Dinner [for Essie]

[bachjones]

 The woman at the coffee place had recognized Isaac, and had looked at Bach like he was a kidnapper and murderer all in one wrapping. It had taken his son not only ordering a coffee for Essie, but also knowing precisely how she liked it and a silly anecdote about how Isaac was showing Bach around town because Essie was too busy or some nonsense, to make the woman step away from the phone. They could have just sung. 

It was pretty clear that Isaac had a bit of a clue about what was going on, but he didn't want to talk about it, and Bach didn't really either. So they talked about the things he had learned at school, about the trips they'd make together when Isaac was older, and when Bach would have a guitar again. After all that, he neatly returned his son to his adoptive mother. 

Bach had found a few more of his things at the beach, including his guitar, snares broken but still a chance to live. It hurt to see the instrument like that, but it also gave him hope. He could bounce back. He would. 

He visited Lily Middleton for a shower and a new outfit, protesting any police involvement, he just wanted to go have dinner with his son. Mrs Middleton wasn't amused, but she allowed it. She was a good woman.

Neatly at the time discussed, Bach tried to show up on Essie's door step. "Essie!" Was she really still putting magic up for him? 

 

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[wakingwakewood]

It was her house, why was he surprised she was setting the rules. He was the one that had to earn a little trust here. Her house, her rules. She fiddled with the charm at her wrist and shifted in her chair. She hated the look on Isaac's face, he'd been so excited and now he was completely unsettled. She had a feeling that the nightmares might return tonight, and made a note to leave her door open so he could wander in and cuddle if he needed it.

"Thanks." She didn't know what else to say. "I can show you how to make it, if you want, it's pretty easy."

[bachjones]

"You're going to teach me how to cook something?" What the fuck was going on with this yoyo of mixed messages. Had Bach been such a shit that he deserved to be pulled along like this?

He laughed. "I can barely use a microwave without it going up in flames. The only reason we've been eating healthy was because there's nothing to heat in a salad and everybody got fed up with sandwiches."

Isaac nodded softly.

"And I wasn't going to get take out every day either, that's expensive no matter how you do it." And even though Isaac had made things easier to get stuff free, Bach didn't want to give him that example.
He scratched the back of his neck. "So if you want to take on all that, yeah, sure. Is it a cheap meal to make?"

[wakingwakewood]

"You can't be that bad at cooking. and how do you set a microwave on fire, anyway?" Granted, she'd set fire to a few things she she was learning how to control her magic, but that was years and years ago. How hard could it be to boil some pasta?

"And yeah, it's pretty cheap, you can use canned goods for most of it if you want. Add a couple fresh things to brighten it." She was actually pretty proud of her cooking skills. After moving here, she wasn't sure how she'd do, but she'd picked up more in her travels than she'd realized, especially from her time in Italy.

[bachjones]

"Can I help?" Isaac was thawing towards the both of them again.

"Help by really enjoying this dinner so you can tell me in all the ways I'm doing it wrong", Bach replied. "You know you're not safe in a kitchen with me. Remember the poptart things?" After that one breakfast here, he had talked his way into a package of the things, only to make Mrs Gordon's toaster short circuit.

"It's a Siren thing. The matriarch has someone cook for her. Maybe we're too close to water to be okay around heat and fire. Or we just suck in kitchens.
I think the microwave was with something plastic that caught? Or the eggs, I can't remember."

[wakingwakewood]

Essie had to grin as she looked over at Isaac? "Is that why you make yourself scarce every time I make dinner? I thought it was just because you didn't want to have to help." Reaching over, she ruffled his hair a little as he sheepishly hid his face behind a bite of garlic bread. Little sneak, she was actually impressed. He probably didn't want her to worry or blame him (not that she would, not EVER), so he just took to his room or the living room or outside with Dan until she called him.

"You know, I might be able to work up a kind of charm for that. Come kind of barrier. I'm great at those." He may have noticed when he tried to find her home when she didn't want him to.

[bachjones]

"Yeah, great, awesome. I'll call you in for adding it as soon as I have a kitchen again." Or a place to live, but Isaac didn't have to hear that.

"Just to be sure", Isaac murmured at the same time in answer to Essie, the tips of his ears red. "Daddy says I need to find someone to cook for me."

That probably was going to land well. "And now you did!" He finished his bowl and tore off another piece of bread. "Much quicker than I managed, kid. Well done. My mother just got me good food when a show was coming up, took me until my teens to get what I want all the time."
That probably wasn't going to land well either. "Is there more pasta?"

[wakingwakewood]

A raised eyebrow was all Bach got. She knew his childhood had been rough, had to be for him to be such an asshole now, but that was new information. And probably not information Isaac needed to hear. He'd probably have questions later, the kid never forgot anything, he'd just let things stew until he could ask. "I'm more than happy to do it. And I can make some easy things, cold pastas, cold pizzas, some other things that you can take." When he had a place and she was almost certain he didn't yet.

"Help yourself." She pushed the casserole dish towards Bach and made a mental note to pack whatever was left for him to take. Christ, and he thought he'd just be able to take Isaac with nothing. It would have been borderline abuse.

