Page 10 of Isolation

“Milo, you used to be her guardian. Do you know how that looks to other people?”

“I don’t care what other people think. I have no intention of letting her go again.”

Tessa contemplates my words for a few minutes.

“Letting her goagain?” she frowns. “M-Milo, exactly how long has this been going on? W-was there anything going on with you two when you were her guardian?”

My silence is the only answer Tessa receives.

She drops her voice at my lack of response. “Milo,” she warns, “please tell me you did not have sex with her while she was still underaged.”

When I still don’t respond, realization dawns on her.

“Jesus, Milo!” she gasps in shock. “How could you be so stupid? You are supposed to be the responsible one.”

Tessa starts pacing the room. “John is going to kill you,” she stops abruptly to announce. “For God’s sake, he could press charges for statutory rape. What were you thinking?”

I shrug. “I don’t care what Uncle John does.”

Tessa stares at me with a blank look for far too long. I don’t know if she is stunned into silence or thinking about what to say.

She finally speaks, “He loves her. You know that he does.”

“Uncle John doesn’t get to play the doting overprotective father. He left her for years.”

“I wasn’t talking about John,” she says quietly.

I know what she is insinuating. It doesn’t change anything. “Reid will get over it.”

“When Reid and Raven were young, we used to tell them that they would end up marrying each other one day. We used to plan their future wedding.” Tessa crosses her arms and stands tall in front of me. “I don’t know if Reid ever stopped believing that. We all saw the look on his face when he saw you two together. I don’t think Reid will get over this. I am his mother. I know him.”

I stand to level with Tessa, finally displaying the irritation I feel over my sleepless nights.

“Please don’t tell me how you know things because you are our mother. I was more of a parent to Reid than you were. As far as I am concerned, I have paid my dues. My only concern is moving forward in my life with Raven. So, you see, Reid will get over it.”

Life might have hardened me, but it didn’t make me forget my responsibilities. I have stepped up throughout it all.

I went to school, took care of this family, and became a success. I might not be involved in the day to day of the family anymore, but I still pay all of their bills.

All the while, Tessa has been in and out of manic-depressive states, putting this family through hell.

It’s pathetic for her to use the “mother” card. The only reason she is functioning now is because she started a new clinical trial.

But it’s always the same cycle. Every time a new program works, she stops going to therapy, or the drugs are futile, or the side effects are too strong.

No matter what, she reverts back. Still, I have dealt with her shit time and time again.

I am not dealing with her shit where Raven is concerned.Raven belongs to me.I have barely factored in Raven’s vote.This decision stands despite how Reid or Tessa feel.

“You’re right,” Tessa quietly agrees. “I’m sorry. We ask a lot of you, but you never complain. You always step up to the plate, and I keep taking that for granted. Of course! It makes sense that you and Raven want to be together. Reid will understand. I’ll talk to him myself.”

I give her a nod, having driven my point home.

“But you have to promise me something too. You and Raven can’t tell John that you were in a relationship when she was underage.”

“I am not going to ask her to lie for me.”

“Milo, I’m giving you what you want. I’ll talk to Reid and Raven’s parents. But John is emotional and impulsive. What if he calls the police to file a report against you?”