The tangled knots of the season

 

Alfie felt he was having an out-of-body experience. Of course, the only person he could think to call was Steve. "Am I really that horrible of a person?" Honestly, it was as if the holiday spirit had vanished. Now he felt a little headachey or he might just have a bad case of wanting to shit himself. He winced hard as he paced alone in the bedroom while Poppy was going to make her own cranberry sauce or else.

"Well, you were horrible," Steve sounded as if he was psychic.

"You knew!" He was furious now. His voice wavered as if he really was ill and his throat was parched.

"Nothing specific. I just had a hunch," Steve sighed. 

"I dunno what I'm supposed to do." Alfie swelled a frown.

"What can you do?" His words haunted Alfie. Steve mentioned that Victoria went to Kansas City to be with her sister for Thanksgiving. He was home alone. Naturally, it didn't even hit Alfie that he should invite Steve over. He was still thinking of Lynsey and what might have been. Truly, he didn't know if he loved her or he hated her. It was as if something was torn inside him and he just wanted to cry. And he did. Although, he hoped Steve couldn't hear. 

Yes, he knew now he was the most selfish person. Why had Poppy liked him through all of this? He thought of her during the conversation with Rachel. She remembered Rachel when he didn't. Steve winced hard thinking he was certain he might be fated to have more memories lost. And yet the loss he felt at the moment had to do with someone who no longer existed.

"Don't be bitter with Lynsey," Steve said. "That's the last thing she needs right now. Don't call her."

"But what if..."

"Try to be thankful for right now," Steve said it was best to live in the present.

Lynsey felt blind-sighted. Perhaps. But hadn't she seen it coming? Oh, there were her things tossed out on the front lawn. Yet she remained calm. She held on to the baby that was practically going to be bigger than her that hung on to her hip with both chubby legs. 

Erro was in his warm crocheted beanie and sweater and drooling through the whole ordeal with a fist in his mouth.

She got out her phone from the back pocket of her stretchy jeans and direct-dialed Charles. Of course, she'd listen to Casey spew words of anger about what kind of person she was for the last five minutes, although, it felt more like a half-hour. She only listened. Thinking, maybe he'd know how she'd felt all this time. Not once did he come for the baby. 

Maybe he didn't think it was his, she thought. Oh, she wouldn't go there. After all, he'd made her out to be so many horrible things. And maybe she was. And maybe Charles would think so too.

It wasn't long till Charles arrived and got her in his car along with bits of her life in the trunk of his car. She finally sobbed on the drive to his place. Naturally, he didn't ask what exactly happened. But he showed her where she and Erro could stay. It would be fine. He kept telling her this.

But her throat was so raw. She knew it wasn't so. Erro couldn't have guessed because he seemed to be content even if he didn't have his own crib. After all, he always loved sleeping with her. And he hugged her now as if he'd take care of her. Forever.

"Oh, I did invite my daughter over for Thanksgiving," Charles mentioned as he brought her a plate of cheese and crackers and hot lemoned tea. "I hope you won't mind. She's bringing her boyfriend." He sighed. "It's a good thing you're here. I really didn't want to meet them alone."