I'm Home

Errands and tears

"I'm Alex Davey and this is my little brother Will. We're new here" said Alex, approaching the schools front desk

"Ahh yes" said the receptionist "Go say goodbye to your mum and I'll show you to the principal's office" quickly, Will and Alex ran over to their mum and little sister. They each gave them a quick hug before going back over to the receptionist. "Ok, come with me, Lydia" she handed Lydia 2 stacks of paper "I need you to fill these out and send them in with them tomorrow, also, it's good to have you back here"

"Thanks Ms. Marshal" smiled Lydia, she took Victoria's hand "I'll see you guys later, goodbye, have fun!"

"Bye mum!" chorused her children. Lydia smiled and walked out of the office. Victoria was looking around the school in wonder. It was smaller than the schools in New York, but was still big for a 3 year old child.

"So Tori" said Lydia as she buckled her daughter into her car seat "We're going to the shops, I need to pick a few things up, and then we'll head back home, ok?"

"Ok mummy" said Victoria, hugging her bunny happily

"When we get home, I need to do some work, so can you entertain yourself for a while?" asked Lydia, Victoria looked uncertain and Lydia laughed "What if you got a look and find book?"

"Yes" said Victoria happily

"Ok" laughed Lydia. Victoria happily babbled and played with Flopsy for the whole car ride and then they arrived in the shops.

"Right, Flopsy stays here" said Lydia. Victoria sighed but put her toy bunny in her car seat. "Good girl, now come here, don't want you running away do we?" she lifted her daughter into her arms and carried her into the shop. Victoria sat in the trolly and kept on pointing at stuff, asking Lydia for it and was told no every time.

"Mama, can I get pencils and a book so I can draw with Adam?" asked Victoria as they passed the stationary section. Lydia shrugged and grabbed her daughter a sketch book and some colouring pencils, it'll keep her distracted, was her reason. They finished in the shop and quickly popped into the bookstore to pick up the book for Victoria and also a book for Adam and Barbara (Lydia knew the couple loved books and over the years she'd learned what types were their favourites).

Once they arrived home, Beetlejuice was waiting for them. Victoria got very excited and hugged him. Lydia smiled at the two of them and took the shopping into the kitchen. As she entered she was greeted by Barbara sitting at the kitchen table writing something on a scrap piece of paper.

"Hey Barb" said Lydia, putting the bags down on the table and starting to unpack them "How are you?"

"Oh hi Lydia" said Barbara, putting her pencil down and smiling at the woman "How were they?"

"They're fine" said Lydia, going over to the fridge and putting the eggs and milk away "I've just got a billion forms to fill out"

"You do that then" said Barbara, standing up and going over to the shopping bags "I'll put this away"

"No, Barb, its fine" said Lydia "I can do it"

"Well, I'm helping you anyway" said Barbara "2 people are better than one" Lydia laughed and continued putting the vegetables away. Once they'd finished, Lydia flopped into a seat and looked at the piece of paper Barbara had been writing on.

"Barb, what's this?" asked Lydia, bringing the paper towards her

"Unimportant" said Barbara, running over and snatching the paper out of Lydia's hand and crumpling it into a ball "Beej! I need you to eat something!" she yelled, walking out of the kitchen. Lydia laughed and got up, walking out of the kitchen. She found Beetlejuice chewing on the ball of paper while Victoria and Barbara laughed at him.

"I have so many questions" mumbled Lydia. She walked towards the stairs "I'm going to try do work, you guys keep her entertained and safe please" 

"Will do" said Beetlejuice, a bit of soggy paper flying out of his mouth onto the floor, making both Victoria and Barbara squeal in disgust. Lydia shook her head and walked upstairs. Once she got into her office, she sat down and opened her laptop up. Her background was a photo of her, Liam, Alex, Will and Victoria on halloween. They'd dressed up in onesies and gone as Winnie the Pooh characters. Lydia was Eeyore. Liam was Christopher Robin. Alex was Winnie the Pooh. Will was Tigger and Victoria was Piglet. It was an adorable photo and it made her smile every time she saw it. 

About 10 minutes into writing, Lydia got a notification on her phone. It was one from her dad saying that he and Delia were wondering if she'd like to have lunch with them sometime. Lydia quickly replied and looked at her phone background. It was of her and Liam on their wedding day. They had their noses touching and arms around each other. 

A single tear escaped her eye as she stared at the photo, wondering where he husband was now. If he was ok or if he was dead. She had no idea. The tears dripping down her face grew into full on crying and soon she was muffling her sobs in her sleeve as she looked at the photo. 

"Lydia?" asked a voice at the door. Lydia didn't hear it and continued crying, praying her daughter didn't hear. The door creaked open and she turned around. 

"Adam, oh, hi" she wiped her eyes and looked at the ghost.

"Whats wrong Lydia?" asked Adam, closing the door behind him and going over to the woman he saw as a daughter. Lydia tried to answer but more tears slid down her face and she covered her mouth with her sleeve again. Adam was never any good with comforting people, so he did what he did whenever Barbara was sad. Just hold her and let her cry. Lydia buried her face in Adam's neck and sobbed into his shoulder. Adam rubbed her back and gently rocked side to side. Slowly, Lydia's sobs turned into the occasional hiccup and she lifted her head up.

"I'm sorry" she said "I've been a little bit of a mess recently with the whole moving thing and Liam being gone for so long" 

"Its alright" said Adam, reaching over to her bedside table and handing her a tissue "I know that every now and again Barb just needs a good cry when everything gets too much"

"Barbara Maitland cries?" asked Lydia. Adam chuckled and nodded

"More than you think" Lydia frowned 

"I've only ever seen her cry once" said Lydia, looking into the distance "and that was when it was my fault"

"She doesn't like showing her weak and venerable side" said Adam "It took a few years of us living together for her to start being her real self around me" he smiled slightly "but anyway, I know this may seem tough, but Liam will come home" Lydia raised an eye brow "I half raised that boy until he was three, I know he has the kindest and mist stubborn heart out there, he'll come back to you, I promise" 

"It seems kind and stubbornness runs in the family" laughed Lydia "Alex is stubborn and Tori is kind" 

"Where does Will fit in?" asked Adam 

"I think he somehow inherited some of Beej's DNA" sighed Lydia "He's exactly like him" Adam laughed and offered Lydia a hand up. Lydia took it and stood up, realising just how much she'd grown from when she was a teenager. She was now about the same height as Adam, which meant she was taller than Barbara. 

"How about you take a break and we make some lunch?" suggested Adam, Lydia glanced back at her work "You can come back to it, but I think you need some people time" 

"Ok" said Lydia, she walked over to the door with Adam and opened it "Besides, Beej was eating paper last time I was down, so who knows whats happened"