25 Bites and Scratches

                                    

                                          



Gio
                          
Celia stays in my room for the rest of the day. I clean up her busted lip and offer a towel to shower. After, I leave one of my shirts and briefs on my bed for her to wear. She protests, but I assure her that I just want her to be comfortable until I get her belongings from Marilyn. 
                          
Chase, Oscar and Ari come back from the animal hospital hours later with Luna. She has a broken hip and ribs, so she'll be in a cast for a couple of weeks and won't be able to move much. 
                          
Liam comes over the instant Ari arrives. I don't object. The two watch cartoons in the living room while I step out with Oscar and Chase and tell them everything that happened. To say they're disturbed is an understatement. When I'm finished, they wonder about our next steps.
                          
I call Arthur to come over at night to get his insight. He appears shocked over what Aram did, but I sense guilt in his eyes. He explains that Aram is unpredictable and ego-driven, but he'd never just shoot someone. We conclude that it was purely a fear-tactic to gain the upper hand. 
                          
It's difficult to scramble my head over the next steps. We can't move right now. We'd need to sell the house, the auto shop. Move the pot operation. Interrupt Ari's school year. Not to mention, we've blown all the money to settle down here with a long-term plan. Moving now is impossible.
                          
Chase lights up a joint for Arthur and Oscar while I drive to get Celia's clothes from Marilyn. I give her the engagement ring that Celia handed me and she gives me a suitcase full of Celia's clothes, textbooks, laptop and other items. 
                          
She hesitates when I thank her and I ask if there's anything more and she asks if she could come over and see Celia. I reassure her she's welcome anytime and she hurries back inside to grab paper bags of food she has made before taking my hand as I help her in the passenger seat. 
                          
Chase and Oscar cheer up when they see Marilyn and the house fills with soft chatters as they help her set the table. I check on Celia to find her asleep on the edge of the bed. Brows furrowed together and hands fisted under her chin. 
                          
I gently wake her up, but she doesn't budge until Marilyn knocks on the door with a tray of food. She chides her for being a baby and eventually Celia sits up, nibbling on a piece of bread and eating a bit of bright red soup that honestly smells divine. 
                          
I sleep on the couch that night after everyone leaves, and by sleep I mean I stay up until four either staring at the ceiling or checking on the girls to make sure they're okay. 
                          
The next morning, before Ari's school bus arrives, I drag myself to the kitchen to make breakfast. It's a brand new day and the world caused enough harm to last us a while. There's no need to dwell or relive any of it. Not when there's the smell of bacon and eggs wafting the air. 
                          
"Good morning, sun—" I stop myself from saying sunshine when I see my daughter come out of her room with electrocuted hair and a hungover look on her face. 
                          
"Luna was whimpering all night..." she plops on the dining chair. "I kept telling her bedtime stories to calm her down and it seemed to help."
                          
"Maybe you should drop out of school and get a job, huh?" I tease her, setting down her plate. "Orange juice?"
                          
My bedroom door opens and Ari's attention diverts there while I pour her a glass.
                          
"Perfect, the second sun—" I pause mid-pour when pale Celia appears in front of me in an oversized black shirt and leggings. 
                          
I put my hand on my hip, waving the spatula between them. "This might be the first time in history where I look the prettiest." 
                          
"Who lied to you..." Ari grumbles, picking up a piece of bacon.