Chapter 6: Chapter Six
While downstairs is very confused and unsure what to do, Liam, with what just happened?''Why isn't his little boy talking at the moment''? Not to mention what happened in front of the school this afternoon?'' Does he still blame himself for that night''? While a father is feeling confused, unsure, &. Failure, he isn't the only one thinking this way. When upstairs, his little boy is having similar thoughts going through his head.''Why did I make mommy come out that night''?'' She might still be alive if I had just stayed the night''? Wonders Thomas, while not wanting to be found, sometimes wishes that his mom could come back. Being here without her tonight doesn't feel right, not to mention that his mom gave him pointers while building the Gingerbread house for the contest each year, so in a way, they were the true Brown team. However, they never told Jeremiah ''Jeremy'' to give him a sense of pride each year and the Head Gingerbread-House builder for the Brown Team. After winning each year's competition, the smile of satisfaction is priceless, which is why they never spoiled his moment at every festival.
However, downstairs Liam is starting to doubt himself as a dad, wondering if he is doing everything right?''How come you didn't want to compete in the Gingerbread Competition anymore?'' questions Jeremy for the past twenty-two years? Liam then automatically turns around and looks at his dad,'' mostly because overtime you made it all about winning than having fun, and now that Thomas is part of Team Brown, it makes me wonder if you are going to do the same thing. To him, the way it happened to me, not wanting it to be a competition for him and more about having fun. We always taught him that as long as you are having fun, that's all that matters. To where it's not about winning ''says Liam, finally telling his dad how he truly felt after all of these years.''I never realized I made you feel that way ''says Jeremy, feeling guilty that if maybe he wasn't so strong-headed and headstrong, that perhaps just perhaps. The first Team Brown trio might have continued all of these years. Or possibly it could've been Liam and Thomas instead?
''Dad, I forgave you a long time ago; Jeremy then looks at him with a glance. I just wanted to hear you admit it''says, Liam smirking with laughter harder than he has in almost a year. Seeing his son laugh for once and looks happy. ''What do you say about you and I, finishing this Gingerbread house for tomorrow's contest?'' asks Jeremy.''Alright, but only for Tom, I'm going to find him, ''says Liam heading for the stairs. However, he doesn't even make it to the first step.''How about we finish this first, then after you can show him what we finished ''suggests Jeremy letting his grandson be alone for a little longer.
''No, instead of doing that, I am going to look for my son and find out what's bothering him because that's more of a priority than building a Gingerbread house ''says Liam trying to understand his dad right now; his focus is his son. This another thing that Zoey was good at spotting what was wrong with their little boy right away in an instant.'' Wouldn't you prefer to help me first and have a surprise for him afterward and show Tom what we did?'' tells Jeremy. That remark makes Liam's blood boil hearing those words coming from his dad. However, in a way, maybe his dad has a point, though, and thinking about the look on his little buddy's face is priceless and is worth it. Even though it involves listening to his dad brag on and on about how he was right all along.''Alright, then let's get to work; we have a Gingerbread house to finish ''says Liam. He is ready to do something that he hasn't done in over twenty years, and who even knows might even enjoy it.''Now, this is the idea I had diagrammed, and the last thing we did was finish the roof, and before your little buddy got embarrassed and ran to hide, we were about to put the icing and powdered sugar on that house with snowflakes to give it that flurry snow vibe. Then for the final touch, an iced gingerbread star ''tells Jeremy to his son, deciding to go for a classic yet subtle look that will wow the judges away.''Wait, I thought you and Tom come up with the idea together?'' asks Liam confused, since he thought his little boy was part of the creative process every year but maybe not all along? ''Oh, he doesn't care about that; Thomas loves decorating it''says Jeremy, thinking he knows his grandson more than his son does.
