Chapter 7: Together

“When do you plan on leaving?” Bandit asked Brandy, shortly after dinner. “Oh, I was thinking I could sleep on the couch tonight and leave tomorrow morning… if you don’t mind.” Bandit turned away from her, thinking. “Ok... But I’ll sleep on the couch.” “Uh, I don’t think so. This is your house. Sleep in your own bed.” Bandit was still facing away. “Ok, dumbass?” Brandy chuckled. “Bandit leaned forward, slightly shaking. It was obvious he was trying not to laugh. He turned around smiling. “You’re too nice for your own good you know…” Brandy smiled at him.

Bandit looked Brandy in the eyes. Her face. His smile quickly faded. Brandy noticed the change.

Sniff… Sniff…

“Woah, woah. Come on…” cough “big guy” Brandy wiped her nose with her arm. “Not in front of the kids.” “Hey, girls! We’re going to play some Chess on the kitchen balcony! Ok?” That was a lie, but she knew the kids would want to join if she said anything else. “Ok, Auntie!” Bluey replied. “Oh… hold on!” Just before Bandit and Brandy could leave, Bluey ran to them holding her tablet. “Can we faceytalk with Muffin and Socks?” “Go for it kiddo,” Bandit replied quietly, still facing away. “Hooray!” Bluey ran away with the tablet, grabbing Bingo’s hand.

-The Kitchen Balcony-

Bandit leaned against the railing. Brandy followed behind, but she stopped in the doorway, just watching. He buried his face in his hands. In a rush, all the emotions he’s been suppressing came back to him. He cried, gripping his face and shaking.

Brandy started walking over to comfort him. She stopped. The feeling of losing her sister and best friend was so strong that she couldn’t hold it back anymore. She leaned against the railing next to him. Their whole lives, they’ve grown up and learned to be adults. But in that moment, they were children again.

They cried… and cried…

After a few minutes, Brandy was able to form words again. “You know… she said I’ll be a great mom.” Bandit turned his head, still crying. “She always told me that everything would work out… that I don’t need anybody… especially after he left…” She put a hand on her stomach. “But… now… she won’t even get to meet her… Ruthie… Oh my god…” Brandy covered her mouth with one hand and shut her eyes. “And she won’t get to meet her… aunt…” Brandy fell, sitting against the railing.

Bandits crying slowed. He looked down at Brandy. Her head was resting on her knees with her arms wrapped around. He paused, trying to find the words to say.

“She’s right… you know.” Her breathing slowed. “You remind me a lot of how Chilli was when she first got pregnant… Nervous, unqualified, feeling like you're doing everything wrong… No, she wasn’t perfect at the start… not at all. Heh… She even made me pull a few all-nighters so she could research baby stuff… But she got it… And she became the greatest mother… and wife… anyone could ask for.” He put a fist up to his mouth, wincing from his thoughts. “And you will…” He paused again, trying not to bawl his eyes out. “You will too.” He quickly turned away again and started crying profusely. “I’m sorry…”

Brandy didn’t move.

“She wasn’t always like that…” Brandy leaned back, wrapping her arms around her knees. “When we were kids… it wasn’t easy. She would do things… say things… I hated her for it. We got into some fights. I knew that she never meant what she said and she always apologized after. But it still hurt me a little bit…”

“What is she like… now…?” Brandy looked up at Bandit. He was quiet. “I mean. I know she’s changed, but I don’t know everything. It has been… It’s been a while...” Bandit remained silent. He turned around and sat down a few feet away from Brandy.

“When we first met, we were just friends. We went to the arcade on some days after school. And of course… heh… we fell in love. Chilli was nervous at first. She didn’t want to get into a close relationship immediately… She was worried she’d hurt me... But I never left her side. I saw how much she wanted a happy life. I saw how hard she was trying… And I wanted to help. Of course, sometimes she needed space, so I gave her space. But, again, I never left her side. After a while, her mood swings weren’t an issue at all. Therapy was really good for her too… She made such good progress in such little time!...

“I admired her so much… She’s the strongest person I know… I just hope she got what she wanted… a happy life…”

…

“That sounds like her…” Brandy laughed slightly, still crying.

“She told me a lot about you… right before we became distant… You know what she said?” Brandy asked. Bandit looked over after wiping his face with his arm.

