“You may be older, but now, I match your size,” he remarks. “You don’t scare me anymore.”
I break out in laughter. “Are you sure about that? You’ll always be a coward to me.” This makes him irate as he snarls and draws back his fist. A sense of calm washes over me, knowing that once his fist connects, it’s game over for him.
Our father suddenly stands, pushing us apart. “That’s enough, you two. Cameron, come with me.” He grabs Cam’s jacket and pulls him into his office, which connects to the living room. Confused, I watch as Mom follows quickly behind them before closing the door to keep me out.
A part of me is disappointed that he broke us up before the fun really started. All their precious china and decor would’ve been wrecked in seconds.
Once the door latches, my first thought is that they are going to scold him for acting out of pocket, but deep down, I know better. They’ve never so much as raised their voices at their perfect little boy.
Treading lightly, I walk over to the door and press my ear against the mahogany door. Unfortunately, I can only hear mumbling. It’d be more likely that they are paying him to drop the subject.
The thought causes me to scoff as I shake my head and return to my spot in the center of the living room.
A few short moments later, the door opens and the three of them emerge again. Cam walks right up to me with a smug smile on his face, placing his hand on my shoulder. Feeling untrusting of his motives, I shrug him off.
“I’m sorry for overreacting,” Cam murmurs. “Things will be different from now on.” While his words should bring me some relief, something about his sudden shift in mood and his tone doesn’t sit right with me.
Cam walks off, disappearing around the corner, heading toward the grand staircase, and I turn to face my father. He still stands while Mom sits back down on the sofa.
“What was that all about? What did you say to him in there?”
“We simply said what he needed to hear. Things are going to be different,” Dad offers. “Now, it’s late. You should be getting home, and it’s time we turn in for the night.”
He holds out his hand, allowing my mom to take it as she stands, and they follow the same path Cam did toward their rooms upstairs.
“Lock the door on your way out.”
This is nothing new between me and my parents. We’ve never had the loving relationship they seem to have with Cam. Maybe they thought that he was their second chance to do things the right way.
It would explain their coddling. With me, they were never around. I was raised more by the hired help than by them. It’s a shame, really, but it helped me see the world as it truly is. It made me the man I am today.
And I never needed anything from them. That will never change. What I have, I built myself without their money or their support.
Sighing, feeling as if this night got me nowhere, I lock the door before closing it behind me. I’m more confused now than I was before getting here. What could they have said to him in the study that turned his entire mood around so quickly?
And on the same note, why did my parents have that reaction when Cam said Becca’s name?
It’s no secret that they know everyone in this city. And the Gallagher name is big, due to their old family money and businesses. But I don’t think they know any of the Gallaghers personally.
At least not since the great-grandfather passed. Shaking my head, I back out of the driveway and head straight home.
After all the events this evening, I’m looking forward to some much-needed sleep.
The night may be over, but I’m not going to drop the issue. They are all hiding something, and one way or another, I’m going to find out.
