Oklahoma - Chapter Twenty Six
Title: Oklahoma
Genre: Fan Fic/Drama
Pairing: N/A
Characters: Isaac Hanson, OFC, Taylor Hanson, Zac Hanson, OC, Nikki Hanson
Warnings: Language
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: a strict work of fiction, I own nothing except the original characters and the plot line. In no way am I affiliated to any of it.
Summary: “No matter how much time passes, no matter what takes place in the interim, there are some things we can never assign to oblivion, memories we can never rub away.”
-Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore
Isaac Hanson learned at a young age that life isn't always fair and eventually people really do make mistakes - really big mistakes! No matter how much you try to right that wrong, sometimes you never get that luxury.
Perrie Marshall learned at a young age that life can be hard and life can be lonely, even when you're surrounded by others. No matter how much you try to cling on to something, sometimes you have to let it go and start over again.
Chapter Twenty Six
Isaac didn't have to like Tanner with Perrie, but he was slowly realizing it may be best to like Tanner Gibbs in general. It was around Tanner's third or fourth visit to their home that Isaac clued in to how much his family liked the young man. Nikki would often comment on how much she liked him, while Everett and Monroe would rave about their new found playmate, even little Nina would giggle and smile when Tanner fawned over her. Perrie never said much, although it was evident she liked him just as much as the others - maybe more.
Never the less, Tanner was a teenage boy and Isaac knew they weren't to be trusted.
The few times Isaac voiced this opinion, he would just get laughed at. Nikki told him to stop being so dramatic, while his mother told him to loosen up. They both insisted that Perrie and Tanner were young and having a good time. Funny, Isaac had thought when he heard that statement. He and Amy had only been young and having a good time too.
Eventually, maybe not intentionally, Tanner would slip and end up leaving Perrie in a mess of tears. The tears would last a day, maybe a week, or even a month before she picked up and moved on. Heartbreak looming over his little girl was enough for Isaac to keep himself from getting too friendly with this boy. His father had told him to stop being such a stiff and let the kids figure out life, there was no harm in watching over them, but Isaac really needed to relax.
Getting a lecture about relaxing, Isaac resisted the urge to roll his eyes and call his father crazy. When it came to Isaac and Perrie; Walker sometimes wondered who the teenage girl really was in that pair. Slapping his eldest son on the back, Walker assured Isaac that Perrie would be okay, she was a bright girl. Besides, Tanner didn't seem that menacing.
Before Isaac could give a reply, his father adjusted his hat and turned toward the truck. “Are you all ready?” he directed the question to the three kids next to the truck and Avery, who was half asleep in the passenger's seat.
“What are we waiting for, it's only getting hotter.” Perrie complained, opening the truck door and helping Viggo in. “We want to get the fish before they fry them self!”
“She's right, I have to go. Try not to worry yourself gray, okay.” Walker advised Isaac with a laugh, waving and walking to his truck. “I'll have them home before dark.”
“Have a good day.” Isaac waved as his father's truck began pulling out of the drive way. From the back seat, Perrie waved eagerly out the window. Viggo's small arm was seen waving from the back seat, nestled between Perrie and Tanner.
When Walker had asked if Perrie wanted to go fishing, Isaac had thrown a fit as Taylor had originally been going as well. Since his brother was acting like a child, Taylor opted to stay home and send Viggo anyway, this left a spot open which Perrie quickly filled with Tanner.
Taylor was a subject that Isaac was in no way ready to approach. To say the bitter feelings between the two brothers weren't straining not only the family, but their lively hoods and everything else in their lives was a bit of an understatement. If Isaac was going to be somewhere, then Taylor had to stay away and vice versa. This wasn't to say that Natalie and Nikki were following their husband's directions. Each wife understood that her husband needed to work this out in his own time, but it didn't mean that they felt this was the right thing to do. Nikki had given up on wasting her breath, telling Isaac that he had to fix this. Natalie on the other hand continued to gently remind Taylor that he had to work this issue out, one way or another.
