A preacher clears his throat and begins to welcome everyone. My eyes go to the massive portrait of my mom that’s standing next to the coffin. She’s smiling in the photo, and even though there’s a haughty gleam in her eyes, the smile seems real.
I keep staring at her eyes, waiting for the guilt to return. But instead, all I feel is uneasy.
There really isn’t anything good I can remember of her.
You hurt me. You made me feel worthless.
I won’t miss you.
Bye, Mom.
When the service is over, we slip out the doors as the other people get up from their seats. Once we’re in the truck, I take a relieved breath.
If Cassie didn’t get flowers for Brady’s grave, I’d ask them if we could just go home. Instead, I keep quiet as Colton steers the vehicle in the direction of the cemetery.
We’re the first ones there, and after climbing out, Colton and I follow Cassie to where Brady is. Colton’s hand finds mine, and he interweaves our fingers tightly.
My eyes dart over the words on the headstone. He was only sixteen.
Sadness fills my heart because his life ended so soon. I’m sure he would’ve been just as happy as I am if he had held out.
“Sorry for only coming now, my baby,” Cassie whispers as she sets the flowers down by the headstone. “I miss you so much.”
Tears well in my eyes, and I struggle to blink them away.
Cassie glances at us and tearfully says, “Brady’s smile could warm the coldest day.”
“Yeah,” Colton murmurs. Tugging at my hand, he leads me away, then says, “Give her some time alone with him. We can come back another time.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, not wanting to keep Colton from Cassie and Brady.
“Yeah, it’s her first time here since we buried him.”
“Have you been visiting him?” I ask.
Colton nods. “I still struggle… leaving him alone.”
I give his hand a squeeze and then notice all the people from the church gathering around the fresh gravesite. “We can just stand to the side.”
“Okay.”
We stop under a tree, and I watch as my grandfather and other men carry the coffin. His eyes are red as if he’s been crying.
I guess even monsters have someone who mourns them.
The preacher says a couple of words, and as they start to lower the coffin, my grandfather gets up and surprises me by walking toward me. I didn’t think he saw me.
His eyes are green, like my mother’s. Just as cold, as well.
“So you’re Brie,” he grumbles, a sneer around his mouth as if he just tasted something terrible.
“Yes.”
Colton tightens his hold on my hand as my grandfather’s gaze sweeps over me. “I should’ve known you’d disobey me. I now understand why your mother always complained about you. You can’t even wear black for her funeral.”
I stare at the old man, and with Colton next to me, I feel braver than ever. “I figured black is for when you’re grieving. I have nothing to mourn.”
My grandfather lets out a bitter chuckle that sounds more like a bark. “That my poor daughter had to raise…” his eyes snap over me with disgust, “you. I should’ve forced her to give you up for adoption.”
“You should’ve,” I agree. Maybe then I would’ve had a happy life from the start.
He shakes his head and then digs a piece of paper out of the inside pocket of his jacket. “Here.” I take it from him, a frown settling on my forehead. “I never want to hear your name again. Stay out of the media and our lives.”
Without another glance, he walks away. I pull my hand free from Colton’s and open the paper, and then my eyes grow wide. It’s a check for one million dollars. “Holy crap.” I turn my stunned gaze to Colton, who looks just as surprised as me. “I should give it back. Right?”
Colton’s eyes dart between my hands and my face, but before he can answer, Cassie comes to stand by us. She looks at the amount on the check then says, “You should keep it, Brie. Take it as payment for years of hell being stuck with his daughter.”
“Won’t it be wrong of me?” I ask, not sure I should take any money from him.
“Not at all,” Cassie says. “You don’t have to spend it now. You can invest it, and one day when you realize how much you deserve that money, you can use it.”
It sure would help with my personal expenses, so I don’t have to depend on Cassie and Colton for everything. I look at the amount again. I can even donate most of it to a good cause if it bothers me so much.
