Goddamn, this woman.
I begrudgingly stick out a hand and give Morgan a lackluster shake.
At least he doesn't try that “son” bullshit again like last time.
My brother flashes me a quick grin as we all take our seats. Morgan exhales, grinning widely and shaking his head as he looks between me and Val.
“Still can’t believe both my boys made it from McKeesport all the way toNew York freaking City!” he exclaims. “I mean holy hell…it’s hard to comprehend. I’m so proud of both of?—”
“Funny,” I mutter coldly, “Ican’t believe both your boys made it past the age ofninewith the home life we endured with you and that other crackhead.”
“C’mon, man,” Val hisses. “The fuck is your?—”
“No, it’s okay, Val.” Morgan exhales. “I deserve that. And that’s not me looking for sympathy, either.” He looks down at the table. “I was a shit father. Yes, I could blame the drugs, but excuses don’t change the life you two had to suffer through. In Narcotics Anonymous, we talk a lot about how excuses are just a way to shift responsibility. Excuses are a symptom of the disease we have.”
“I thought you were sober,” I say tightly.
Morgan nods slowly. “Eight years now.”
I grit my teeth as Val puts a hand on Morgan’s shoulder and squeezes. “Proud of you, Dad. I can’t imagine the strength that took.”
Jesus Christ.
“No, I meant that you said disease youhave,” I mutter. “Nothad.”
“An addict will always be an addict,” Val says stonily as he glares at me. “The trick is not to be an addict that uses.”
Morgan clears his throat and turns to Evelina. “Ms. Nikitin here was just telling me before you arrived that her brother, Val’s special guy, is in the program, too?”
“Isn’t it AlcoholicsAnonymous?” I say waspishly.
Evelina kicks my shin under the table, then smiles at Morgan.
“He is, Mr. Bancroft. Six months sober. I’m—” She smiles again and nods at my brother. “We’re both really proud of him.”
Morgan shakes his head. “That’s incredible. Good for him. It took me four years to achieve six unbroken months of sobriety,” he sighs.
“How’d you do it?” Val asks.
“A lot of hard work, self-reflection, commitment, and a desire to overcome something bigger than myself.”
“Huh,” I mutter. “So I guess you did have the wherewithal to be a decent fucking parent in you. You just didn’t bother to use it until it was aboutyourself, not your children.”
Evelina turns and frowns at me. Val shoots me a venomous look.
Morgan exhales. “I understand that you’ve got a lot of anger, son.”
Mother. Fucker.
“I told you,” I growl, pointing a finger at him, “notto fucking call me that.”
“Vaughn…” Evelina says warningly as she puts her hand on my arm.
I shake my head, looking between her and my brother. “I know you both think I’m just being a prick. Butyou,” I look at Evelina, “weren’t there, andyou,” I turn to Val, “don’t remember.” I point violently across the table at Morgan. “The apologies are nice. The sobriety is peachy. But thehellthis fucker put the two of us through isnotsomething I’m going to roll over and fuckingforget, okay?!”
“Vaughn—”
“Shut thefuckup,” I snarl at Morgan. “You might be able pull the wool over Val's eyes, because his amnesia stops him from remembering the truth. Hell, maybe you were so fucked up all the time you don’t even recall yourself. But I haven’t forgottenanyof it,” I snap viciously. “You want to tell my brother here about the time one of your meth-head buddies pulled his dick out and tried to corner him in the bathroom?”
