“I was just thinking about …” I hesitate to say it. The moment I bring up Presley, my family gets uncomfortable, not knowing how I will react, but I decide to risk it anyway. “I was thinking about Presley and all the moments we shared in this house. We had some great times here.”
Reggie crosses the room and puts his hand on my shoulder. His smile is sympathetic, though not full of pity. “Yeah, she was a great girl, and I can see why tonight all those memories would resurface.”
I choose not to tell him the memories have never gone away, that she is always on my mind. Again, I don’t want the whole therapist conversation.
I nod and decide it’s best if I redirect my thoughts and our discussion.
“Have you heard from Jeremy?” I miss my brother, a statement I never thought I would say, but I do. I miss him a lot. And Zoe and Mia miss Cami and Hunter. We are all a little sad they are gone.
“Yeah. Cami called me from her new phone and they found an apartment, and Hunter started school last week. Cami got a job at the hospital in the neighboring town, and Jeremy is still looking for work. I’m not sure what he will find being a convicted felon. He might need to work for us until he can get on his feet.” Reggie takes a long drink from his bottle, apparently deep in thought. Reggie will always worry about us, and I wonder if it will be even harder now that Jake and I will be so far away. Will he worry all the time? Will he be able to truly enjoy is life away from the confines of this place?
I turn and reach into the fridge, getting out another beer. The empty fridge looks funny because it’s been so long since it has been empty.
When we were kids, there was hardly any food in here. Once Reggie started to raise us full time, though, it was always jam-packed with food. I should know; I was always in the fridge looking for something to eat. It’s funny how things come full circle. When I came into this house, there was nothing, and tonight, when I walk out, it will be empty once again.
When I look to Delilah, all I can see is the pain in her eyes. She’s unbelievably sad. I know she and Darcie are very close. I know exactly how she feels. I felt the same way when Cami came over and told me they were leaving.
I asked Cami what she did with her little house. She told me she didn’t know what they were going to do with it, but she was probably going to sell it. I debated asking her if Drake and I could move in, but he seems comfortable at the apartment, so I never mentioned it.
I reach around Delilah and put my arm around her shoulders. She isn’t sobbing, but the tears are pouring from her eyes like a faucet.
Jake gets up from the couch, glaring at her as he walks by, and moves into the kitchen. What the hell? I look to Darcie who rolls her eyes then swallows down her raging anger. He is acting like a total asshole, and it all seems to be directed toward Delilah.
“He’s been like this for a while now. If he’s not working, he’s drinking. I don’t know what to do for him anymore. Even before all this happened, Jake and I were fighting more than usual, but between Jeremy leaving and now tonight, Jake is so angry. When he comes home, he looks at me like it’s my fault, and I don’t know why. I try to talk to him, but you know”—Delilah looks directly at Darcie—“he’s impossible to talk to when he is wasted. I can’t have my kids around this. Yesterday, Hale asked me why his daddy is always talking funny.” The tears stream even harder down her cheeks. “What am I supposed to tell my son?”
“God, he needs to get over it. I’ve had enough of his shit.” Before I can stop her, Darcie moves from our circle and walks straight into the kitchen. She is on a warpath, and Jake is in her line of sight. I’ve seen her angry before, but I’ve never seen Darcie this mad. Her pale skin is flush and there is a fire in her eyes which is impossible to ignore.
Jake is bent over, getting a beer from the fridge, when Darcie lashes out. “What the fuck is your problem?” Reggie steps to his wife, shaking his head and trying to keep her calm. “What the hell did she do to you? I know you’re pissed we are leaving and Jeremy is gone, but she doesn’t deserve the cold shoulder. Have you forgotten that this is your girlfriend, the mother of your children? She doesn’t deserve to be treated like shit because you’re acting like a fucking baby.”
Jake snaps his body around angrily and steps to Darcie. He also looks like I have never seen him. I glance at Drake, hoping he knows he may need to hold him back. I fear he will snap at any moment.