“She said that she looked up to you… She didn’t know how you stayed so strong and confident when faced with having a child. She knew, deep down, that you were nervous… but you stayed strong for her… Heh. I see you haven’t changed at all Bandit…” She smiled at him. Bandit just rolled his eyes.

“But… She wished she could’ve repaid you somehow for everything. Being patient with her, staying by her side no matter what, all of it… You meant the world to her… just like she did to you. You never stopped loving her. Even when things were hard… You two loved each other until the end.”

“That’s how I know…”

“Chilli was the happiest woman in the world…”

…

A single tear fell from Bandit’s face.

He smiled.

“Thank you… Brandy…” “Of course big guy.” She punched his shoulder. “Thank you too… Bandit…” Bandit just smiled at her. The two stood up and turned around to lean against the railing again.

“TELL HER SHE’S LYING…”

Bandit and Brandy quickly turned around to see Bluey standing in the doorway. Bingo was standing behind her, confused.

-The Living Room, earlier-

Bingo was drawing on the tablet, and Bluey stood over her, recommending things to add to her drawing. Muffin and Socks were also on the call, but Muffin was acting differently than usual. She was quiet. She was almost intrigued by Bluey and Bingo.

Eventually, her curiosity peaked.

“How are you so happy?”

The girls were a little confused, including socks. The answer seemed obvious. Bluey replied, “Well, I like drawing a lot. Anddd, I also like talking to you a lot. So, I’m happy!” “Ohhhhh.” Muffin tilted her head to the side. “You’re still happy because you can draw…” “Yeah! Uh… why would I not be happy?” Bluey laughed slightly.

“Oh, I’m sowwy… I thought you’d be un-happy after aunt chili died.”

…

“Pfff. She’s not… dead, silly.” Bluey waved her hand. “She’s at the hospital, getting better!” Bingo was confused but still agreed with Bluey. “Ohhhh…?” Muffin tilted her head the other way and looked around. “I thought my dad told me aunt chili died at the hos-pi-tal… He was crying a lot too…”

…

“No… That’s not true Muffin…” “What? I heard him with my own two ears… maybe Dad said “lied” at the place? But gwown ups never lie.” “You’re lying… YOU’RE LYING.” Bluey yelled. Bingo was surprised by Bluey’s sudden outrage.”Uh, Bluey… what is…” “Am not! Dad said if I lie, cookies will taste like brocc-o-li.”

Bluey stared at the screen, her breathing got faster. “Dad. DADDDD. Bluey took the tablet and ran to the other room, leaving Bingo behind. Bingo quickly got up to follow her. Bluey threw open the balcony door and yelled.

“TELL HER SHE’S LYING…”

Bandit and Brandy quickly turned around to see Bluey standing in the doorway. Bingo was standing behind her, confused.

“She says that mum is dead. TELL HER SHE’S LYING.”

Bandit and Brandy were shocked to their cores.

“YOU WERE GOING TO TELL US THAT SHE’S GETTING BETTER. You said you don’t know how to tell us because you wanted it to be a big surprise…”

Bandit and Brandy looked at each other, surprised that Bluey heard their conversation after dinner.

“TELL HER…”

Bingo came out from behind Bluey and looked her father in the eyes.

Bandit took a step back, almost falling against the railing. Everyone was looking at him, Bluey, Bingo, Muffin, and Brandy. Their gazes pierced through him. It felt like he was looking directly at the sun. He stood up straight for a second but quickly crumbled to his knees.

He cried… and cried… The kids were confused and Brandy was stunned.

He started trying to talk while crawling over to Bluey. “She’s… she’s not lying… kids…. Chil… Mum… is gone. And she’s never coming back…” Bandit hugged Bluey. “W-What… no… NO…” Bluey started to tear up.

Bingo looked worried. “What does that mean? What’s going on…” Brandy walked over, past Bandit and Bluey, who were crying very loudly.

She got down on one knee and grabbed Bingo’s shoulder.

“Your mum is somewhere… that she can’t come back from…” Brandy started crying. “She would love… more than anything to come back to here… where we can see her…”

“But she can’t…”

“Oh.” Bingo’s head dropped. “Will she ever come back?” Brandy looked at her, brushing the fur on her hand down. “No… Bingo…” “Oh…” Bingo teared up. She wrapped her arms around Brandy.

The whole family was crying uncontrollably now…

Together, but broken.

-End of Chapter 7-