His teammate

Chapter 21 - Some stress release

"So dad, we've fixed the flowers for the funeral now." I say to my dad that night as we sit down at the dinner table. It's been a long day with a lot of calls and planning. We found a nice place that wasn't too expensive and not too far away from here. "And do you remember that nice little restaurant by the bay that we used to go to?" I ask before taking a bite of my spaghetti.

"Yeah, you mean the one with the amazing crab cakes?" He ask and look at me. He look so tired, the bags under his eyes are puffy and dark, I wish I could do more for him. If I could only take his pain away too.

"Exactly! I've talked to them and we can have the memorial there if we want." I say and see a light turn on in his eyes and a small smile cross his lips.

"That was one of Kare's favorite restaurants." My dad mumble, looking down at his food and I feel a tug at my heart. To hear my dad say the nickname that only he uses for my aunt feels both good and bad at once. It's hard to understand the empty feeling he must feel now, like a big hole is in his life. They spent so much time together and even more when I moved away and dad got left alone.

"They want us to come by to look at the menu, preferably tomorrow or the next day." I say, I need to change that pained expression on my dads face, but how?

"Yeah, that's fine." He say, poking at his food. I look over at Link with an destroyed expression, asking for some kind of help. I don't know what I expect for him to do, he can't bring my aunt back. He gives me a small smile, but of course he can't really do anything else.

I feel my eyes tear up, but I quickly blink them away. My head is starting to hurt too. It's painful to think about my aunt and everything that's needed to be done before I go back to England. I haven't booked the flight yet, but I think I'm going to stay a day or two after the funeral, just to make sure that dad will be okay. His life is the one which is going to change the most. Maybe I shouldn't go back at all? My dad will need me now. I have to think about that.

The rest of that dinner is pretty quiet and I'm relieved when we've all eaten up and I can do the dishes. My dad goes into his study and Link help me put the dishes on the counter. I start the water and take the first plate to wipe it off. I feel Link hover beside me and look up at him. He's leaning with his back against the counter, looking out of the window on the other side.

"You know, you don't have to stay in here all the time, you can go out and discover the city." I say and rinse the plate off before putting it in the dish rack and taking up another.

"I don't mind hanging here." He say and I can feel his eyes on me.

"It can't be that fun, we're not really in a partying mode." I say and start washing the glasses.

"I'm not here to party." He say stern and I think I can detect a wounded hint in his voice. I sign as I turn the water off and take a towel to start drying the stuff off. I feel tired, mind and body.

"Let me do that." Link come to stand behind me, I feel the heat of his body, and take the towel from me. I turn around as he starts to dry a plate and I jump up to sit on the counter.

"I feel mentally drained." I confess quietly and stroke the hair away from my forehead.

"I get that, it's a lot to handle. It's stressful to plan everything, especially when it's someone so close to you. Plus it's extra stressful to take care of your dad too." He say and I look at him in shock. I've never heard so much consideration and kindness from him before. He looks up at me when he feels my staring eyes on him. "You do know what eases stress right?" He say with that crooked smile on his lips and his eyebrows moving up and down.

Aaaand he's back! I can't keep a smile from forming on my lips though and my mood is lighter at once. I just shake my head before jumping down on the floor and put the dry dishes into the cabinet.