Home sweet home

[bachjones]

 In the end it had been quicker to get a room mate to get the place over Apples and Eve. The girl was a silly high school student that wanted to experience living on her own before leaving town or something, blabalbla. Nancy was only there like three days a week, but cleaned the living room (her bedroom) and the bathroom better than Bach would or could. 

The important thing was that he had a place of his own. Now he didn't have to hang around the school or the play yard any more to see Isaac, didn't have to come up with all kinds of spots he could bring his own son to. He had a place now. Bed, kitchen, couch, television, everything. Alfred liked it as well, and Bach even got the cat a little pillow of his own. Is Essie didn't approve, she would have to take her rich people goggles off and try again. 

Heck, the place even smelled better than his last one, living over a café. So he had left a few texts with Essie, letting her know that she could come visit for approval any night except for Thursdays (his show nights) and Saturdays (his ho nights). That she was welcome to come for dinner if she'd bring food or would be okay with pasta salad, and that Dan was welcome as well. All very considerate and grown up, right?

"Stairs are at the back of the building", he added last minute. 

 

Comments

[wakingwakewood]

On some level, Essie felt guilty that Bach felt like he had something to prove, but mostly she had to admit that he did. He'd left, with barely a good-bye, and came back thinking everything would be fine picking up where he left off and it wasn't. Not for her and not for Isaac. So while she might feel a little bad making him jump through all of these hoops, she wasn't going to give up on them, either.

That didn't mean she was going to make him do it in front of an audience. So when he told her she could come over to "inspect" his new digs, she arranged for Isaac to have a sitter, just in case. With Bach, she just never knew. Besides, since he did have a place, they should probably start renegotiating custody and while she knew her lawyer would have a fit, she preferred to do it over dinner and a bottle of wine, at least to start.

She found the place easy enough and with a pair of dinners in a bag over her arm (simple spaghetti and the aforementioned wine), she knocked on the door.

[bachjones]

"Fuck." Nancy's pajama pants were still on the couch, and Bach pushed them underneath a pillow before changing his mind and throwing it into his bed room and closing the door. As little risk as possible, you know.

"Coming!" He checked his shirt for stains, wiped his face and opened the front door. It wasn't like it had been ages since he's seen Essie, but she was on his turf now. No kid in between them to keep the peace and PG, so who knew how either of them would come out of it.

"Hi. So you brought food." Good thing Bach hadn't heated up anything yet.

[wakingwakewood]

"Home-warming dinner. I thought it might be nice. Can I come in?" Shifting on her feet a little, Essie had to resist the urge to twist a strand of hair between her fingers out of sheer nervousness. It helped that her arms were kinda full, but the instinct was still there. She'd been working so hard to keep her temper in check, to mot make comments that she knows will make him defensive. It was hard. Easier when Isaac was there, but still hard and now...

There was just so much pain. And she'd been so focused on Isaac's that she hadn't even really looked at hers yet.

[bachjones]

"If you made it, it probably will be. Nice." Smooth, seriously. His mind always seemed to whip between Casanova and forever virgin when Essie was around. "I hadn't started anything yet anyway."

"Yeah, yes, of course. Don't mind the ..everything." Bach had tried to clean up, and it wasn't like the both of them owned a lot to make a complete mess of it, but still. And there was Alfred. "And I don't want the cat to think he can try to go outside. Stupid animal always forgets where we live right now."
Or just liked Isaac's digs better, but he wasn't going to admit to that.

[wakingwakewood]

Essie closed the door quickly behind her as she came inside. It was small, but clean and nice. Although she was almost certain that there was a woman living here. Just a few touches here and there. She bit her tongue though, it was not a conversation to have right now and Bach had sworn up and down that the more... erotic parts of his life were well hidden from Isaac.

So instead, she just headed to the small table and started pulling the food containers out of the small heated carrier. "Just you tonight? I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Although she wasn't entirely sure if that would make the night better or worse from her perspective. Man, that made her feel juvenile, but Bach tended to have that affect on her.

[bachjones]

"Just me tonight. And Alfred, but I already fed him so he knows not to come begging while we're eating. I'm trying to bring him up as a better pet now, instead of just going where his instincts tell him to."

He regretted saying that, she'd probably view it as a metaphor or similar thing to either Isaac or Bach himself. Why did he always forget to watch his words around her.

"What could you even be interrupting? I worked, I came home and showered, you're here because we made a da- appointment to have dinner together so you can approve of my living space before you allow my son in without getting anything law related involved. Right? You can take your shoes off if you don't mind Alfred sitting in them. It's a new thing. I think it's innocent enough to allow."

[wakingwakewood]

"Oh, sorry, sure." Going back to the door, Essie slid her shoes off and placed them by the exit, wondering if Bach was intentionally making her visit sound like an inconvenience and pain, or if it was just how he felt about the whole thing. She honestly couldn't tell anymore. She also wondered if he could honestly blame her for all of it. How long had he been more or less homeless?

"And don't worry, Dan already goes through enough of my shoes, I'm pretty sure Alfred can't do that much damage in one evening.."

