consumed

[Coming Back]

Pursuit Of Happyness

“I’m glad that she is,” Willow smiled back. Ruby was half of her heart, the other half being occupied by Parker. Without her, Willow would rather be dead. It was a sentiment she could only say for two people in the world and truly mean it, and her baby sister would always be tired for the important person in her life. “A girls night would be just so much fun, I’ll call Ruby up soon and get a day when all three of us are free. It’ll be so much fun, it’ll be like we’re all high school.” She laughed at the notion, with both herself and Mrs York being out of school and Ruby being far too young to worry about any sort of high school experiences quite yet. She listened to Mrs York’s gushing with a smile, enjoying the fact that someone out who was safe and secure for Ruby cared about her nearly as much as Willow did. Her smile fell at the mention of her “full nest”, automatically looking towards the door where, on the other wide, Parker sat with his father. First Johnson was gone, and then Parker – and he was gone by choice, which had to be all the more painful. Willow could only be happy that he had finally chosen to walk back into their home like nothing had changed, potentially making the Yorks lives all the more happy. Her mouth formed the word sorry but she could not say it, turning back to Mrs York with a fake smile that she tried so hard to make real. She moved forward and tasted the meal, licking her lips with a thoughtful expression afterwards. “Hmm… No, I think it’s perfect. It could use some more spice, even. Of course that may just be my Hayes strong tolerance – we sure love our spicy food.”

Pursuit Of Happyness

The pause weighed heavy on Willow’s heart, and she found herself dreading the moment Mrs. York would start speaking again. She knew exactly what the conversation would turn to - the special event that had passed along with their anniversary, when Willow tried to leave her true love because of the marks on her pale flesh. Parker had admitted that aside from just texting Ruby, he had called his parents as well and worried them. Even if he hadn’t done that, Willow knew that his parents knew on some level what was going on between them. Even if no one wanted to admit what was happening, there were just some signs that one couldn’t ignore. When Mrs York took her hand, she looked up at the aging woman, looking at her deep in her eyes. Her eyebrows drew together, bottom lip tucked between her teeth as she worried, waiting for the truth to drop and everything she tried to hold secret spill free. “I love you too, Mrs York, really. You’re never going to get me out of your life, I promise." She smiled, not wanting to see the older woman cry. She’d do anything to keep her smiling, keep the visit light hearted and easy. No hard truths to rock anyone’s world. “I know I can come here if I ever feel the need to - if I ever want to, even, and I’m so glad I have such a safe haven. In fact, I even want to bring Ruby over a few times. I know you’d love seeing her, she’s such a special little girl and she really needs steady guidance around her. My parents aren’t exactly all that stable right now, and Parker and I are so busy with work and other things that we’re not the parents I’d like for her to have." She wasn’t trying to pawn the little girl off to the Yorks, but instead give Ruby the same safe home that Willow had for the last couple years. She gave Mrs York’s hand a little squeeze, smiling gently at the woman though she had a small lump in her throat. It felt like she was saying goodbye to the woman, even though she knew that wasn’t the truth - everything simply felt like that these days, every moment feeling like it was the last especially when Parker was by her. Even if the feeling of trust had returned, the feeling of safety in her own home still escaped her. Parker was a walking time bomb, and she didn’t have the anger to compete with him - not anymore, and she hadn’t in a long time. She no longer felt anger. Just exhaustion - exhaustion and pure disappointment.

"Miss Ruby is always welcome here too," Mrs. York perked up, saying her words in complete endearment. The squeeze of her hand made Mrs. York smile lift because she knew that Willow had understood her. Mrs. York knew her boundaries and silently she knew Willow understood that she only meant well for her. "You and her can come right over here and stay as long as you want. I'd cook a big meal, and we could go to the hairdresser together or get our nails done together or do a little shopping or..." Mrs. York's voice trailed off, her focus on Willow easing off to the side as she caught herself mid ramble. Naming off all of the things she'd like to do with a close girlfriend wasn't the way to invite someone over Diane... "Long story short, bring her over whenever you'd like. Tell her she's always welcome here. I haven't seen her in such a long while, i've bet she's gotten so big..." Mrs. York gushed and let go of Willow to tend to the pots again. "Give her my number even, if she needs anything tell her to call me too. I promise if you guys would like to stay it wouldn't be a burden on me or Roy. It's not like I have a full nest here already." Mrs. York looked up at Willow again to give her a smile, but this one was toned sadly. Her voice dropped some with the last words she passed to Willow. Since Parker had gone, there really wasn't anyone to occupy the space in her home anymore. Mrs. York wouldn't attest that she was unhappy about the fact, but after years of having the home fully occupied maybe she did suffer a little from empty nest syndrome. "C'mere for a minute, Willow, try this out for me. Is this too spicy to you?" She stirred a bit in one of the pots and then held up the spoon for Willow to take a taste.

Before I met you, my heart was heavy It was weighted down from all my pride And now I’m lost in your sweet surrender Confessing this love I have inside So now I’ll show you what you mean to me.