Fanfic: B&S episode 707: part 4/4
Season 7 - Episode 07- Bad day
By Marea67
About: Brothers & Sisters
Rate: G
Disclaimer: I don’t own Brothers & Sisters - written with love, not for money.
Summary: Ingredients: Take a couple of Walkers, add a few Wandells, a pinch of Holden and a Caplan formerly known as Harper, a dash of Altamirano and Whitley, a teaspoon of Byrolt, Paresa and Salazar and (for added flavor only) a Barry&McCallister. Mix and shake…and… watch it explode.
Warning: It is my very own season 7, you guys! Go with it! ;) Don’t complain! If YOU can do better, post your own story! (I dare you!)
*****
06.57 pm
*****
“Feeling better?” Jason asks and Kevin nods, feeling guilty that he had taken him so long.
“I’m sorry for the outburst.. It’s just…”
“I called Nora.” Jason says without waiting for Kevin to finish his sentence.
“What? Why did you do that? I had everything under control.”
“No. You didn’t …” Jason answers honestly. “You’re tired and stressed out. And you have help, that you aren’t using.”
“You don’t understand… Calling mom is like saying….”
“… that you’re not good enough?”
Kevin gives him a surprised look.
“I don’t have kids, but I had a congregation with people who did. And who sometimes just drowned in responsibilities…. It’s not the first time that I hear this…. Besides, I’m the one who called her, you didn’t.” He winks. Kevin can’t help but smile as well…
“What did she say?”
“She was going to make one phone-call and then she'd be on her way.” Before Kevin can even says something the door-bell rings.
“She must have broke all the speed-records.” Kevin mumbles.
But when he opens the door it’s not Nora, but Browne who’s standing there.
“I had a weird call from your mother…?”
“No kidding…” Kevin sighs. “I’ve had a bad day .. I hadn’t expected her to call you though…”
“I’m glad I can help. Give me all the details of the case and I’ll prepare for tomorrow. I know what it’s about. I’ll go in your place. No problem.”
“But..” Kevin wants to protest, but Browne puts his hand on Kevin’s shoulder.
“It’s not busy right now. Let me do this, while you look after your kids, alright?”
“I just…”
“Will you relax? The last thing I need is an overworked partner. Things got too much for you today. If it happens to me, I’ll call you, alright?”
“Fine.” Kevin nods, not wishing to fight about it...
*****
07.05 pm
*****
“You’ve been quiet the last half hour.” Sarah says, as they walk up to her car. “You barely managed to say a decent goodbye to poor Anthony who tried to be so polite to you.” Tommy stops abruptly and it forces Sarah to stop walking as well. She turns to her brother to see fury on his face.
“And I’ve been wondering, for at least an hour and a half, why you didn’t let me borrow your car to drive back to Pasadena and be with my kids, so you could have spent the whole night here, in some sleazy hotel-room, getting yourself fucked by ‘poor’ Anthony! It was the most appalling ‘business’-dinner I’ve ever sat through with you. I suppose that ‘poor’ Anthony is seriously wondering, after tonight, what sort of collaboration you were expecting from him.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, come on! Do you think I’m stupid? You were this close to giving him a lapdance!”
“You’re ridiculous!”
“Am I? You blouse was so far open your boobs nearly fall out. You were laughing over his every pathetic attempt at a joke. You were touching or caressing his hand at every opportunity you got. You practically stared me away from the table and you were licking your spoon during desert in a way that leaves nothing much to imagination. You think that I don’t remember the tricks?”
“Are you perhaps not the one with too much sex on the brain?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Really? When was the last time you had any? I know that Julia didn’t want to have sex with you while she was pregnant… Or in the first weeks after? Have you had any since?” Tommy can’t feel hurt about the sharpness in her question.
“No. I would never push Julia into something she wasn’t ready to.” He answers honestly and in a matter of fact voice that is calm and reasonable. “And the lack of sex in my life doesn't the way that I look at things. You were coming on to that guy in the most obvious and in-your-face kind of way and it was embarrassing to watch. It was completely unprofessional!”
