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 Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2024 7:05 pm
When Julian and Brooklyn had left for the day, Talia gave a sigh, still smiling from the afternoon and worked to put everything back together again. Her head came up when the door opened, and without hesitation, she made her way to the front door and held her arms out to Zac, waiting for him to get himself situated before jumping him.
“I wish you had been here today, Julian and Brooklyn were here, and I know I missed you!”
Finally she decided she was done waiting and all but threw herself at Zac, pressing a kiss to his cheek and looking at him with a fond expression. “Did you have a good day? I tried to make muffins…” Her voice trailed off and she grimaced. “Three different batches. I messed something up really badly and still don’t know what the issue was, so I don’t have any for you…but I had them in spirit. Still, I wish they had worked out. One day I’m sure they will.”
There was dinner waiting for Zac though, Evan had made sure of that, and though the muffins hadn’t worked out, there was a batch of chocolate chip cookies that would be ready in a few minutes for him to have dessert.
“You hungry?”
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Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2024 7:20 am
Zac walked into her open arms, as he knew he was expected to do, and decided he’d had a long day so he could afford a few seconds of giving her his weight to carry. He leaned into the hug.
“It’s good to see you, too. I’m hungry, yeah. It smells good. Did you check the expiration on the baking soda?”
Talia was good at baking; if she was having problems, the only thing he could think of was something wrong with the ingredients.
…Unless something was wrong with the stove, but he was sure he’d have heard about it from Evan if that was the case.
“Today was fine, you know how work is. What did I miss with Julian and Brooklyn?”
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2024 6:20 am
“I checked it. I’m just not sure what happened, but…I’ll figure it out. The cookies are turning out good, and there should be some cool enough to eat for dessert when you’re done with your dinner.”
She led him into the kitchen and gestured at the table where a plate sat waiting for him, and when Talia sat in the seat across from him, she perched her chin in her hands, eyes warm. “Well, they seemed like they had a good time? I think something happened between the two of them at some point, Julian got a little…”
A frown crossed her face. “...He seemed really freaked out…but he asked if he could come and live here, and I wanted to talk to you about it…we have the space in the attic, and I’m happy to work with Soleiyu to get custody of him, if anyone can do it Sol can…I wish Brooklyn would ask too, but I’m not going to push anything…and I needed to know what you thought.”
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2024 8:48 am
Zac couldn’t help but take note of the number of plates, and with the kitchen empty he had no idea where Evan had gone off to. It wasn’t like they always ate dinner together but usually Evan at least stopped by to make sure everything was okay.
As he did every night, he went to the sink to wash his hands first. He wasn’t ignoring the question, he just wanted to get some of the grime of the outside world off before he ate. The cookies smelled good and he could have just stood in there for a minute to enjoy the aroma but he knew Talia was waiting for an answer.
It wasn’t any secret that she’d wanted the two to stay. She’d been sighing and fussing about it for months. He didn’t know their story, he didn’t pry. “I’m surprised he asked. I never got the impression he could be so bold. I thought Brooklyn would be first.”
Once, a long time ago, he’d considered emptying out the attic to make space back when she’d brought Fang home. There was space up there. They could get a storage unit for the decorations and odds and ends they had stashed up there. Or maybe they could just set up a shed in the backyard and save themselves some trouble.
Zac shrugged. He wasn’t even surprised by her asking. The answer was always going to be yes. Could he say no to her? If he was going to, he should have mentioned it before she ever set her heart on giving them a home.
“Do you know what he needs to get settled in here? …Have you already talked to Soleiyu about what he has to do to get that worked out?”
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2024 8:50 am
“I haven’t talked to anyone about it yet except for Julian when he asked and you. I wanted to run it by you first before I just went off and lost myself in preparations.” She had wanted Zac to approve anyway, his opinions meant a lot to her…and in reality, it was still his house.
They weren’t married yet, so she couldn’t claim it was hers too, but…hopefully sooner than later he’d want to ask.
