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Post by Bri on Oct 15, 2023 19:50:31 GMT -6
Sunny sucked in a breath as she walked into the single wide trailer that she had grown up in, the lights of the trailer park shining against the curtains closed over the windows. She walked along the home as she flicked on the lights, feeling weird that she wasn't at work, there was hardly a day she wasn't there since taking over at it was almost like part of her was missing, but that part wasn't as big as the part of her that worried over her daughters. She had let Stormy know she was coming home but received a text just as she pulled into the trailer park from Stormy, telling her she was going to spend a night with a friend, which seemed true, the trailer empty. Sunny rubbed her forehead and poured herself a glass of whiskey, taking a long swig as she waited for Thomas, it finally hitting her that he was coming over. They'd done a good job of avoiding each other...until now but it was important for them to keep enough communication open when it came to the girls. She leaned against the kitchen counter as she waited, feeling like her entire being was out of alignment.
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Post by Kiersten on Oct 15, 2023 19:56:08 GMT -6
Thomas wasn’t sure what was going to happen when he saw Sunny, he just had a feeling they’d have to talk face to face about what was happening between the girls. He could handle the fights between him and Sunny, that was their business, but Reign and Stormy now in the mix made him feel like the worst father ever, and he knew Sunny felt the same. He pulled up to the single wide and parked next to her truck before turning off his own truck. He sat for a few seconds before stepping out and heading up to the door, knocking.
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Post by Bri on Oct 15, 2023 20:21:05 GMT -6
Sunny took another long swig from her glass, liking the way it burned down her throat when he knocked. She took a deep breath before walking over and opening the door, stepping aside to let Thomas in when she realized she probably looked like a raccoon due to her tears smearing her make up and her not bothering to fix it. "Hey." She said, brushing a finger under one of her eyes.
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Post by Kiersten on Oct 15, 2023 20:41:25 GMT -6
Thomas froze for a split second, always blown away by how Sunny looked. Aleah was beautiful, but Sunny was always gorgeous to him. He forced himself to move, knowing he couldn’t just stare at her forever. “How are you doing?” He asked, though seeing her brush a finger over her face, he knew she’d been crying. He stepped into her place and looked around, finding it strange to be here, her family home that he knew well.
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Post by Bri on Oct 15, 2023 21:21:31 GMT -6
Sunny looked back at Thomas, feeling her breath stall in her chest but willed her lungs to keep working, reminding herself there was a reason they had split up but also that he would always be her first love. "N-not that great," she told him and closed the door, "but it's nothing some whiskey can't fix," she attempted to joke but the words were hollow as she shook her head, walking over one of the couches and sitting down.
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Post by Kiersten on Oct 15, 2023 21:52:14 GMT -6
Thomas refrained from reaching out and comforting her like he used to, they weren’t together anymore, and she might not want his affection. “I’m sorry this happened to you,” He sighed, following her to the couch opposite of her and sat down. “I was afraid if we kept it from Reign things would go bad, but I had hoped the divorce would make her understand.” He said softly, looking through his fingers to the floor of the single wide, chuckling lightly at her joke, though knew whiskey wouldn’t be enough.
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Post by Bri on Oct 15, 2023 22:09:30 GMT -6
Sunny just shook her head, "it was all going so well and then the girls went outside and..." she shook her head, feeling her throat tighten again and tears threatened to fall again, "Reign charged in yelling about how we could dare keep this hidden from her, like she expected us to involve her in all of our decision making...I tried to explain it was only between the two of us..." she set her glass on the side table, her head dropping into her hands, "and she said that Stormy was involved...she was so mad Thomas..."
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Post by Kiersten on Oct 16, 2023 20:55:56 GMT -6
“It’ll be okay, Reign can overreact,” Thomas hoped she’d come around after letting it all sink in. He didn’t want the family to break apart completely. He frowned when she mentioned Stormy, “You said she was with her sister before storming in yelling?” he asked, getting a sick feeling in his stomach. Maybe they hadn’t hid their problems well enough.
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Post by Bri on Oct 16, 2023 21:24:39 GMT -6
"Yeah, because she hasn't screamed at you yet." Sunny muttered under her breath with a bit of irritation because, of course, she was the punching bag at this point in time. "But yeah, she and Stormy went outside to clean the tables and after a couple minutes Reign came in and started to confront me and I guess during that time Stormy was mad enough to just leave. Reign made it sound like Stormy had known about our issues this whole time...we couldn't have been that blind to her, could we?" Guilt tugged at her, Stormy had used to vibrant but as she had gotten older she had lost that spark, becoming more reserved and Sunny had just assumed it was because she had hit puberty but apparently that hadn't been the whole case.
