beautifully broken(70)
“You have to understand that Chris had a strong moral compass that he anchored based on his family. He and his father had a very close relationship. He was his role model, his values, his beliefs all stemmed from that relationship. The person he built himself to be was on that foundation and now, that structure has broken. Everything he knows or once believed is questionable for him,” she explains.
“So everything he believed about, family, loyalty…love, he doesn’t believe in anymore?” I ask, commanding myself not to cry. Helen gives me a sympathetic smile.
“It’s just all questionable for him right now. However, he is here, with you and Caylen. That says a lot,” she says squeezing my shoulder.
I let out a deep sigh.
“So what do I do?” I ask, in need of some sort of direction because right now I don’t know which way to turn.
“What have you been doing since he’s been like this?”
“I-I haven’t done anything. I’ve been trying to give him time. I thought after a while he’d just snap out of it, but next week will make a month of him being like this. I just didn’t want to make things worse.”
“We need Chris to feel again. For him to let his emotions back in.”
“And how do I do that?”
“You were able to get Chris and Cal to fall in love with you once. It shouldn’t be hard to make them remember why,” she says, giving me a reassuring smile. I chuckle.
“Yeah, I don’t know if I’m really up for that again,” I tell her honestly.
“Well. Emotions are intertwined, happiness, joy, sadness, anger. Make him feel one, the others can seep through.”
*
When I get back upstairs to our apartment, nothing's changed, of course. Not that I expected something would, but in my life recently things could flip in the blink of an eye. Make him feel something, she says.
Yeah that’s going to be easy.
“I was thinking we could go to dinner tonight. There are so many amazing restaurants here,” I tell him. He glances over at me.
“Whatever you want,” he shrugs. I let out a deep frustrated breath and head into my bedroom. I pick up my phone and call Angela. Last week she finished her thesis and went on vacation to the Bahamas to celebrate.
“Hey hon!” she says enthusiastically.
“Hi. What are you up to?” I ask her innocently.
“Nothing much, I’ve been watching a marathon of Snapped mostly,” she chuckles.
“A whole marathon? Isn’t that kind of depressing?”
“Yeah, I guess it is,” she admits.
“Well, I have the perfect way to bring some sunshine into your life,” I laugh.
“And how would you do that?” she says cautiously.
“By getting Caylen for the weekend,” I say optimistically.
“Really? Of course I can. What do you have planned…How are things, is he still acting like he’s from The Walking Dead?”
“Pretty much. I talked to Helen though and she says that I should try to snap him out of it in so many words,”
“And how are you supposed to do that?” she chuckles.
“I have a couple of ideas, but as long as Caylen is here I don’t know how well I can implement them,” I admit.
“Hmmm. You must tell me how this goes,” she chuckles. “Anyhow. Yeah I’m in for the weekend. You can bring her whenever you’re ready.”
“Great. I’ll be over in like an hour and a half if that’s okay.”
*
After I’ve packed up Caylen’s things for the weekend I scoop her in my arms off the living room floor. Chris looks at me curiously as I get her dressed, but doesn’t say anything.
“Are you excited to stay with Aunt Angie this weekend Princess?” I ask Caylen. I glance over at Chris. He rises from his seat and walks toward us. He kisses Caylen on the forehead and heads upstairs. I don’t even have to guess. When I get back he’ll be in the guest room playing his guitar with the door shut. It only takes me about fifteen minutes to make it over to Angela’s. When we arrive she quickly buzzes us and I make the trek up the stairs to her apartment.
“Hi Princess!!” she squeals in excitement, taking Caylen from my arms.
“What’s up Mama?” she says, all of her attention on Caylen.
“I need to start back working out. Your stairs almost killed me,” I say, catching my breath.
“Are you ready for fun with Auntie Angie?” she coos, taking off Caylen’s coat.
“She should be asleep in the next hour or so,” I tell her.
“No worries, if she’s not I have a whole night of fun things planned for us. Now what about you and the hubby?” she asks playfully.