“I was surprised that he asked too…it…” Talia wrinkled her nose and shook her head slightly. “I don’t know what caused it, and he seemed pretty upset…and a little out of it, but I didn’t want to really push. I had thought Brooklyn would be first too, but.” She gave a somewhat helpless shrug. “Kids will do what kids will do. I don’t remember being their age, but I’m sure I did what was least expected too…”
She gave a soft sigh. “I’ll talk to Sol later, but I know he can handle all of the particulars. I don’t know how to decorate the room, and I hope that you can help me with that…and yes, the only reason I’m saying that is because you’re a guy, and Julian’s a guy so maybe you’d have more insight than me, but…I don’t know. I worry that he really…doesn’t want to stay here and he felt forced…I don’t want him to be unhappy.”
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2024 11:48 am
Kids will be kids, sure. Julian looked young but Zac knew he was in high school. He wasn’t sure how much longer he had to be a kid, but–
Maybe he was being practical. Maybe he was close to eighteen and wanted to make sure he had a stable home or something. He didn’t know about Julian’s family life. At all. Talia had speculated some, but Julian had always been evasive. For all Zac knew, he just had a shitty family he was tired of being stuck with.
“Don’t decorate,” Zac shrugged. “Let him do it. If he’s feeling off about all of it, it’ll help him to make it his space. Just have Soleiyu hack some gift card or something and tell him that’s his budget. If he wants help decorating, let him ask.”
He didn’t know Julian very well. Or at all, really. He was mousy–quiet, and elusive, and good at making himself seem invisible in a room full of people. He always ordered the cheapest thing on the menu, and even then that was only after politely declining and insisting he wasn’t hungry.
“I’ll see about cleaning out the attic tomorrow. I’m off, so I’ll have some time to see what we’re working with. The window up there probably needs to be sealed a little better. And I want to make sure there’s no drafts or leaks.” If there were, he supposed Julian wouldn’t tell them.
“Walls might need to be painted, I’m not sure. We might have to peel up the flooring up there and get something new laid out. I don’t know, I’ll move boxes around and figure it out. Do you have an ETA for when he might move in? Is he doing anything this summer?”
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2024 2:10 pm
Practical and smart, and Talia nodded. “I’ll help you. I think it could be fun if we do it together.” The cleaning. She wasn’t really sure about Zac’s advice about the decorating…but it did have some merit…still. She would…rather have given Julian a fully furnished place just for him, something he could enjoy but…
If he was given the freedom to decorate himself…maybe he would feel more comfortable? She didn’t know…but she didn’t want to mess this up. “I’m good with painting and helping with the flooring…I think carpet would be the most comfortable, at least, I am a fan of carpet…it’s nicer on your feet than cold tile or wood…he said he’ll be staying at Hillworth during the summer, but in my mind, the sooner we can get him into our place, the better…I’m hoping. Well not really hoping, but I’m going to have Sol get him into another school for next year. He doesn’t deserve being at Hillworth. He’s such a good kid and. I don’t know. I’ll have to figure out where he’d want to go, but I’m sure Sol could handle anything…”
Talia looked pensive for a moment and then got up, taking the cookies out of the oven and setting the sheet on the stove.
“Thank you, I’m glad that you’ve said yes…”
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2024 2:14 pm
“Did you think I wouldn’t?” Zac asked. He didn’t follow Talia into the kitchen; the mashed potatoes were calling to him and he’d waited for long enough so he had a spoonful. He’d always been practical about the idea.
Zac never really thought of himself as ‘parent’ material. He didn’t really know how to be gentle around small kids and he was always afraid of stepping on them, or teaching them too many inappropriate words. Julian and Brooklyn were older–at an age where they could have used support, but not so young that he had to worry about those things.
He didn’t have to worry about being a bad father because they were old enough that he doubted they’d want that out of him. It was just helping out some of Talia’s friends. And she’d spent enough nights worrying about them. Of course she’d feel better if she knew they were under the same roof as her. If they needed anything, she was right there.
…And what was Zac going to do, deny her something she’d been dreaming of for as long as he’d known her? Even before she was Talia. This is what Cambria would have wanted. Of course he’d say yes. Of course he’d do his best. Even if he really didn’t know what he was doing.
There was a long list of things they’d need to go over–they’d have to talk to Evan, to Tobias, to Ahri, to Todd. Soleiyu probably wouldn’t mind, unless he’d set up some secret work station in the attic.
