FicWad

Lia opened the door and her dad came in. I waited by the kitchen doorway. I was hoping he would just take Lia and leave but no such luck. I could hear them talking.

"Its all right he left already dad." Lia sighed.

"Lia what the hell is going on." He said to her. He was obviously not happy to be woken up and dragged over here.

"I told you dad Elle's ex-boyfriend was here and they were fighting." She whined a little.

"Elle come in here." Mr. Watson called out.

I hesitantly came out of the kitchen and stood in the living room where he could see me. "We weren't fighting." I said quietly.

"Well that's some shiner you've got there." He said looking at me frowning. Shiner? I laughed to myself...sounded like something my papa would've said.

"You weren't fighting! Ha! then what the fuck would you call it?" Lia says loudly.

"Lia!" her dad yells at her.

"No really I guess it wasn't 'really' a fight cause that usually means both people are hurt and there wasn't a scratch on 'him' Elle!" Lia's yelling now. "God damn-"

"That's enough Lia." Her father interrupts her. He points to the couch. "Go sit down." He tells her. She frowns. "Lia Watson you go sit down NOW." He says frowning. Lia sighed and threw herself onto the couch. He was shaking his head at her. He turned back t o me and softly said "Lets go into the kitchen and talk okay Elle." I nodded. Lia was making a face but didn't follow us.

Oh my tea... I forgot about it... I offered Mr. Watson some but he declined. He sat down at the table and watched me stir my cup. He didn't say anything at first. I guess he was trying to think of something to say. The silence was driving me insane.

"Paul didn't hit me." I blurt out.

"Bullshit!" Lia yells from the living room.

"That's enough!" Her dad yells back.

"No I'm serious Mr. Watson...he really didn't ...I'm sorry Lia made you get up for nothing." I said taking a sip from my cup. He looked at me like he didn't believe me.

"Elle sometimes relationships just don't work out like you want them to." He said keeping his voice low so Lia couldn't hear. "And sometimes its better to just end things than to ...well no matter how bad it may seem... you uh... don't want it to get worse..."he said. "Do you understand what I'm saying?" He asks me.

No... I didn't have a fucking clue as to what he was talking about, but I nodded. "Uh yeah I understand." I said stirring my cup some more.

He sighed. I don't think he believed me again.... Hell I don't think he even understood what he said...


"You know I have great respect for your grandfather Elle." He said nodding. I smiled politely. "You know it was ... oh jeez... almost 20 years ago when I interned with him at the firm." Mr. Watson sighed remembering.

My Papa was an investment banker in the city... Lia's dad worked for him for as long as I've known... Well up until papa retired... I think he may even Papas old job...I don't know...

"He was a good man Elle." Mr. Watson nodded again as he spoke. "When he had the stroke he changed a lot you know dear... but he's always wanted the best for you."

I took another sip of the tea and held my breath a little. I did not want to start crying... not now... I just nodded back.

"Just try to remember that Elle... you deserve better." He said getting up. I wiped the tears that were filling my eyes and looked down. He put his hand on my shoulder and sighed. "get some sleep dear... tomorrow they'll be sun."
I smiled a little.

"You know what that's from?" He said smiling a little back.

"Yeah uh...'Annie'." I said getting up and wiping my eyes again. "My mom would bring me to see that all the time on Broadway and even off Broadway... it was her favorite" I said smiling.

"Lia lets go." He said as we walked back into the living room.

"But dad she still didn't say what happened!" Lia screeched.

"Lets go." He repeats.

"But... but..."Lia's protesting. Her dad is just shaking his head.

"Lia ...just let her get some sleep and clear her head...okay...you can talk to her tomorrow." He said taking Lia by the arm.

"Tomorrows Sunday." I said to him. They both just looked at me. "I was going to go to the cemetery on Sunday." I added softly.

"Northwood right?" Mr. Watson asked. I nodded. Papa was buried at Northwood Cemetery...So was my mom...It was like an hour away by car... I had always hated the fact that papa had my mom buried so far away... But now I see why... I would've been there all the time...

Papa only brought me every few weeks when she first died... then every few months and finally only on holidays... I bit down on my lip remembering...

"Say goodnight Lia." Mr. Watson said heading for the front door.

"Goodnight Lia." She mimics back following him out...

They were gone...

I was alone and it was the middle of the night...

I'll give you three guesses what I did next...

All though you probably don't need three...