Rules

by Doe, Anna B.

  Mom lifts her chin in the air. I may tower over her, but she still has an air of superiority around her as she looks at me.

  “Don’t you raise your voice at me, young man! I’m still your mother.”

  I grit my teeth, but lower my voice. “What the hell are you meeting him for?”

  Mom slicks a nonexistent runaway strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s time we sit down and talk.”

  “What’s there to talk about? He’s a cheating bastard.”

  “Max!”

  “He’s still your father!”

  Both women yell at the same time.

  I give them a pointed stare, not backing down even a little. “I’m just speaking the truth! Don’t you dare forget that. You should be on my side, Jeanette. If it weren’t for him you wouldn’t have ended up in the accident.”

  “There is no way of knowing that,” My sister’s eyes soften.

  “Maybe, and I guess we’ll never know for sure, now will we?” I turn my attention back to my mother. “Besides, I thought this separation thing was temporary until things calm down and then you’d file for divorce.”

  I haven’t talked to him since I accidentally answered his call soon after the accident. And if it were up to me, I wouldn’t talk to him ever again.

  “It’s not as simple as that.”

  “Looks pretty simple to me.”

  Sighing, she looks at me. “We’ve been together for so long. We both made mistakes; this is not just your father’s fault. We are both at fault. We should have done better by you. Done better by us.”

  “So you’re going to what… forgive and forget? Act like nothing has happened and move on?” I ask accusingly.

  A part of me understands that it’s not just his fault. We are all responsible. Each of us played a part in what’s become of our family. Ignoring our problems and concentrating on ourselves when we should have been there for each other. Maybe if we had, maybe if we would have noticed some things earlier, all of this wouldn’t have happened.

  But Dad has wronged the most. He cheated and lied. Tried to cover up his dirty little secrets so we wouldn’t find out while at the same time pretending everything is peachy.

  I can’t forgive him.

  I can’t forget.

  His betrayal still runs hot in my blood. How can she just let it go? She should be pissed. She should be the one feeling angry and deceived the most.

  “That is called life, Max. You can’t just give up at the first sign of problems. Look what happened when we tried to ignore them. Am I hurt? Yes, I am. Did I forgive him? I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to do that. But what I am ready to do is to sit down and talk. Something we should have done years ago.”

  Her blue eyes fill with unshed tears as she looks between the two of us, and a part of me hates myself for being so hard on her. For being the reason for her tears. Yet, a part of me can’t let go.

  Taking in one shaky breath, she blinks the tears away.

  “I’m not going to force you to talk to him until you’re ready. I won’t tell you if you should forgive him or not. That’s your decision. But I sure as hell won’t let you dictate what I should do either. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

  I watch her quietly walk out with her back straight, those two parts of me still battling inside.

  Something wet touches my arm. I look down, and brown eyes blink at me lovingly. Huffing a smile, I give in and scratch the monster behind her fluffy ears. She looks more like a toy than a living, breathing creature. That is, until she suffocates you with her need for attention.

  Sighing, I lift my gaze to Jeanette. She nibbles at her lips, and I can see her fighting the same battle I am. He hurt her, badly. Of the two of us, she was always the one closer to him. Daddy’s little princess. Smart and brilliant, just like him. She always wanted to follow in his footsteps, go to Harvard to study medicine. Spend her life helping people. But she hasn’t talked about it in years.

  “Well, that escalated quickly.”

  No shit.

  “You have to let go, Max. Let go of all these nasty feelings that are haunting you.”

  “I don’t know if I can.” I shake my head. “So much has happened. The accident, all the secrets, Brook...”

  Jeanette nods in understanding. “Any word on her?”

  Brook has been gone for about a month, and nobody’s heard anything from her. At the beginning, I was pissed at her. Pissed she went behind my back and told Lia about my feelings for her. Pissed at her for leaving. But more than anything, pissed at myself. Because I couldn’t escape the feeling that I was the person who drove her away. After all, she came to me, and I pushed her away without even giving her a moment to explain.