I hold the check out to Cassie and ask, “Can you keep it for me. I’m scared I’ll lose it.”
I watch her tuck it in her purse before I glance at my mother’s grave. A reporter catches my eye, and as she takes a step toward us, I say, “We better go. A reporter is heading our way.”
We begin to walk away, and then Cassie glances over her shoulder. “Shit, she’s catching up. Let’s run.”
We all dart forward, and Colton’s taller, so he keeps tugging at my hand. Then Cassie passes us, letting out a burst of laughter, which makes me chuckle.
We all bundle into the truck, and Colton quickly drives away. With a smile, I glance out the back window and watch the reporter shake her head.
Turning my gaze to the front, my eyes meet Cassie’s, and impulsively I ask, “Will it be okay if I called you Mom?”
Her smile widens, and she pulls me into a hug. “It would make me so happy. I always wanted a daughter.”
When she pulls back, I say, “You’re the best mother I could’ve asked for.”
“As long as you both know we’re first going to finish our studies before there’s any talk of marriage,” Colton suddenly says.
I look like a gaping fish while Cassie laughs, “Who said anything about getting married?”
“Just saying,” Colton shrugs, then he playfully grins at us. “Also, it looked like you were both about to cry, and I thought dropping a bomb would stop the floodgates from opening.”
Our laughter fills the cab as Colton drives us home, and then my thoughts turn back to Cassie. The moment just felt so right, and honestly, she really is the only mother I’ve ever known. I know it’s sudden, but for me, it feels natural.
I also know it’s weird that it happened after Serena’s funeral, but I guess she did more for me by dying than she ever did while alive.
Chapter 25
COLTON
Brie’s been staring at the check since we got home. Her facial expressions keep alternating between determination and doubt.
Sitting down on the couch next to her, I ask, “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
Her eyes dart to mine before they return to the piece of paper. “I can’t decide whether I should keep it or tear it up.” She shifts her body, so she faces me, then asks, “What would I do with so much money?”
“Anything you want to do,” I reply. “You can pay for college.”
She nods. “Still, at most, I only need ten percent of it.”
“Then invest the rest, like Mom said.”
A grin spreads over her face. “Mom. I like that.”
“Me too,” Mom chuckles as she walks into the kitchen. “What do you want for dinner?”
“Mac and cheese,” I call out.
“Mac and cheese, it is then.”
While Mom starts with dinner, Brie moves closer to me and whispers, “Don’t you think we should take Mom for a picnic to the waterfall on Sunday?”
My eyebrows raise at the idea. “Yeah, she’ll love that.”
“We can make sandwiches and get some muffins or cupcakes from the store.”
“Sounds good to me.”
When Brie’s eyes turn back to the check, I pull the paper out of her hand. “You don’t have to decide today. Let’s watch something.” Getting up, I walk to the kitchen and hand the check to Mom, then I pour us all some soda while asking, “Brie, What do you feel like watching?”
“Maybe something to do with college?”
“Oooh!” Mom almost starts jumping from excitement. “Let’s watch After.”
I let out a sigh. “Romance it is.” I place a glass on the counter near Mom and give her a grateful smile. She was really fantastic today. “Thank you for today.”
Mom taps her cheek with her pointer finger, and after I give her a kiss, she says, “You can start the movie. I’ll watch from here.”
“You sure? We can wait.”
She gestures toward Brie with her eyes. “Go cuddle her. I know you’re dying to.”
Shaking my head, I let out a chuckle as I carry the other two glasses to the living room. I set them down on the coffee table, and reaching for the remote, I turn on the TV.
When I press play, Brie snuggles up to my side, and I place my arm around her shoulders. After a couple of minutes, she murmurs, “Today was so different from what I expected.”
“It’s because you were prepared for the worse.”
“True.”
As I watch the girl on the screen walk to her class, I mention, “Enjoy tonight because tomorrow we have a lot of school work to catch up on.”
“Ugh, did you have to remind me?” Brie complains.
