YOU LYIN?

Covet: Kelsey was sitting at a booth with her family. Things had gone really well over the weekend in California and she was in a pretty good mood, though she was pretty tired from the whole weekend. // Connor was happily digging into the birthday cake they'd purchased and were eating. // Harrison nudged Sarah, and she reached into her purse to pull out a birthday card for him. "There you are buddy, We would have gotten you a present, but when your mom said she was taking you to California we figured this might be something better. Harrison said with a smile.
Alexithymiaa: -Brad was seated at the booth with the group, a bit giddy to be digging into his piece of birthday cake, but also anxious to finally give Connor his gift now that they were finally back home. He'd kept the gift in his car because he was unsure when or where he would have the opportunity to present it to him, so for now he was just pushing cake into his mouth.-
Covet: Kelsey raised an eyebrow as she watched Connor open up the card and pulled out a check. She figured it wasn't too much but a check, her parents were apparently dated. // "A piece of paper?" He asked holding it up.// Harrison laughed, "Well, kind of. It's a check, it's money, you have to take it to the bank though to turn it into money." He explained.
Alexithymiaa: "It's like a voucher for money, Bud." He said as he swallowed the cake in his mouth. "That's the adult way of getting money." He tried to say to make it sound cooler and more appealing to a six year old."-
Covet: "How much is is for kiddo?" Kelsey asked Connor, giving a smile. // "Umm, Six....and a lot of zeros." He said looking at the paper, curious about it. // "Six hundred." Harrison said, a slightly more sober look on his face as he smiled. Sarah reached over and gave her husband's hand a reassuring squeeze.
Alexithymiaa: -Brad nearly coughed on his own spit when Harrison clarified the amount, rubbing a hand over his mouth before shooting Kelsey a quick look. "Six hundred dollars?"-
Covet: "Excuse me, Six hundred...." Kelsey said as she looked over at her parents, mostly at her Dad with a skeptical look. "Why that much? That's more than he needs at age six." // Connor looked between everyone, "Wow, that's a lot of dollars. Momma can we send this to the people in California?" He asked excitedly, clearly inspired by his weekend. // "It's not for other people, it's for you buddy." Harrison said, then looked over at Kelsey, "Yes, and it's not because he's six, it's because I wanted to give it to him, so he could put it away. It's an early inheritance. We haven't gotten to spend a lot of time since he moved here with you, so it's to make up for taht time too." He said with a hard swallow.
Alexithymiaa: -Brad awkwardly rubbed at the back of his beanie because this was family stuff and he wasnt sure if he should really have any input where Harrison was concerned. "An early inheritance?"-
Covet: "What do you mean? You haven't even had your surgery yet. So this is what you buying his love? Because you feel guilty?" Kelsey said immediately jumping in on her grudge. // Connor was listening to them, understanding more of what was being said than they assumed. "Grandpa, you don't have to buy my love. I want to give it to you for free." // Harrison set his jaw a little, "Kelsey, that's not what this is about, I know I haven't had the surgery yet, but even though it's a fairly routine procedure, anything can happen on the operating table. I'd feel bad abouot not giving him his part in person, just like I would you, and Haven. I was going to wait until Easter. But it's not guilt. It's because I want to be able to see you enjoy that, whether you save it or spend it. "
Alexithymiaa: -Brad swallowed hard, looking at Harrison a moment as he rubbed his hands on his pants. "Don't you think that's a little bit of a morbid topic to bring up for a six year old's birthday, though?"-
Covet: "Then I want to save it. So that I can help other people" Connor said with a smile, still not really picking up on everything. "Dad, what's Morbid mean?" // Kelsey bit the inside of her cheek. "Well, I'm politely declining your money because you're going to be fine. I refuse to let you think it's okay to get our attention this way. This is a whole new level for you Dad." // Harrison frowned, looking genuinely hurt. "Look. Kels honey, I know I've messed up with you, and I'm sorry it's taken this long for me to realize some of that, but is it really to late to at least try, while I can?"
Alexithymiaa: "Uh... it's kind of like... depressing..." He said, not wanting to mention the death half of that to him, all things considered. "I don't know if large sums of money is really the right way to make up for any wrongs though. Especially in a gesture like this."-
Covet: "Oh. So Sad?" He said questioning it. // Kelsey swallowed hard. "Yeah, this is not the way to do any of this. Not here, not now."// Harrison was becoming a little heated himself, "And when was I supposed to do it? I don't want to have to do this, but I want to see this. It's not that much, for all of you. But the money aside, We see you more often on TV then we actually do in person. You're an adult and you have a life, but it's like you don't want to spend time with your family.
