by M. Garzon
I found them in Winter’s stall, laughing as Winter curled his lip up — another trick that Seth had taught him. I couldn’t help but smile at finding my two favorite people happy, but it didn’t undo the tight knot of anxiety in my stomach.
When we got back to the house Dec was in the living room. His eyes moved quickly from Jaden to me, skimming over Seth as though he wasn’t there. I felt my temper flare.
I took a step forward. “He’s still here, Dec. And unless everything you’ve told us is a lie, he’s still your son.”
I heard Seth’s startled intake of breath behind me, but I kept my eyes locked on Dec’s hardening ones.
“You think I’m lying? But you’re ready to trust Alfonso, the guy you’ve known for all of five minutes?”
“He just wants to get to know us, and he’s offered us a place to live, school, everything,” I spat at him. I didn’t really trust Alfonso’s motives either, but I wasn’t going to admit that when I was angry.
“Sure, he’s promising you the moon and the stars. But I never thought that you could be bought.”
My head snapped back as though he had struck me. Seth moved closer and wrapped his arm around me.
Dec’s face was red now, and his nostrils flared as he turned on Seth. “I supported you, I gave you everything I could, I took care of you, and this is how you repay me? By running off at the first chance?”
Even though I’d felt the same way about the situation, there was something very hurtful in hearing him say the words aloud, in knowing that he was thinking those things of us. Of Seth.
Jaden stepped forward and rested a hand on Dec’s shoulder. “Why don’t we go for a drive,” he suggested quietly.
Dec stomped to the door without looking at us. Jaden squeezed my hand briefly and gave me an encouraging look before following.
I turned to Seth, struggling for something to say. “Pizza for dinner?” Okay, it wasn’t brilliant, but it was the only thing I could think of.
“I’m not hungry,” he said quietly.
We went and hung out in his room, where we listened to music and watched YouTube videos. He did get hungry, in the end, and I ran downstairs to make us some sandwiches. No one else was home but we ate in Seth’s room anyway, sitting on the bed and talking. I felt as though we should be doing something special for Seth's last night, something momentous befitting the occasion, but this is what we always did when we were together. We just hung out, because he was my brother — the most ordinary and most permanent fixture of my life. Finally, when I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore, I stumbled to my own room and fell into bed, thankfully too tired to cry.
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I drove him to the airport the next day. Jaden had offered to come, but Seth had wanted it to be just the two of us. The first tears I’d ever seen on Gran’s cheeks were when she hugged Seth goodbye, but Dec was nowhere to be found.
“It’s better this way,” Seth muttered as we crunched through the snow to the car.
I didn’t answer; my throat was too tight. Once we were on the highway Seth looked over at me.
“Take care of Winter for me.”
“You know I will,” I whispered hoarsely.
“And don’t forget you need to get your brakes done soon.”
I nodded listlessly.
“I once knew a guy who was addicted to brake fluid,” he went on seriously. “He said he could stop anytime.”
It took a minute for his words to sink in, but when they did I couldn’t help it. I smiled. He went on that way for the whole drive, torturing me with his one-line groaners until we were both crying from laughing so hard. Mostly.
The commute went by far too fast. I held his backpack while he checked his suitcase and got his boarding pass, and then I walked him to the security check. It was as far as I could go with him.
He turned to me. “Say bye to Tyrannosaurus Dec’s face for me.”
I managed a weak smile before I threw my arms around him. “Be careful. And remember I want daily updates.”
“You got it, Sparky.” He squeezed me tight for a minute before letting go.
He took a step back, his clear blue eyes meeting my brown ones. I felt the link between us, that bond stretched like an elastic from his heart to mine. It tugged me toward him but I held fast, swallowing hard and digging my nails into my palms to keep my tears in check.
I watched him go through security, saw his familiar lanky form grow smaller with distance. And then I turned away. Like my father before me, I had made my choice. And I chose loyalty.
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THE END
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About the Author
When she's not hiking up the sides of active volcanos in the company of stray dogs, M. Garzon likes to take time to appreciate the fierce beauty of the natural world around her. She used to ride horses for a living, which was fantastic, but now considers herself extremely lucky to be a writer. She shares her home with two kids and five rescue animals.
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www.mgarzon.ca
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Books in the Blaze of Glory series:
Blaze of Glory
Look Twice
Renaissance Man
Halo Boy
Elina
The Turning Point (short story)
Blaze of Glory Horses Coloring Book
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For kids 8-12:
Awesome Possum
Lemon Squeezy
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For a training system that will keep your horse sound and happy throughout his/her life, check out:
http://www.art2ride.com
