Shades Of Blue

Chapter 24|It's Nice To Meet You

You could cut the tension with a knife and still not reach the bottom. That's how thick the air feels right now as I sit next to Zander on the couch with Eris on the other.

My mother stands in front of the television as she chews her bottom lip and as deeply emotional as she is, I want to know what is going on.

"What is going on and who is this man standing in our living room?" I question as I look to the tall, dark stranger by the archway.

I don't waste time. I don't hesitate to ask. I just do it.

My mother sighs deeply and the man also know as; fucking asshole according to my mom, speaks up.

His voice is deep with grit and certainty. Behind all of that there's a softness just as his eyes glaze over for a split second, "I'm your f-"

"Don't" my mother spits with so much venom it's almost unrecognisable.

Zander notices the tension and decides to clear his throat as all of the focus is now on him, "um, I was just telling Eris and Elaine about my mother, if that is okay with you?"

He asks my mother, knowing damn well his voice may sooth her as she'd began to treat him as if he were her own son.

As expected, her eyes and facial features soften and she nods slightly, "continue, it's okay"

Zander nods as he adjusts himself on the couch and clasps his hands together, "uh, where was I?"

"It was basically like a summer love" said Eris as he places a hand on his knee to stop it from shaking.

"Right, a summer love" Zander mumbles as he looks between the glaring gaze of my mother and the ease of the strange man, "so, it goes after their fun, my mother had to leave soon but, he didn't want her to so, he offered to put her up right here in Laguna. She was hesitant but, she accepted. Few days go by and she's getting ready to meet this man at he diner where they had met" he pauses as he states at the man.

His expression is almost unreadable as he continues to recall.

"They had planned to meet around four but, being as excited as she was, she had decided to drop by earlier than that. She told me how she would never forget the pain that had nuzzled it's way into her heart as if she was being stabbed by the person she loved most" by now his voice was shaking and his fists were balled.

My mother had now taken a seat next to him as she hold her hand over his with a tight squeeze and an encouraging smile, "it's okay"

He nods as he sniffles a little, "she had seen him with another woman. A beautiful woman with soft brown waves and the prettiest smile, she also had an engagement ring on her finger with a lavender coloured stone"

My mother's engagement ring...

Does that mean...

No way. No fucking way. It couldn't be.

It was impossible.

"It was your mom with this man that had somehow convinced my mother that he loved her above all, that she was his special someone"

"His mother being the angel she is didn't confront him but instead she decided to leave. She had packed and left a note explaining that she had to leave so abruptly because her father had become extremely and suddenly ill" said my mother as she wiped a year from her eye and Eris hands her a tissue from the coffee table.

She smiles weakly as she decides to go on, the man in the doorway still fixated his eyes onto her weak and vulnerable frame and with an unreadable expression he crosses his arms leaning against the wall.

"Little did he know that her father had already passed the previous year, in fact she decided to just simply flee. She didn't want to hurt. She didn't want to break my heart. So, she just left. A few months later I had found out and wanted to discreetly contact her. I found out that she had just given birth to a beautiful baby boy"

This time Zander wraps an arm around her shoulder comforting her as she leans her head on his. Eris and I turn to one another in disbelief and confusion as he asks, "what does all of this mean, exactly? That you were engaged to Zander's father and what?"

"I think you can connect the dots now children" my mother says softly with a light smile.

I stand with a sigh and pace over and across the window, "this can't be... you told us he was dead, how can we- how the fuck are we supposed to react to this?!"

The stranger straightens his posture and steps forward, "I think that's enough vulgar language for today"

I send him a look of pure irritation and take a step forward also, "I don't give a shit who you are, I don't care who you think you are but, you cannot just waltz in here, practically uninvited and indirectly tell me what to do"

"Elaine-"

"No, I'm not just going to sit her and take this, he's a stranger. A literal stranger and what? You expect Eris and I to be okay with it? To just act like this is all normal? Well, it fucking is not, okay"

Eris stays quiet as he appears deep in thought and once my mother tried to capture his attention by standing to place a hand on his shoulder, he pulls away swiftly as if her touch is burning through his skin, "I can't believe this fucking shit"

He stands abruptly and barges his way past the man standing in the doorway as we hear the slam of the front door and his car roaring to life.

"You're our father"

"Yes, I am"

"What the fuck"

I turn back towards the curtains as I run my hands over my face in distraught, "and Zander is our brother"

"Yes, he is"

"Wh- how did- why the fuck didn't you tell us mom?" I ask as I laugh in confusion, "or why the didn't you, Zander? Is that even your real name?"

"Elaine stop"

"It's okay, she just has so many raw emotions raging through her right now. I would definitely be the exact same way, I kind of was when I find out" Zander says as he moves to stand up.

With all the rage and confusion, I hadn't noticed the tears following each other over and across my cheeks until Zander had stopped in front of me to wipe them away.

"You're my brother, how did you just stay here without us knowing who you are? How could you just let us treat you like some random guest... I don't even know what to say"

"I know and it's alright, really. I guess I knew it wouldn't last and I had hope that everything would come to light" he held out his hand to shake as he says, "it's nice to finally meet you, Elaine, I'm your brother"

I laugh weakly as I playfully slap his hand away to embrace him into a hug, "it's nice to meet you too, Zander"

It's nice to meet you.

Now the only thing left to do is find Eris and make sure he's alright.

What a long fucking day.

.｡*♡✧*。