Hey baby boy. Come here."

Vik shuffles over to me and pulls himself into the empty chair. He then proceeds to crawl across the table and slide into Josh's lap. Can't really reprimand him. We started it when he was little. Easier to transfer him without having to get up.

Josh suddenly jolts, pulling the phone away from his ear and puts on the speakerphone.

"-as actually going to call you! I've been meaning to ask about Vik? Ethan has been very upset lately and crying about Vik."

"We were actually calling about the same thing. Vik told us that Ethan took his ring."

"Oh? One minute."

There's a crinkling sound and then the distinct sound of a door opening.

"Ethan? Did you take Vik's ring?"

"Yeah. Emily told me I had too."

"Why would you do that Eth?"

"She said that we are too young to be married so we have to break up."

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A/N: I love Emily, I'm just running out of people to add. No offense to Emily at all. She's an amazing person.