brandi. (zombiephile) wrote in daiquiri, @ 2009-03-04 23:36:00 |
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"Where are you going, Daddy?" Richard turned and looked down at his son. How did you explain a separation to a four-year-old? He set down the box in his hands and crouched next to Wyatt, who was clinging to his toy dinosaur. "Daddy is going to be staying at the deli for a while. But you know what? You can still come to the deli and be Daddy's Little Helper, and Daddy will still play with you, too." He smiled sadly at his son and tugged gently on one of Wyatt's little brown curls, straightening it out and then letting it go. Wyatt smiled brightly. "Is Lily going to be there, too?" It was even harder to explain death to a four-year-old than it was to explain a separation to him. "No, Wy." Rick swallowed around the lump in his throat. "Lily's gone. She's not coming back. Remember ... remember that Mommy and Daddy told you that Lily went to live in Heaven with God?" God ... right. What kind of God took a seven-year-old girl? Turned a husband and wife against each other? Rick turned when he heard Alexis clearing her throat behind him. "You should get going, Richard. It's about to start raining." He managed a small, quick smile, then turned back to Wyatt, giving his son a quick kiss on the top of the head. "I'll take you to the park tomorrow, Wy, okay?" Wyatt nodded, his big brown eyes wide. He didn't understand all that was happening. Rick wished he could explain it to Wyatt so that he could understand. Picking the box back up, Richard stood and turned to face his wife. She was leaning against the doorframe, her arms crossed across her torso. She was determinedly not looking at him. "So ..." He stood there, a box in his hands, not knowing what to do. Nine years, and this was how it was going to end? "See you around," Alexis said, glancing at him quickly, then away again. "Right. See you around." Another small, quick smile, and he walked outside to the car, put the last box into the trunk, then got behind the wheel. And he had to drive away from his wife, his son. What was left of his family, and the home they'd had together. It was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. |