Had Taylor gone fishing there was a chance that Perrie would have passed on the trip. Her reason would have been strictly due to Isaac, if Taylor went and she had agreed to go then it would only hurt him. Perrie was convinced if the two men talked, they could work something out, but after the flip out Isaac had the last time Perrie had let her opinion on the subject go.
As much as Perrie wanted to be an adult, in this situation, Isaac felt she was better off still being the child. Since she had started spending all her time with Tanner the talk of Taylor seemed to dwindle on Perrie's end. There was a possibility that the tall, dark haired boy was more useful to Isaac than originally thought.
“Dad.” Everett nudged Isaac's arm and hard. “Dad!” he repeated a bit louder this time.
“What?” Isaac asked, pulling his mind out of his thoughts and focusing on his oldest son.
“Can you hold this?” Everett handed Isaac his video game and stood up. “It's my turn.” he motioned to the lady waiting to cut his hair.
“Sure, no problem pal.” Isaac smiled and took the hand held video game.
Watching Everett chat along with the lady who had been cutting his hair for the last few years, Isaac laughed a little to himself. It was funny how much a child could mirror their parent, Isaac had always thought it came from a child's ability to see and copy actions. When Perrie moved in, he realized that a tiny part of it was instinct, genetic in a way. The brother and sister were alike in a lot of ways, both being that they were like their father. Both were stubborn, hardheaded, determined, and fairly relaxed for the most part.
Across the floor, Everett laughed at something which in turned caused Isaac to grin. A tiny bell attached to the top of the door rang, gently covering Everett's laugh and cutting the conversation he was having. Isaac glanced around, catching sight of the woman the hair dresser had just greeted. Catching sight of Isaac, the two women cut their conversation while the familiar red head made her way toward him.
“Isaac.” Roslyn LePage greeted him with a wide smile. “It's good to see you.” she sat down in the empty chair beside him.
“Roslyn, it's nice to see you too.” Isaac replied with a halfhearted smile. As friendly as Roslyn LePage was, Isaac was slightly leery of her after the last time he saw her.
“In for a hair cut?” Roslyn made small talk.
“Uh, no, my son is.” Isaac gestured to the chair where Everett was in the middle of a hair cut. “You?”
“Oh, no.” Roslyn smiled and gestured to the Asian lady cutting Everett's hair. “That's Marcia, my girlfriend.”
“Small world.” Isaac commented giving a polite wave, as Marcia grinned and turned hearing her name.
“Tell me about it.” Roslyn nodded. “Is this your oldest son?” Roslyn remembered Isaac mentioning her had more children, after Perrie.
“He is, that's Everett. The other two are with their mom and Perrie is out with my dad.” Isaac informed her.
At the mention of Perrie's name Roslyn's smile disappeared. Leaning in a bit closer to Isaac, she lowered her voice. “I'm absolutely terribly sorry for the last time we spoke.” she apologized. Roslyn had been meaning to get in touch with Isaac and deliver this apology long before now. “I seriously hope that my big mouth didn't cause any issues. I have been feeling so fucking shitty for that.”
Telling Roslyn that she nearly ruined his life could be very easily done right now, instead Isaac cleared his throat and took a dignified route. After all, if it weren't for Roslyn LePage, then Isaac may have never known the truth - Taylor certainly wasn't going to tell him.
“You know some thing, Roslyn, I'm not upset with you.” Isaac explained. “I talked to my brother about it, we haven't spoken since, but if anything you only told me the truth.”
Roslyn gasped and placed a hand over her mouth. “Oh, no, I am sorry.” she frowned, placing a hand on Isaac's arm. “I really do feel shitty.”
“No, please, don't.” Isaac assured her with a faint smile. “Trust me, I'm really not blaming you for anything.”
“Maybe not, but when you say something that causes people to fall out, you always feel bad.” Roslyn cleared up her feelings. “Is there anything I can do?”
Isaac took the question and mulled it over for a moment or two. Roslyn was a nice enough lady, but he had doubts if she could help him any further than she had already had.