''Have you ever asked him? asks Liam knowing that his little buddy does want to be part of the building process of the gingerbread house, considering that he enjoys helping set up for the festival every year.''Not because he doesn't care about that stuff; now hand me the icing bag ''tells Jeremy to his son. As all of this brings back flashbacks for him, reminding Liam why he stopped entering the contest. Mostly because he would be ordered or bossed around but not anymore because he is a grown man now.''No, you can grab it yourself dad, I'm going to find my son, and then we are leaving, ''tells very stern Liam and heads upstairs. As he is looking for Thomas, Liam thinks about where he used to hide back at his son's age then it dawns on him and looks in his old bedroom gets down on the floor and looks under his childhood bed and Tom is hiding but doesn't nor does he say anything or do his little giggle laugh. He looks at his daddy with a completely blank stare, feeling very sad, and has tear stains on his little cheeks, so Liam sees that his little boy has been crying. Both of them never truly realized how much tonight but honestly how today would affect the two of them after losing Zoey.''Come on, little man, time to go home; tomorrow is a big day, ''says Liam to his son, knowing that they both will need their sleep because tomorrow is going to be just as hard of a day as today was. Maybe, even more, this was something that Zoey looked forward to; it was a family day. However, is it without her here? Liam then reaches out his left hand. Thomas at first hesitated but then nods and grabs his dad's hand; after that, he crawls out and lets out a slight yawn. Liam then lifts him into his arms and heads downstairs.
''Bubba, please stay; we can talk about this, ''tells Avery, seeing her son coming down the stairs, not wanting her son to leave like this so dysfunctional at the moment. To avoid a lot of cold shoulders tomorrow at the festival, between Liam and Jeremy. Their son will need all the support tomorrow to be able to function and run the festival. Without falling apart into a thousand pieces when every second of this festival reminds him of Zoey in every single way.''Thank you for tonight, momma, but we really should get going home now, ''says Liam realizing the only good thing about this dreadful day so far was Hazel coming to this town. Heading out the door with Thomas over his shoulder, not realizing that he left Hazel behind with everything that happened tonight, it caused his brain to be a little hazy.
Hazel overhears the conversation, including hearing what sounded like the front door close,'' did they leave?'' asks Hazel to Avery, walking over to her in confusion on why Liam would go without saying a word. Avery then looks to her right as Hazel walks towards her '', yeah they did. Something happened between Liam and his dad. Your welcome to stay and enjoy the party if you want?'' suggests Avery.''I would love to thank you, and I can help with the Gingerbread house; that way, Thomas and Jeremy are still able to enter the contest tomorrow? ''offers Hazel. Wanting to help out the Brown family considering how much they have done for her already.''No, you don't have to do that, your our guest'' ''says Avery
''Please, I don't mind helping; I would be delighted to help out, ''says Avery walking into the kitchen and looks the diagram to finish decorating the house.
After putting Thomas to bed, he goes into the kitchen to turn off the light heading for the stairs. There is a knock, so Liam then goes and opens the front door. ''Caleb, hey come in, what are you doing here?''.'' Well, I went to your folk's house to see if you guys were there or not, and your mom told me that you guys had left so. I figured I would stop by, check-in, and see how you were doing as Liam looks at him. How are you feeling about tomorrow without my little sister ''says Caleb, Liam's older brother-in-law? Looking over to a picture of her and Liam on their wedding day,'' feeling lost like there is a substantial missing side of me, I miss her so much man. Plus, I lose Zoey, and I lost a child ''tells Liam revealing that Zoey was pregnant with their second child.
''Zoey never mentioned anything?'' says Caleb in complete shock, not knowing that his little sister was pregnant a second time and nor he or his family had no clue.''We were waiting a few more weeks, and we were planning on telling everyone on Christmas eve that unfortunately never happened ''says Liam,'' makes sense. Did Tom know about the baby?'' asks Caleb in curiosity if his nephew knew at all?''No, he didn't know either we would tell him that night before revealing the news to everyone else. By handing him the present and opening would see a Big Brother shirt, ''says Liam.''At least you didn't tell him before Zoey's accident, or he would not only be dealing with the loss of his mom but a little brother or sister as well ''says Caleb.'' That's for sure considering he isn't even talking at all right now, and I have no idea why ''says Liam feeling so lost and is finding it very hard to comfort his son about his losing his mom with the fact that he hasn't even come to peace with it himself yet.''It must still feel like it's his fault; it sounds like someone else I know; Liam then looks at him. It's not your fault that she is gone, and you need to stop blaming yourself now; listen to me; you were the best thing that an older brother would want for her. Zoey loved you and wouldn't want to see you torturing yourself; she would like you to be happy, ''says Caleb giving some advice to his brother-in-law.