“Unprofessional?”
“Yes. Unless your profession is a hooker or a stripper, your actions tonight were beyond decent and you were certainly not doing the image of ‘Ojai Food and Wine’ any good. So, yes, I think you were unprofessional.”
“Coming from the guy who ran off after embezzling Ojai, who ran away from his marriage and his life, to come back and to then run away again… it would seem perhaps you shouldn’t be the one attacking me..” Sarah replies.
“True. I was unprofessional. There! I admit it…. Now, can you do the same?”
Sarah and Tommy stare at each other, neither one giving in to the other.
“Get in the car!” Sarah eventually orders and slams the door behind her once she’s seated. With a powerful tug at her safety-belt she manages to click it in place and start the car. Tommy moves slower and calmer. He looks at his sister’s angry face and then he looks out the window on the other side. It’s going to be a long drive back.
*****
08.10 pm
*****
“I’m glad that you decided to take my offer.” Jason says from the other side of the table.
“I had already said ‘no’, remember? If mom hadn’t convinced that having something to eat, with you, somewhere, away from home, or Café 429, would be a good idea.”
“In that case, I’m grateful for Nora’s interference.” Jason raises his glass in salute.
“This salmon is delicious. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was. I’ve been running after the kids all day… I just … I thought I’d have time to catch up once they would be in bed…”
“I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“I wish I could have been there for you tonight. You didn’t come to me to help me with my problems.”
“Perhaps not, but … It was nice to feel useful.”
“So, how are you feeling?” Kevin asks.
“Tired, I didn’t sleep so good last night. I wonder if it’s true. Or not. I fear that it is, and I’m not sure that I can accept that…. I went from yesterday’s “there’s a perfectly logical explanation” to today’s “He’s doing it with someone else.” And all other feelings in between. Anger, hurt, confusion. I wanted him to call me…. but I was afraid he might have to say… I’ve turned off my phone, because I couldn’t read one more ‘I’m so sorry’ from a relative or friend.
I haven’t even checked my call-back list afraid of how many of them there are. … Instead, I’ve cleaned the kitchen, done the ironing and … I’ve walked around the house, … wondering what Chad and I would fight over…. In case… you know… we split up…” Jason sighs and he takes another sip from his wine.
“Whoa! You’re going too fast here…. Don’t you think that you should first have to talk to him?”
“I’m not sure that I want to hear what excuses he comes up with.” Jason says, obviously already dismissing, whatever Chad would have to say, as lies.
“Perhaps just the simple truth?” Kevin offers. “Chad loves you. I have a hard time believing that he would cheat on you.”
“I can show you the pictures.”
“No thanks…. I don’t want to see them.”
“Neither did I.” Jason admits. “In a not too obvious attempt to change the topic: Have you heard from Scotty yet?”
“Not obvious at all.” Kevin jokes, but then adds more seriously. “No, I haven’t. Not yet anyway. I hope he’s alright.”
Watching concern rise on Kevin’s face, Jason puts his hand on Kevin’s wrist and gives it a comforting squeeze.
“He’ll be alright. He loves you.” Jason replies with certainty and the irony that Kevin just said the same about Chad, but wasn’t believed, doesn’t escape Kevin.
“I don’t understand why he doesn’t call me back. He knows that I hate it when we don’t stay in touch…. I .. I know it sounds too silly, but whenever I hear him talk… I feel as if he’s with me. And for just a few minutes, on some level, some alternate plane, we’re together.” Kevin looks shy, thinking that Jason will mock him for it.
“I know the feeling. I don’t think I ever fully understood why you were so upset that I never called you, when I was in Malaysia, until Chad had to work in Europe, while I stayed here. To just speak to him gave me the energy to continue our relationship…” Jason says and he sees the look on Kevin’s face.
“Yes, it was hard.” Kevin admits. “I really tried….”
“I know… I should have tried harder as well.” Jason admits.
