The frozen peas feel like a balm soothing my wound. “Thank you.” I close my eyes and sigh.
“Move, Elizabeth,” my father says.
Cold water slaps my face and seeps through my bones. I jump off the sectional, sputtering and wiping the water from my face.
“What the fuck, Dad?” Liam screams and sits up, looking disgruntled as he wipes the water off his face.
“I am sick and tired of you both.” My father begins to pace with a bucket swinging in his hand.
“Cliff,” my mother pleads.
“What is this? A family tribunal? We could have done this later,” Liam says while he is scraping his wet jacket off his body.
I take my jacket off and drop it to the floor. “Look, Dad, if you are here to lecture me, please push it back to this evening.”
“That is rich coming from a man who has been absent for three years. Only to reappear with a fake fiancée at his side.”
My temper sparks, but I bite down.
“Shut the fuck up, both of you. Last night was horrible. I am not here to fight; I am here to set things straight.” My father continues pacing.
“What are we going to set straight? The part where my little brother is marrying my ex? The part with Mom and Grandpa? The lie? What am I supposed to do now, apologize and smile?” I ask, my temper feels like it’s flaring up again.
“Enough, Roman.” My mother walks in front of me. She may be shorter, but I feel like a kid standing in her presence.
I bow my head and wait.
“What you saw with your grandfather and me wasn’t an affair; it was an assault.” My mom whispers, and my inside runs cold.
Liam comes off the sectional and stands at my side. “What do you mean, assault?”
Her hands tremble, and she looks down at her fingers and sniffles.
A part of me collapses. He was assaulting her, and instead of helping, I closed the door. “Mom.”
My eyes meet my dad’s, and his jaw rocks. “I am…” The words get stuck in my throat. I pull my mom into my arms, and she cries in my chest. I feel like digging up my grandfather’s bones and burning them.
“I am so sorry, Mom. Dad…” The words stick in my throat.
Liam hugs me and my mom. “Dad, did you…Grandpa’s death…did you?”
My father shrugs. “Your grandfather died of natural causes. Did I have something to do with the natural causes? May he rest in peace.”
I feel a sort of calm knowing that my father stood up for my mom.
She pulls away. “Now that we have that out. Let’s talk about Tessa and Noelle.”
Liam moves away and sits on the sectional with his hand in his head. “She ended it. She is in love with someone else.”
“Shit, Liam…” I move towards him.
Liam looks up at me. “Get over yourself. It’s not you or me. She said she is in love with herself.”
I sit next to him. “So, she canceled the wedding? How do you feel?”
Liam sighs. “Free. I feel free. I loved her, but deep down I knew she wasn’t the one.”
I slap his shoulder. “I am sorry it happened, but I am glad you feel good.”
