24 Dreams Of You And Me

97) The Scales Of Parenting

"There is no such thing as a perfect parent. So just be a real one."
-Sue Atkins

***

Levi looked down at his shoes, then at his intertwined fingers and then around the room. Slowly, he brought his eyes up at the opposite sofa.

The silence was deafening and awkward.

How do I even begin? He thought.

John was glaring at him. So was Bella. Neither of them spoke a word since he came in.

Levi took a breath to speak but one glance at John shut him up even before he started.

"How'd you find this place?" Bella demanded.

"Uh.. we- we had been to her house.. when we were trapped.. ma'am.."

He added the last word awkwardly.

Bella didn't respond.

Levi had never thought he'd address the woman he considered his mother a decade ago as ma'am.

"And the purpose of this unwelcome visit might be?" John asked.

Levi looked around, Alyssa was nowhere to be seen.

"Alyssa.. she-"

Just then the front door opened again and Ruby stepped in. Her eyes fell on them and widened as she immediately recognized Levi.

"Oh. I.. I didn't know you had company, Mr Lauder." She frowned and tried to sense what was happening.

How in the hell is Levi Cahill sitting with John and Bella!? She mentally screamed.

"We hadn't anticipated either, Ruby." John replied. "Alyssa's asleep in her room, make sure she stays in."

Ruby nodded and walked away.

Levi kept his eyes on her to see which room Alyssa was in but before he could have a proper look, Ruby closed the door behind her.

He cleared his throat and faced them again. By now, he was regretting his hasty decision.

"What do you wanna tell Alyssa?" Bella asked, this time with a little less harshness.

It was good enough for Levi. He wasn't even expecting that. "She went through a lot more than bearable. I just wanted to make sure she's okay.. did she tell you about the.. um-"

"How we're not Walkers anymore? Just people with birthmarks on their wrists? Yes, she did." John answered.

Levi nodded and gulped. He realised he should've probably planned this through.

"Look, Mr and Mrs Lauder. I know there's point in avoiding the elephant in the room. My father turned on you, I'm sorry for that. He may have been not what he said he was, but he wasn't a bad man. He was a great father-"

"We never said he wasn't. We just said he was a pathetic friend." John stated, trying to control his temper.

Levi inhaled deeply. "To put it bluntly. But, my actions aren't his actions. I've had this talk with you daughter several times. There's a reason we came to an agreement, worked together and survived. I'm sure you know what I mean if you know the whole story."

"You mean the one she told us while crying like a widow because she couldn't bear even the memory of the time she spent there with you as her tortured her?" John spoke nonchalantly.

"That's clever word play, Mr Lauder. With respect, but you know you're at least a little bit grateful I was there with her or otherwise, had I left, she wouldn't have come back."