“You’re so goddamn selfish and weak, you know that? Do you think life is going to get better because you’re leaving town? Do you really think all will be well simply because you’re moving? If you do, then you can add delusional to that list.”
“Fuck you, Jake!” Darcie shouts, stepping closer to him, her shoulders tense, her fists balled by her side.
“Darcie! Enough! We don’t need to do this now.” Reggie pulls his wife back and attempts to calm her down. I feel like we are witnessing years of pent up rage on the verge of busting at the seams.
“No, Reg, let’s hear what she has to say,” Jake snaps back.
When Darcie pushes past Jake and moves straight out the back door, Jake doesn’t hesitate to follow her out into the cold night and down to the garage.
Drake motions his head toward the door, and we all follow them, worried this will finally ruin the family for good. All of the Evans brothers gloat, saying nothing will ever destroy them, but this moment right here could be the defining moment which will destroy them forever. Jake is drunk and will say just about anything to hurt someone, and Darcie is in a fit of rage. Things will be shared, and my fear is those words will cause a rift that will never be able to be mended.
Before I go outside, I move down the hallway and tell Mia to keep an eye on the kids. I give her my phone and tell her to call Drake if she needs us to come in the house. Mia looks to me with pride. She loves responsibility. For the most part, the boys will be fine playing video games; it’s Quinn who needs to really be watched.
By the time I get to the garage, the shouting has already commenced. I haven’t even stepped inside yet, and I can hear the heated voices of rage. Reggie stands next to his wife, trying to keep her calm enough not to punch Jake in the face, but Jake keeps at it. From what people have said, he never backs down. He will push you until you snap or walk away. Again, I have never really witnessed this from him. When I came along, it was Jeremy and Drake who were at odds. It was Drake who was always in that furious state.
“I get that you’re upset, Jake, but you don’t need to treat Delilah like shit. Be mad at me all you want, blame me for your own inabilities, but don’t take it out on the one person who supports you. Do you realize that someday she may be all you have left? You’re so good at pissing people off, and it seems she is the one person who can handle your juvenile attitude. I wouldn’t blow it if I were you.” Darcie’s voice is snarky. She has no problem speaking her mind, matching Jake insult for insult. It’s something the two of us have in common.
“Keep your nosey ass out of our relationship. This has nothing to do with her, and she knows that. This is about you and your selfish ass always taking shit from us. Do you think it was easy living with someone like you, Darcie? You took him away from us when we were kids, and now you’re doing it again.” Jake pulls his flask from his back pocket and tips his head back. The booze drips down his chin as he chugs several gulps. “Reggie felt he had no other choice other than to have you live with us. You’re not family; you never were. You’re nothing but a stray, rescued by this fucker only because he felt sorry for you. And we all had to deal with it.”
I gasp at his vicious words. How could he say something so cruel to a girl he has always considered his sister? Although I get that he’s angry, that is a low blow. When I look to Darcie’s back, she visibly sags in defeat. His ice-cold words cut her wide open, gutting her, and it’s impossible for her not to react to the pain.
“Jake!” Reggie’s deep voice booms from beside Darcie. As she withers from his insult, Reggie swells up while keeping his wife
pinned to his body. His stance hardens in anger. Yeah, this won’t be good. “Don’t you dare speak to my wife like that.”
“What? It’s true! We wouldn’t be having this conversation, and you wouldn’t be leaving, if it weren’t for her. So I’m sorry that the truth hurts, but it needed to be said.”
I hadn’t been looking at Drake this entire time, but when I finally glance at him, I recognize his face immediately. He is standing tall, his shoulders and arms completely rigid, and he is clenching his jaw. He is furious and about to explode. Holy shit, this is not good.
“So, if you feel that way about Darcie, then you must feel that way about me, too,” Drake says as he steps around Reggie and comes nose-to-nose with Jake.
As Jake shrugs his shoulders as if to say yes, he does feel the same way, for a second, I can see Drake visibly weaken, too.
