"Hey," Eleana stammered. It was only four in the afternoon, too early for Adam to do a leisurely stroll back into the house. Rascal barked, nearly faceplanting into the floor as he ran towards Adam.
He picked the corgi up, spinning him around before letting him flop back on the floor. Rascal demanded more attention, tugging at the edge of his pants, but the man had other plans.
Gaby held her tablet, oddly still. She usually played with Rascal or tried to help Eleana in the kitchen, not sit still, last time he remembered.
It was a long time since he remembered. He didn't want to forget.
Adam knelt down in front of her, taking one of her hands in his. "Hey, Gaby."
"Hey..." She found his eyes, and Adam's heart soared at the abcense of tears.
That's it. He'd show Eleana that there was hope, after all. That he could be better. That everything wasn't too bad.
Gaby was in the backseat, her swinging legs thumping against the edge of the seat.
"Are we there yet?" She groaned, crossing her arms.
"Almost!" Adam replied, smiling. "It's a surprise."
"The surprise better be good-- ICE CREAM!" Gaby was like a rocket held back by chains seeing the building up close. It wasn't anything fancy, just an outdated dollar store that happened to have a freezer section. After disagreements with Eleana, ice cream usually kept him in better spirits.
Of course, he never knew when he decided to give Gaby ice cream, but the minute he did, it became their prime source of family time.
"H-Hey, stay seated, please," Adam stammered, adjusting his rear-view. Gaby rolled her eyes with a sass that rivaled Eleana's, but did as she was told.
A breath spiraling in his lungs left out into the air. "Hey, Gaby?"
"Yes, Dad?" Her annoyance faded in place of curiosity.
"About this morning? I'm sorry..." Adam felt a lump in his throat, like a half-beaten mixture. Eventually, it cleared, pushed away along with his tears.
He went on, ignoring Gaby's attempt to comfort him. "I ignored you and left straight for work. I didn't even bother giving you a proper goodbye."
"At least we're getting ice cream," Gaby shrugged, and her warm hand rubbed Adam's shoulder. "You know, something sweet always makes things better."
Despite that being a truth he lived by all his years, Adam was surprised to find his daughter adopting his habits. "...Really?"
She nodded, then plopped back in her seat, swaying side to side.
Adam grinned, finding a free space in the parking lot. Gaby groaned as Adam opened the backseat, motioning for her to come out.
"I can't stay inside?"
"No." Adam spoke sharply, the way he guessed a father would. "I don't want you by yourself, especially not in this place..."
Gaby wasn't impressed. "It's an ice cream shop! There's more kids than adults, and they don't have parents following them around..."
Adam only shook his head, a grim look etched onto his face, and that was that.
In the end, the ice cream was a good refresher for both of them. Gaby finally got to have the time with her dad that she missed for years. Adam felt the same, but the notice from his boss hovered over his head like cloudy skies.
He needed a new job, and he'd practiced sales ever since his business degree came to an end. Still...sales? Was that all life came to be? Subtly begging clients to keep investing in these crappy companies just for fifteen an hour?
Maybe Adam could dogsit. He was a good parent to Rascal, anyhow. And, as much as it betrayed his character to admit it, animals were...simpler. They didn't scream or fight...much less complain. They just took it like a cuff to the cheek and kept moving. There was always a wag in the tail and a pep in their step, and when things were really going down the drain, at least a professional could fix it.
Gaby was the same. Quiet. Accomodating, but Adam sensed her starting to change. The attitude when it came to her safety, and the stifling silence on the ride back was enough of a sign.
Their mouths were stuffed with dessert, but Gaby could at least make conversation. It didn't stop her back when she was...well...littler. However long ago, when they were closer.
When things weren't...complicated.
And Eleana...maybe she was always complicated. Meeting her had its perks. She was smart. Sappy. Sophisticated, too. Maybe too much.
Now look where it's gotten him.
He sighed, pulling back into the driveway. Their home, even if it didn't feel like it.
Gaby happily stepped out, still slurping her ice cream. "Thanks for the dessert, Dad!"
Adam managed a small smile. "No problem, sweetheart."
After that, she dashed towards the front door, and it was already open.
Eleana was watching him, her eyes narrowed into slits. Adam avoided her scrutiny, sitting down on the couch to play with Rascal.
When the night took over, he finally found the courage to see Eleana, and as usual, she was nose-deep in her book. Some mindfulness jargon. He closed the door behind him.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMsqDLaAJf
After stripped down to his briefs, Adam laid in bed beside her. "How was your day?"