“I think we're good, but I do appreciate the offer.” Isaac answered with a bit of a larger smile this time.
“If you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know. If you can't get in touch, then you clearly know how to find Marcia who can always pass a message along.” Roslyn chuckled a little.
“If we need anything, my wife sees Marcia every three weeks.” Isaac laughed. “We will certainly let you know.”
“Good!” Roslyn beamed. “If you don't mind my asking, how is Perrie?”
Isaac sighed a little, taking a moment to give the best answer. Finally replying, he softened into another smile. “She's good. Yeah, she's great actually.”
“Good! I'm glad to hear that.” Roslyn offered her enthusiasm.
“She's slowly getting ready for school, we have her enrolled in a public school not far from where we live. She's settled in really well.” Isaac beamed as he talked about her. Roslyn smiled seeing his admiration. “She uh, she has a boyfriend right now. I swear she's trying to drive me insane.”
“Well, most girls do that.” Roslyn giggled. “I swear, had I brought a boy home at her age, my father would have went nuts. Some how bringing a girlfriend home was always so much easier on him. Not so much my mom.” she joked.
“Parenting teenagers is hard! It makes me feel bad for the shit I put my parents through.” Isaac stated, wide eyed. “Perrie isn't a bad kid, it's just so much harder than younger kids. Teens challenge you.”
“The little ones don't know how to talk back.” Roslyn commented with a smirk. “Once they hit a certain age, they have it all figured out. I remember being a real shit head as a teenager.”
“As was I.” Isaac nodded. He fully understood what it was like to be a complete pain in the ass as a teenager.
Everett's haircut didn't take Isaac as long as expected, or maybe he had been wrapped up in talking and didn't seem to notice like he usually did? Either way, it seemed like no time had passed when he and Everett said their farewells to Marcia and Roslyn, heading out of the hair shop and onto their next errand. Between a hair cut and picking up a few items at the grocery store, Everett had managed to convince his father that he needed food or he would surely starve to death before they arrived home.
The father and son were finishing lunch and in a conversation about whether or not Everett could ask Tanner to stay for dinner. Pointing out that Tanner was Perrie's friend, it would be up to her to ask, Isaac couldn't help but laugh when Everett explained it was perfectly fine for Tanner to be friends with more than one person in their home. He wasn't wrong.
“When they get back, if Tanner wants to stay, you can ask him.” Isaac agreed. “I take it you like him?”
“He's pretty cool.” Everett shrugged picking a fry off of his plate. “The best part is that Perrie doesn't even get mad when we hog him.”
“I think you've got it pretty lucky with Perrie.” Isaac added with a chuckle. “Most big sisters pick on their little brothers.”
“Yeah, but Perrie is nice and she's used to being the little kid. She told me about her brother Ben.” Everett informed his father. “How come he is her brother, but he isn't mine? If she is my sister, shouldn't he be my brother?”
Briefly, Isaac and Nikki had explained to Everett and Monroe that Perrie was their sister, because they had a parent in common. It dawned on Isaac that he had never explained to them that not all siblings were blood related. His sons were old enough to understand, but the chat had never seemed to creep up.
“You know how you and Perrie are both my children?” Isaac asked, Everett nodded. “Sometimes being a brother and sister doesn't mean you have to have the same parents. In some cases, like Ben and Perrie, it is simply how you feel toward the other person.”
Isaac continued on, informing his son that when people are raised by parental figures - Like Grady and Laura raised Perrie and Ben, then it was normal to see those people as family and for Ben and Perrie to be siblings. As he got into details about how families came in all ways, he was interrupted by his phone.
“It's your mom, hold on.” Isaac answered the call. “Hello?” he was half expecting Nikki to lecture him on being gone almost all day.
“Ike, sweetie you need to come home.” Nikki spoke, her tone cool and calm, yet Isaac could tell there was something wrong.
“Are the kids okay?” something happening to one of the kids was Isaac's biggest fear.