[bachjones]

"So I can eat cold pizzas and cold pastas for the rest of the week?" Bach would take it, though. He'd take anything that would mean he wouldn't had to spend money. "Isaac's going to be so jealous of me."

"Am not."

Cheeky bugger. How the hell could Bach have come up with the idea of a life without him? The kid was perfect, and it was a mystery where that came from. He accepted the dish and filled his bow again, chewing on a piece of bread. "How's the food, Isaac? You think you're up for becoming a food reviewer? Because you know I'm going to have to try this if I get it offered." Especially with it coming from Essie. Why the hell did she still have so much control over him?

[wakingwakewood]

"That's a thing?"

"Essie found herself nodding, "You bet it's a thing. People go to places to eat for an actual living. I met one when I was... where was I? France somewhere, I think. On the coast. He knew where the restaurant got all of its food, where the chef had trained, everything. It was fun to eat with him, he had a ton of stories about places he'd been."

Isaac looked a bit suspicious. "True story. I can show you some reviews on the computer later."

[bachjones]

'France somewhere'. Of course, because Essie had the money to travel for fun, for whatever she felt like. It wasn't like Bach for a couple of minutes had forgotten that she could buy his entire life and still have pockets full of cash left. He wouldn't bring it up though, wouldn't show Isaac there was such a huge gap between his father and his m- parental figure. He was pretty sure that at the least Essie wasn't spoiling him.

"She is telling the truth, Isaac. Usually they work for newspapers or other kinds of media, but some can just do it for writing books and stuff." Or however it worked.

"But you don't have to become one if you don't want to, of course."

Isaac's suspicion turned into a frown. "Who's buying his dinner all the time?"

"Hey, I don't know that much about food reviewing. But if it's for a newspaper, it's them. I think. Just like with all kind of reviews. You know we're the ordinary people, man. We pay for our food, always." Usually.

[wakingwakewood]

They were far from ordinary, but she wasn't going to rock that boat. She also wasn't going to pretend to be something she wasn't to make Bach feel better. Yes, she had traveled the world on her dime with plenty left over, and yeah, part of her felt that made her a better guardian for Isaac than Bach. At least until he got some kind of regular cash flow. But again, none of that was for tonight.

"Speaking of food, eat up, there's some custard and berries for dessert. But only if you finish your pasta and salad, okay?"

[bachjones]

"Salad?" Isaac sighed with all the drama he could muster in his little body. "I already had salad."

"I'll fi- you almost got me there, guy." Bach pointed at the little bowl left to his plate. "Come on now, I know you've had enough salads with me to grow green fingers, but it's something Essie made and we don't -"

"let food waste", his son finished grumbling. But at least he still remembered, right? How much of his time with Bach was still shared, still fresh in his mind? Did he even view him as his father?

"Or if dessert doesn't sound very exciting.." Which it didn't, in his opinion. "Just don't finish it. I'll finish it for you, I don't have to eat the next three days now."

[wakingwakewood]

The rest of the evening passed as awkwardly as Essie imagined it would. She'd make a comment, wince, he'd reply, wince, repeat. But they managed to keep any open hostility off the proverbial table until after dinner, when Isaac took Bach to show him his room and Essie was left to do the dishes. It gave her time to breathe, time to hope that the evening would stay civil. It helped having half a house between her and Bach.

True to her word, she packed the leftovers up and did the dishes, only calling up once to remind Isaac that it was close to bedtime. She'd let Bach help him if he needed it. Then she just had to wait until it was actually time to tuck him in. God help her, she needed that to go smoothly because she was pretty sure it was going to get ugly when it was just the two of them again.

[bachjones]

Bach was surprised Essie allowed him to be alone with his son, to be honest. What if he'd throw him out of the window and run away from him? She probably had magic for that.

Not that it had gone completely horrible, had it? They hadn't fought in front of Isaac, and it sounded like she wasn't very angry at him either. Just confused, which was ..understandable with the mess Bach always brought in.

"Sing? We can ..sing together?" Isaac offered him a book. "I like this one. Please."
"I don't know, kid. Maybe Essie doesn't feel like singing. I don't want her to feel lef- I can just read it for you?"
Not good enough for his son. With surprising volume, he yelled for her. "I'm going to sleep now!"

[wakingwakewood]

She heard him all the way from the kitchen and she couldn't stop laughing until she got to his bedroom. Leaning in the doorway, she crossed her arms. "Are you? I don't remember reading you a story or singing you a lullaby. And I'm positive I haven't had a hug yet. So you can't be going to sleep."

With Dan behind her, she came in and sat next to him on the bed like it was any other night. Even if it wasn't. "What do we have tonight? A book?"

[bachjones]

The pain in his chest was sudden and absolute. But man, just look at that smile on her face, look at Isaac unfurling and sticking his arms out like she could fit in there. Well, one of them could. This was never going to work out, was it? They'd be the frustrated divorced couple, only without the divorce. "This fu-"

"A book", Isaac replied, maybe louder than necessary. "Dan's favorite. And I like it as well. A lot. And you read better. But daddy sings better", he added with a glance at Bach.