  It felt surreal, like at any moment she might come back, only she never did, and finally going to the art room and not finding her there confirmed what a part of me rebelled against for days. Brook really is gone, and she’s not coming back.

  “Nothing.”

  “If she is so adamant to be gone, there has to be a good reason for it.”

  I just hope I’m not that reason.

  My eyes dart to the painting I put above my bed. If you glance at it, you see just an ordinary couple kissing, until you come closer. His hands are fisted by her head, helping him hover over her. There is almost desperation in the way their lips touch, the way her hand grips his shirt. Pulling him closer or pushing him away? And then there is a tear. One lone tear falling down her cheek as the douchebag says the name of her best friend as he kisses her. I should know; I’ve been there.

  “You know,” Jeanette interrupts my thoughts as she stands next to me, looking at the painting. One final part of her I stole for myself, a reminder of what I did. I didn’t tell her it’s Brook’s, but I don’t think I had to. “For you, it’s always been her.”

  “I wish that were true,” I whisper, my eyes still glued to the wall.

  If it were, maybe things would have turned out differently. Maybe she would still be here and not God knows where. For all I know, she could already be on the other side of the country, hell, even the world. Instead, she’s gone, and I’m not sure I’ll ever find out what exactly she needed that day. I’ll never be able to tell her how sorry I am for all the stupid things I did. Never tell her how I really feel...

  “That’s where you’re wrong. You just thought you were in love with Lia.”

  “I loved Lia just fine,” I grumble, not liking one bit the direction in which this conversation is headed.

  “You loved the idea of Lia, but you didn’t love her. Not the way you love Brook.”

  “And how is that?” I look down to my sister.

  “Like she’s the piece you’ve been missing. Like you can’t breathe if she isn’t around and life has lost all its color.”

  “I never pegged you for a romantic, Anette,” I try to tease, but it falls flat.

  “I never pegged you for a coward, Max. Get your shit in order, and find your girl.”

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  ANDREW

  Trailing her skin with my lips, I nibble at the soft flesh of her neck. Jeanette murmurs in approval, her head tilting back and giving me more access to all that glorious skin. Her fingers run through my hair, pulling me closer.

  A smug smile curls my lips as her hips arch up, brushing against mine. My eyes flash open, wanting to see her face as my hand slides down her soft stomach and…

  Round brown eyes stare at me, blinking softly, and I jump back like I’ve been burnt.

  “What the fuck?!”

  “Andrew?” Jeanette’s hands reach for me, but I don’t give in. Confused, she opens her eyes. Leaning on her forearm, she straightens to look at me. Her black hair is messy, her lips raw, cheeks flushed. If I wasn’t so freaked out, I’d take a moment to appreciate how beautiful and mine she is. “What’s wrong?”

  “She’s staring at me!” I accuse, pointing at the little fluffball sitting on the pillow and looking at us.

  “Who’s staring?�
��

  “Your dog! That’s who.” My eyes narrow into tiny slits as I look at the little cock-blocker.

  Jeanette looks at the pillow where her dog is curled all innocent looking and scratches her behind her ears.

  “Poor baby,” she coos, leaning closer to brush her nose against the dog’s. “You don’t want to be left alone on the floor, now do you? And this bad man is scaring you.”

  “She has a really comfy pink dog bed and blanket on the floor,” I point out dully. “I don’t think she has it so bad.”

  But it’s not like Jeanette’s listening. Instead she picks her up in her arms and snuggles her to her chest. Ever since I got her the dog, she’s been carrying it around like an accessory. If we were allowed to take dogs to school, I’m sure she would do that too.

  “She’s lonely!”

  I roll my eyes at the two of them. “I’m feeling lonely too when you ditch me for her!”

  “Don’t be such a…”

  There is a loud bang that makes her stop mid-sentence. We both look at each other, listening to what’s happening.