“Yes, they're fine. Everyone in the family is fine. I just really need you to come home.” Nikki urged him.
Telling his wife, he'd be home right away and he loved her, Isaac ended the call. Being on the other side of town took Isaac longer than he wanted to get home. Nikki could have at least given him some kind of reason as to why he had to rush home. Leaving him with nothing to go on only made his mind come up with the worst case scenarios. Although she had told him their children and family were fine, which gave him some ease. Swinging into their drive way, Isaac frowned and cursed a little when he saw Taylor's truck sitting in the drive. Surely this wasn't the reason Nikki had urged him to come home so quickly.
“Hey Ev, why don't you go in and get Monroe ready to go play outside.” Isaac glanced in the rear view mirror at Everett, who had been occupied by his video game the whole way home.
Once inside, Everett didn't need directions the second time. He sought out his little brother and immediately drug him outside to the swing set that stood in the back yard. Isaac took a few moments, just inside to pause and try to rationalize why Taylor would be there, in his house?! Maybe, there was a small chance, Natalie had her husband's truck and had dropped in for a visit. Isaac could accept that, if it were the case.
Walking into the kitchen, basing the location of the others by the sound of Nikki's voice, Isaac frowned when he realized it wasn't Natalie with Taylor's truck, but Taylor.
“Why are you here?” were Isaac's first words as he glared at Taylor.
“Ike.” Nikki gave him a warning tone.
“I came over, because mom sent me.” Taylor explained, shoving his hands in his pockets. “She sent me over to tell you, Percy Marshall had a heart attack.”
“What, mom suddenly doesn't know how to use a phone?” Isaac spat at his younger brother.
Ignoring her husband and his child like tantrum that was about to commence, Nikki frowned and directed her question at Taylor. “When did she find out? Is he going to be okay?”
“Mom heard it at the fundraiser she's helping with. They think he'll be okay, but things are still pretty crucial.” Taylor explained the details he had been given.
“Oh gosh.” Nikki gasped. “Ike, maybe you should call him?”
“No.” Isaac firmly shook his head.
“Mom said that apparently he was at work when it happened. The hospital got in touch with Helen's sister, but she can't go because she has cancer or something.” Taylor furthered the details his mother had armed him with.
Taylor really didn't want to be doing this, leave it to his mother to push her kids together even when they wanted to be on opposite ends of the world.
“Maybe you and Perrie should take a trip.” Nikki made a new suggestion.
“Why? He's made it very clear he doesn't care about her.” Issac's body stiffened in defense. Isaac knew that one day Percy Marshall would come up again, but he wasn't ready for this right now.
“Ike, he's sick. She is his grandchild and possibly the only person who can be with him. Would you want to be in the hospital, alone, and none of your family come see you?” Nikki huffed.
She had never met Percy Marshall herself, nor did she liked what she had heard about him, but never the less he was a sick man and nobody deserved to be alone at a time like this. Nikki stood next to the counter, her shoulders square and her eyes glaring at her husband. If Isaac wasn't going to do something then she damn well would.
“When she needed him, he didn't bother. Why should we?”
“Because, you and Perrie are better than that.” Nikki grumbled. “If you won't take her, then I will.”
“Ike, it isn't my business, but Perrie's had a pretty shitty few months. Do you really think she's going to forgive not being there, if something happens?” Taylor tried to reason.
“Oh that is rich, coming from you.” Isaac snapped. “If it weren't for you, she wouldn't have had to go through all that bullshit. Don't try and make me to be the bad guy once again.”
“I take full responsibility for what happened, I do.” Taylor added clearing his throat. “I never made you out as the bad guy, nor would I. Think about this though, Nikki is right.”
“Why don't you leave?” Isaac glared at Taylor, his dark eyes hard and cold.
“Oh for fucks sake!” Nikki grumbled. “The two of you bickering isn't helping anyone. The man is sick. His granddaughter deserves to see him and I don't want any arguing. When she gets home, you sit her down and tell her. Then, you let her decide if she wants to see him. If she wants to, then you best damn well be on the road first thing in the morning.”