Yeah, thanks kid. That's probably the reason why you exist. Nothing of this daddy loves mommy a lot nonsense, Bach just forgot about the condom because there was easy sex. He rubbed his face. His brain was fucking stupid sometimes. "Good thing both things are good talents", he tried instead, keeping the frustration out of his voice. "Can I listen to Essie reading as well?"

"Yes!" Isaac looked at her, putting his hands on the book again. "Of course?"

[wakingwakewood]

"Okay, story time and then hugs and bed. Scoot over." Just like she did every night, she sat on the bed next to Isaac and let him snuggle into her arms so he could see the pictures. She didn't want to think about what Bach made of that, this wasn't his ritual, it was theirs. It started when he needed her to hold him until he went to sleep so he wouldn't worry that she was going to leave him. Then it was just the thing they did.

Opening the book, she started to read the story, bad voices and all. It was about a little seal that lost his favorite rock and everything ended with a big happy ending. From an adult standpoint, it was kinda boring, but it was filled with beautiful drawings of the sea and sea life and that was why she'd picked it up.

[bachjones]

Bach knew his place. Right now, it wasn't even very hard to enjoy it. Just look at the two of them.

But it was finished all too soon, one more hug, one more kiss, one more piece of a song Isaac could go asleep with. Now the two of them were outside his room - the kid had his own room, clearly his - and Bach made sure to walk away before she could say anything. He wasn't going to have Isaac listen to whatever Essie wanted to throw at him. The other shoe had to drop. It was tempting to walk to her bedroom, but that would probably get him crucified. So down the stairs, to the hall. If she wanted him gone, he wasn't going to be in her way.

[wakingwakewood]

Essie followed Bach out of Isaac's room, pausing only to turn off the light and close the door before heading down the stairs. "Well, I don't know about you, but I could use a drink. Want one before you leave?"

She didn't know if he wanted to stay and talk, she didn't even know if she wanted him to want to stay and talk even though they obviously had a lot to talk about. If he wanted to bail she wouldn't stop him, she'd just give him his leftovers and let him go. At this point, she figured it was his shot to take. He saw that Isaac had a home, he knew she wouldn't just let him waltz off with him, and he saw that Isaac was happy here.

Regardless, the food and the alcohol was in the kitchen so that's where she headed.

[bachjones]

He followed her into the kitchen without a thought. Where Essie went ..no, that was overly dramatic. They needed less drama between the three of them, not more. He could say that, right, three of them? Nothing claiming there?

"It didn't go that bad. I think." He didn't know where to put his hands, where to put himself, and he folded his arms before stepping back against a wall. "You don't need a drink every night, right?" She had said 'could', not need. "I mean, no, never mind. Yes, give me something. The food was good. All that's for me?" He pointed at the containers. "Did you make that much?"

[wakingwakewood]

She gave him a look but didn't comment. Of course she didn't need a drink every night, it just always seemed to come up on the nights she saw him. That should probably be a sign, but she wasn't going to pick at it tonight.

"Yeah, it's for you. Turns out cooking's good for nerves and I was pretty nervous earlier."

[bachjones]

"Nervous?" Why the heck did Bach make her nervous? Or wasn't it about him, didn't she have.. she had to have people over often enough, she was a good person. Friendly and all that stuff. Hot, as well. No, he didn't want her to have people over often. "Thanks. Seriously."

"That was ..it didn't ..it wasn't bad, right?" He definitely had expected worse, breakdowns and fights and Isaac crumpling under the pressure. Maybe there still was something that bounced them back from the edge, maybe? "Of course he caught up on a few things but I'm always told that children have like a seventh sense for things between their pa- caretakers."

[wakingwakewood]

"No, I think it was pretty good actually. Isaac was really glad to see you." She was just glad he wasn't raving anymore. Maybe he got that out of his system earlier and had time tot think things through.

Reaching into the cabinet, she pulled out two glasses. He hadn't said he wanted anything, but he hadn't declined, either so she figured she'd at least pour him something. "So, do you have a plan going forward, have you found a place to stay?"

[bachjones]

"But you weren't? Oh, fuck." Why did he keep doing the talking before thinking thing? "Forget that."

The last time they had shared a drink together hadn't ended well. Nor the time before that, no matter how much fun they've had in between. Maybe Bach needed to start owning up to the fact that he was a divorced guy with no wife but a woman he l- his son loved, completely and clearly, and try to build a life around that. Not just his son, which was what he would have to do anyway, but with the other caretaker.
"I'm still looking around", he murmured. "Not a lot of cheap stuff around here these days."

[wakingwakewood]

"No, I was glad to see you, I just..." Why did he make it so hard all the time? Sighing, Essie turned to face him.

"I'm glad you're here. Isaac's glad you're here. You're his father, you're supposed to be here. And I don't hate you, I... I don't know who you are. I thought I did and you left and we picked up together and now you're back and the first thing you said was that you wanted to take him from me and I... I won't, I can't let you do that."