Chuckling, I kiss her temple. Brie lifts her head and first glances at the kitchen before she presses a quick kiss to my lips.
It took us three days to catch up with the work we missed, but as we sit down for dinner, I feel better knowing it’s done.
I made us chicken and salad tonight because Mom’s been cooking for the past week.
Just as Brie pops a piece of meat in her mouth, there’s a knock at the door.
Frowning, I get up. “I’ll get it.”
“Probably the wrong house,” Mom mumbles around a piece of tomato.
I open the door, and instantly the blood drains from my face.
“Hello, son. Aren’t you going to let me in?”
I hear a chair scrape over the tiles from the kitchen, and glancing toward the sound, I see Mom heading toward us, and I snap. “Stay with Brie!”
Shoving my father backward, I step out onto the porch and shut the front door behind me. When my eyes focus on his face, a rage, unlike anything I’ve felt before, sets fire to the blood rushing through my veins. “What the hell are you doing here?”
He gives me a condescending smirk. “I’m here to bring my wife and son back home.”
“Like hell you are,” I growl, fisting my hands at my sides. “Get off our property.”
He lets out an arrogant chuckle. “My property. I’m paying for this house.” He tries to step by me. “Let’s talk inside.”
“No!” I shove him back again. “You’re not setting foot inside this house. Leave. It’s my last warning.”
Anger begins to simmer in his eyes. “And then? What? Have you grown a set the past four months?” He takes a threatening step closer to me. “Mind if I check?”
What the fuck?
The same old crazy look settles over his face when he sees my reaction. “Yeah, just like I thought. Once a pussy, always a pussy. Get out of my way before I beat your ass.”
That’s all it takes for rage to consume me, and I lunge forward. My fist slams into this jaw, and as he staggers backward, I follow.
“Colton! Stop!” I hear Mom scream, but ignoring her, I begin to deliver one punch after the other.
For Brady. For Mom. For myself.
Years of anger pour out of me as I watch blood flow from my father’s nose, and I grind the words out through clenched teeth, “It hurts, doesn’t it?”
He begins to drag himself away from me, and holding up a hand, he begs, “Stop. Please. Stop.”
All the fight drains from me as I stare down at the pathetic mess on the ground. “Funny how you never cared when we begged you to stop.”
“You broke my nose,” he complains, covering his face with a trembling hand.
“Yeah? You broke my ribs.” Taking a step closer to him, I snap, “Do you really want to compare injuries? Because then, I better start beating your sorry ass again.”
My father climbs to his feet, and his eyes dart to Mom. “Are you just going to stand there and do nothing?”
Mom moves to my side. “I think Colton is handling this well.”
He lets out a frustrated huff. “Always hiding behind him. Some fucking mother you are.”
Stepping in front of Mom, I glare darkly at him. “Leave before I keep my promise and put you in the ICU.”
Disgust ripples over his bloody face. “That’s it. I’m cutting you both off. You’re dead to me, just like Brady.”
Mom grabs hold of my arm when I want to dart forward. “Let him leave.”
He shakes his head at us one last time, and with a careless wave that shows he's done with us, he walks to his car.
I wait until his car disappears from sight before I turn to Mom. “Are you okay?”
She nods, and her bottom lip juts out as she takes hold of my right hand. “Look at your knuckles. Let’s go inside so we can clean the blood off.”
Walking to the front door, I notice Brie standing on the porch, her face pale. I dart forward and taking hold of her shoulders, I say, “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
Brie shakes her head and wraps her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly. “I’m just glad he’s gone.” She pulls back, and her eyes lock with mine. “Are you okay?”
I wait for Mom and Brie to walk into the house and shutting the door, I say, “I am now.”
It felt good standing up for myself for once and getting rid of the pent up anger. Now that I’ve fought back, he’ll hopefully stay away.
When I walk to the bathroom, Mom and Brie follow behind me. I let Mom clean my hand, knowing she needs to do it. Also, I love having her fuss over me.