He didn’t debate the pros and cons of carpet versus tiling; they could figure that out later. He preferred something durable, especially if they were ever going to use it as an attic again. But maybe Talia would just find someone else to move in when Julian grew up and was ready to move out.
It was a big decision. Maybe Zac should have taken more time to consider it. He’d had months already, and even if he saw plenty of flaws and issues, he knew it was what Talia wanted. So, they’d just tackle the problems as they came.
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2024 2:17 pm
“Well, no. I didn’t think you wouldn’t say yes, I just thought you’d…I don’t know. Have conditions or worries or something. I was sure you’d agree in the end, I just…didn’t think it would be so easy.” That wasn’t to say Talia had wanted to argue or make it harder than it was, she just…hadn’t really known what to expect, but this had been the very best outcome and she was pleased, and hoped that Zac knew it.
“I’m really glad that you are okay with it. I mean that. It makes me happy to be able to have people in our home that need us…I mean…wow that sounds super shallow but, I’m happy we have a safe home, there we go, that sounds better.”
She walked back to Zac and stood behind his chair, leaning down and draping herself over his back and shoulder, kissing his cheek. “It makes…me feel like I’m doing something good. And I like that. Also,”
Talia kissed the top of Zac’s head and moved to sit down once again. “I like you too! Love you, even. Just in case you forgot since the last time I said it.”
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2024 6:16 pm
“No, I didn’t forget. I love you, too,” he said, supposing she’d worried herself about all of this and now she needed to hear it in return. He knew he could be difficult. It was just in his nature. He was prickly. He was guarded. He’d put up walls a long time ago and they never seemed to come down.
He couldn’t help it. It was a permanent construct he’d condemned himself to.
It was for the best. If he wanted to keep everyone safe, there were precautions that needed to be made.
Of course, Talia was a weak point. He’d said yes to everything she wanted. Sometimes he pushed back, because someone had to be the voice of reason and logic and practicality. She had a fantastic, whimsical approach to the world. He didn’t blame her for wanting to make this world a fairy tale.
“I mean, I can protest if you like. Maybe after I finish dinner and get a shower. We’ll still have to check with everyone else.” She hadn’t spoken to anyone else yet? She looked like she was buzzing with energy, how had Evan not picked up on it? “Maybe check the budget and make sure we’ve got money for everything, figure out a plan for that. Or just rob Tobias.”
He shrugged and after he finished another bite, he added, “You brought Todd to stay, I like him just fine. So if Julian’s next, all right. I still don’t know how to talk to that kid, we’ve got nothing in common. I think he’s scared of me.”
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2024 7:07 pm
“He doesn’t know you, Zac. You come off as prickly, but like…” Talia gave a small chuckle, looking at him fondly. “But that prickliness…it’s more like…it’s just you protecting everyone. Protecting yourself and everyone. You…are amazing.” The smile that spread across her face was almost mischievous, and she shrugged. “Of course we’ll have Tobias pay for whatever. He keeps saying he has all this money…he should use it.”
The house on the other side wasn’t for sale…but she kept her eyes on it, and there was the one behind theirs and the family had been talking about moving out to the west coast…
She was going to ask for him to buy that one if it happened. Honestly, it was selfish, but she wanted a place for just herself and Zac…and maybe the kids. Or…any new kids that they could find…or.
Well. Or have.
“You can protest all you want and I’ll do my best to persuade you, if that’s what you’re angling for?” The grin on her face and the look in her eyes…had changed slightly and honestly? That was what she was now angling for.
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2024 8:25 pm
Zac was too prideful to ask for money he didn’t need. He had a job. He’d saved up, he’d played it smart. He didn’t want to live his life in anyone’s debt. Tobias probably wouldn’t ever let him live it down, anyway. Although, he’d been acting strangely for some reason. Zac didn’t pry, he wasn’t like that.
Should he have argued or pressed Talia about his prickliness? Of course he protected everyone, they were always getting into trouble. Of course he protected himself, that wasn’t anyone else’s burden. He’d made a hell of a lot of trouble for himself, too.
But he’d signed up for that.
Talia was practically wiggling her brows at him right now, but he wasn’t in any position to snark at her when he was still chewing a mouthful of food.
“Mm,” he said, a solid placeholder until he could form words again, “Well, if that’s what you’re in the mood for."
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