Alexithymiaa: "Yeah, sort of, Buddy. Sad." He said as he patted Connor's head, unsure of what else to tell him about this. "If it were a matter of just wanting to spend more time together as a family, you could have always just asked..."-
Covet: "Oh, okay." He said getting quiet because he could feel the tension. // Kelsey shook her head. "I'm not having this conversation, here tonight. I refuse to let go all of the word vomit that wants to come up right now. Cancer or not. Money or Not. No I love spending time with the family, it's just you that I don't want to spend time with. Not like this, Not for these reasons. But beacuse you genuinely feel sorry for what you have said and done to get yourself here. // Harrison pursed his lips then sighed. // Sarah spoke up, "Kelsey. That's enough. You're just twisting the knife you have in his heart to make him hurt. You're better than that."
Alexithymiaa: -Brad reached his hand over to lay it on top of Kelsey's, giving it a squeeze. "I really dont think now is the time for this." He said in a small voice, not wanting her to go full out in the middle of the cafe, and especially not during Connor's birthday celebration.-
Covet: "I know." Kelsey said turning to snap at Brad then she took a deep breath, looking at her mom, then at her dad, "You're right I don't need to be here for you to enjoy time with your grandson." She turned to Connor. "Hey kiddo, I'm a little upset right now, and am going to get some fresh air, but you enjoy your time with Grandpa and Grandma, okay." // "Okay Momma..." He said softly and watched as she got up. // "That's probably a good idea right now, give yourself some time to cool off and collect yourself." Sarah said, looking disappointed in Kelsey. Harrison just sat there watching her looking very hurt now.
Alexithymiaa: "Cooling off doesn't make the feelings go away, it just helps you hide them easier." Brad said to Sarah, making perfect eye contact as he said it and got up, turning to follow Kelsey outside because they clearly had Connor taken care of for the time being. He dropped his voice to a low whisper, walking alongside her. "Your mom doesnt get it."-
Covet: Kelsey shook her head as she listened to Brad, "She does, more than she lets on." Kelsey mumbled crossing her arms as she leaned her head back and stared up. // Sarah watched Brad and sighed, then watched as Connor got involved in a conversation with Harrison. // Connor looked at his Grandpa, "I'm sorry Momma's mad. She's been mad a lot lately....but most of the time she's mad at Dad." // Harrison tilted his head to the side, "What do you mean buddy?"
Alexithymiaa: "What do you mean? She literally just basically said she thinks the only problem here is that you're making him feel bad for what he's said and done, not the fact that he's said and done it. That you should just shut your mouth and stay quiet, and that's not fair." He said with a frown as he watched her.-
Covet: "No she told me to come out here and think about the things I say, before making an ass of myslf. She knows how I feel about everything regarding him. She's not wrong, she's just more of a collected person when it comes to arguements." Kelsey explained. // "Mom and Dad yell at each other a lot. Somtimes it's really loud. One time I called Steph to come get me, because I thought they were mad at me, But they said they weren't mad at me." Connor said casually like it was no big deal. // Harrison frowned a little and looked at Sarah, who gave a concerned look and shrug, "I haven't heard much other than they were going through some stressful things." She said fibbing a bit.
Alexithymiaa: "It's not supposed to be collected. It's argument. It's passionate and emotional. It doesnt matter about picking the right words because that's not an argument, that's a discussion." He blew out a deep breath, shaking his head. "I dont think it should be in front of Connor, but I definitely think it's still something you should have out with your dad."-
Covet: Kelsey rolled her eyes, "I know, it's my mother's tact though. And strangely enough it works for her, it's like her mom super power or something." // "I'm sorry, and it's okay. I know that your mom is mad. And it's for a good reason, but I want to start trying to make it better." Harrison said. Sarah got up from the table, " I'm going to go see if I can get some answers. You guys eat some more cake." She told them, giving them both a kiss on the head before she got up and made her way outside to where Kelsey and Brad were at. "I want to know why my grandson is telling us why the two of you are fighting so much. I knew you were having some issues, but he called Steph to come get him? That sounds like it was pretty bad, and not something he should have to go through."
Alexithymiaa: "Just because it's her mom super power doesn't mean it has to be yours too." He started, looking at Sarah when she came out of the cafe to start asking questions. "I don't know why he's telling you that. He shouldn't be. And the only reason he called Steph to come get him was because he thought we were mad at him, not that the argument was really all that bad."-
Covet: Kelsey pursed her lips and just looked at her mother. "Mom..." She started before Sarah interupted her. "He's in there apologizing for Kelsey because she's always angry and mad, but usually at you?" She said looking at Brad, speaking calmly. // Kelsey shook her head, " Mom, he's six, everything is exagerated..." She said unable to look at her mom as she tried to lie. "...Bradley's correct, he thought we were mad at him, but we've reassured him since then." // Sarah listened, "And you mean to tell me that his statement of you always being mad at eachother is also an over exageration?"
