My Idea

Hearing Misty enter the house and her idea for supper, Alec wanted to answer, but he remains quiet instead. His stomach was hungry, but his spirit was broken, causing an ache that subdued the hunger.

As Misty sits next to him on the couch, he doesn't move. He was embarrassed for her to find him like this, yet at the same time, he didn't care. Her hand on his shoulder was perhaps more comfort than she knew. That simple touch. 

Did he want to talk about it? Yes. No. He didn't know. He shakes his head. Then rethinks it an nods. Just remaining with his head on the pillow, he tries to swallow the lump in his throat. At least the tears had stopped again for now, though his cheeks were still damp, his eyes still red. 

"I called Ryan today," he explains softly. "Just... just to leave a message and I told her I was sorry." He pauses, finally letting his gaze drift up to Misty. He didn't understand how he felt. Yesterday he'd been fine - he'd worked around the house, he'd laughed, he'd talked and he'd felt relatively good. Today he was miserable again. The emotional roller coaster was exhausting. "I just... I wanna forget... or not care... or just stop thinking about her and... and I can't. I miss her so much..." His voice cracks and his eyes drop as he tries to maintain control. 

"I know she's happy. I know Tal's a good guy and... and she deserves to have somebody like him who doesn't mess things up all the time like me. I just..." He sighs, moving past the wave of emotions as his voice regains its strength. "I don't know how to let it go I guess." 

"Hey now...." Eli shakes a finger at Tal and Ryan. "No making out in front of the brother, remember? I don't care what time of year it is." 

Tal snickers. "Like we'd want you watching." 

Digging into the food and hearing Ryan's comment, both men speak at the same time. 

"It was my idea." 

Eli scowls teasingly at Tal, receiving the same look right back at him. "Okay... maybe it was a colla...coll... cal... bor... It was both our ideas." 

Tal leans over to Ryan, speaking "quietly" which was loud enough for Eli to hear. "It was a collaborative effort." 

Eli's eyes narrow. "Oh, shut up." 

Laughing, Tal shakes his head. Starting in on a chicken wing, he sighs with approval. "Yep... fine idea. Definitely a..." Feeling a nudge on his leg, he looks down to see the pup staring up at him with big eyes. "Oh no... no, this is my supper, not yours. I shoulda known your mother would teach you that look before you were taken." 

"Uh..." Sparky blinks and looks to Mick then Katie before giving her a little grin. "Can't we stare at our favorite niece?" 

"Right." Mick nods, giving Katie a teasing wink. "We need to have that privilege because what we can't do is say 'Katie, where on earth were you and Hunter?' because you're a grown woman and it's really none of our business even though we want to know." 

Sparky rolls his eyes. "Well that was tactful." 

Mick shrugs, a small smile on his lips as he studies Katie. "As if you didn't already know that's what we were thinking. Chock it up to your overprotective uncles."