Chapter 7
"What's up with you?”
Daisys tone is tentative. She and Camilla had talked outside the car for a moment before Daisy got back in. Her mood had changed. They were trailing behind Camilla’s car through the California streets. Her knuckles were tight and white around the steering wheel.
“I mean, the nightmares, panic attacks, not taking your meds! Not to mention that you were talking to the sky three nights ago.”
Wait…what?!
“Billy…are you having another episode?”
Episode? What the hell was she talking about? Billy turns his head to look at her and something in his face must seem off because she continues in a stern tone.
“Dr.Rivers said not taking your meds on a regular basis can eventually aid in triggering another episode. You’ve worked so hard and so long to finally get your…to finally get it under control. None of us need a repeat of last time Billy. Seriously.”
Episode? Medication? Last time??
“Wha- last time?”
Billys face is full of pure confusion and something registers in Daisys mind. Her knuckles return back to their tan color and her grip on the wheel loosens. Billy is still staring at her but realizes that their no longer driving. Daisy has pulled up to a simple looking brown and white house with a wood picket fence. Camilla’s car is no longer infront of them. The lights on her car turn off and Billy realizes,
“We’re here.”
Daisy sigh and shuts off the engine. Neither of them get out.
“Billy.”
The way she said his name. His eyes immediately find a new home on Daisy. Her chest is rainy and falling in an slightly exacerbated movement. She was trying to calm herself down. What the hell had happened last time?
“I love you. So much. I mean shit! You’re literally my husband!”
Daisy laughs to herself but there’s no actual humor behind it. Just the sound of frustration.
“And we’ve been through a lot together. This is just another thing we have to get through together. But I need you to please remember who you’re doing this for. For you. For me. For your daughter. Hell, even for Camilla and Eddie and Julia! They’re our family too. They went through it with us too. I mean Eddie…”
Whatever moment she’s thinking of seems to be too much to even say. What happened? What had Eddie done?
“What I’m trying to say is,”
Daisy shifts to face him and her hands grab his, leaning forward.
“If you need help, ask for it. I’m not scared of you. I’m not scared of your sickness. I see you for know you really are Billy. I just want you happy and safe. That’s all.”
She squeezes his hand in hers and brings them to her lips, giving them a quick kiss. Once again, instinct comes over. Billy surges forward and kisses her. It sweet and slow. He pulls away first but not entirely. They’re foreheads rest together and Billy looks down at their interwoven hands.
“I promise to take my medicine when I need to. And I promise to ask for help if I need it. I promise you, Daisy. Okay?”
He looks back up at her and she gives him a small smile, nodding at his question. He pulls away again and kisses her forehead before clicking himself out of the seat belt. The doors unlock and they both get out on their sides. Daisy meets him in the passenger side and holds onto his bicep as they walk down the driveway.
The scene is comforting in a sense. Apart of him is still panicking about where he is and how he got here, but the other half? The other half is fine with it. It’s leaning into this new gift of life.
Camilla was one thing. She was alive and thriving. But him and Daisy? It made the old wounds he worked so hard to heal, rip right back open. Nothing made sense here. He was still figuring it out as the day had gone by but it was smaller moments like these that made him forget the fact that he was in some alternate reality. It felt like peace. Like home.
“Billy!”
The familiar voice comes from the front door and a small surge of anger goes through Billy. Eddie was standing at the open door, a huge smile on his face as he moved to let the couple past. But as Billy got a closer look at him, the anger went away and was replaced by confusion. Eddie looked….different.
“The girls are up in Jules room. Probably talking all about the trip.”
Eddie smiles as he says his words. Billy just stares at him. He didn’t have a goatee anymore. His face was clean shaven and his face looked smaller due to the lack of sideburns. Instead, his hair was short with loose messy curls ontop. Billys eyes traveled from his face to the rest of his body. Eddie was wearing a white top and darker blue jeans. His arms were covered in patchwork tattoos. A huge bandaid under his elbow and a music note peeking out from under his shirt sleeve.
“Billy?”
Eddie’s voice fills the air again. He still has a smile but its faded alittle. Why did it suddenly feel like there was tension?
“Camilla just went by our house to get something. She said since we were closer to hers and she left her necklace the other night; we could just come here and start dinner without her.”
Start dinner without her? That was so unlike Camila. Usually she was the one making the dinners. She was always serving everyone else and making sure they were good before she was. This was all really really confusing.
“Something?”
Daisy tries to hide it but Billy still sees her side eye him and then look to Eddie.
“Something.”
Eddie’s smile immediately comes back full force. A shameless attempt to cover up whatever question he’d been asking. Billy really needed to figure out what the hell is going on.
“Oh well. She’ll be back soon enough. Come on.”
Eddie shuts the door behind them. Billy moves his eyes away from him and he can feel Daisys grip grow firm. Eddie leads them into the living room. Daisy takes a seat dragging Billy down with her.
“You guys want something to drink?”
“Water?”
Daisy looks to Billy. He nods.
“Two waters then.”
Eddie gives them a thumbs up and runs off down the hallway. Daisy lets go of Billy and leans back onto the couch. Billy leans forward. He takes in the room around him. Pictures are hung up near the tv screen. He doesn’t have to look too far to recognize the white dress Camila is wearing. He immediately looks away.
His eyes continue to travel. He notices some albums in a crate on the floor. Aurora is sitting in the record player. Eddie played songs that Billy wrote about his wife? Well, not HIS wife but his wife. God this was confusing.
Billy continues to look over the albums as a two pairs of fast footsteps come down the staircase. Both Billy and Daisy turn there heads to see whose creating the nosie; although they already know. The girls come into view from down the staircase and near the doorway to the living room. Confusion fills Billy.
“Hi Auntie Daisy!”
“Hey Jules.”
Daisy smiles at Julia. But Julia isnt Julia. Her hair is wavy like Eddie’s and her skin is alittle tanner than Julia’s. Other Julias. She looked nothing like his daughter.
“Hi Uncle Billy!”
Silence.
“Billy.”
Daisy lightly taps his arm and the girls look confused. He immediately shakes his head and smiles.
“Sorry. Long morning.”
Julia gives him the sweetest smile and his heart almost breaks. Who was this girl that had the same name and mother as his own daughter? What world had he traveled to? Everything was backwards. None of it made sense.
The front door open and shuts again, Camilla appearing from behind it. She looks to the girls and then to Daisy and then to Billy. She sighs and the brown bag in her hand shakes little.
“Billy. Can I borrow you for a second?”