[bachjones]

"Alfred doesn't chew on them. Does Dan still do that? Isn't it time he's going to gro- never mind, it's your dog. Not my responsibility."

This was going great, except it didn't. How were they going to get through the night? "Erm. Just want me to heat up this stuff so we can sit down? Or do you want a tour? I have a small bed for Isaac in my room, it's a fold up but it's legit, it can hold me so nothing will happen with him on top of it, I'm sure. Bathroom is the newest part and the kitchen ..well, you know him, he won't enter that anyway, right?"

[wakingwakewood]

"We can tour later, if you're hungry let's go ahead and eat." Besides, if they're shoving food into their mouths, there won't be any room for their feet. At least that was the hope. Frankly, Essie just wanted to get through one evening. When Isaac was there, it was easier, they both just focused on him and didn't always talk directly to each other. Now... she just hoped for a miracle.

"I'm sure everything is fine." And she meant that. She knew what Isaac meant to Bach, knew he was trying and knew he wouldn't but the boy in harm's way.

[bachjones]

"Thanks." It was a thanks for both of those things, especially because Bach didn't feel like saying the word too often. It was still his kid, he shouldn't have to grovel for his caretaker. Although she had been doing well, of course. And if she'd give him a finger, he'd take all of her. But that wasn't the point.

"Dinner it is. How was your day?" What the fuck kind of question was that? "If you want to talk about it."

[wakingwakewood]

"It was good. Sold some furniture to some college kids who just got their first apartment. They were, like, totally geeking out over actually having their own bedrooms. I guess they both had to share with siblings or something growing up." Not that she'd know anything about that. She'd grown up in a falling-down mansion with her Great-grandfather. Not exactly what she'd call a typical childhood.

Not that Bach had a typical childhood either.

[bachjones]

She gave him what sounded like a serious reply, but she was done talking all too quickly, while Bach was running out of subjects without ever really having some. Isaac? How long could they talk about their kid before they started fighting? His kid.

"That's nice." He wanted to make an effort. "I didn't know you had furniture as well, now. Must take a lot of room in the shop."

[wakingwakewood]

"Sometimes, when I come across something nice. There's actually more than you think because most of the tables and shelving I've used for the displays and such are for sale, too." Essie shrugged and started arranging the food on the little table. "Can you get the plates and maybe some glasses for the wine?"

Professional. She could be professional, get through the meal all casual-like.

[bachjones]

"Oh, yes. Yes, I remember that." From that hot second when he was offered a job at her place. That was probably not on the table any more. Table. Ha. He was so nervous that his lame thoughts made him smile.

"So everything's still going well there? I'm trying to find something more permanent than music, something closer to home. I don't want to be on the road when Isaac needs me. Or like.. he's a bit too young to travel along. On weekends, of course, I mean. Not going to pull him out of school because I want to see him." Bach still felt like he was on very thin rope here, but honesty was necessary, wasn't it?

"He mentioned a tablet. Did you get him one? Should we talk about what he can't and can do on the internet?"

[wakingwakewood]

"It is. Business is steady, we're finally in the black cash-wise. It's nice." Essie started opening the containers of food, nodding at Bach's plans. She was glad he was doing something he enjoyed and hopefully something that would keep him close to home. "And I be once summer comes, Isaac might like a quick trip with his dad." She couldn't argue with that, it was only fair.

She actually chuckled a bit about the tablet. "It's mine, but I've been letting him use it so he can get used to tech and how it works for him. I have to approve any websites he uses and it's got a safe-search mode totally locked in. It logs everything he does.

[bachjones]

"You'd allow him to come?" Isaac would love that, but Bach would definitely love that and do anything to make sure his son would feel the same. Because they haven't been all that bad together, had they? Wasn't he a better person around the kid? "I mean - yeah, okay. If he wants to, of course. Not going to pull him along. Siren Cove is his home, his place of comfort." He was starting to sound like a kindergarten parent.

"There's this Wikipedia he loves? Isn't that like a library on the internet?" His son was going to be a nerd, it just felt like it. As long as he would be happy, it wasn't important.

"It's not that important. His birthday is in three weeks, he hasn't talked to me about it, but probably because he knows I'm poor and can't get him shit. I just wanted to go to the ocean with him. I've been - I've been getting swimming lessons." He scratched the back of his neck, feeling all too vulnerable already. "I think - I hope that's cool enough for him, just having a good long swim with his dad. Ice cream after, of course. I don't know what else we should or could do."

[wakingwakewood]

"Sure, he's out of school, I think it would be nice for him to travel a bit. See the country. I wish I'd had the chance at his age." Besides, she had no doubt that Bach would take care of him and bring him back. He'd more than earned that trust since he'd come back.

"Honestly, he hasn't asked me for anything either. I was gonna ask you if you had any ideas, but I know he'd love a day at the beach. Take lots of pictures for me, okay?" She took a sip of wine to cover the slight lump in her throat. It pained her to think he was going to have his birthday without her, but maybe they'd have cake that night. Maybe curl up and watch a movie on the sofa. "And swimming lessons, huh? Must be humbling for a siren."

