You're Not In This Alone

Dad and Pa come into the kitchen while Ry and I are packing away the groceries and I can tell they just finished whatever they were up to while dad practically kicked us out. "Gross" I say under my breath and dad walks over and backs me against the cupboard, leaning in playfully as he says "What was that, punk?" "Did you atleast wash your hands before you came in here?" I snap back, joking around and dad smirks before bringing his hands up and rubbing them all over my face as he chuckles and says "No, I love being all dirty" and I scream as I slap him repeatedly, trying to get his hands off me and he laughs as he pulls back and says "Of course I did" as he pulls me into his chest for a hug. I wrap my arms around him and say "Good." Ryan stands back just watching us with a smile on his face and when we break apart dad says "Thanks for taking care of my baby" and Ryan smiles and says "It's no problem." I walk over and take a seat beside pa and start talking to him while Ryan and dad cook us dinner and after we've eaten I load the dishwasher while dad and pa go into the living room to watch tv. "Baby, I might get going, let you guys spend some time together as a family" Ryan says and I feel my face fall. "Don't be upset babe" he says and I sigh as I say "Ok, whatever." Ryan walks over and wraps his arms around me, leaning in for a kiss before saying "I love you." "Love you too" I tell him and he smiles at me before walking towards the front door. I follow him and wait for him to say bye to dad and pa before we kiss one last time and he leaves. I turn around and slump back against the closed door, sliding down to sit and feeling like he just took half of me with him and a few minutes later dad comes out and sees me, concern crossing his face as he walks over and scoops me up off the floor, cradling me to his chest as he walks back into the living room and sits on the couch, settling me between him and pa and I curl up into pa's side with my legs on dad's lap. "You ok baby girl?" Pa asks and I shrug before saying "I don't like when he leaves." Pa wraps his arm around me and holds me close as we all focus on the tv, falling into comfortable silence.

The next day dad goes out and reopens the store while I stay home with pa and he spends the morning painting while I watch tv on low volume, bringing him cup after cup of coffee. Around lunch time he says "I'm bored of the house, let's go out." "Out where?" I ask and he smiles and says "Lets go get lunch and go to the gallery, they should be ready to open Ryan's show tomorrow." Twenty minutes later we finally make it to the bottom of the stairs, pa's leg really slowing him down and I try to help as much as I can but we just have to take it really slow. We take a cab the three blocks to the diner, pa needing a break and once we've eaten we grab another cab and head over to the gallery. Once we get there everyone rushes over to us and fusses around pa until he snaps and tells them to get back to work, half joking but a little annoyed at the attention. We make our way to the display room, finding all Ryan's pieces set up and ready to go and as we round the corner I stop dead in my tracks as I see Ryan there, his arm
around an unfortunately familiar girl as he points out his pieces and she gushes over them. "Is that....?" Pa starts to ask and I grit my teeth as I say "Liz, the other girl." I turn and make a run for it, rushing down the hall towards pa's office when I hear Ryan say "Oh hey, how are you today? This is my friend, I was just showing her my pieces since she can't come to the opening tomorrow" and I hear pa snap "Doesn't look like that's all you want to show her, listen Ryan, you hurt Ruby and I'll make you pay, dearly. That girl is my whole world and I don't take kindly to people jerking her around and hurting her. Whatever you're doing, sort your shit out before my girl gets hurt because if you break her heart, I'll break you." I step into the office just as pa walks back into the hallway and I slump down on the couch, feeling my cheeks getting wet from the tears I can't hold back anymore.

Notes

Ryan needs to seriously sort his shit....