“Jesus, Ryan!”
“What the fuck was I supposed to do?”
“I didn’t ask you to give up your career.”
“What career, Ian? The only one of us who has a career is you.”
Here we go. I knew it. He’s always ready to backhand me with his resentment.
“That’s bullshit.”
“That’s the way it is. I’m certainly not the champion in the family and neither is that arsehole Nick.”
“Please don’t start with the same old drama.” I get up from the sofa and take a few steps away.
“Have you called him?”
“I wanted to do it together.”
“I hope you’re kidding.”
I turn to him. “I couldn’t be more serious.”
“What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you think that’s a good idea?”
“I just want this family to be united.”
“You realise that’s not going to happen, right?”
“Yes, it will. You’re not two little fucking kids, Ryan. It’s time to act like adults and to do the right thing. Stay here, together.”
“Easy for you,” he says standing, approaching me. “You’re not the one who had to give up everything.”
Myself. And my life. That’s what I’ve had to give up.
“No one forced you.”
“Oh, really?” he says, raising his voice. “And what should I have done then? Go on, let’s hear it…”
“You could have stayed, found a solution.”
He bursts out laughing, bitterly. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I don’t know what I’m talking about?
I swear to God, I’ll strangle him.
“You had a bad experience, and you reacted the best way you knew how to under the circumstances, but it’s all water under the bridge now and your family needs you.”
“Well, here I am.”
I sigh and pat him on the back again.
“Alright, let’s call that arsehole.”
“If it’s really necessary…”
“It is.”
He lifts up his hands in a sign of acceptance. I hand him the telephone while he stares at me incredulously.
“No, no! Not a chance in hell!”
“You’re the only one who can make him come home.”