Genre: Fan Fic/Drama
Pairing: N/A
Characters: Isaac Hanson, OFC, Taylor Hanson, Zac Hanson, OC, Nikki Hanson
Warnings: Language
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: a strict work of fiction, I own nothing except the original characters and the plot line. In no way am I affiliated to any of it.
Summary: “No matter how much time passes, no matter what takes place in the interim, there are some things we can never assign to oblivion, memories we can never rub away.”
-Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore
Isaac Hanson learned at a young age that life isn't always fair and eventually people really do make mistakes - really big mistakes! No matter how much you try to right that wrong, sometimes you never get that luxury.
Perrie Marshall learned at a young age that life can be hard and life can be lonely, even when you're surrounded by others. No matter how much you try to cling on to something, sometimes you have to let it go and start over again.
Chapter Twenty Six
Isaac didn't have to like Tanner with Perrie, but he was slowly realizing it may be best to like Tanner Gibbs in general. It was around Tanner's third or fourth visit to their home that Isaac clued in to how much his family liked the young man. Nikki would often comment on how much she liked him, while Everett and Monroe would rave about their new found playmate, even little Nina would giggle and smile when Tanner fawned over her. Perrie never said much, although it was evident she liked him just as much as the others - maybe more.
Never the less, Tanner was a teenage boy and Isaac knew they weren't to be trusted.
The few times Isaac voiced this opinion, he would just get laughed at. Nikki told him to stop being so dramatic, while his mother told him to loosen up. They both insisted that Perrie and Tanner were young and having a good time. Funny, Isaac had thought when he heard that statement. He and Amy had only been young and having a good time too.
Eventually, maybe not intentionally, Tanner would slip and end up leaving Perrie in a mess of tears. The tears would last a day, maybe a week, or even a month before she picked up and moved on. Heartbreak looming over his little girl was enough for Isaac to keep himself from getting too friendly with this boy. His father had told him to stop being such a stiff and let the kids figure out life, there was no harm in watching over them, but Isaac really needed to relax.
Getting a lecture about relaxing, Isaac resisted the urge to roll his eyes and call his father crazy. When it came to Isaac and Perrie; Walker sometimes wondered who the teenage girl really was in that pair. Slapping his eldest son on the back, Walker assured Isaac that Perrie would be okay, she was a bright girl. Besides, Tanner didn't seem that menacing.
Before Isaac could give a reply, his father adjusted his hat and turned toward the truck. “Are you all ready?” he directed the question to the three kids next to the truck and Avery, who was half asleep in the passenger's seat.
“What are we waiting for, it's only getting hotter.” Perrie complained, opening the truck door and helping Viggo in. “We want to get the fish before they fry them self!”
“She's right, I have to go. Try not to worry yourself gray, okay.” Walker advised Isaac with a laugh, waving and walking to his truck. “I'll have them home before dark.”
“Have a good day.” Isaac waved as his father's truck began pulling out of the drive way. From the back seat, Perrie waved eagerly out the window. Viggo's small arm was seen waving from the back seat, nestled between Perrie and Tanner.
When Walker had asked if Perrie wanted to go fishing, Isaac had thrown a fit as Taylor had originally been going as well. Since his brother was acting like a child, Taylor opted to stay home and send Viggo anyway, this left a spot open which Perrie quickly filled with Tanner.
Taylor was a subject that Isaac was in no way ready to approach. To say the bitter feelings between the two brothers weren't straining not only the family, but their lively hoods and everything else in their lives was a bit of an understatement. If Isaac was going to be somewhere, then Taylor had to stay away and vice versa. This wasn't to say that Natalie and Nikki were following their husband's directions. Each wife understood that her husband needed to work this out in his own time, but it didn't mean that they felt this was the right thing to do. Nikki had given up on wasting her breath, telling Isaac that he had to fix this. Natalie on the other hand continued to gently remind Taylor that he had to work this issue out, one way or another.
