I start to wash the dishes, putting away the leftovers for another night. My phone across the counter starts to ring.
My heart sinks as I see the name across the screen.
Elias.
What the hell does he want? I couldn’t ignore it, for the risk of him repeatedly calling me.
Most people would have written him off and blocked his number.
Unfortunately, there are several reasons why I couldn’t.
I’m giving him a chance for Finn’s sake. A chance to be the family that Finn needs in his life. He still helps whenever he wants to, and Finn chooses to have him still somewhat involved.
I wish that I could spill everything that he did to my brother and me. The truth to Finn, and I should. But I didn’t get a choice in who my family is, but Finn does.
It’s all hard to explain.
But I will still protect that little boy with every fiber of my being.
Deep breaths.
I pick it up, “Elias.” my voice steady, no emotion showing.
“Daughter.” It still burns me, he acts polite and proper, but his addictions are his monsters.
“It’s been six months.” I say dryly, six months of his grandson wondering if there is hope for him, to have a conversation with him.
“Business has been busy and obligations to be met.” He responds plainly. Translation: he has been drinking and gambling.
I let out a sigh, “What do you want? If you need money, I don’t have it.” Don’t give away money you can’t forward to lose, I learned that the hard way.
“Can’t a grandfather just call and speak to his grandson.” Translation: I don’t care about you, I just need something from my grandson.
It pains me to even agree to this, but Finn has his choice. He has a voice. “I’ll see if he’s available. He was just eating dinner.”
“I think he can spare a minute from attempting to eat whatever you had cooked for him.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” My temper starts to flare.
“Char, you were a skinny kid, barely able to take care of yourself,” I hate when he calls me that, “Yet your brother thought you would be a better fit for him.”
You bet your sweet ass that I am the better fit for him.
“Well when you have to fend for yourself because your father decided to spend the majority of the time in the casinos, forgetting that he had two children of his own.” I threw back in his face. The painful memories resurface.
“It’s time to let it go.”
Let it go? He must be out of his damn mind.
“Whatever you did with me and Joshua growing up, you leave Finn out of it. You can’t do that to him,” I warn him. Every nerve shakes, vibrating in my body, taking over all the control.
“Listen here, daughter, if I want to spend time with my grandson, I can. The courts have at least granted me supervised visits.”The one thing I regret. “Do we need to go back to court?”
The man is threatening me.
The fucking nerve.
“Lottie?” A soft voice comes from behind me. I turn with one hand on a dish towel and the phone up to my ear between my shoulders, seeing my nephew coming in, a confused look on his face.