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Post by Kiersten on Oct 16, 2023 21:59:36 GMT -6
Thomas rolled his eyes, “She has yelled at me, just not about this,” He didn’t want to remind her how many times Reign had cried about something, yelled at him because he said the wrong thing, or got the wrong boots, but he knew she just needed a moment. He sighed, reaching over and pouring himself his own glass. “It would appear we were blind. I guess she could hear us yelling.” He rubbed his forehead before taking a sip, trying to figure out the best way to fix this, though there was only one way to do that.
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Post by Bri on Oct 16, 2023 22:31:47 GMT -6
Sunny clenched her jaw, wanting to scream at him but tightened the leash on her temper. This wasn't anything like one of Reigns silly temper tantrums, at least not in her opinion. Her eyes flickered to his hand as he grabbed the glass. "We-I was so certain that she wasn't around but...I guess we weren't good at that. Fuck, this whole point was for the girls to not get involved and feel responsible for any of this and now it's all blown up. I always thought they'd at least rely on each other." Her voice cracked again, the girls were a bit far in age but she'd always hoped the bonds of siblings were stronger than that.
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Post by Kiersten on Oct 18, 2023 17:13:35 GMT -6
Thomas sighed, “I’m beginning to wonder, if we should have involved them a little more,” Maybe just told them about what as happening, clearly it still caused problems, but at least maybe if they had told them, they could assure that it wasn’t their fault. “I feel that was an error on our parts, assuming they’d rely on each other.” He realized they shouldn’t have assumed, shouldn’t have let them rely on their siblings. “Reign will come back to the house, I’ll talk to her then.” He wasn’t sure what time that would be, but he figured she didn’t have anywhere else to go except here.
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Post by Bri on Oct 18, 2023 19:15:33 GMT -6
"It's too late for any of that," Sunny mumbled, shaking her head. Maybe they should have let the girls in on their issues but she could see that at least Reign would try to keep them together and knew that she would have broken down and stayed, even if she had been unhappy, even though now she still questioned her choic. She glanced over at Thomas. "And what about Stormy? Reign will talk...Stormy won't."
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Post by Kiersten on Oct 18, 2023 22:38:07 GMT -6
“We apologize, be honest. Let her know that we are in a good place.” Thomas held his breath, his glass tipped to his lips as he waited to see if she agreed, he shook his head though, feeling like that would never be enough. He could only hope with time, Stormy would understand. “There’s nothing else we can do, hiding it further is just going to make it worse.” It was hard at the moment, not to reach out and touch her face, wipe her tears aside.
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Post by Bri on Oct 18, 2023 23:07:32 GMT -6
Sunny couldn't stop the tears again, this time they were caused by the guilt of breaking up her family and following her selfish wants. She could never be a singer she still had her girls, even if they hated her, and a steady job that she poured her heart and soul into, even if it was part of the strain between her and Thomas. "A good place?" She whispered, shaking her head, "can we even say that Thomas? At this point I don't think any of us are." She took another shaky breath as she tried to contain herself. Her priority had to be the girls but she just felt so...empty...worthless and alone. Which was ridiculous, isn't that what she had wanted? But the question just spawned another...what did she want? Because whatever she did had just drug her down farther but she couldn't make herself crawl back, that would be even more selfish.
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Post by Kiersten on Oct 19, 2023 9:24:22 GMT -6
Thomas sighed and downed the rest of his drinks, “Yes Sunny, a good place. Want to know why?” He said shaking his head, feeling like this was their problem. He wanted to look at everything like the glass was half full, it felt happier there, and he didn’t want to sit around and sulk. “A good place because we’re both alive, we both have places for our girls to live, we both have jobs, and we both have our girls.” Sure, they weren’t together, weren’t perfect, but he could work with what he had. “If you don’t think you’re in a good place Sunny,” He swallowed a lump in his throat, feeling the worry about what he was going to say might cause a ripple. “Maybe you need to find what does give you that feeling.” He said quietly, not wanting to let her go, but if she had to leave, he didn’t want to step in her way.
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Post by Bri on Oct 19, 2023 23:15:11 GMT -6
Sunny stared down at her glass as Thomas spoke, thinking for a minute before slamming it down, feeling her head sway a minute but took a breath as she rubbed at her face. She glanced at Thomas when he said she might need to find what gives her the feeling of being in a good place, her heart feeling like it was going to shatter, the word you playing over and over in her head. Deep down she was sure that ship had sailed but as she looked at him all she could feel was desire and her throat bobbed. "I just...feel like I failed them, everyone." She whispered.
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Post by Kiersten on Oct 20, 2023 16:18:24 GMT -6
Thomas felt his body sag when she said she felt like she failed, knowing he understood that feeling, “You didn’t Sunny. Look at Reign, she’s making her own choices already. She’ll do great,” even though he was a little disappointed that she didn’t want to continue at college for something else, she was at least wanting to run the stable and orchard in the future. “Stormy’s smart, she strong and it’s all thanks to you.” He felt like he hadn’t really contributed to anything, but he had a feeling that’s how she was feeling.
