2020-06-01 Keeping in Touch - Seamus and L

Seamus Reinhardt smiled as yet another soon to be satisfied customer walked out of the Love Shack with battery operated pleasure.  The store was nearing closing time and he was the one to close up the shop.  It still amazed him how Megan Brate trusted him to be responsible and work.  And it amazed him that he was actually doing it.  His family actually seemed proud of him.  For his birthday there was cake and praise … which he appreciated more than any gift he got.  They had acknowledged how well he was doing … he’d made up for the time he was out of school with Covid-19 and was going to graduate valedictorian.  He had a job and was making decent money to save up for college.  And he was only 17 years old.

Counting the days receipts, he got to thinking about the last few months and that is when it hit him that he hadn’t heard from his buddy L in a while.  So he pulls out his phone and sends a text message instead of engaging in a video call.  He was still at work, after all.


Hey!  Long time no hear from!


Seamus sets his phone down and continues his new closing ritual.

L is at their music stand, hair still in more of a current long pony tail at the nape of the neck. He is dressed in a simple trouser and white shirt . He looks on the beach as if looking for inspiration. He looks at his stand, his phone rattles on the metal stand and lights up. He glances at the notification of Seamus text. He drops his bow balance his bass to his chest  . he reads eagerly and with remorse he thumbs back quickly


Mon ami! So good to hear from you.. Sorry its been awhile . And a belated birthday.  I hope you received some money in your paypal account from me. I have been in a bit of a sad state because of angelique but am so glad to hear from you. it's a ray of light.. How you been 


He  places his phone back down and picks up his bow and starts to play  warm up chords as he eyes  Buck and his father conversing  down the beach

Seamus colts out the receipts and checks the computer, doing the math in his head.  He isn’t sorts, so he’s happy.  The reply comes through and he reads it, then replies.


Thanks and I got the money.  I’ll transfer it to my account ASAP.  Sad state?  About your kid?  What happened?


He sends the message, confused.  He thought the kid had died.  It couldn’t die again and he wondered if it was just more mourning.  He thought if he or one of his siblings had died their parents would mourn forever.

L begins to play softly as the wind blows softly into his face . he hears the phone go off again . He finish the note he was holding then exchanges his bow for his phone and looks at the reply thoughtful


Just hit a benchmark I think they call it . Her birthday was in april and i've been in a state of depression since then . 


he looks down at his pocket and pull out  his pocket watch flipping it open looking at a black and white photo places in the inside cover . he continues his text


Still in mourning still doesn't seem real.. Shay sometimes  I still hear her giggle when I look at her plush..it makes me sad and happy all at the same time. Haven't even told Papa that but youre the closest friend i ever had so you deserve to hear that first


He smiles at the picture then phone pensievely . he was glad to get it out to his close friend. A single tear drops on his bass he has pressed to his chest

Seamus closes the register and begins to fill out the night’s forms for Megan.  His phone buzzes again and he looks at the message,  Brows raised, he considers that.  He is at a loss and he knows it.  But he can sympathise.  So he tries to be sensitive.


I get its rough.  Maybe therapy?


He rereads it and it looks good, so he sends it off.

L pulls his bow back, his string  bellows out a strong melodious tone with hints of sorrow and happiness juxtaposed.  He looks at the phone on his stand and  hes it flash .his chords get more strong and stronger in intensity  then he lets the chord sail in the wind as he picks up his phone


That's what papa says. I'm going to call  Dr Singh . I think too it will help . especially since I'm now doubting her conception .Ever since i heard about that kira woman.. It's given me strength to really look into ..sorry if this is all too much.and thanks for your ear. It means the world


L continues to play stronger with more assurance and confidence as he admitted his pain to someone he care about

Seamus is almost done and begins looking down the aisles, making sure things are neat and tidy and the place looks good for opening in the morning.  He feels his phone in his pocket and takes it out to read.  He has to read it a few times and he's still confused, but he tries.