“But if you had, I might not have gotten involved with Scotty. And, I think that he is the one for me.”
“I think you’re right. I wouldn’t have made you happy. Not like he does.”
“It’s not like you and I were unhappy…” Kevin points out. “I have good memories of that summer.” He grins.
“Makes two of us.” Jason admits. “I don’t think I ever went out more than when I was with you.”
“I never realized that you were such a virgin…”
“I tried to remain cool…” Jason teases back. “But I had been indoors for so long, just a day at the beach felt like blasphemy to me. Not to even mention what we did in your car that night. I would have died of embarrassment if that police-car had actually stopped…”
“I can see the headlines now ‘Minister caught having sex with his boyfriend in the backset of a car…’. Robert’s PR-machine would have exploded!”
“Robert already warned me that you would get me into trouble.” Jason smiles. “You certainly spiced up my life.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to know that I left a good memory at least.”
“I should have had more faith in you… In us…”
“Maybe… but in the end I think it was my destiny to be with Scotty. So, one way or another, he would have been the one I would have ended up with.”
“Do you really believe in destiny?” Jason asks.
“I do. When it comes to Scotty and me, yes.”
“I don’t have that feeling about Chad and me.”
“Yes, you do. You’re just mad with him right now.”
“You think that’s it?” Jason asks.
“I’m sure that you and Chad are meant to be together…”
“I wish I shared your enthusiasm. Maybe you’re right and I should have more faith in him and not make the same mistake with him as I did with you…”
*****
09.44 pm
****
“You’re back.” Tommy is surprised to see Nora in the kitchen rather than Kevin.
“Is something wrong with Kevin?” He asks.
“Jason took him out to dinner. Kevin had a bad day. Elizabeth was sick…”
“What?”
“.. and so was Olivia. And Jordan. Kevin knew the new account was important to you and he didn’t want you to worry, but 4 kids nagging at his head and the 5th one missing in action, it all became a bit too much for him to handle.” Nora explains.
“I’m going to kill Sarah.” Tommy says angrily.
“Did you actually get the grapes?” Nora asks. “It is important to our company.”
“Important enough to have Sarah act like some call-girl?”
“What?”
“Forget it. Sarah and I have a ‘difference of opinion’ about how she does business. We've spent our trip back from Ojai giving each other the silent treatment”
“Was it really that bad?” Nora asks.
“Sarah and I will fight out when we’re both less angry…. I want to check on my kids.” He rushes up the stairs to first check on Elizabeth.
“They probably ate something bad…” Nora whispers. E
lizabeth is in a deep sleep and doesn’t even wake up when Tommy gives her a night-kiss. Nora steps away from the door, expecting Tommy to go straight back down the stairs to watch Billy, but instead, Tommy checks on Olivia and Daniel, where he covers Daniel with his blanket again, before knocking on Mateo’s door.
“Come in.” Mateo says and Tommy sticks his head around the door.
“Nearly ten. Time to go to sleep.” Tommy warns. Mateo nods and Tommy leaves him alone.
“You check on all of them?” Nora seems surprised.
“Yes, when Kevin and Scotty are not here, that’s my job. They, after all, also look after my kids.” Tommy shrugs and he walks up to Billy’s crib.
“What time do you have to feed him tonight?” Nora asks. Tommy looks at his watch and shakes his head.
“That all depended at what time Scotty came home. But with Scotty in New York, Kevin and I decided to see if Billy would sleep through the night. So far, he has done just that.”
“Good. Gives everyone a good night of uninterrupted sleep.” Nora agrees. Tommy nods and walks with her to the kitchen.
“Mom, I don’t want to be rude, but it’s been a long day for me as well. And I want to go to bed too.” Tommy says. “I will tell you more tomorrow, when my head is clear, and when I’ll be less angry and more awake. By the way, didn’t Kevin have an important case tomorrow?”
“I got Browne to take it over…” Nora answers.
“Of course you did.” Tommy whispers to himself. “I see, well, in that case… I’m taking over the house until Kevin comes back….”
