This came about mainly because of a conversation between me and @amandaj718 back in February when we were chatting about another fic mentioned Sleepless in Seattle to me and it set my mind working. I hope it lives up to it!
Go check out the awesome artwork by the amazing Clo (@memorieswarm). It’s amazing and it’s been so much fun working with you! You can find it here, and here
Here’s the teaser scene and you can read the whole thing here
“We’re talking Christmas wishes tonight as we head towards midnight. What are your hopes and dreams?” He scoffed at it, the smooth voice and the schmaltzy music in the background was enough to put him off straight away.
He stops at a garage for frankly awful coffee and when he’s back in the car finds himself listening in again.
“We’ve got our first caller on the line. What’s your name?”
“Liv.” Robert frowned, she sounded so young.
“We don’t usually get anyone of your age on the show Liv. How old are you?”
“Eleven.”
“You’re up late. Where are you calling from?”
“Emmerdale.” That startled him, what were the chances.
“What’s your Christmas wish then?”
“I want my brother to get a new boyfriend.” Robert shakes his head, can’t quite believe he’s still listening to this, wonders why her brother isn’t thought capable enough of to find his own boyfriend.
“You don’t like the one he has?” Jealous siblings, now that he could relate to. This might be ridiculous, but it was at least making the journey pass a little quicker.
“He doesn’t have one. He died.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Have you tried talking to your brother about this?”
“He doesn’t talk. He’s just sad all the time.” He hears her sniffling and it makes him cross. This is what he hates about these shows, obviously the kid is upset, yet they’re keeping her on the air. Something in him feels so sad for her.
“Is he there? I might be able to help.”
“Of course you can.” He muttered, rolling his eyes, a strange sense of protectiveness running through him from nowhere for this kid.
“He’s upstairs. Moping.”
“Can you get him for me?”
“If he yells at me, I’m blaming you.”
“This is unbelievable.” He mutters again. Even so there’s something keeping him listening.
“He won’t yell. You’re just worried about him. Maybe I can help.”
“Maybe you can boost your ratings more like.”
*****
“Aaron!” He stands at the top of the stairs, seeing her, phone in hand. Who was calling at this time of night on Christmas Eve. He should be down there with her, getting excited about tomorrow, but he can’t help his mood. It’s settled over him the past few weeks and he can’t shake it off. It’s not the first Christmas without Jackson but for some reason it’s harder to deal with this year. “There’s someone wants to speak to you.”
Damn cold calls, can’t they even take Christmas off? He takes the phone, with a quick squeeze of her shoulder and goes into the living room.
“Hello?”
“Is this Aaron?” It doesn’t sound like a cold call.
“What are you selling?”
“Nothing, no. I’m Karen, from Hotten Radio. Liv called in to us about you. She thinks you need a new boyfriend.” For a minute he can’t speak, can’t get his head around what she’s saying.
“You called the radio about me?” He swings round to glare at Liv, finds her sat at the bottom of the stairs, hugging her knees, sweater pulled over her hands. He’s instantly contrite, she’s still so sad, even now, and he can’t seem to pull her out of it. Had she been worrying about him, not upset for herself?
“Aaron? She’s worried about you.”
“It’s none of her business, and it’s certainly none of yours.”
“Aaron, wait. I think she’s finding it difficult to talk to you about this, but she’s obviously worried and upset.”
“Is this…do you get some kind of pleasure out of this? She’s eleven!” He couldn’t take her eyes off his sister, the way she cringed at his voice and he softened. Obviously it had taken guts to call them, even if he was mortified.
“Aaron, can I…what was his name?”
“Jackson.” He surprises himself by answering. Maybe it’s because no one else around him ever talks about Jackson properly, doing all they can to avoid it.
“Can I ask you about Jackson?” He closes his eyes, hearing his name from someone else, especially a stranger is always a shock. No one in the village really mentions him anymore, maybe afraid of his reaction, and he preferred it that way. “When did he die? How long ago?”
“About eighteen months.” It still hurts, but Marlon was right all those months ago, he could feel it starting to get easier.
“And there’s been no one since? I don’t want to invade your privacy.”
*****
“Of course you don’t.”
“Of course you don’t.” Robert stares wide-eyed as he speaks at the exact same time as this stranger.
*****
“Have you spoken to anyone about him?”
“I don’t need to, I’m fine.” He could make himself believe it, until he was alone at night, in the dark when the memories were strongest.
“What about Liv? How is she coping?”
“It’s been tough, but we’re managing. If you’re trying to say I’m not a good brother…”
“Nothing like that Aaron. You sound like a wonderful brother, but you must feel sometimes…like you’re in a bit of a fog? Do you mind me asking how you’re…are you sleeping well?”
“No!” Liv shouts from behind him and he glares again.
“It’s just Christmas.” He sighs, still can’t quite believe he’s doing this. “Jackson liked Christmas. He loved it. I didn’t, before him. He showed me how good it could be, and now…now I’m trying to be there for Liv.”
“That’s exactly what a good brother does. Liv is lucky to have you…but my question is, don’t you need someone too?”
*****
“Yes.” Robert whispers into the silent car. He sounds so sad, broken almost. Robert wants to reach into the radio and comfort him somehow. Then he laughs at himself for being so ridiculous. What was he even doing? There was something though, something keeping him listening, something intriguing about this stranger.
AO3 Link
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