Lazy Sunday, Redux

Douglas was polishing off another set of pancakes with Aaron when the doorbell rang. Mira was down in the laundry room. Douglas huffed a little bit, getting up and going to the door, pancake plate in hand.

He looked surprised to see the wiry man across the screen door.

"Pancakes, eh boy? You've never changed. Aren't you going to invite me in?" Douglas just stared at his father. The one thing Elizabeth did share in common was family history. Elizabeth's mother had died early, as had Douglas's mother. Elizabeth's father had dementia; Douglas's father, Walter, had a psychological breakdown after his mother died, and left the country for a decade now.

"Sure," Douglas said guardedly.

"Great," Walter said, pushing his way in. "Nice place you got here. Any more pancakes?"

"Sure ... Mira!" Douglas wished Walter would just leave. When Mira came up, clad in short shorts, Douglas died a little inside, watching Walter give her a horndog stare.

"Nice looking woman you've got there, son," Walter said. "I spent some time in Bangkok myself, you know."

"Yeah. I tried to find you, you know. You took out a lot of cash and just left. We could track you down to Bangkok, but the trail went cold."

"Easy to disappear in Bangkok," Walter agreed. "But I'm back now. Though I could use a place to spend some nights. Kind of went through all the insurance money."

"Oh, we can help with that," Mira said cheerily. Douglas frowned, watching his dad give Mira a wolfish grin.