“Perhaps I should…”
“Mom, please, go home and get some sleep… I want to go to bed as well.” Tommy will not take ‘no’ for an answer so Nora accepts it. He gives her her coat and then kisses her goodnight and watches her car drive away, before returning to the kitchen-table and put a note on it for Kevin.
“Kev,
Sorry about the bad day. The girls are alright, checked on them. Told Mateo to go to sleep as well. Daniel threw off his blanket again. And, unless he talked to you directly, there’s still no message from Scotty on the answering machine. We need to talk about Sarah tomorrow. Hope you and Jason had fun. Tommy.”
*****
10.54 pm
*****
Scotty cannot remember the last time that he was this relieved to finally be home. He drops his overnight bag on the table and picks up the piece of paper he finds, wondering what this is all about. Had the girls been sick? Had Kevin gone out with Jason? Why? Scotty puts the note back in place and goes upstairs very quietly.
Their bedroom is empty, when Scotty puts his bag on the bed. He checks on Daniel. He’s very quiet to not wake up Tommy, in case Tommy has the baby-alarm. The doors to Elizabeth’s and Olivia’s rooms are open, but he can see straightaway that both of them are asleep. There’s no light coming from underneath Mateo’s door, so Scotty assumes that he’s asleep as well.
He just wants to return to his bedroom, when the door downstairs opens and he can hear Kevin enter. He’s happy to hear Kevin’s voice and he’s already with one foot on the top-step when he realizes that Kevin is not alone. He’s with Jason.
“Sssh. Tommy and the kids may be asleep. Or mom. All depending if Tommy got home.”
Scotty wonders why Tommy wouldn’t have been home, but he sees Kevin push Jason towards the kitchen. Scotty goes further down the stairs, but he doesn’t make his presence known. He can see how Kevin picks up his phone.
“See. No issue that I left it back home. Scotty didn’t call me anyway.”
There’s a bitterness in Kevin’s voice that makes Scotty feel a bit guilty. He had been so excited to surprise Kevin that it hadn’t occurred to him that Kevin might have needed him. If only just to talk.
“Maybe he has a good reason..” Jason offers.
“He still searching where he parked his car?” Kevin replies. “No, serious, Jason, did you really forget where you parked it?”
“It was a long walk. I was distracted. My mind was still on Chad. And on you. I could have sworn that I was in the right place. … Besides, you weren’t much help either.”
“I didn’t know that I was supposed to remember it. Your car, you drove, you parked. You should have remembered… Besides, Scotty always remembers where he leaves his car, so I don’t have to … He only forgets to call me back, when I call him.” Kevin finishes with some bitterness.
Scotty slowly descends the last steps of the stairs. He shouldn’t feel that way, but it’s nice to see Kevin a bit hurt and offended that he hadn’t called, and yet it hurts him, because he doesn’t like to Kevin in pain. He takes another step, ready to tell Kevin that he’s right here when something else happens.
“Hey, at least he didn’t forget that he’s already married, unlike Chad.” Jason reminds him.
“Who knows, maybe Scotty isn’t calling because he’s with some other guy.”
“I doubt it.” Jason says.
“Why not? He’s done it before.” Kevin answers. Scotty winces.
“Don’t be silly.” Jason says and he steps closer to Kevin.
“I guess I’m just that easy to forget about.”
“No. You’re not. You’re never easy to forget about.” And as the words leave his mouth, he pushes Kevin to look up to him.
To his shock Scotty can see Jason move closer to Kevin and then his lips are on Kevin’s. Scotty gasps quietly. Kevin doesn’t move, doesn’t pull Jason closer, but he doesn’t push Jason away either. Scotty feels like he can’t breathe and then Kevin’s hands come up, they slide along Jason’s arms to his shoulders and that is when Scotty cannot bear to watch any more.
END OF EPISODE SEVEN
If the Gods will allow it, the next epsiode 7.08 - "Breaking up is hard to do" will be up Sunday 3rd March (I hope!)