My gut reaction was right; if anything will break up this strong family unit, it’s this moment. What Jake has said is unforgiveable, and now he’s turned two people who love him dearly against him. Yet the look on his face is showing he doesn’t give a shit. It’s like he couldn’t care less whom he hurts.
My insides are boiling from my adrenaline-filled rage. I never suspected Jake really felt the way he does. Stabbing myself in the eye would feel ten times better than the pain of his words. I couldn’t believe he said that, yet I could. Jake has always been an asshole; however, this takes the cake. The moment he spoke his true inner feelings, all I saw was red. He doesn’t consider me his brother, only a stray Reggie saved.
Reggie moves to my side and puts his hand on my forearm, squeezing hard enough for me to take notice. I glance up to his face, and it’s painfully obvious he was also hurt by Jake’s words. Reggie is probably internalizing it and blaming himself for this moment, but I think it’s good everything is out in the open.
Jake is always quite candid when he’s drinking; I’m just surprised it took so long for the words to fall out of his mouth. However, I’m glad his true feelings are out. Now we can really move on from this night, and the night will be known as the one the Evans brothers became no more.
Reggie clears his throat, as if he’s trying to swallow down the fury that’s settled inside his body. “Jake,” he says in a quiet, deep tone, “I think it’s time to leave.”
“You’re kicking me out?” Jake is baffled. He tucks his flask back into his pocket before approaching Reggie. “Fine, I will leave. I always knew you were a pussy. You could never stand up to her… or him, for that matter.” Jake shoulders past Reggie, snags Delilah’s arm, and walks from the garage, shouting to her to get the kids as he moves to his car and sits in the passenger seat.
I stand at the threshold of the door and look at my brother. I’m really not mad anymore. I feel sorry for him. He’s defaulting to truly harmful words to make the rest of us feel as bad as he does. In fact, he’s acting like a child. Jake’s always been dramatic, so I guess I should have expected nothing less. Yet what he said is unforgettable. I’m not sure how forgiving I can be after hearing what he said. The hateful words will always be in the back of my mind.
Zoe and Delilah file down the back steps with all the kids in tow. Delilah quickly ushers them to the car and straps them in as Jake continues to stare me down, taking small sips from his flask. He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s about to lose everything he has unless he has a come-to-Jesus meeting with himself and changes how he treats Delilah. If she were smart, she wouldn’t stick around for the aftermath of this night. Jake is bound to be intolerable.
Delilah falls into the driver’s seat and backs away from the house as we all stand in the driveway, watching them drive off. I know Reggie feels like he’s watching his family leave for the last time.
We have been inside for a while now without anyone speaking. We only sit and relive the last few minutes silently, wondering what the hell just happened and how Jake could be so cold.
The line in Reggie’s forehead deepens as the minutes pass by. The wheels are turning in his head as he attempts to understand why Jake said the stupid shit he did. I know Reggie; he’s trying to fix it before it breaks even more. However, what he doesn’t realize is it’s beyond repair. The words are out there, suspended in our psyche, and they will never leave. Statements like that will perpetually hold a place in your memory, and your mind will never allow you to forget.
“He’s just angry. You know Jake; he always says crap he doesn’t mean when he’s been drinking.” Reggie runs his hands over his head then flops down in the chair before he bends forward and rests his face in his hands.
“Don’t make excuses, Reggie. Jake said what he said. You can’t take that back, so don’t bother with the excuses,” Darcie says as she walks from the kitchen and sits next to Zoe. She is rubbing her scar raw on the inside of her wrist. “He’s an asshole. It’s nothing new to us. I don’t know how D is going to put up with him once I’m gone.”
“She’s a strong woman and a mother now. Delilah will do what’s best for her kids, and if that’s leaving his ass behind, then she’ll do it. She may put up with it for a while, but it won’t take long for her to realize what a dipshit he is.” I finally stop clenching my angry fists and begin to relax with Zoe by my side. This has been a horrible night, and I’m ready to go home and forget it ever happened.