  I knew Dad was home, but it’s not like that changes anything. Even when he is here, he’s mostly stuck in his office and I keep to my room, neither of us interested in talking or even seeing the other.

  We had a big fight, even bigger than usual, when I confronted him about my mother. He threatened me not to see her again, and I told him exactly what I think about his threats. He can’t do shit about it. I’m eighteen, and as soon as I graduate high school, I’ll get full access to the trust fund my grandpa left me, so he has nothing on me. Only empty threats and he knows it.

  “Your dad’s home, right?” Jeanette asks wearily, running her hand through her hair.

  “Yes, he’s working in his office.”

  The silence that stretches is practically ominous. It feels like it lasts forever and any second something will happen. Something I’m not sure I’ll like.

  Grabbing my T-shirt from the floor, I slip it back on as I hurry toward the door. Just as I pull it open to hear better, there is another bang.

  “You stupid son of a bitch!” The loud scream makes me take a step back. I look over my shoulder at an equally surprised Jeanette. “Where is she, huh? What did you do with her?”

  What in the ever-loving fuck is going on down there?

  “I have to…” I wave in the direction of the door, not even knowing what I should do.

  Thankfully, I don’t have to say much because Jeanette is already jumping out of bed. Taking a second to leave the dog on the pillow, she turns around, grabs my hand and starts pulling me out of the room.

  Together we hurry down the stairs and toward my dad’s office, which is in the back of the house, where all the screeching is coming from.

  “I know you had something to do with her disappearance!” the woman yells again. “Where the hell is she?”

  “Now you’re worried about her?” This comes from my dad. “How long did it take for you to figure out she’s gone, huh? How long, Josephine?”

  An almost animalistic cry comes from this Josephine chick just as we get to the doorway. She swipes her hands over the mahogany surface of the desk, throwing down everything that is on it.

  Jeanette gasps loudly, and I pull her behind me, not wanting her anywhere near this craziness.

  “What the hell is going on here?” My question makes them both turn their heads toward us.

  Dad’s sitting in his chair, leaned back like he doesn’t have a worry on his mind, but I can see traces of discomfort on his face. Weariness and dread.

  The woman, Josephine, whoever she is, is completely out of it. She’s around Dad’s age, if not older. Her greasy, tangled hair is wild, pupils dilated. Her clothes are dirty and wrinkled like she hasn’t changed in days. And don’t get me started on the smell. A mix of alcohol, cigarettes, stale sweat and God knows what else is so strong it fills the whole room.

  “Nothing,” Dad says curtly. “Miss Taylor was just about to leave.”

  He doesn’t even manage to finish, and she’s already turning back toward him. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me where my daughter is!”

  “Miss Taylor…” Jeanette’s soft whisper has me turning my head to look at her.

  “What does that have to…”

  “That’s Brook’s last name, Andrew.” Gray eyes grow wide, her fingers wrapping around my arm and digging into my skin. “That’s Brook’s mom.”

  Brook disappeared weeks ago, and nobody has heard anything from her since. Apparently, she and Lia had a fight just before she ditched town. Everybody tried calling her, but her phone was turned off, and she didn’t have any social media profiles, so she was MIA. But if you ask me, I think the person who took it the hardest was Max. First everything that happened to Jeanette, and then Brook went missing shortly after. That would fuck with anybody. Dude was a bomb just waiting to explode.

  “That’s enough! You’re getting out of here, even if I have to throw you out myself. I’ve had enough of your bullshit, Josephine!”

  The vein in his forehead is throbbing visibly, and that’s how I know he’s really pissed.

  He gets up and grabs her arm, pulling her toward the door. She tries to wiggle out of his touch, but there is no use. His hold is unforgiving, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it left a bruise. She stumbles forward, but his hand prevents her from falling face first. Throwing her head back, her eyes land on mine.

  At first she seems surprised, like she just now realized we’re standing there, but then a different kind of gleam fills those bottomless depths. Hysterical laughter erupts from her, making everybody freeze.