By Marea67
About: Brothers & Sisters
Rate: G
Disclaimer: I don’t own Brothers & Sisters - written with love, not for money.
Summary: Ingredients: Take a couple of Walkers, add a few Wandells, a pinch of Holden and a Caplan formerly known as Harper, a dash of Altamirano and Whitley, a teaspoon of Byrolt, Paresa and Salazar and (for added flavor only) a Barry&McCallister. Mix and shake…and… watch it explode.
Warning: It is my very own season 7, you guys! Go with it! ;) Don’t complain! If YOU can do better, post your own story! (I dare you!)
*****
06.57 pm
*****
“Feeling better?” Jason asks and Kevin nods, feeling guilty that he had taken him so long.
“I’m sorry for the outburst.. It’s just…”
“I called Nora.” Jason says without waiting for Kevin to finish his sentence.
“What? Why did you do that? I had everything under control.”
“No. You didn’t …” Jason answers honestly. “You’re tired and stressed out. And you have help, that you aren’t using.”
“You don’t understand… Calling mom is like saying….”
“… that you’re not good enough?”
Kevin gives him a surprised look.
“I don’t have kids, but I had a congregation with people who did. And who sometimes just drowned in responsibilities…. It’s not the first time that I hear this…. Besides, I’m the one who called her, you didn’t.” He winks. Kevin can’t help but smile as well…
“What did she say?”
“She was going to make one phone-call and then she'd be on her way.” Before Kevin can even says something the door-bell rings.
“She must have broke all the speed-records.” Kevin mumbles.
But when he opens the door it’s not Nora, but Browne who’s standing there.
“I had a weird call from your mother…?”
“No kidding…” Kevin sighs. “I’ve had a bad day .. I hadn’t expected her to call you though…”
“I’m glad I can help. Give me all the details of the case and I’ll prepare for tomorrow. I know what it’s about. I’ll go in your place. No problem.”
“But..” Kevin wants to protest, but Browne puts his hand on Kevin’s shoulder.
“It’s not busy right now. Let me do this, while you look after your kids, alright?”
“I just…”
“Will you relax? The last thing I need is an overworked partner. Things got too much for you today. If it happens to me, I’ll call you, alright?”
“Fine.” Kevin nods, not wishing to fight about it...
*****
07.05 pm
*****
“You’ve been quiet the last half hour.” Sarah says, as they walk up to her car. “You barely managed to say a decent goodbye to poor Anthony who tried to be so polite to you.” Tommy stops abruptly and it forces Sarah to stop walking as well. She turns to her brother to see fury on his face.
“And I’ve been wondering, for at least an hour and a half, why you didn’t let me borrow your car to drive back to Pasadena and be with my kids, so you could have spent the whole night here, in some sleazy hotel-room, getting yourself fucked by ‘poor’ Anthony! It was the most appalling ‘business’-dinner I’ve ever sat through with you. I suppose that ‘poor’ Anthony is seriously wondering, after tonight, what sort of collaboration you were expecting from him.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, come on! Do you think I’m stupid? You were this close to giving him a lapdance!”
“You’re ridiculous!”
“Am I? You blouse was so far open your boobs nearly fall out. You were laughing over his every pathetic attempt at a joke. You were touching or caressing his hand at every opportunity you got. You practically stared me away from the table and you were licking your spoon during desert in a way that leaves nothing much to imagination. You think that I don’t remember the tricks?”
“Are you perhaps not the one with too much sex on the brain?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Really? When was the last time you had any? I know that Julia didn’t want to have sex with you while she was pregnant… Or in the first weeks after? Have you had any since?” Tommy can’t feel hurt about the sharpness in her question.
“No. I would never push Julia into something she wasn’t ready to.” He answers honestly and in a matter of fact voice that is calm and reasonable. “And the lack of sex in my life doesn't the way that I look at things. You were coming on to that guy in the most obvious and in-your-face kind of way and it was embarrassing to watch. It was completely unprofessional!”
