Page 111 of My Destiny

“I’ll get them. Would you like a beer, Dad?”

“Please.”

“A wine for you?” I ask Brooke as I place my hands on her shoulders. I smile down at her when she looks up at me.

“Yes, please.”

I follow my mother into the kitchen, where we both have a clear view of the dining room table. Brooke says something to my father, and this time I’m not mistaken by his grin. He seems genuinely happy.

“Did you drug Dad before we got here?”

“No,” my mother says, giggling as she slaps my arm. “I’d never do anything like that.”

“Huh,” I reply. As I open the fridge, my eyes remain on the two of them. “I wasn’t expecting him to be so… nice.”

“Your father is capable of being nice,” my mother scolds, grabbing two wine glasses from the cupboard.Seldom,I want to add, but I decide against it. The man my mother sees is very different than the one I do.

“Thank you,” Brooke says as I place the glass of wine in front of her.

“Thanks, son,” my Father adds when I hand him his beer.

As I take my seat, I watch the two of them chatting back and forth. He’s actually being pleasant and attentive towards her, and I’m extremely grateful.

“Dinner won’t be much longer,” my mum states when she joins us.

“It smells delicious,” Brooke says.

“Thanks, sweetheart.” She reaches across the table to place her hand on top of Brooke’s, and it has me grinning. The home phone rings, breaking their moment, and my mum rolls her eyes. “That better not be Kathleen again.”

“Just let the machine take it,” my father says.

“She’s been calling us on and off all day.” I can see the displeasure on my mother’s face as she speaks. Like us, she tolerates Kathleen for our father’s sake.

“Tell her to fuck off,” I say. I don’t usually swear in front of my mother, but I’m done with that woman.

“Logan” she gasps.

“I’m sorry, Mum, it’s just—”

“I know, I know,” she says, eyeing Brooke. “I understand. But that’s still no excuse.”

I bow my head, and the room is silent when the answering machine clicks in. “Hi you have reached the Cavanagh’s residence. I’m sorry we aren’t able to take your call at the moment, please leave your name and number after the tone, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”

The beep sounds, and my aunt’s voice comes over the machine. Just hearing it makes me inwardly cringe. “Robert, it’s me, Kathleen. The hospital just called to say John is being released tomorrow.” I roll my eyes when I hear her sniffle. “He’s not welcome here after the way he’s treated me.”

Huh? After the way he’s treated her? She missed her calling; she would’ve made a fantastic actress. The sad thing is, my father falls for her bullshit every time.

“I’m having the locks changed first thing in the morning. Under no circumstances is he welcome to stay with you. He can go and stay at a hotel or on the street corner, for all I care.”

“That bitch,” my mother mumbles under her breath. “How could she.”

“Did you really expect anything less from her? You know what she’s like,” I say, seething. “He can’t stay in a hotel, especially in his condition. The hospital may be releasing him, but his recovery isn’t over.”

“I agree,” my father replies. “But I can’t go against my sister’s wishes either. She’s going through a really tough time.”

My father always protects her. She’s a bully and an emotional blackmailer. “She deserves everything she gets. She’s a narcissist, and she brought this on herself.” My words are laced with venom, but I can no longer hide my disdain for her, especially after how she’s treated Brooke.

“He needs to be around people who are going to look after him,” my mum says. And I agree. I’d take him in a heartbeat if I didn’t have Brooke living with me, but I can’t force him on her right now. Things are still fragile there.