''Yeah, I know she would; I don't know how to go on with life without her, ''says Liam. He is very much struggling with her gone and sometimes wishes that she could go back to the night and save her from getting hit that night? That way, he could still hold her in his arms to the day and kiss her deeply.''Hey, we will all be there for you tomorrow to support you and Thomas, plus she is always with you as he stands up. Well, I should get going home, see you both tomorrow ''' says Caleb heading for the door.''Caleb ''says Liam; he then turns around ''yeah, ''says Caleb,'' thanks for that. I never knew what it was like to have an older brother until I married your sister, ''says Liam.
''Your welcome, and we are brothers through and through forever, ''says Caleb smirking and thinking to himself how lucky Zoey has been with only being with Liam. She never had a broken heart or not once her heart dumped, nor did Caleb have to look for the guy who broke his little sister's heart.''Thanks, man; as he walks him out after Caleb leaves, he locks the door and looks over at a picture of him, Zoey & Thomas. We miss you so much, baby; you have no idea, and I wish you were here to tell me what's going with our baby boy right now. Tom isn't speaking, and I don't know what to do? or how to fix it?'' tells Liam while talking to the picture when he is talking to his wife.
After ending his nightly conversation with his wife, Liam then heads into bed. Glancing over at her side of the bed, hoping that he can get a goodnight's sleep since he hasn't had one in months. The following day, the sun is shining in Liam's bedroom, making a glare on his dresser mirror. After sitting up, he puts his head between his knees, not looking forward to today. Seeing the time on his digital bedside clock showing 8:00 am, usually by this time, he is making breakfast for all of them by this point. He then gets the courage to head downstairs and make breakfast for both of them,'' morning buddy do you want scrambled eggs or pancakes this morning?'' asks Liam seeing his little buddy coming down the stairs? Hoping that he will talk this morning, instead, he goes over to the whiteboard that is on their fridge and writes ''pancakes''.Liam then looks at the whiteboard ''okay, now what kind would you like, Blueberry or Chocolate Chip?'' asks Liam, really hoping that he would come out of this non-speaking phase that he started going through unexpectedly last night at the party last night. Thomas then writes ''Blueberry'' above Pancakes,'' okay, Blueberry pancakes are coming up. He looks over to see what his little boy is currently writing with being non-speaking. Once the pancakes are ready, Liam then places them in front of Tom, here you go, and eat up bud, because we need to be at the festival in an hour, buddy ''says Liam.
The time has come to make sure everything is set for today after they arrive in the town square.'' Liam''calls Mayor Moore walking towards him and Thomas,'' good morning, Mayor Moore''says Liam.''Good morning, and hello, little Thomas. Are you ready for today? crouching down to Thomas's height, which makes Tom run away.''Is everything okay? with him?'' asks Mayor Moore.'' Unfortunately not and still trying to figure out why he isn't speaking ''says Liam, still confused and concerned about what happened last night? To make him out of the blue, stop talking altogether? Not too long after that, people start to arrive as Liam spots Hazel.''Everything looks fantastic, ''says Hazel smiling, excited to attend her first-ever Maple Festival,'' Thank you, and I'm sorry about last night, how I just took off like that. I just needed to be alone and away from my dad' 'says Liam feeling bad for just taking off the way he did without telling Hazel that he was leaving.'' It's okay, I get I do; however, have a surprise for Tom, though ''says Hazel guiding him to her car and opens up the backseat.''No way you finished it''says Liam.
''Last night after you and Thomas left, I know how important it is for Thomas, so I finished what your dad started that way it was entry worthy' 'says Hazel full-on smile.''Oh my god, this is amazing; he will be so shocked when he sees this''says Liam. Amazed that Hazel finished the Gingerbread house so that way his little buddy didn't have to withdraw from the contest.''So what is good to eat besides those Maple Tarts which by the way were out of this world ''tells Hazel as her mouth is still watering thinking about them.''We have Maple SnowFlake cookies, Maple Shaped cookies, Maple Shaped Leaf candy, Maple Caramel apples, Maple Candy Bacon, Maple cupcakes, Maple on a stick, Maple fudge and of course the famous Maple tarts ''says Liam. Listing of many baked goods that they sell each year, and he might have added a few more this year that his wife was against selling over the years.''It all sounds terrific, and I can't wait to see what you have added ''says Hazel smiling, not even thinking about missing her presentation or her life back in Brooklyn.
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