“What the fuck is wrong with them?”
Chop.Crack.
“Some people aren’t meant to be parents.They have kids because they think they should, not because they actually want them.”Mason shrugged.“Although, with your parents, I think it’s more that they don’t see anyone outside of themselves as ‘real’.You’re more like dolls, and dolls are supposed to do what you tell them to.”
David grunted.
Chop.Crack.
“That’s a little too accurate for comfort, man.And you never even met them.”
“Well, I’ve gotten to hear a little about your mom.Nothing from your dad, though Audrey seems to lump him in with whatever your mom does.”
“She’s not wrong to.Our father would have probably dropped both of us when we didn’t turn out the way we wanted.Mom at least cared enough to try to manipulate us.”David scowled.
Chop.Crack.
“What did Audrey do that your dad objects to?”From what Mason could see, she was hardly confrontational, unlike David.Not until she’d been pushed to the end of her limits.
“She’s not thin.”
Up until that moment, Mason hadn’t been holding that much against Audrey’s father.After all, it was her mother she was continually interacting with.He wasn’t even sure she realized that she constantly talked about her parents as a unit, while never actually talkingtoher father.
If he ever met the man, punching him in the face would be well worth whatever charges were brought forward.
Mason let out a long, slow breath.
“That’s it?Seriously?”
“As far as I can tell.”David handed the axe over to Mason and stepped back so Mason could take his place.
Chop.Crack.
It was very cathartic.
Chop.Crack.
Chop.Crack.
Chop.Crack.
“I keep thinking your parents can’t suck any more than they already do, but somehow they keep slithering beneath the bar,” Mason said, reaching up to wipe a bead of sweat from his forehead.It was liable to turn to ice on his face otherwise.
“Tell me about it.”David shook his head.“Okay.Let’s get back inside.Who knows what advice my grandmother is giving Audrey now?”
“Good point.”
They gathered up the firewood and headed to the back door.
“You know if you hurt her, I’ll have to kill you.”
“That was assumed.”
“Good.”
They came through the door cautiously, not really certain what they would be walking back into, but both immediately relaxed as the first sound they heard was all three women laughing.That was a good sign.
The three were gathered around Brenda’s kitchen table, holding mugs of steaming liquid.Cassidy looked up and smiled.
