All The Hurt Would Go Away

Quiet night at home...

"Hey kids?"
Both twins turned to look at their father as I listened in.
"Fancy a little road trip? We'll bring toys"
Isaac nodded and Ariella shrugged, slightly overdoing the gesture but at least she was learning it.
"Let me just chat to Jon."
He motioned for me to leave the room and he followed
"I know it's been a while since you've last been there but I really think we should sort out your house. You can't join our family as close as you are Jon, your mum has been sorting out the mail so there won't be a workload waiting. I just want you to be comfortable there."
I knew this was coming and had already prepared myself for the conversation.
"So that's where the kids are going?"
"Yup."
"Alright then, I'm not sure about the food I'll have in there but we'll figure that out closer to lunchtime."
"Lunch is sorted, I texted your mum and she's bought it, waiting on the kitchen table?"
"Ah, okay, are we off?"
"We are off, Mr Groff."
I laughed as he mock saluted before gathering the kids into his car, I proudly perched on the passenger seat. To any ordinary person, having a friend in contact with their mother seems uncomfortable but, after all that's happened, it makes sense just in case of, well, yeah.
"Jon can I have your help?"
"What?"
"The three year olds kinda need booster seats like all kids do"
"Oh! Right."
He chuckled and continued fixing up Isaac's seatbelt whilst I did the same for Ariella. She started to struggle then stopped after I booped her nose. I don't know if that's a thing but I'm gonna remember it for the future.
"Are we all strapped up?"
"Yep!"
The kids chorused, Lin then looked towards me in all seriousness and I mockingly chorused
"Yes Lin! Move."
He didn't quite like my blunt instruction but started the car nonetheless. It did not take long for Lin to burst into an off-key, belt-style, monstrosity which vaguely followed the tune of 'the wheels on the bus go round and round'. Immediately, as any sane person would, I wanted the horrifying song to stop. And it could've, but Lin had taught the kids. So it went on, and on, and on. With the off-key, belt-style singing from Lin and the whiny, squeaky, high-pitched voices of the toddlers. All. At. Once. If I could painlessly rip off my ears to stop ever hearing that wretched song sung like that again, I would've in that precise moment. Eventually the Satanic ritual song came to a close and Lin gave me the famous side-eye, which either means 'quit it' or 'are you good?', my favourite hobby is deciphering which one it's supposed to be each time.
"You okay Jon? You didn't sing?"
Ah it was the latter option then
"I didn't want to stress my vocal chords in case."
"In case of what?"
"Madonna becomes terminally ill in the middle of one of her tours. When I'm the last option, I'll be ready"
"When?"
"Yes when."
He laughed while turning into the street where I lived before.
"So, all the female singers, all of them fall ill at the same time -"
"- so they turn to me. Keep up Lin."
"Oh right right gotcha."
He mocked while still keeping his eyes on the houses to find my exact one.
"You gonna get me tickets to the concert then?"
"Depends, if you sing like you did earlier on the way here? Hard no."
"You wound me."
"Lick. It. Up."
He pulled over and turned to me staring in surprise.
"That is the most diva thing you've ever said to me."
"Drive"
He turned back to face the road still staring in front of him in shock at what I said. I kinda felt bad, but I know he's dealt with worse.
"Have you forgotten how to drive? I can walk"
"No and definitely not."
"I know how to walk."
"I'm not letting you walk alone."
I smirked to myself
"Sorry daddy."
Lin choked on his spit and had a coughing spree while I quietly laughed, once he recovered he glared at me while stating.
"This is the closest I can park. Let's walk."
Looking in front of me the roads were practically empty but Lin just didn't want to stay in such close proximity with the kids in the back. Couldn't resist me. Ha. I could continue to humour myself but Lin wasn't even blushing. His straight ass doesn't give two shits about dating any guy. He has kissed me twice. But that's the internet for you.
"Jon. Get out of my damn car."
Oh yeah he's still mad I forgot. I quickly got out of the car and closed the door behind me. No need to be so polite since Lin had already started walking, more like marching, down the street. I sprint-walked till I caught up.
"Shouldn't I be leading the way to my house?"
"Yes and shouldn't you be more mature than the twins are? But hey, things change."
I laughed at his snappy remark. Sarcastic yes, true no. Bitchy, yeahhh I'd say so.
"Here we are, and the door is... locked."
I turned to Lin as he rolled his eyes and tossed the keys over. I caught them and unlocked the door.
"Home sweet home."
"More like dust sweet dust."
"Zip it."
He started to get the kids toys out from his rucksack and set them up in the living room to go play.
"Right where do you want to start?"
"Well, the only place that I'm worried about is the bedroom."
"Why - oh. Right. Okay let's head there."
Although none of it happened at my house, it doesn't change the fact that I'll be in a double bed by myself. And trusting my random flashbacks, I don't want random repercussions of what happened. Ever. Lin closed the door behind us as I familiarised myself with this room, the last time I was in it that I remembered. Before Andrew, before the hospital visits, it was during Stacy's life from what I had been told but that didn't help the fact I couldn't remember anything from that time.
"Jon, Jon? Jon are you okay?"
I froze staring at the bed, on it was a card from my father addressed to me. It had the lyrics of 'sailing' on the inside and a photo of me and him when we went fishing. That card was always hidden since it was so personal so what was it doing? A post-it note was stuck on the side of it where in capitals someone had written 'LEARN SONG'.
"Jon?! What's happening? Are you having flashbacks now?"
But it wasn't the card or the photo I cared about; the handwriting on the post-it wasn't mine, or my fathers, it was Andrew's.