Somebody to Love

I'm having flashbacks because of the end of this chapter. IT'S JUST THE FLU. WE'RE NOT KILLING HIM THIS TIME!!

Bethany walks through set which her backpack slinging off of her shoulder. Tom is standing in the hallway on a video call.

"Did you find it?" Tom faintly asks.  Bethany doesn't hear the person's response but Tom sighs in relief. "Okay, darling, I love you. Tell Bells I love her too. Bye, dear." Tom looks up and sees Beth passing. "Bethany?"

Stopping in her tracks, she turns around to face Tom. "Hey."

"How was your day off yesterday?"

"Um, it... it was fine." Beth lies. That wasn't true. She couldn't fall asleep until 3 in the morning. The entire night was an internal battle about whether or not she was a horrible daughter and sister. "What's going on?"

"Arielle misplaced her homework and she was searching all morning. I did what I could to help her but then I had to leave for work so Sylvia took over for me."

"She found it?"

"It was in my bed. I was getting ready this morning in the bathroom and she had slept with me last night because she had a nightmare so she was reading me her ABC's and I made the before over the homework."

Bethany softly chuckles. "Well I'm glad it was found."

"Me too." Tom smiles. "I missed you so much." He gently pulls her in and quickly kisses her before anyone can see.

"I missed you too." Bethany sighs and shys away from him. She came to the conclusion she needed to move back home. Did she want to? Of course not. She knew it'd be the biggest heartache of her life but her brother was right about their parents. "Listen, Tom, we should talk."

"About what?"

"I... Tom, I need to move back home after this."

"What?" he exclaims, his face dropping.

"I'm so sorry. I was talking to my brother yesterday and he came up with a really good point about my parents. They're getting old and if I'm here and they're there, I can't be with them as much."

"Darling, your parents are in their 50s."

"I know but what if something crazy happens to them? I didn't spend enough time with them."

"Bethany, darling, something crazy can happen to anyone. You can't worry like that."

Bethany starts tearing up. "Tom, you just don't understand. They... they need me."

"Your parents are healthy, aren't they?"

"What about when they're not? What about when they're old and grey and someone needs to take care of them?"

"You have brothers to help and it's not like you can't go home."

"I wouldn't want to leave you and the girls."

"That's what you're doing right now. In thirty years if something does happen, you can go home. Hell, if something happens in 10 years, you can go home. It's not like you're banned from the USA if you stay here."

"I know but I should spend time with them and my nieces. My brother and I were talking about this and I think he's right. I basically told him to fuck himself but then I sat and thought about it. I mean, at the end of the day, my family should come first and as hard as this'll be, I need to be there for them."

"I thought we were becoming your family."

"You are," Bethany croaks. "Please don't be mad. I'm not leaving yet. We can still see each other and long distance should work. It'll work, I know it will. I'll fly out on weekends to see you and-"