Had Taylor gone fishing there was a chance that Perrie would have passed on the trip. Her reason would have been strictly due to Isaac, if Taylor went and she had agreed to go then it would only hurt him. Perrie was convinced if the two men talked, they could work something out, but after the flip out Isaac had the last time Perrie had let her opinion on the subject go.
As much as Perrie wanted to be an adult, in this situation, Isaac felt she was better off still being the child. Since she had started spending all her time with Tanner the talk of Taylor seemed to dwindle on Perrie's end. There was a possibility that the tall, dark haired boy was more useful to Isaac than originally thought.
“Dad.” Everett nudged Isaac's arm and hard. “Dad!” he repeated a bit louder this time.
“What?” Isaac asked, pulling his mind out of his thoughts and focusing on his oldest son.
“Can you hold this?” Everett handed Isaac his video game and stood up. “It's my turn.” he motioned to the lady waiting to cut his hair.
“Sure, no problem pal.” Isaac smiled and took the hand held video game.
Watching Everett chat along with the lady who had been cutting his hair for the last few years, Isaac laughed a little to himself. It was funny how much a child could mirror their parent, Isaac had always thought it came from a child's ability to see and copy actions. When Perrie moved in, he realized that a tiny part of it was instinct, genetic in a way. The brother and sister were alike in a lot of ways, both being that they were like their father. Both were stubborn, hardheaded, determined, and fairly relaxed for the most part.
Across the floor, Everett laughed at something which in turned caused Isaac to grin. A tiny bell attached to the top of the door rang, gently covering Everett's laugh and cutting the conversation he was having. Isaac glanced around, catching sight of the woman the hair dresser had just greeted. Catching sight of Isaac, the two women cut their conversation while the familiar red head made her way toward him.
“Isaac.” Roslyn LePage greeted him with a wide smile. “It's good to see you.” she sat down in the empty chair beside him.
“Roslyn, it's nice to see you too.” Isaac replied with a halfhearted smile. As friendly as Roslyn LePage was, Isaac was slightly leery of her after the last time he saw her.
“In for a hair cut?” Roslyn made small talk.
“Uh, no, my son is.” Isaac gestured to the chair where Everett was in the middle of a hair cut. “You?”
“Oh, no.” Roslyn smiled and gestured to the Asian lady cutting Everett's hair. “That's Marcia, my girlfriend.”
“Small world.” Isaac commented giving a polite wave, as Marcia grinned and turned hearing her name.
“Tell me about it.” Roslyn nodded. “Is this your oldest son?” Roslyn remembered Isaac mentioning her had more children, after Perrie.
“He is, that's Everett. The other two are with their mom and Perrie is out with my dad.” Isaac informed her.
At the mention of Perrie's name Roslyn's smile disappeared. Leaning in a bit closer to Isaac, she lowered her voice. “I'm absolutely terribly sorry for the last time we spoke.” she apologized. Roslyn had been meaning to get in touch with Isaac and deliver this apology long before now. “I seriously hope that my big mouth didn't cause any issues. I have been feeling so fucking shitty for that.”
Telling Roslyn that she nearly ruined his life could be very easily done right now, instead Isaac cleared his throat and took a dignified route. After all, if it weren't for Roslyn LePage, then Isaac may have never known the truth - Taylor certainly wasn't going to tell him.
“You know some thing, Roslyn, I'm not upset with you.” Isaac explained. “I talked to my brother about it, we haven't spoken since, but if anything you only told me the truth.”
Roslyn gasped and placed a hand over her mouth. “Oh, no, I am sorry.” she frowned, placing a hand on Isaac's arm. “I really do feel shitty.”
“No, please, don't.” Isaac assured her with a faint smile. “Trust me, I'm really not blaming you for anything.”
“Maybe not, but when you say something that causes people to fall out, you always feel bad.” Roslyn cleared up her feelings. “Is there anything I can do?”
Isaac took the question and mulled it over for a moment or two. Roslyn was a nice enough lady, but he had doubts if she could help him any further than she had already had.