“Unprofessional?”
“Yes. Unless your profession is a hooker or a stripper, your actions tonight were beyond decent and you were certainly not doing the image of ‘Ojai Food and Wine’ any good. So, yes, I think you were unprofessional.”
“Coming from the guy who ran off after embezzling Ojai, who ran away from his marriage and his life, to come back and to then run away again… it would seem perhaps you shouldn’t be the one attacking me..” Sarah replies.
“True. I was unprofessional. There! I admit it…. Now, can you do the same?”
Sarah and Tommy stare at each other, neither one giving in to the other.
“Get in the car!” Sarah eventually orders and slams the door behind her once she’s seated. With a powerful tug at her safety-belt she manages to click it in place and start the car. Tommy moves slower and calmer. He looks at his sister’s angry face and then he looks out the window on the other side. It’s going to be a long drive back.
*****
08.10 pm
*****
“I’m glad that you decided to take my offer.” Jason says from the other side of the table.
“I had already said ‘no’, remember? If mom hadn’t convinced that having something to eat, with you, somewhere, away from home, or Café 429, would be a good idea.”
“In that case, I’m grateful for Nora’s interference.” Jason raises his glass in salute.
“This salmon is delicious. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was. I’ve been running after the kids all day… I just … I thought I’d have time to catch up once they would be in bed…”
“I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“I wish I could have been there for you tonight. You didn’t come to me to help me with my problems.”
“Perhaps not, but … It was nice to feel useful.”
“So, how are you feeling?” Kevin asks.
“Tired, I didn’t sleep so good last night. I wonder if it’s true. Or not. I fear that it is, and I’m not sure that I can accept that…. I went from yesterday’s “there’s a perfectly logical explanation” to today’s “He’s doing it with someone else.” And all other feelings in between. Anger, hurt, confusion. I wanted him to call me…. but I was afraid he might have to say… I’ve turned off my phone, because I couldn’t read one more ‘I’m so sorry’ from a relative or friend.
I haven’t even checked my call-back list afraid of how many of them there are. … Instead, I’ve cleaned the kitchen, done the ironing and … I’ve walked around the house, … wondering what Chad and I would fight over…. In case… you know… we split up…” Jason sighs and he takes another sip from his wine.
“Whoa! You’re going too fast here…. Don’t you think that you should first have to talk to him?”
“I’m not sure that I want to hear what excuses he comes up with.” Jason says, obviously already dismissing, whatever Chad would have to say, as lies.
“Perhaps just the simple truth?” Kevin offers. “Chad loves you. I have a hard time believing that he would cheat on you.”
“I can show you the pictures.”
“No thanks…. I don’t want to see them.”
“Neither did I.” Jason admits. “In a not too obvious attempt to change the topic: Have you heard from Scotty yet?”
“Not obvious at all.” Kevin jokes, but then adds more seriously. “No, I haven’t. Not yet anyway. I hope he’s alright.”
Watching concern rise on Kevin’s face, Jason puts his hand on Kevin’s wrist and gives it a comforting squeeze.
“He’ll be alright. He loves you.” Jason replies with certainty and the irony that Kevin just said the same about Chad, but wasn’t believed, doesn’t escape Kevin.
“I don’t understand why he doesn’t call me back. He knows that I hate it when we don’t stay in touch…. I .. I know it sounds too silly, but whenever I hear him talk… I feel as if he’s with me. And for just a few minutes, on some level, some alternate plane, we’re together.” Kevin looks shy, thinking that Jason will mock him for it.
“I know the feeling. I don’t think I ever fully understood why you were so upset that I never called you, when I was in Malaysia, until Chad had to work in Europe, while I stayed here. To just speak to him gave me the energy to continue our relationship…” Jason says and he sees the look on Kevin’s face.
“Yes, it was hard.” Kevin admits. “I really tried….”
“I know… I should have tried harder as well.” Jason admits.
“But if you had, I might not have gotten involved with Scotty. And, I think that he is the one for me.”
