Rabbit Hole Carnival: Half the Man

“Why would they knock?” Renee asked, as she walked towards the door. “Must be lost, I guess.” She opened the door, and sighed. “Or just a stubborn idiot. Fine, come in.”

“It’s a bar ain’t it!” Mike replied, as walked in barely standing. “What my own daughter ain’t gonna—”

“Stop calling me that, Mike.” Renee replied. “You don’t get to call me that. You’d have to be a real father to earn that right.”

“Those are real fathers.” Mike said. “Emotions are for cowards. Now go get me a drink. Like I got my—”
“Like you’re father before, yeah, yeah.” Renee said. “Here, just take it.”

“Now that’s what I call service!” Mike raised the glass, and took a massive swing before passing out, to sounds of broken glass.

Nick rushed downstairs. “Renee?!”

“One moment, daddy!” Renee replied, while on the phone. “Adam, can you pick him up or not?... No, I will not call mom, and have her do it… you know why!” Renee sighed. “Adam, are you or are you not in town?… You have 2 hours to pick him up, or he’s spending the night in jail.” Renee hung up.

“You’re alright?” Nick asked.

“Yes, daddy. I’m alright, I wasn't even touched. Not that he could’ve aimed right, if he tried.” Renee said.

“That isn’t a joke, Renee!” Nick said. “What if he had dragged you back there, and couldn’t get out this time. What happens then? Did you even have a plan?”

“I… of course, I did.” Renee said. “Who the hell are you to talk about what if anyways? Not like you’ve been around until I came knocking on your door!” Renee covered her mouth. “Daddy, I…”

“You promise you were okay?” Nick asked, and Renee shyly nodded. “”Let’s get some drinks first.”

“Can I still help?” Renee said, grinding her boot a bit into the ground. “I’ll… I’m sorry.”

“You’re a smarter girl than that, Renee.” Nick replied. “Honestly, I think I put in a bit of the old Shem venom in too, so drink first.”

“Ye— Okay, daddy.” Renee said with a bit more of a smile. “But um… Adam should be like 20 minutes.”

“You’re sure?” Nick asked, and watched Renee nod. “Alright, Adam first, then drinks.”
---
“Just tell him to stay away next time.” Renee said. “You could at least try to tell me that.”

“You know he won’t.” Adam replied. “That’s who he is.”

“Adam?” Nick said. “You promise her or I’m just giving the order to have them arrested.”

“Don’t think he can’t do that either.” Renee added. “There’s at least 7 people I can call in that kind of code on.”

 “Renee, enough of these games of yours!” Adam said. “Just come home, and we’ll get sorted out!”

“Ya know, Adam. At least when Nick yelled, for the first time ever, it was out of concern for me.” Renee replied. “It wasn’t about some image, or desire to fix anything. Nor did he imply I was lying. It was a genuine worry for me. I may not know what all the Rabbit Hole holds for me, but at least I know it’s out for me. So I’ll be here and safe. And if that changes something about me, then maybe I'm in the right place. I mean let’s face it. I did just let that abuser into my personal space tonight.”

“Renee, dear!” Nick shouted through the two siblings as Renee swung right around. “Time to get inside.” 

“Okay, daddy.” Renee, and walked in with Nick. “Umm… Daddy?”

“Hmm?” Nick smiled a bit and watched Renee sniff a little and just hugged her. “I’m proud, okay? I am. You faced a lot more fear than I thought you’d be ready to face. This bloodline of ours has a way of digging into you. Why don’t you start talking about ‘Memento’ for a bit?”

“Yeah.. Yeah that sounds good.” Renee replied.