“I think we're good, but I do appreciate the offer.” Isaac answered with a bit of a larger smile this time.
“If you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know. If you can't get in touch, then you clearly know how to find Marcia who can always pass a message along.” Roslyn chuckled a little.
“If we need anything, my wife sees Marcia every three weeks.” Isaac laughed. “We will certainly let you know.”
“Good!” Roslyn beamed. “If you don't mind my asking, how is Perrie?”
Isaac sighed a little, taking a moment to give the best answer. Finally replying, he softened into another smile. “She's good. Yeah, she's great actually.”
“Good! I'm glad to hear that.” Roslyn offered her enthusiasm.
“She's slowly getting ready for school, we have her enrolled in a public school not far from where we live. She's settled in really well.” Isaac beamed as he talked about her. Roslyn smiled seeing his admiration. “She uh, she has a boyfriend right now. I swear she's trying to drive me insane.”
“Well, most girls do that.” Roslyn giggled. “I swear, had I brought a boy home at her age, my father would have went nuts. Some how bringing a girlfriend home was always so much easier on him. Not so much my mom.” she joked.
“Parenting teenagers is hard! It makes me feel bad for the shit I put my parents through.” Isaac stated, wide eyed. “Perrie isn't a bad kid, it's just so much harder than younger kids. Teens challenge you.”
“The little ones don't know how to talk back.” Roslyn commented with a smirk. “Once they hit a certain age, they have it all figured out. I remember being a real shit head as a teenager.”
“As was I.” Isaac nodded. He fully understood what it was like to be a complete pain in the ass as a teenager.
Everett's haircut didn't take Isaac as long as expected, or maybe he had been wrapped up in talking and didn't seem to notice like he usually did? Either way, it seemed like no time had passed when he and Everett said their farewells to Marcia and Roslyn, heading out of the hair shop and onto their next errand. Between a hair cut and picking up a few items at the grocery store, Everett had managed to convince his father that he needed food or he would surely starve to death before they arrived home.
The father and son were finishing lunch and in a conversation about whether or not Everett could ask Tanner to stay for dinner. Pointing out that Tanner was Perrie's friend, it would be up to her to ask, Isaac couldn't help but laugh when Everett explained it was perfectly fine for Tanner to be friends with more than one person in their home. He wasn't wrong.
“When they get back, if Tanner wants to stay, you can ask him.” Isaac agreed. “I take it you like him?”
“He's pretty cool.” Everett shrugged picking a fry off of his plate. “The best part is that Perrie doesn't even get mad when we hog him.”
“I think you've got it pretty lucky with Perrie.” Isaac added with a chuckle. “Most big sisters pick on their little brothers.”
“Yeah, but Perrie is nice and she's used to being the little kid. She told me about her brother Ben.” Everett informed his father. “How come he is her brother, but he isn't mine? If she is my sister, shouldn't he be my brother?”
Briefly, Isaac and Nikki had explained to Everett and Monroe that Perrie was their sister, because they had a parent in common. It dawned on Isaac that he had never explained to them that not all siblings were blood related. His sons were old enough to understand, but the chat had never seemed to creep up.
“You know how you and Perrie are both my children?” Isaac asked, Everett nodded. “Sometimes being a brother and sister doesn't mean you have to have the same parents. In some cases, like Ben and Perrie, it is simply how you feel toward the other person.”
Isaac continued on, informing his son that when people are raised by parental figures - Like Grady and Laura raised Perrie and Ben, then it was normal to see those people as family and for Ben and Perrie to be siblings. As he got into details about how families came in all ways, he was interrupted by his phone.
“It's your mom, hold on.” Isaac answered the call. “Hello?” he was half expecting Nikki to lecture him on being gone almost all day.
“Ike, sweetie you need to come home.” Nikki spoke, her tone cool and calm, yet Isaac could tell there was something wrong.
“Are the kids okay?” something happening to one of the kids was Isaac's biggest fear.
“Yes, they're fine. Everyone in the family is fine. I just really need you to come home.” Nikki urged him.