“This is typical Jake behavior; you all should know that.” Here we go again. Reggie is making excuses because he doesn’t want to accept that maybe Jake really feels the way he does. “He is hurt, and he wants you to be hurt, too. This is what he does.”
“Reggie, wake the fuck up. He basically said he’s never considered Darcie or me family. I’m sorry, but you can’t come back from that. So stop making excuses and accept that he is who he is—a stupid, selfish asshole who will never be anything other than a stupid, selfish asshole.”
Reggie pulls his face from his hands and stares me down. He wants to dispute my words. However, I think he finally realizes there’s nothing he can say that will change our minds. Instead, he stands up and wraps his arms around me. I return the hug and clap him on the back.
“I’m going to miss you, brother. Make sure you visit when you can, okay? I know Jeremy would love to see you soon.”
“As soon as we have the money, we will be by to see your new place,” I say, feeling the emotion rise in my throat. I swallow it down and look to my brother. He is a great man, a man who’s survived every challenge placed before him. He’s a man I admire, a man who is strong and will stop at nothing to make sure his family is happy and healthy, and I only hope I can be as great as him someday. “I’ll miss you, man.”
As soon as I move to Darcie and hold her in my arms, she starts to tremble as the tears leak from her eyes and onto my shirt. “I’ll miss you, sis. Take care of him and make sure you keep him out of trouble.”
Darcie laughs into my shirt, knowing it will be Reggie who has to keep her out of trouble. “It will be hard, but I’ll do my best,” she whispers back.
Mia comes walking from the back room, looking so sad, yet she’s trying to be strong. She is walking with pride, though I know she’s falling to pieces inside. We all are.
After she reaches Darcie and wraps her arms around her waist, Darcie bends down and kisses the top of her head. Mia releases a little tear as she leans back and looks to her aunt. Then she turns and stares at Reggie. His six-foot-five inch frame weakens as he kneels down to look Mia in the eye.
“You really have to leave?” she whispers as she desperately tries to control her tears. Reggie nods, his face mirroring hers. He is trying really hard to be brave, but he weakens as a small tear falls from his eye. Reggie is a man’s man; he doesn’t show emotion on this level. It takes the sad look of a ten-year-old girl to crumble his façade. Mia quickly runs to his arms and wraps her own around his neck. She holds him tightly to her as she sobs in to Reggie’s neck. “I love you, Reggie.”
“I love you, too, sweet girl.” She cries even harder, and Reggie only holds her. It
takes a while, but Mia finally calms down enough to look at him. “Hey, you will see me again. It may be awhile, but your dad will bring you to my new place.” He lifts his hand and wipes away her tears. “You can call me anytime you want, too.”
Then Darcie comes from the back room and hands her a cell phone. I look over to Zoe, wondering if she knew about this. It’s apparent by her reaction that she had no clue, either.
“Here, Reggie’s and my phone numbers are programmed in there, and if you’re feeling sad or just want to talk, call us. Okay?”
Mia clutches the phone to her chest and nods her head.
We all finish our goodbyes and then move to the back door. I take one more look around the place I called home for so many years and smile. This was my place of salvation when I was a kid, and it’s the last time I will step foot inside. The house wasn’t much, but it was our home, and that was enough.
When you grow up with nothing, having a little is always enough.
***
Well, not much has changed in the last couple of weeks other than Reggie and Darcie being gone. We’ve spoken to them a few times. They are settled into their new little cabin on a lake and have begun to take over the small town bar on Main Street. Darcie loves the job. She says it’s the complete opposite of The Slab. There are no fights to break up, assholes hitting on her, or rude customers. Mainly, she tends to old-timers, keeping their drinks filled while they play poker at the table.
I have spoken to Jeremy, who is doing really well, too. He got a job as a mechanic at a local timber mill and seems to be fitting in as much as he can. Cami loves her job at the local hospital and is getting along nicely with her pregnancy. It won’t be long before she has the baby, and I know Mia and Zoe are dying to meet their kid.
Jake is still being an asshole.
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