Hand in hand, we walk up the front steps and I open the door that’s rarely locked when they know we’re coming over. The smell of dinner hits my senses along with the sound of the television and my brothers talking over each other. Irelease Angie’s hand and take off my jacket, then help her take off hers. Our hands once again lock as we head to the heart of the house.
We stand just out of view, but Ford sees us, and his eyes go wide. Wordlessly, he grabs the remote and turns the volume down.
“What’d you do that for?” my dad asks from his spot on the couch.
“Um,” he begins, but looks to me for help. My dad notices the movement and turns around with a smile, before it dissolves completely at seeing Angie by my side.
“Ford, go to your room,” Dad orders with the sharpest voice I’ve ever heard.
“I think I’ll stay,” Ford tells my dad.
“Ben, what’s going—” my mom begins as she comes out of the kitchen, but by the sharp intake of her breath, I know she sees Angie.
My brothers all stand off to the side as we wait. Wait for the inevitable explosion. Wait for my news to ruin this family.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
“What do you mean,you’ll stay?” Dad sneers after seconds of heavy silence.
“Is this why you’ve been so tight-lipped about who you’re dating?” my mom asks, and I wince at the betrayal that coats her question.
“Yes.”
“How could you do that to us? To James?” she accuses.
“Shedid nothing to James,” I fight.
“No. But you did and so did her brother,” Dad bellows and I feel Angie tense.
“She is not her brother,” I defend.
“No. She’s not. But I will be damned if I have someone related to him in this house,” my mom spits, and I feel Angie’s hand tighten around me at the attack.
“Mom,” I plead, feeling like a little boy who just got put in timeout, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Angie put her head down.
“No.”
“Fine,” I surrender and grit my teeth. “We came over to tell you that for the last six months we’ve been seeing each other. And in that time, we fell in love. And we also knew that when we came clean to our families that we’d accept the fallout. However, we never expected you all to be cruel, so we’ll go. But don’t expect me to come back here until you accept us. Because I love her. And you can throw James’s name around all you want. Yes, I miss my brother every day. So does she. But the difference is that I have three brothers left, who’ve come to accept us as a couple. She doesn’t.”
“You boys knew?” my dad asks, his rage palpable as he turns to face my brothers.
I step forward, but keep my hand locked with Angie’s. “They promised not to say anything because we all knew how you would react. So don’t blame them because it wasn't their news to share.”
My brothers give us a soft smile, and with that, I look at Angie, whose tears have yet to stop, and turn toward the door.
“James would be so disappointed in you,” my mom says behind my back and Angie gasps as we come to a sudden stop.
I turn around and look at the woman, who I thought would be accepting of any woman I brought home, looking like a complete stranger. The years of hurt, anger, and losshave carved her out into someone bitter—into someone I don’t even recognize. My eyes move over every single one of my family members before landing back on the woman who gave birth to me. I square my shoulders and say, “No, Mom. He’d be disappointed in you.”
With a final look at my brothers, who look utterly torn and distraught, Angie squeezes my hand, and together we walk out of my childhood home.
24
ANGIE
