It been more then a month, and still the pain hadn’t softened. If anything it lingers in the back of my mind, causing me to loose focus on just about everything. Carelessly I returned to NYC, my brother had said my parents wanted to see me, one last time. Staying in my home town, wasn’t going to be possible. To many people knew my face. Walking up the perfectly manicured lawn, knocking on a cherry wood door.
My father a stout man with bluing eyes, and peppered hair open the door. Taking a deep breath he smiled, holding back his tears.
“Hi daddy” Giving the sweetest daughter smile.
“Hi Pumpkin” Pulling me into a hug. His sweet wood cologne smell covering my broken heart. How I missed him, he always new how to comfort me.
“Is that my baby?” The cracking words of my mother.
“Yes Mom” Looking around my father, as he pulled me deeper into the luxurious house.
“My baby” She cried, ripping me from my fathers safe hold.
“Easy mom” Chocking, as the arms of her skinny body tightened.
“I was so worried about you” Rocking back and forth.
“Mom I’m fine” Trying to pull away.
“What’s wrong with you? Have you completely lost your mind” And there’s mom. Sighing as she started in on me, one the warm fuzzy feelings started to dissipate.
“Hey sis” Matt called, hearing moms ranting. Dad trying to calm her down.
“Hey yourself” Hugging him. We all headed into the deep red living room, taking seats so everyone could see me.
“So what are you going to do now?” My father asked, rubbing my mothers back, as she was clearly still upset.
“I’m going to travel.” Shrugging, cause that’s really the best answer I could come up with, all the way here.
“Travel?” My mother croaked.
“I’m not driving anything mom” Reassuring her. With a nod, she didn’t seem to believe me.
“Do you need some money?” Dad asked, going for his wallet.
“No, money is something I have plenty of.” Chuckling as his eyes go wide.
“Just how much do you have?” Matt asked, just as shocked.
“Lets just say my last job paid really well” Winking.
Yea it paid overly well, since Charles was now dead. If your still confused, I’ll explain. Once I killed Charles, and told Trish she told Josie. Who…by the way wasn’t the least man, but she did manage to hack into his bank accounts and take every last cent. We split it three ways, and are now sitting higher then need be.
“Well okay then” Dad chuckled tucking his wallet back into his back pocket.
“Your going to keep in touch right?” Mom frowned.
“Of course, you wouldn’t let me live it down if I didn’t” Giggling, she huffed before smiling at me.
“Well I really need to get on the road” Standing up, Matt smiled as I kissed and hugged my parents first.
“I’ll walk you out” He said, draping his arm over my shoulder. My mother started to cry, as dad spoke sweetness to her. Closing the front door, Matt tucked his hands into his pockets.
“What’s up baby bro?” He has always been bad at talking.
“You remember when you had me jump out?” Looking up threw his dark bangs.
“Of course” Titling my head, how was I gunna forget about that.
“Well I made it to the airport, like you said” His eyes flickering anywhere, but at mine. Groaning.
“Matt…spit it out already” Taping his shoulder.
“Well there was this guy there, he went ape shit on me” His eyes finally meeting mine.
“Who’s this guy?” Glaring at him.
“Dunno, but he was pissed”
“What’d he say to you?” Folding my arms, and trying to figure out why I was just now hearing about this.
“Before or after he socked me in the jaw.”
“He hit you?” My arms dropped.
“Yea” laughing.
“Its not funny Matt, what’d he say?”
“He wanted to know why I didn’t protect you, saying I was your man” He blushed at his own words.
“Are you sure he wasn’t just crazy?” Rolling my eyes.
“No he was very much not crazy. Once he found out I was your brother, he calmed. But something just looked off about him”
“Like what?” My interest peeked.
“He seemed lost, once it finally set in. I really believe he thought you were dead” Shrugging.
“Well at least my plan worked”
“Ray I don’t think he was a threat. He looked…sad.” Matt turned his head, taking in a deep breath.
“Sad…Matt what did this guy look like?”
“Umm big, like a really big. Brownish eyes, umm his hair was more military style then anything. I remember he was scruffy, cause it felt like it was going to cut my face.”
Even before the mentioning of the tigers eyes, I knew it was him. It had to be, no one else had a temper like that. Dalton had proved he could explode in a second in Dixie’s.
“Sis?” Matt took a step to me.
“Dalton” Biting my lip.
“Who?”
“That was Dalton, it had to be” Shaking my head, as it fell into my hands.
“Why do I feel like I’m missing something here?”
“Cause you are, Dalton lived in Gram extra house. I was his roomie for awhile. We had a thing….but its over”
“Clearly” Huffing at me. Frowning I covered my chest.
“What’s that suppose to mean?”
“It means you’re a shity liar.”
“I’m not lying, besides how would you know?” Ready to stick my tongue out at him.
“It doesn’t take a genius to figure out he came for you, which means he loves you. And they way your getting all defensive about it, means you feel the same way.”
Should of just stuck my tongue out at him, and walked away. Smiling at me, I swear if he wasn’t my brother I’d punch him.
“Don’tcha just love when I’m right” Snickering.