(Untitled)

[youalleverybody]

Liam comes in smiling. Then he sees a certain sign, as he approaches the Bar, and the smile fades.

It vanishes entirely by the time he's finished reading the letter that shows up with his drink, and he slumps visibly on his stool. After a few minutes, he raises his glass to the empty air behind the Bar, glumly.

Here's to you, Eddie and Susannah

Comments

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy is passing on his way to the bar when he sees the decidedly upset looking Liam on the way.

"Liam? You all right?"

[youalleverybody]

"...not so much, no." He smiles wanly. "Bad news."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Sorry to hear that."

Guppy smiles a little, sympathetically. He's bearing a black eye today, just for the record, but it doesn't appear to be bothering him too much.

"Do you want a cup of tea or anything?"

[youalleverybody]

It's a distraction from Eddie's death, and he seizes on it.

"I think I'd rather have a beer. What happened to you?"

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy gets Liam a beer and passes it to him.

"My idiotic boss distracted me at a vital moment in angry patient negotiations."

[youalleverybody]

Liam winces.

"Looks nasty. You put any ice on it?"

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy nods.

"Yeah, I got it yesterday. The advantage of being hit in the middle of an Emergency department is that you don't have to wait long for treatment." he indicates the scratch above the bruise.

He doesn't really want to talk about it, but figures Liam needs the topic distraction more than he does.

[youalleverybody]

Liam gets that, and there's only so far the subject can really be stretched out anyway.

"Could've been worse", he agrees.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy nods.

"The guy's mother dragged him back today and made him apologise, so I guess that's something."

He sips his tea. "So how are you apart from the bad news?"

[youalleverybody]

"Mostly good." The reminder actually makes him smile. "Karen's pretty far along."

[guppy_sandhu]

"I don't think I've met her. Your wife right?"

He thinks back. "And you've got a little girl I seem to remember."

[youalleverybody]

"Yeah, she's my wife. And comes here now, sometimes. And yeah, we've got our little Megan - turned three not long ago."

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy smiles.

"Well that's wonderful news, congratulations. How's Megan taking it?"

[youalleverybody]

"...I think she's not quite sure how to", he says with a rueful grin. "You know how toddlers get when they're not going to be only kids any more."

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy nods.

"Heh, yeah, poor kid must be confused. She's probably old enough to feel big though, which probably helps if that makes any sense."

[youalleverybody]

"Yeah. And it might help that Sunny's been through the same thing not long ago, and the two of them are friends. Or partners in crime."