She gave him a look that could cut steel. "Are you trying to piss me off?"
Eleana folded the tip of the page she stopped at, closing it in her lap and putting her glasses on the nightstand. If Adam kept taking her efforts to keep this family together as nothing but a joke? One twisted little game?!
Divorce.
For once, he replayed the words in his head. His attempts to steer the conversation blanked.
Eventually, he came up with: "I'm sorry."
Eleana raised a brow at that statement. That did no good than Rascal cleaning his butt and licking Gaby's face a second later.
However, the truth weighing in his voice softened her anger. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"I got fired," was what Adam wanted to say, but how pathetic would that be after he ranted about her dream house? That the only one pulling their weight to keep it up was him?
Now they were stranded unless he braved the long shifts of baiting and bargaining. Something in his gut twisted at the thought of being in that cramped cubicle again.
Instead, he shrugged. "It's just...everything, but I had no right to put that on you. You're struggling, too."
"I am," Eleana sighed, and she welcomed the caress of his thumb against her lips.
She let the book rot on the nightstand, and let her aggravation leave with each kiss.
He was unstable. Weaker than a wet paper towel, but...he stayed. For some reason, he stayed.
Perhaps that was enough to keep up appearances. She'd let Adam worm his way through her heart, only this time. Never again, if she could help it. Not when he was bound to cycle through work and ignore her and Gaby.
Adam himself was questioning it, but their hearts raced faster than their minds. Nothing could prevent it.
They made love.
Well...it wasn't exactly love. It was more like poking a tiger and hoping she wouldn't skin the life out of him.
Eleana sighed without passion as he retreated, distancing himself yet again. She had always kept her temper when it came to his moments of sensitivity. Only, it was when Gaby looked back, tears streaming down her face that something sharpened like claws. Immediately, Elena dialed Adam's work number, hashing out her anger. In her rage, even with the protection of a closed door, she could feel the tension corner her body. She could feel the effects prick her voice like needles against thread. Maybe it was how long Adam thought he could get away with this.
Ten years with Gaby, and all Adam bothered with were bribes of junk food or sweets on an early day after work.
But most days, it was always work that swallowed him from dawn to dusk. Eleana was surprised that he came home early. Even more when they were...together.
It was so distant like ships at sea, that she was surprised to find him sailing back. Back to home.
Back to her.
How? And...why?
Maybe today made him see sense that he'd ignored ever since they met. She was fresh out of college, already tackling her job and her expenses like clockwork. Adam was just as fortunate. He had no excuses to lead with this time.
Hopefully, he wouldn't have any to save him in the future.
They both shared a warm bath before tucking themselves into bed. Eleana desired the closeness, the affirmations of his gratitude though each breath. Yet, it couldn't last. It wouldn't, so she didn't invite him, even as his breath drifted along her neck.
Eventually, she looked over, and Adam's back was turned. The breathing still continued.
Eleana ignored it, pushing the covers higher over her shoulder. The air pushed against her ear that time, but it would go away. It'd better.
Darkness cloaked her vision, but the whispers didn't cease. It took on different forms, different sounds, until it combined to one horrible word.
"Mom..."
No one called her that. No one but Gaby called her that...and Adam when he felt like playing the petty, parental figure.
She shoved her feet into her slippers, marching towards the bathroom. A splash of cold water only succeeded in draining the little color remaining from her face.
She hadn't heard that voice. Ever.
Ever since--
No, she couldn't go back there, crying over some infant she couldn't care for. It was gone, probably in a different home, living its best life. Not here. Not anymore.
The mirror reflected her stern face, the reminder of her age showing in the subtle marks and sags of her skin.
She was better. She had another child. Another future to look forward to.
It was no use reverting what she'd already done, so she turned off the light in the bathroom, heading towards the couch this time.
Rascal started with a growl, but the sight of her sent him whimpering, pawing at the crate that kept him contained.
"Shh," she whispered. "Sit."
He sat, and Eleana unlocked the cage so he could worm into her arms.
"God, you're heavy," she groaned, wobbling to the couch.
There, she laid down, having a welcome break from everything.
Most things. Rascal's sillouthe perked up, growling at the air.
"Hey, quiet," she mumbled, already sinking into sleep.
Yet, she swore that before her eyes shut completely, a figure loomed over her. Too curvy to be Adam. Too tall to belong to Gaby.
Nonetheless, sleep found her before fear did.
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