Alexithymiaa: "Yeah it is. We're not mad at each other or arguing any more than any other normal couple. Kids globalize crap like that and I really dont think it's any bigger of a deal than it actually is. His perception of a situation is different than the reality."-
Covet: Sarah just looked at the both of them not saying anything, just giving them the 'I know you're not telling me everything look.' // Kelsey sighed, "Mom, you know that there was a lot of other stressful things going on, of course that was causing problems between me and Bradley, and then this recent issue with Brad's Alcohol and drug thing hasn't been any better." // Sarah titled her head to the side and looked at Brad, "I knew about the alcohol, but drugs? Really Bradley, I'm disappointed in you." She said speaking softly, giving him THAT look now.
Covet: [Kelsey's straight up being an ass about all of this.]
Covet: [I'm just shaking my head and watching her dig her hole right now XD]
Alexithymiaa: "I wasn't ON drugs. I haven't been on drugs. They just found it in my car. It's not even an issue." He said as he tried to write it off, not wanting to go through this again.-
Alexithymiaa: (Im amused)
Covet: "Yeah, he and I have already talked about it and we're moving on from it." She told her mom, "So you don't need to make it your problem. We're handling things just fine.// Sarah looked at her knowing better, "Why was there even drugs in your car to begin with? Are these the kind of people you're bringing around your son?" She asked looking between the both of them.
Alexithymiaa: "I don't know why it was in my car, but they literally found it stuck under the seat so who knows how long it's been there." He was getting frustrated with her questions especially since he thought he was done with explaining himself about this situation. "We've got everything under control."-
Covet: Sarah looked at Kelsey, and just watched her. "I'd love to believe that, but I can see that's not the right story, or at least not the whole story. I'm just rying to fill in the gaps from what Connor is telling us, and what you're telling me. You haven't lied to me in a very long time Kelsey, and I want to know the truth, from both of you." // Kelsey bit the inside of her cheek and tried her best to remain strong. "Bradley might know where it came from, because someone he knows left....gave him a small amount to hold onto at one point, so it was probably from then." She said still lying and throwing Brad right under the bus, to try and save her own hide.
Alexithymiaa: -Brad raised his brows, turning to look down at Kelsey. "Wow, really? How many times do I have to say that It's been there a long ass time and there's no way for me to know where it came from or even really how long it's been there?" He asked with a sharper tone, the frustration growing.-
Covet: "Exactly that's what I just said." Kelsey said looking at him, a slight pleading look for him to just go along with it. // "What else." Sarah said watching Kelsey because it was pretty obvious she was trying to avoid something. // "There's nothing that's it. But it's okay we're working through it, really there's nothing to worry about. There's other issues." Kelsey said. // Sarah looked at Brad. "Bradley, Dear. Do you happen to know what she's not telling me? She's more than happy to tell me about what you've been up to."
Alexithymiaa: "What? No. Unless there's something I don't know, which I highly doubt. I think you just make her feel guilty even if she hasn't done anything wrong." He spoke matter of factly, trying to get Sarah to back off a bit.-
Covet: "You're not helping her by helping her lie. It will come out eventually. The longer that waits, the more upset I'm going to be about it. You've got your chance now." She said still trying to coax it out of him. // Kelsey bit the inside of her cheek harder. " As much as I would love to continue this shake down, It's getting late and we need to get Connor home and try to get him to sleep after all the sugar he's had." She said even though it was totally a sugar free cake because they were considerate of Brad's needs, Kelsey was just frantically looking for an exit.
Alexithymiaa: "And you're not helping her by badgering her." He said to Sarah, putting his hand on Kelsey's shoulder to try to push her gently in the direction of the door. "Come on, let's get him packed up."-
Covet: Kelsey shrugged him off, and shook her head, "Can you go in and get him, I'll get the car warming up." She said not wanting to go back inside. // Sarah pursed her lips, "So be it. You kids get home safely." She said turning on her heel to head back into the cafe to get Harrison on the road as well.
Alexithymiaa: "Yeah, I got him." He said in a smaller voice, heading off into the cafe to go over to their table. "C'mon buddy, we need to head home and get ready for bed. We can have some more cake tomorrow."-
Covet: Kelsey got into the car and turned the engine over from the passenger seat, watching her mom walk off. // Connor looked at Brad and smiled, "Okay Dad. Goodnight Grandpa, I love you." he said sliding out of the booth to give Harrison a hug who gave him one back, before he gave one to Sarah too. Then he took Brad's hand and went along with him.
Alexithymiaa: "Have a goodnight." Brad said to them, taking Connor by the hand to walk him outside and out to the car, getting him all settled in so they could go home.-