Chapter 10
Lisa finished a long day at work, her thoughts consumed by concerns about Betsy’s recent behavior. If her daughter acted like she usually did, Lisa knew that returning home would mean a long, turbulent night filled with anger, shouting, and slamming doors—unfortunately, all too common when Betsy was angry. As much as Lisa wanted to unravel what troubled her teenage daughter, she had learned that forcing her to talk when she wasn’t ready would only make things worse.
Knowing that Carla would be working late at the factory due to an unexpected delivery delay, Lisa decided to take a solitary trip to the Rovers for a quiet drink before facing what awaited her at home. She felt guilty about leaving Carla to tackle her work crisis alone—though she wouldn't have been much help—yet she didn’t want to disrupt her girlfriend’s concentration or add more stress to an already chaotic evening.
Stepping into the lively pub, the warm hum of conversation enveloped her, and her eyes quickly found Ryan behind the bar. His familiar smirk spread across his face as soon as he noticed her arrival.
“Hi Lisa, what can I get you?” Ryan greeted, his genuine smile lifting her spirits just a little.
“Just a glass of red, please, Ryan. Make it a large one,” she replied, attempting to inject some humor into her request.
“Long day?” Ryan asked, pouring the wine with deft hands.
“Something like that,” Lisa sighed, leaning against the bar as she tried to shake off her worries.
“Is Carla not around?” he inquired, a hint of sympathy in his tone.
“Unfortunately not,” Lisa said, managing a small smile, though disappointment lingered behind it. "She's working late tonight, dealing with an order that couldn’t wait until the morning. I tried to encourage her to take it easy, but you know how she is."
“Ah, yes, typical Carla,” Ryan chuckled, shaking his head. “Always diving headfirst into work. Although, i hear you’re not so different in that respect.”
“Yeah, it’s true,” Lisa agreed, thinking about their shared tenacity. “I sometimes wonder if we both take things a bit too seriously.”
Ryan nodded, pouring himself a small measure of whiskey. “You both have a lot of passion, which is great, but balance is key.”
“You’re right.” Lisa said, taking a long slip of her drink.
Just as she was starting to relax, a sudden burst of laughter caught her attention. She turned to see a group joking around at a nearby table, her heart warming at the little moments of joy surrounding her. It reminded her that life was still happening, even when things felt tough.
“You know, I can’t remember the last time I had a good laugh,” Lisa admitted.
Ryan grinned. “Then let’s fix that right now. How about some awful jokes to lighten the mood?”
“Oh no,” she laughed, shaking her head, “not the dad jokes! I might have to leave the pub forever if you start!”
“I promise they’re not that bad,” Ryan said with mock seriousness. “How about I give you my best one?”
“Alright, fine. Hit me with it,” she challenged.
“Okay, what did the grape do when it got stepped on?” He paused for dramatic effect, then exclaimed, “Nothing, it just let out a little wine!”
Lisa groaned, laughing despite herself. “That was horrendous! You should get a medal for that one.”
Ryan chuckled, clearly pleased with her reaction. “Just wait; I have a whole repertoire.”
As they continued to joke and share stories, for a moment, Lisa felt lighter. The worries about Betsy were still there, but they felt just a bit more manageable when shared with someone. Amidst the chaos of life, she found unexpected solace in this budding friendship with Ryan.
But as the evening wore on, she couldn't shake the feeling that, despite the fun she was having, she longed to share the same moments with Carla—to experience lightness again with the person she loved. Even if they couldn't be together tonight, she couldn't wait for them to see eachother and share the laughter again.
“Here’s to more laughs, however we can find them,” Lisa said, raising her glass to Ryan, feeling grateful for the warmth of friendship and the hope of brighter days ahead.
—————-
After a long shift, Ryan stepped through the door of the flat, the familiar scent wrapping around him like a warm blanket. He dropped his bag by the entrance and glanced over to find Carla slumped on the sofa, a half-empty glass of wine cradled in her hands. She looked tired, the weight of the week etched into the lines of her face.
“Hey,” he said softly, walking over to sit beside her. “Tough day?”
Carla nodded, her eyes lifting to meet his. “You could say that. Just one of those days, you know?”
“Yeah, I get it.” Ryan took a moment, studying her. “Are you okay? You’re looking a bit worn out.”
“I’m fine, just tired,” she replied quickly, but Ryan could see the flicker of tension in her eyes.
He decided to shift the conversation. “I saw Lisa at the pub tonight.”
Carla perked up slightly at that, leaning in. “Oh? How is she?”
“Well, she seemed okay, but I could tell she’s worried about Betsy. She mentioned it a couple of times. They both seem to be carrying a lot.”
Carla's heart sank at the mention of Betsy. Ryan had no idea that his aunt was aware of the real reasons behind the teen's anger. “I understand,” she said, selecting her next words with care. “Betsy’s been going through a rough patch lately.”
“You know what’s going on, don’t you?” Ryan gently pressed, searching her expression for clues. “I mean, Lisa seems confused, but I sense there’s something more beneath the surface.”
Carla turned her gaze away, focusing on the flickering lamp light instead. She had witnessed Betsy's struggles and the confusion and pain she kept bottled up inside. Yet this was something Betsy needed to work through herself before sharing with her mum. “I can’t say, Ryan. Betsy will talk to Lisa when she’s ready. Sometimes it’s best to allow them to figure things out on their own.”
“You really think that’s the best approach?” Ryan asked, concern etching his features.
“Trust me,” Carla replied softly but firmly. “Betsy will come around. She needs space to figure things out for herself before she can talk to Lisa. If I intervene too much, it might push her further away, and we don’t want that.” Carla took a sip of her wine before continuing. “Anyway, let’s lighten the mood a bit,” Carla suggested, trying to break the heaviness. “What do you feel like watching? We could find something funny.”
Ryan shrugged, sensing his auntie wanted to change the subject. “Sure, let’s put on something light. I could use a good laugh.”
They scrolled through the options and finally settled on a sitcom that had always made them chuckle. As the familiar theme song started, they sank into the couch, letting the laughter on screen wash over them.
After a few episodes, Carla glanced at the clock. "Well, I guess I should hit the hay soon," she said, yawning lightly.
“Alright, night, Carla,” Ryan replied, an easy smile on his face as he continued to watch.
With that, she stood up, giving him a small smile before heading to bed, a sense of warmth lingering from their time together. Ryan stayed rooted on the couch, content to enjoy the show for a little while longer.