The Journey Home

23 - The Calm...

Every day, every hour, turn that pain into power
-Superheroes by The Script

Eileen

It had been two weeks since we moved in with Alex. Despite our circumstances, things were going well. We continued taking Angie to school together, and during the day my father would give me shooting lessons. Things between us were still awkward, but his relationship with Angie was blossoming. She was crazy about her 'papa.'

I could see why. His behavior with her was much the same as it was when I was a child. Though my mother was never present, my dad always made up for it. His work took a lot of his time and still, he managed to be a great father. I always would remember those moments with him. 

"You're thoughtful today," Lucas said, taking a seat on the towel beside me. We were at a local lake, after Alex insisted that he wanted to bring us. To my surprise, he'd even invited my dad even though they did not talk much unless it was necessary.

"Yeah, a bit." I followed Luke's gaze, which was set on my father. If looks could kill...

"You don't like him, do you?" I asked him.

"Nope. Not one bit." He played with the dirt underneath us, letting it run through his fingers. "I hate this lake," he muttered.

"Why are you here then?" 

"Have you met your boyfriend?" Luke retorted.

It was true, Alex had an air of control about him that was hard to ignore. He was incredibly sweet, but he when he set his mind to something there was no room for argument.

"At least here I get a cabin far, far away from you two." 

"You're never going to live that down, are you?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"You see, Eileen," he began, a mischievous smile on his face warning me that what was going to leave his mouth would probably infuriate me, "when I met you, I thought you were calm, quiet. Imagine my surprise when I hear you every night going, oh Alex, oh fuck, oh yes, please..."

My face turned a hundred shades of red as he mimicked me. The jerk had the nerve to laugh as if he'd just told the funniest joke ever. I'd grown used to his sense of humor so I expected it, but he didn't mince his words. At all.

"Shut up, Luke," I said under my breath.

He placed his arm over my shoulders, in a show of brotherly affection before he placed a kiss on my head.

"I'm glad he found you. It was about time he settle down. I'm happy it was with you." 

"What about you, Luke? When are you settling down?"

"Oh, no. Not me, Eileen. I don't care for relationships. I would be depriving the women of this world from having all this," he gestured towards himself. "I just find it easier to avoid that shit." Luke paused for a moment, placing his hand over mine. "Are you still having those nightmares?" 

I debated whether to lie or not. I doubted that Alex would tell him anything without my consent and that was the reason that he was asking.

"Yeah," I said. "I am. But it's not about the past anymore. Now it's him finding us. Him hurting Angie."

He squeezed my hand and I turned to look at him. His blue eyes were full of concern... heartache.

"They suck, don't they? Those nightmares? It's hard to wake up from them."

I cocked my head to the side. It was obvious Lucas knew exactly what he was talking about. He shook his head, as if trying to ignore whatever it was that haunted him.