Doubt her conception?  Like you didn't really get pregnant?  Sorry I’m trying to understand.


He sends it, concerned.  Could L have cracked up?

L finishes the cord and starts to pencil it down when his phone flashes again


Im sorry . I meant to say I'm doubting if her conception was voluntary on my part. Sorry my mind is in a jumble as I'm trying to understand it all myself.. I just get a glimpse and pieces but I'm getting the idea it wasn't. Sorry if i'm not making any sense but i do appreciate your still texting back 


He bites his lips looking over his phone hoping he didn't scare off his dear friend. His friendship with shay meant the world to him and he wanted to include Shay in his journey


Seamus has made sure the place is clean and secure for the night and leaves, locking the door behind him.  As he heads home, he feels his phone and pauses to read in front of the Garden Center.  His mouth forms an O .. that made a lot more sense to him.  Considering his reply, he does before he walks.


I get that.  That sucks.  I’d thought that might be what happened with the Ecstasy but I didn’t want to say anything.  Hey wanna laugh?  Remember Owens preggo GF?  Theyre having TRIPLETS! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA


He sends the text.  The news might not cheer up L, but he still got one hell of a kick out of that bombshell.

L watches  Buck talk to his Papa Uncle  as he reads   Shay's text furrowed his brow . He just shakes his head after  Shay dropped that bomb hard . Hikari looks like a deer in headlights but happy . . L imagines  Shay rolling around laughing and just laughs hard and loudly .  The two things make L laugh genuinely hard and loudly  . It causes Hikari and Buck to look confused but Hikari looks happy wanting to thank whoever brought that twinkle to his L's eye .

Yeah you're right .. i'll never pop pills in Ibiza  or anywhere else.. I'll just stick to some Bear Ass Wine   to unwind 

L sees the rest but smiles and responds with a twinkle in his dark eyes. They weren't the fit Owen needed.  He was happy Owen had found someone that saw what L saw and acted on it faster . He'd laugh with his best friend and revel in shays happiness too . It pained him abit but Owen was happy, apparently triple happy

Omg  roflcopter… I can just imagine all the diapers. Well congrats to you all. More Reinhardt the better I say  !

L just  laughs and laughs deep and hard. He knew a baby was a treasured thing and shared in the joy of his ex's girlfriend


Seamus heads home, waving at his brother's apartment building as he crosses down the street from it.  He is in front of the cop shop when the reply comes in and he chuckles.  Pausing, he replies;

Better him than me.  I might want a kid someday but not a bunch of them.  Being youngest just sucks that bad.

He sends the message and moves on, pausing at the firehouse to scratch Henry behind his ears.


L watches  Buck and Hikari go back to talking. He stands up and sets down his cello and bow. He folds up his stand   and picks up his cello and starts to walk down the beach  cutting up to the playground as he  watches some kids play abit . he feels his phone vibrate  and sets down  his stand  next to the picnic bench . he single hand thumbs a reply

Yeah kids are great and one day .. way down the road with the right person ill want to have more 

He enjoys they childrens giggles and imagines Angelique running and sighs


“Anyway speaking of kids , how's it going with Daisy and her child.. How has school been ‘

L genuinely cares about Shay life wanting to know everything about it eagerly . . He watches the kids play some more . He sighs abit the sight was bittersweet but endearing


Seamus climbs up behind the fire station to his house.  Sitting on the picnic table, he pulls out his phone again.  He grins.


O is great.  In pre-school or day care or whatever they call it now.  Daisy’s working.  I’m working.  Still get to see her enough *eggplant emoji*  Hey got homework.  Keep in touch.


He sends the message and heads into the house, grabbing the dinner leftovers and settling down to study for his final exams.

L is about to pick up his stand to start the walk across the island  . he glances at shay text with a chuckle as he then pockets his phone . he picks up the stand and shakes his head and just murmurs to himself ‘good to know some things are a constant ‘ he starts the journey physically and metaphorically home and to healing