  “He doesn’t know, does he?” She laughs some more, and now I’m positive this woman is bat-shit crazy.

  Damn, I’m not even surprised Brook disappeared. I’m surprised she managed to stay as long as she did with this insane woman in the first place.

  “Shut your mouth!” Dad grits through his teeth, pulling her back to a standing position.

  “I don’t know what?” My question is so quiet, I’m surprised they hear it.

  “Andrew, get out of here.” He barely gives me a side glance before he’s back in her face. “You’re getting out of here, and you’re not coming back. If I see you anywhere near me and my family, I’ll throw you in jail and you’ll never get out.”

  “Oh, no you don’t!” This time when Josephine tries to pull her hand out of his grasp, she actually manages to free herself. “You took everything from me, and now I’ll do the same to you.” Her crazy eyes find mine. Jeanette’s arms wrap tightly around my middle, pulling me back. “Did you know your daddy likes to fuck on the side? As long as she’s willing, he doesn’t care much who it is.”

  “Shut the fuck up!”

  I look between the two of them, confused. Not with the statement itself, but with why she’d bring it up now. And why did it piss him off so much that she did?

  “What are you saying?” I look over her shoulder at my dad. “What is she saying?”

  My head is spinning, and I don’t know what the fuck is even happening here anymore. This crazy chick is Brook’s mother and she’s here… why?

  What the fuck did you do, John?

  “Your daddy has a little bastard on the side that he threw away and never asked about,” she laughs, shaking her head. “A baby sister. While you were here dining on a silver platter, she was going through garbage to find something to eat.”

  Her words are like a punch to the gut, making me take a step back. The only thing that’s keeping me standing is Jeanette’s firm hold on me.

  This can’t be true. She has to be lying. She’s crazy, it can’t…

  I look at my father, hoping to find an answer somewhere on his face, but his lawyer mask is back in place. Gaining control over Josephine, he shoves both me and Jeanette away so he can drag her out. But even that doesn’t stop her from screaming.

  “Ask your daddy where she is and how she got away!” With her
free hand, she takes something out of her pocket and throws it at us. “Maybe he even helped her get rid of her little problem, like he tried to do with me. After all, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

  After that, John pulls her away, threatening to call the police, but even that doesn’t stop her. I guess when you have nothing else to lose, threats like that don’t hold much power.

  My eyes stay glued to the ground, at the thing she threw at my feet.

  I can hear Jeanette murmur something beside me, but her words are background noise as everything Josephine Taylor said to me goes on repeat in my mind.

  It can’t be true. She has to be lying. John is a lousy father but he would never…

  I rub my hand over my face, strangled laughter breaking free.

  Of course he would. He doesn’t care much for me, his legitimate son he had while married, so why would he care about a white trash daughter? Somebody who he fucked on the side when he needed a little bit of fun, but would never take seriously?

  “Andrew?” Jeanette’s fingers touch my shoulder tentatively. “Are you okay? You don’t believe it’s true, do you? That would mean…”

  Running my fingers through my hair, I turn around to look at Jeanette. Her gray eyes are wide, fear and confusion mixing in their depths as she looks at me with a weariness I haven’t seen there in a while.

  Cupping her face, I brush my finger over her cheekbone in hopes of calming her. “That would mean that Brook Taylor is my father’s daughter. My...” I swallow hard. “Sister.”

  How fucked up is that? All my life… I’ve known her all my life. We went to school together. I saw her every day, and I never knew. Never even suspected…

  “Maybe she’s lying. You saw her. That woman isn’t stable…”

  I can hear footsteps coming closer, so reluctantly, I let her go. Squatting down, I grab the token Josephine left behind before straightening to my full height just in time for John to come back.

  “She wasn’t lying, was she, John?”

  He lifts his head, surprised to find us still standing in the hallway.

  “Was she, John?” I repeat, this time a little harsher.