FicWad

We were on our way to Donna’s for breakfast when I got up the nerve to ask him how his late night talk went with Ray. He shot me a look of warning, which I totally chose to ignore. “It’s just a normal question.”
“A question that isn’t gonna be answered so drop it.” He said in a chipped tone.
“Can I ask why he’s in Jersey?” I asked ignoring his rudeness.
“Cause he and Christa live here.” He answered without emotion.
“Christa?”
He sighed, “His girlfriend.”
I was surprised, “Ray has a girlfriend?”
Gerard actually laughed, “Is that so surprising?”
“Kind of.” I admitted. “I admit I don’t really know anything about him and he’s not exactly a Chatty Cathy around me.”
“Chatty Cathy?”
“Yeah, Chatty Cathy the talking doll.”
He glanced over at me. “I really never played with too many dolls growing up.”
I smiled, “My Chatty Cathy originally belonged to my aunt so she was kind of old when I got her. Kind of worn out, you know? When you would pull her sting her voice was all messed up but I loved her anyway.”
I looked over to see him smiling and shaking his head. “What?”
“You went from talking about Ray and his girlfriend to a description of a doll you had in mere seconds. God, you’re random.”
“I am not.” I pouted. I was just explaining to you about Chatty Cathy. Trying to improve you mind by telling you about things you don’t know about.”
“I’m sure I needed to know about a doll,” he said dryly.
Once again I chose to ignore his attitude. “Fine.” I said in quite a huff. “I hope some day you are on a game show and are asked a question about the talking doll and when you realize why you can answer it you’ll think about me. Then you’ll feel bad you made fun of me.”
He exhaled, “Okay first off I didn’t make fun of you and secondly I don’t fucking think I will ever be on a game show.”
“Stranger things have happened.” I said with a nod.
He shook his head but didn’t answer. We drove on in silence until I went back to the topic of Ray and the girlfriend. “So how long have Ray and Christa been together?”
“Couple of years.” He was going for the short answers.
“So why does Ray hate me?”
“He doesn’t” Another fucking short answer.
I scoffed, “Oh no I can really feel the love from him. He hates me.” I said.
Gerard lit a cigarette and I figured he just wasn’t gonna talk. “Matter of fact he really likes you. That’s why he doesn’t want you around. He’s trying to protect you.”
“Oh I know where this is going.” I sighed, “He’s trying to protect me from you.”
“Little Laura gets it.”
“All Little Laura gets is that I’m fucking confused.”
He blew out a stream of smoke, “Look he’s been around me a long time. He’s seen what happens to my relationships.”
“Have there been a lot of them?” I asked quietly. There were just so damn many things I didn’t know about him.
“Yeah, one last for almost six years.”
“Now I am confused.” I said.
“Why?”
“Oh hells bells I’m tired of pussyfooting around the subject. Whatever happened to you, the thing that Ray knows about, did girlfriend of six years know?’
“Laura, stop it. You don’t know what you’re talking about so don’t even try to understand.”
Now I was pissed. I looked out my window and tried to ignore the idiot sitting next to me. Softly I asked, “Is girlfriend of six years still alive?’
Good God the look he gave me was lethal. “Fuck yes, she’s still alive.”
I was afraid to ask any more questions. I looked out my window hoping we would get to his moms soon.
“Laura what happened happened a long time ago. For years it was erased from my mind with all the booze and alcohol. Once I became sober it started eating away at my brain. Ain’t it a bitch I got clean and sober just to loose my mind?”
“You’re not insane.” I told him softly.
He laughed, “Are you sure of that Little Laura? Are you sure I’m not insane?”
I stared at him, “Yeah. I’m sure.”
We were almost to his mom’s house when I told him, “You know you can’t run forever.”
At first he didn’t acknowledge he’d heard me. Finally he spoke, “The day I stop running is the day it’s all fucking over.”
“Cryptic much?”
He didn’t answer. We got out of the car and walked hand in hand to his mom’s front door.

Donna made breakfast just like my mom used to make. There were eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast and pancakes. Quite a spread. Try as I might I couldn’t help but eat way too much.
“Donna this is the best breakfast I’ve had in years.” I told her polishing off my last pancake.
“Another pancake?” she asked with a smile.
“I’m as stuffed as a tick on a dogs back on the Forth of July at a picnic.” I said taking a sip of coffee.
The whole table erupted in laughter. I looked up to see Mikey, Alicia, Donna and Gerard smiling at me.
“Tick?” Alicia said.
“Picnic?” Mikey added.
Gerard put his arm around the back of my chair. “She says things like that a lot.” Much to my surprise he leaned over and kissed my cheek.
Swear to God I blushed. “Guess that is kinda a strange saying.”
Gerard smiled, “I like it.” I looked down at my plate still embarrassed.
Donna refilled my coffee. “So are you gonna visit your grandpa today?” she asked her eldest.
“Yeah, Laura and I are gonna visit lots of people today. Starting with grandpa.”
Donna was pleased, “Tomorrow Helen said she’d like to stop by and see you.”
Thank God she stood to take her plate to the sink so she missed Gerard’s look. I glanced over quickly at Mikey. He was looking at his brother but the look on his face was confusion.
Oh crap the conversation definitely needed to be changed. Okay feigning fainting again was over the top. My brain kicked into overdrive. “Gerard and I have been making wedding plans.” Popped out of my mouth. I looked around the table and had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing at the shocked looks on their faces.
“Really?” Donna’s shock turned to confusion. “I didn’t realize your two were planning to get married so quickly.”
Well fuck me. Now I’d gone and done it. I took a sip of coffee and kicked Gerard under the table. A little help here?
“Yeah, I was gonna surprise you Ma. We’re flying to Vegas tomorrow. Laura and I just don’t wanna wait any longer.”
I turned to him in shock. He reached over and grabbed my head and pulled my face to his. “Do we honey?”