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Post by Bri on Oct 21, 2023 23:30:33 GMT -6
Sunny twisted the glass cup between her hands but listened to Thomas though was unable to make herself look at him. What he said was admirable but she wasn't sure if she could really believe him or not but her heart did tighten a little. "And they're both strong willed, or stubborn depending on who you ask," she said with a slight smile, "like you, but have such big hearts, something else from you." She said softly, the knife of self hatred twisting deeper in her chest as she was reminded of what she had done to him.
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Post by Kiersten on Oct 22, 2023 10:16:37 GMT -6
Thomas sighed, feeling defeated in the fact that Sunny couldn’t see how great she was, and he failed in making her see it. “I can’t make you see all the good you do Sunny, all I can do is tell you that.” He wasn’t sure, but he felt a tear in his chest, knowing she might leave to find what she was looking for, and that terrified him. “I don’t know what to do anymore.” He admitted quickly.
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Post by Bri on Oct 22, 2023 12:01:20 GMT -6
"But why?" Sunny muttered, turning her face away from him, "you should hate me for what I did, leaving you and ripping apart our family because I can't decide what I want...because I couldn't..." She shook her head and stood up, walking to the kitchen and filling her glass with more of the amber liquid. "I don't know what to do either Thomas." She sighed, leaning her forehead against one of the upper cabinets in the kitchen and closing her eyes.
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Post by Kiersten on Oct 22, 2023 19:32:02 GMT -6
Thomas stood up and poured himself another glass with her, even though he felt the edges of his brain fog up a little, knowing he was growing tipsy, but he could handle it. He sat for a long time, mulling over her words in his mind, trying to figure out how to respond without making things worse. “I did. Hate you, but it didn’t last,” He admitted, knowing he had been angry at Sunny for what she’d done, but he also didn’t want to hold her back. He eyed her from the side before taking her hand in his. “I love you, the girls love you. Whatever you need, you’ll figure it out.” He prayed it wouldn’t be her leaving to try and make it big, but if it was, he’d be her first fan.
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Post by Bri on Oct 22, 2023 19:55:30 GMT -6
Sunny flinched when he said he had hated her, she fully expected that but to hear it still dug deep. For a moment she considered why their marriage ended but everything was just so...fuzzy, her thoughts drifting lazily to everything that had made it good between them. Her eyes cracked open, sliding over to him as she felt her heart clench like it was in a vice. "I..." she said slowly, "I love you too."
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Post by Kiersten on Oct 22, 2023 20:33:10 GMT -6
Thomas noticed the flinch and felt the wound he might have created by saying that, but he knew she needed to hear it to move on. Maybe he needed to hear it too. He had been angry at her, had hated that she wanted to leave him, but he loved her too. “I know you.” He whispered, wrapping his arm around her, and pulled her into a hug.
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Post by Bri on Oct 22, 2023 21:08:43 GMT -6
"I'm sorry." Sunny whispered, sinking into Thomas's chest with a sniffle, setting her glass on the counter and wrapping her arms around him tightly, not wanting to let go, as if her body missed his as well. and her mouth couldn't find any of the right words to say.
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Post by Kiersten on Oct 22, 2023 22:12:44 GMT -6
“Don’t apologize Sunny, we’ll get through this,” Thomas said, letting her sink into him, knowing she probably needed it. “Somehow we will.” He added, wanting her to know that it was okay if she decided to leave, decided she was ready for bigger things than this town had to offer.
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Post by Bri on Oct 22, 2023 22:33:40 GMT -6
"I hope so." Sunny mumbled, not wanting to let go of him so...she kept holding on, breathing in his comforting scent and sighing softly, the words she mumbled coming out before she could think twice-something she probably didn't have thanks to the whiskey. "I miss...everything with you." She murmured, one of her hands trailing up his back as she sighed.
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Post by Kiersten on Oct 22, 2023 23:05:30 GMT -6
Thomas swallowed the lump in his throat, not wanting to let his fast-beating heart to feel hope that she might pick him again. “I miss you too.” He allowed himself to say, though he didn’t pull away from her, he worried it was the alcohol talking for the two of them, even if he didn’t feel drunk, he was definitely tipsy.
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Post by Bri on Oct 22, 2023 23:17:45 GMT -6
She slowly relaxed in his arms as her hand rubbed his back, "do you really mean that?" She asked, pulling away from him a little to refill both of their glasses but not enough to put much space between them, her free arm remaining around Thomas's waist.
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Post by Kiersten on Oct 23, 2023 12:39:11 GMT -6
Thomas gave Sunny a puzzled look, “Of course.” He wasn’t sure what else to say, wasn’t sure what she needed to hear to help her with whatever was going through her mind. He just knew he needed to be there when she needed him, just like he would for his girls, or even Silas.
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