Friday, February 4, 2011
something simple
Lon warmed his hands by the heater in the livingroom. Winter was endless. And yes, he'd given up on making a new room for Hannah. Ellie was right. The house was too small. If only he'd known, Hannah would want to stay. But he didn't. Really, he wasn't sure how to react.
He'd heard from someone at work who's ex-wife had gotten a lawyer to bar the co-worker from seeing his two daughters. It had something to do with child support, he supposed. It was an ugly situation. He was thankful he'd gotten off easy with Reese, but the more he listened to Hannah...it did sound like everyone had raised her but Reese. And all along, his father had paid Reese off all these years. He'd been left out of the loop, and that still peeved him.
"You sure, you want to stay with us? You'll have to keep bunking with Charlie." He'd told her. That was the best he could do. Still he found himself wanting to break down the livingroom in to two rooms. It would be small, and not the best time of year to do something like that.
"We could just move to a bigger house." Hannah smiled about it. She was finishing up her homework in the livingroom at the coffee table.
"That would be nice, but you might decide to move back home." Lon reminded her. "Don't you miss any of your friends?"
She gave him a shrug.
"What about your Granny and Grandad?" Reese's parents called every night, practically.
He could see then, he'd hit a nerve.
"But they're getting old." She started to tear up. "I do miss them, but I want to be with you."
"I see." There was no simple answer to the situation. "I think you miss Mommy too."
She shook her head, no, but he didn't believe her. She started to talk about Reese's upcoming wedding then and how she'd move away, and it wouldn't be the same at Granny and Grandad's house. He had to wonder if Hannah thought this would upset Reese. As it was, Reese acted as if this were the best answer possible. Hannah moving in with Lon and Ellie.
He put his arm around her as he sat on the couch with her. She had a good cry. Soon enough, Charlie was on top of her, giving her wet kisses. She smiled when she looked at him. "But I've got Charlie." Hannah told him as Charlie hugged Hannah. Lon supposed that had to count for something.
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I'm sure it counts. And Ellie will be a good influence on her.
ReplyDeleteDid you get snow? IT snowed here!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, a foot or so.
ReplyDeleteIts never easy raising kids.
ReplyDeleteI think Hannah will be there for good.
ReplyDeleteBeing a parent can be tough nowadays. :/
ReplyDeleteWhere does this take place again?
ReplyDeleteThe descriptions are so vivid.
I couldn't help but feel really bad, with Hannah crying and all. She's just really confused, I hope she can work things out.
ReplyDeleteI don't think being a parent has ever been easy.
ReplyDeletethank you for the comment, very sweet :)
ReplyDeleteHe's a good dad.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad she's doing OK. So far.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder if they'll have to move.
ReplyDeleteLol @ wet kisses. So cute. :))
ReplyDelete