Lazy Lizzie

Twenty-Four

Pizza never tasted so good as when eaten directly from the box, shared between three people spread on a couch designed for a family of five. Three types -- Lizzie didn't know what slice to eat, next. Sofia had even brought a bottle of wine, it came with a disclaimer.

"Little brother, can we open this with you here? I'm only asking cause I can put it back in the fridge if there's any chance you smell wine and go back to drugs. I'm just going to drink it alone, tomorrow night."

"It's fine. I know my triggers, and alcohol isn't one. Apparently I hated my dad so much that I refused to adopt alcohol as a vice, like he did," Leo talked with his mouth full, making his sister signal to knock it off, her head tilting to Lizzie.

"Look who did therapy," Sofia laughed.

"It was mandatory in prison, for addicts," Leo said. "I'm actually glad. It really put some things in perspective. Like why I ate so much."

Sofia jumped up, "He was way bigger, it's why I was so shocked. I can show you photos. So, so cute."

"Oh no, no photos for now," Leo laughed. "Let's not show her Ursul."

"His last name translates to bear, in Romanian," Sofia explained to Lizzie, who got confused.

"His? You two don't have the same last name?"

"My last name after the divorce is Daniels. Leo's is Ursu. His dad is Romanian, he emigrated to Canada and then to the US. Mom married him a few years after my dad died. Nice guy, Radu. I liked him. Went back to Canada when Leo was four."

"It's been us and mom -- then just us -- ever since," Leo drank from his soda can. The women were finishing the wine on their own, no need for his involvement.

"And then I get home from a double shift," Sofia took a very long sip. "That's forty-eight hours, in hospital time. And my girls greet me with," she imitated a high pitch, "We're soooo bored, mommy, uncle Leo told our nanny he was taking the TV to the repairman but he didn't come back."

"Oh my God," Lizzie laughed. "I can't believe you did that!"

"Oh, he did," Sofia frowned, serious. "Imagine me explaining that to my husband."

"I paid him back," Leo defended himself weakly. "I can apologize again. I don't know what to say, anymore. I hope that wasn't the straw that broke the camel's back."

"Relax," Sofia smiled. "Other than Andy throwing it in my face at the divorce proceedings, it didn't matter."

"I can't believe you went through all that, and I wasn't here," Leo shifted in his seat, making Lizzie put her hand over his, they sat next to each other, so only a small move was necessary.

"I'm really sorry," he said.

Sofia hand waved, "Well, I wasn't as upset as I was worried, knowing you got locked up, states away. I wanted to visit but it kept becoming next month. And with the kids, then with the divorce..."

"No, you don't have to be sorry. It's all my fault! I could've helped you out around the house. I mean, not babysit, but errands. Fix stuff."

Sofia stopped him, "Remember after mom died and you said you were fine on your own? And I left you here?"

Leo's was quick to justify, "You had to, it was college. After Mom, I couldn't keep you prisoner, not again. We've been over this."

"Yes, I know you wanted me to go. You couldn't stand holding me back, you said. You were fine on your own. Aunt Tara would come by, daily. Bring food. It was only two years," Sofia pushed unions off a pizza slice.

"Is it what you're doing now?" Leo asked her. "Is that what you mean, that I wasn't ready? That you're also not?"

"Well you weren't, your grades flopped, you lied, stole, got on drugs, then followed your dumb friends in prison."

Lizzie realised for the first time that Leo being a few years younger than her meant that he'd gone into prison, what, age twenty? He'd practically matured, there.

"I would've done that anyway," Leo said, but Lizzie wasn't so sure it was true.

"Maybe," Sofia also doubted. "But if you truly believe that, then go. I'll be fine, Andy and I settled into a schedule that works. His new wife has managed to get the girls talking to her, albeit just to be rude." She sounded proud, she needed to work on that, Lizzie thought. Of course the girls were mean to the new wife if their mother liked it so much. "The worst is over," Sofia drank a gulp of wine. "We're finally civilised with each other."

"Besides, whatever that Ramiro guy wants so badly," Sofia showed them Leo's phone, lighting up on the coffee table with the caller ID Lizzie knew too well. So well that she was actively ignoring it, like Leo. "I'd rather my home and my daughters be out of it."