Telling his wife, he'd be home right away and he loved her, Isaac ended the call. Being on the other side of town took Isaac longer than he wanted to get home. Nikki could have at least given him some kind of reason as to why he had to rush home. Leaving him with nothing to go on only made his mind come up with the worst case scenarios. Although she had told him their children and family were fine, which gave him some ease. Swinging into their drive way, Isaac frowned and cursed a little when he saw Taylor's truck sitting in the drive. Surely this wasn't the reason Nikki had urged him to come home so quickly.
“Hey Ev, why don't you go in and get Monroe ready to go play outside.” Isaac glanced in the rear view mirror at Everett, who had been occupied by his video game the whole way home.
Once inside, Everett didn't need directions the second time. He sought out his little brother and immediately drug him outside to the swing set that stood in the back yard. Isaac took a few moments, just inside to pause and try to rationalize why Taylor would be there, in his house?! Maybe, there was a small chance, Natalie had her husband's truck and had dropped in for a visit. Isaac could accept that, if it were the case.
Walking into the kitchen, basing the location of the others by the sound of Nikki's voice, Isaac frowned when he realized it wasn't Natalie with Taylor's truck, but Taylor.
“Why are you here?” were Isaac's first words as he glared at Taylor.
“Ike.” Nikki gave him a warning tone.
“I came over, because mom sent me.” Taylor explained, shoving his hands in his pockets. “She sent me over to tell you, Percy Marshall had a heart attack.”
“What, mom suddenly doesn't know how to use a phone?” Isaac spat at his younger brother.
Ignoring her husband and his child like tantrum that was about to commence, Nikki frowned and directed her question at Taylor. “When did she find out? Is he going to be okay?”
“Mom heard it at the fundraiser she's helping with. They think he'll be okay, but things are still pretty crucial.” Taylor explained the details he had been given.
“Oh gosh.” Nikki gasped. “Ike, maybe you should call him?”
“No.” Isaac firmly shook his head.
“Mom said that apparently he was at work when it happened. The hospital got in touch with Helen's sister, but she can't go because she has cancer or something.” Taylor furthered the details his mother had armed him with.
Taylor really didn't want to be doing this, leave it to his mother to push her kids together even when they wanted to be on opposite ends of the world.
“Maybe you and Perrie should take a trip.” Nikki made a new suggestion.
“Why? He's made it very clear he doesn't care about her.” Issac's body stiffened in defense. Isaac knew that one day Percy Marshall would come up again, but he wasn't ready for this right now.
“Ike, he's sick. She is his grandchild and possibly the only person who can be with him. Would you want to be in the hospital, alone, and none of your family come see you?” Nikki huffed.
She had never met Percy Marshall herself, nor did she liked what she had heard about him, but never the less he was a sick man and nobody deserved to be alone at a time like this. Nikki stood next to the counter, her shoulders square and her eyes glaring at her husband. If Isaac wasn't going to do something then she damn well would.
“When she needed him, he didn't bother. Why should we?”
“Because, you and Perrie are better than that.” Nikki grumbled. “If you won't take her, then I will.”
“Ike, it isn't my business, but Perrie's had a pretty shitty few months. Do you really think she's going to forgive not being there, if something happens?” Taylor tried to reason.
“Oh that is rich, coming from you.” Isaac snapped. “If it weren't for you, she wouldn't have had to go through all that bullshit. Don't try and make me to be the bad guy once again.”
“I take full responsibility for what happened, I do.” Taylor added clearing his throat. “I never made you out as the bad guy, nor would I. Think about this though, Nikki is right.”
“Why don't you leave?” Isaac glared at Taylor, his dark eyes hard and cold.
“Oh for fucks sake!” Nikki grumbled. “The two of you bickering isn't helping anyone. The man is sick. His granddaughter deserves to see him and I don't want any arguing. When she gets home, you sit her down and tell her. Then, you let her decide if she wants to see him. If she wants to, then you best damn well be on the road first thing in the morning.”