“I think you’re right. I wouldn’t have made you happy. Not like he does.”
“It’s not like you and I were unhappy…” Kevin points out. “I have good memories of that summer.” He grins.
“Makes two of us.” Jason admits. “I don’t think I ever went out more than when I was with you.”
“I never realized that you were such a virgin…”
“I tried to remain cool…” Jason teases back. “But I had been indoors for so long, just a day at the beach felt like blasphemy to me. Not to even mention what we did in your car that night. I would have died of embarrassment if that police-car had actually stopped…”
“I can see the headlines now ‘Minister caught having sex with his boyfriend in the backset of a car…’. Robert’s PR-machine would have exploded!”
“Robert already warned me that you would get me into trouble.” Jason smiles. “You certainly spiced up my life.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to know that I left a good memory at least.”
“I should have had more faith in you… In us…”
“Maybe… but in the end I think it was my destiny to be with Scotty. So, one way or another, he would have been the one I would have ended up with.”
“Do you really believe in destiny?” Jason asks.
“I do. When it comes to Scotty and me, yes.”
“I don’t have that feeling about Chad and me.”
“Yes, you do. You’re just mad with him right now.”
“You think that’s it?” Jason asks.
“I’m sure that you and Chad are meant to be together…”
“I wish I shared your enthusiasm. Maybe you’re right and I should have more faith in him and not make the same mistake with him as I did with you…”
*****
09.44 pm
****
“You’re back.” Tommy is surprised to see Nora in the kitchen rather than Kevin.
“Is something wrong with Kevin?” He asks.
“Jason took him out to dinner. Kevin had a bad day. Elizabeth was sick…”
“What?”
“.. and so was Olivia. And Jordan. Kevin knew the new account was important to you and he didn’t want you to worry, but 4 kids nagging at his head and the 5th one missing in action, it all became a bit too much for him to handle.” Nora explains.
“I’m going to kill Sarah.” Tommy says angrily.
“Did you actually get the grapes?” Nora asks. “It is important to our company.”
“Important enough to have Sarah act like some call-girl?”
“What?”
“Forget it. Sarah and I have a ‘difference of opinion’ about how she does business. We've spent our trip back from Ojai giving each other the silent treatment”
“Was it really that bad?” Nora asks.
“Sarah and I will fight out when we’re both less angry…. I want to check on my kids.” He rushes up the stairs to first check on Elizabeth.
“They probably ate something bad…” Nora whispers. E
lizabeth is in a deep sleep and doesn’t even wake up when Tommy gives her a night-kiss. Nora steps away from the door, expecting Tommy to go straight back down the stairs to watch Billy, but instead, Tommy checks on Olivia and Daniel, where he covers Daniel with his blanket again, before knocking on Mateo’s door.
“Come in.” Mateo says and Tommy sticks his head around the door.
“Nearly ten. Time to go to sleep.” Tommy warns. Mateo nods and Tommy leaves him alone.
“You check on all of them?” Nora seems surprised.
“Yes, when Kevin and Scotty are not here, that’s my job. They, after all, also look after my kids.” Tommy shrugs and he walks up to Billy’s crib.
“What time do you have to feed him tonight?” Nora asks. Tommy looks at his watch and shakes his head.
“That all depended at what time Scotty came home. But with Scotty in New York, Kevin and I decided to see if Billy would sleep through the night. So far, he has done just that.”
“Good. Gives everyone a good night of uninterrupted sleep.” Nora agrees. Tommy nods and walks with her to the kitchen.
“Mom, I don’t want to be rude, but it’s been a long day for me as well. And I want to go to bed too.” Tommy says. “I will tell you more tomorrow, when my head is clear, and when I’ll be less angry and more awake. By the way, didn’t Kevin have an important case tomorrow?”
“I got Browne to take it over…” Nora answers.
“Of course you did.” Tommy whispers to himself. “I see, well, in that case… I’m taking over the house until Kevin comes back….”