[bachjones]

So because she was hurt because Bach dared to ask for the boy's first birthday for himself, Essie was going to strike out right away? Humbling? What the fuck, why not just call him a dumbass right away?

"A day at the beach it is. I'll get him some fast food afterwards and maybe even a cake. Drop him off at your place when he's completely out. Or you can have the birthday breakfast and I can just take him home, of course. I don't always have to drop him off at your place now any more." He got up with one of the containers, putting it in the microwave with a bit more force than necessary. Whenever he felt like they were getting better, she'd dig in a knife again. Every fucking time.

"And I don't have a camera. Except the shitty one on my phone."

[wakingwakewood]

Well, apparently she'd done something wrong. It could be any number of things she'd just said, and damn if she could figure out which one. She was trying, okay? She'd said okay to touring over the summer, she'd said okay to the birthday thing, was it the swimming thing? She'd just been teasing? It was always something, wasn't it? She couldn't have a single damn conversation without tripping him off at some point.

Finishing off the wine in her glass, she gritted her teeth and just moved on, pouring another. She wasn't going to be the one that started the fight, not this time. "I have one you can borrow if you like. And if he conks out, you can just bring him back here. Your choice." Why did it have to be so hard? They'd gotten along fine when they were sleeping together, until that damn spell at any rate. That fucking spell. If she could find the witch that cast it she'd freeze her blood solid.

[bachjones]

"Well, thank you." He heard himself and didn't believe it, but this was about Isaac, so he tried again. "I'm sure he'd like that. We don't have any pictures together, the two of us. And it's not l-" Not like they could ever get him a family portrait like ordinary people.

Bach emptied the container in two bowls and shoved one of them in her direction. "It has to be an easy one, the camera, just point and click. I don't know all that stuff that the pros do and I just want some memories. I can hang the nice pictures on the wall until it embarrasses him. If he ever is going to be that kind of teenager." It was hard to imagine. Would Essie still be around when Isaac was a teenager? Would she still come with a bucket load of triggers?

"I'll ask him if it's okay with it, before we decide for him. He's getting that stubborn streak about wanting to know everything involving him right now." That didn't come from Bach, Bach had always been better with not knowing, but it wasn't like Essie had been involved in that way for her to claim that. "I had to explain vitamin C pills to him the other day, little snoop."

[wakingwakewood]

"It's simple. Point and click, all digital." She wouldn't mention that she'd bought it for Isaac so he could practice taking pictures without getting a phone. He wanted to for some reason and she knew actually getting him a phone would definitely set Bach off. She got it, she did, but she just wanted to be able to buy things for him without his father getting all bent out of shape. She didn't want to spoil him, but there was no reason for him not to have a few nice things.

Taking the bowl, she knew the confusion was plastered all over her face, "Vitamin C?"

[bachjones]

"Him taking it. Supplements? I wanted to -" Now he had to show what a shit dad he was again. "Some of the mothers were talking about how the cough and other things were moving through class, I didn't want him ill. I know sirens don't get sick easily, but I don't know..he's not that much siren, you know? Almost human. So I got him.." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Got him vitamin C, he demands an explanation so loudly that he's hurting my ears, trying to play with a nice little hum because he knows I lo-"

Yes, it made him stupid proud to feel that Isaac could make some kind of influence, even though he knew he shouldn't. They played off each other sometimes, just so his son could get it out of his system, to never ever do it with someone else but him.

"So I had to explain to him about sick kids and not wanting that for him. Snotty brat acted like he'd never get sick in his life, so we took them together, in case I caught the flu somewhere. Disgusting things, just sour."

[wakingwakewood]

Essie started laughing, she couldn't help herself. "That explains so much. The other day, he walked in and handed me a couple of my antacids and insisted I take them. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why but he was so serious so I just took them anyway." Chuckling, she shook her head, "They have vitamin C in them, there's a giant C on the bottle. That's why he wanted me to take them."

It was possibly the most adorable thing he'd done in a long list of adorable things. He just didn't want her to get sick.

[bachjones]

"Oh. Okay. Guess I should have warned you about that. I still don't know ..." He wasn't hungry any more, he realized, a ball of nerves stuck in his stomach instead. "Maybe we should like do updates a few times a week or something, so neither of us get surprised by things. Although it isn't like vitamins are a super important thing to be told about."

Not that the pasta wasn't good, and with food in his mouth he at least didn't have the chance to say anything stupid.

"He really cares about you", he mumbled from behind a raised hand, his mouth still half full. "I had to explain that Alfred didn't need them. Do cats need vitamins?"

[wakingwakewood]

"Uh, if you want to? I figured if anything really weird came up, I'd just call you." It was something that she hadn't considered, but maybe she should have. Was that something that other separated parents had to do? Like child-care debriefing? God, that sounded awful.

"I care about him, too." She took a deep breath because she was going to say this once and then things were probably going to explode. They always did. "I care about you, too, you know. I hate that every conversation we have ends up in an argument. I don't want that, you know."