“I’ll make an appointment to meet with a lawyer,” Mom murmurs. “It’s time to divorce him.”
“I can help with money,” Brie suddenly says. When we look at her, she rambles, “I overheard what he said, and I don’t want you worrying about finances.”
Mom wipes the last of the blood away, then turns and drops the cloth in the sink before turning to Brie. “You’re going to invest that money, Brie. I spent twenty-two years with that man, and he’ll pay for every one of them.”
“Okay,” Brie replies. “I just wanted you to know, I don’t mind helping.”
Mom pulls Brie into a hug. “Thank you, sweetie.” When they pull apart, Mom adds, “We’ll go to the bank tomorrow after school. Okay?”
“Yeah.”
Mom glances back at me. “I’m going to heat the chicken so we can finish having dinner.”
Once she leaves, Brie moves closer to me. She takes hold of my hand and presses a kiss to the back of it. “It looks like it’s going to swell. Does it hurt?”
I shake my head and lift my left hand to her face, brushing her bangs away from her eyes. “Are you okay?”
Brie nods. “You were handling it, so I wasn’t scared. I knew you’d take care of it.”
The corner of my mouth lifts at hearing how much trust she has in me.
Brie’s eyes search my face. “Are you really okay?”
“Yeah. I wasn’t while he was here, but now…” I shake my head, “I need to show him I’m not scared of him. I’m fine now.”
Brie looks at my hand again. “Let’s put some ice on your knuckles.”
We go to the kitchen, and while Brie grabs a pack of frozen peas, I head to where Mom’s heating the chicken in the microwave. I place a hand on her back and wait until she looks at me. “Do you want me to go with you to the lawyers?”
She shakes her head, giving me a comforting smile. “I’ll be fine. It’s not like he’ll be there.” Mom gestures to Brie. “Go sit and ice your hand while I finish up here.”
Once we’re all seated, my gaze moves between the two women in my life, and knowing I protected them from my father fills my chest with pride.
Chapter 26
&nb
sp; BRIE
Dear me,
Colton’s dad showed up. Things didn’t go well. Actually, it was terrible, and I shouldn’t be glad Colton hit his father, but I can’t help it. After everything that man put them through, he deserved that beating and more.
I know Cassie is worried about money and that Mr. Lawson will stop sending any, but she shouldn’t. I’ve made up my mind to take the money from my grandfather. I’ll look after Cassie and Colton the same way they looked after me.
I hope he never comes here again.
B.
“There’s an art competition at the University of Black Mountain,” I tell Colton on the way to school. “With everything that happened, I forgot to mention it.”
“Yeah? Are you going to enter?” he asks as he steers the truck through the morning traffic.
“I want to. I’m not sure what to draw, though,” I admit.
There’s a moment’s silence, then Colton mentions, “You’re really good at expressing emotions. Maybe draw something that relates to how you feel now?”
I begin to nod as ideas stream into my head. “Yeah, that’s a good idea.” I worry my bottom lip while I think, and then ask, “Maybe something to do with love?”
“Like a heart?” Colton pulls into the parking area and finds a space to stop the truck.
“Maybe more like darkness spreading out into light? A lot of shades?” The more I think about it, the more an image begins to form in my minds-eye. “Or hope? A chain of butterflies breaking?”
Colton turns the truck off and looks at me. “I really like that idea.”
“Yeah?” Happy that I finally have something to work with, I grin as I push open the door and climb out.
We meet at the front of the vehicle, and Colton takes hold of my hand then presses a slow kiss to my lips. “I’m sure it’s going to be a masterpiece.”
Lifting on my toes, I press another kiss to his mouth before we start to walk toward the building.
With all the faith Colton has in me, it feels like I can do anything.
The day is just like any other. Lindy made a snide comment about me killing Serena, but weirdly it didn’t get to me like it would’ve in the past.
Not My Hero: Black Mountain Academy Page 18