“Perhaps I should…”
“Mom, please, go home and get some sleep… I want to go to bed as well.” Tommy will not take ‘no’ for an answer so Nora accepts it. He gives her her coat and then kisses her goodnight and watches her car drive away, before returning to the kitchen-table and put a note on it for Kevin.
“Kev,
Sorry about the bad day. The girls are alright, checked on them. Told Mateo to go to sleep as well. Daniel threw off his blanket again. And, unless he talked to you directly, there’s still no message from Scotty on the answering machine. We need to talk about Sarah tomorrow. Hope you and Jason had fun. Tommy.”
*****
10.54 pm
*****
Scotty cannot remember the last time that he was this relieved to finally be home. He drops his overnight bag on the table and picks up the piece of paper he finds, wondering what this is all about. Had the girls been sick? Had Kevin gone out with Jason? Why? Scotty puts the note back in place and goes upstairs very quietly.
Their bedroom is empty, when Scotty puts his bag on the bed. He checks on Daniel. He’s very quiet to not wake up Tommy, in case Tommy has the baby-alarm. The doors to Elizabeth’s and Olivia’s rooms are open, but he can see straightaway that both of them are asleep. There’s no light coming from underneath Mateo’s door, so Scotty assumes that he’s asleep as well.
He just wants to return to his bedroom, when the door downstairs opens and he can hear Kevin enter. He’s happy to hear Kevin’s voice and he’s already with one foot on the top-step when he realizes that Kevin is not alone. He’s with Jason.
“Sssh. Tommy and the kids may be asleep. Or mom. All depending if Tommy got home.”
Scotty wonders why Tommy wouldn’t have been home, but he sees Kevin push Jason towards the kitchen. Scotty goes further down the stairs, but he doesn’t make his presence known. He can see how Kevin picks up his phone.
“See. No issue that I left it back home. Scotty didn’t call me anyway.”
There’s a bitterness in Kevin’s voice that makes Scotty feel a bit guilty. He had been so excited to surprise Kevin that it hadn’t occurred to him that Kevin might have needed him. If only just to talk.
“Maybe he has a good reason..” Jason offers.
“He still searching where he parked his car?” Kevin replies. “No, serious, Jason, did you really forget where you parked it?”
“It was a long walk. I was distracted. My mind was still on Chad. And on you. I could have sworn that I was in the right place. … Besides, you weren’t much help either.”
“I didn’t know that I was supposed to remember it. Your car, you drove, you parked. You should have remembered… Besides, Scotty always remembers where he leaves his car, so I don’t have to … He only forgets to call me back, when I call him.” Kevin finishes with some bitterness.
Scotty slowly descends the last steps of the stairs. He shouldn’t feel that way, but it’s nice to see Kevin a bit hurt and offended that he hadn’t called, and yet it hurts him, because he doesn’t like to Kevin in pain. He takes another step, ready to tell Kevin that he’s right here when something else happens.
“Hey, at least he didn’t forget that he’s already married, unlike Chad.” Jason reminds him.
“Who knows, maybe Scotty isn’t calling because he’s with some other guy.”
“I doubt it.” Jason says.
“Why not? He’s done it before.” Kevin answers. Scotty winces.
“Don’t be silly.” Jason says and he steps closer to Kevin.
“I guess I’m just that easy to forget about.”
“No. You’re not. You’re never easy to forget about.” And as the words leave his mouth, he pushes Kevin to look up to him.
To his shock Scotty can see Jason move closer to Kevin and then his lips are on Kevin’s. Scotty gasps quietly. Kevin doesn’t move, doesn’t pull Jason closer, but he doesn’t push Jason away either. Scotty feels like he can’t breathe and then Kevin’s hands come up, they slide along Jason’s arms to his shoulders and that is when Scotty cannot bear to watch any more.
END OF EPISODE SEVEN
If the Gods will allow it, the next epsiode 7.08 - "Breaking up is hard to do" will be up Sunday 3rd March (I hope!)