Page 27 of Pity the Living, Not the Dead

Finn had the audacity to get in my face. “I bet he has something to do with this,” he said, poking his bony finger in my chest. Before I had a chance to retaliate, Liam had him pinned against the stone wall of the fireplace.

“Elijah has done everything for me. I’ve not needed to ask for a single thing. He paid for the treatment because they didn’t accept American insurance. He’s giving me time to heal, time to find the path that’s right for me. My decision is final. I will not be going to work at the Aldrich Distillery.”

“Wow, is this what they call roid rage?” dumbass Finn blurted out.

“Something like that,” I mumbled, not bothering to suggest Liam stand down. He’d taken enough of Finn’s bullshit over the years, so whatever he decided to do was completely up to him.

“Why you ungrateful little…” his father began, immediately stopping when Liam turned to face him.

“Ungrateful is not appreciating your son when he’s around. Ungrateful is not finding peace in the fact that your son who was dying found a way to beat cancer. Ungrateful is never once telling your son that you loved him,” Liam informed his father.

I vowed right then and there I’d never go a day without telling this wonderful man that I loved him.

“Boys, come on now. That’s enough,” their mother said, patting his father’s shoulder. “Liam, we love you and just want what’s best for you.”

“What’s best for me doesn’t align with the family’s values.”

“Oh, nonsense. Let’s sit down. Have some cake and coffee and discuss this like rational human beings,” his mother offered, trying to make peace. Fruitless as her efforts would prove to be, at least she was trying. His father had steam coming from his nostrils while his brothers stood nearby, arms folded tightly across their chests in feeble attempts at striking formidable poses. What a waste.

The family quietly divided, which was rather unnerving. They parted the living room down the middle, as though they were choosing sides to ready for battle. Or choosing which one of us they were about to attack. I wasn’t sure which was worse at this point.

“Liam.” I spoke low so there was no way human hearing could detect my voice. “Do you think this is wise? Fighting with your family? No good will come of it, and I can guarantee, you’ll regret it later.”

“Are you telling me to back down and go to work for them?”

“Absolutely not. Everything you’ve said to them has been spot-on, but they’re incapable of listening. State your case and walk away. When you don’t show up for work, it will finally sink in. Then the next move is up to them. If they want a relationship with you, they need to earn it. No more letting others run your life for you, including me.”

With a subtle bob of his head, I knew I got through to him. Look at me, playing devil’s advocate. Who would’ve thought this day would come.

“Mom,” Liam said, leaning over to kiss her cheek, “thank you for the offer, but I think it’s time for us to go home.” He glanced around the room, taking the many faces in. “Olivia, walk us out?”

Silently, the three of us left Liam’s family home. No one bothered to try and stop us, which I took as a sign that our leaving was taking the high road. I felt for Liam. I knew this was heartbreaking for him, but I would be there to help pick up the pieces. Always.

“I don’t know what to say,” Olivia said as we neared the car. “Never in a million years would I have expected that reception, or lack thereof, that you received. Selfish. Immature. Complete and total jackasses is what they are. I’m ashamed to be related to them.”

“You know, the one thing that got me through these last few months was reuniting with you, Liv. Every day I woke to new challenges, but the light at the end of the tunnel was knowing I would see your face again.” In no way were those words lies. Olivia had always been a driving force for me, which is why I pushed so hard to work past the issues associated with my rebirth.

“Still, I feel awful. What the hell is wrong with them?” she asked.

“Who knows.”

“Well, I for one would like to get to know the one family member Liam cares most about better. Olivia, why don’t you and Liam set up a night we can get together? Dinner? Movie? Your bond with Liam is important, and I don’t want either of you losing contact,” Elijah said, making me fall even more in love with him than I already was.

“I’d love that, but don’t think we can only get together at night because of my crazy work schedule. I can make days work as well,” she offered.

My heart filled as I gazed lovingly up at the man who held my heart. “Elijah and I have become quite the night owls, so keeping to your schedule works for us, too.”

“I hope someday to find someone who looks at me the way the two of you look at each other.” She swooned dramatically and we laughed.

We followed Olivia’s car to I-5, where she hopped on the southbound ramp while we took the one headed north to go for a drive before returning home. To say I wasn’t dying on the inside after being rejected by my family yet again would be stating a lie. Why had no one bothered to ask how I was feeling or what I wanted? Why did it always have to be about the distillery? Money? Money doesn’t equate to happiness, that’s something that can’t be bought. Even the most superficial of people can be unhappy. Sure, they may spend money like they have a bottomless bank account —and maybe some do. But that doesn’t mean they’re happy, it’s just how they mask their pain and loneliness.

“Liam, my love,” Elijah addressed me as I sat to remove my shoes after we got home. I’d not said anything during the ride, nor once we came inside. The sorrow from the kick in the teeth my so-called family gave me was still too fresh in my mind. He knelt in front of me, taking both my hands in his. “Can I just say how ridiculously proud of you I am for standing your ground with them? I know that wasn’t easy, but unfortunately necessary. I loved you as a human, and I love you even more as the man you’ve become.”

I know Elijah’s words were meant to ease the pain, but I was still reeling from the unpleasant encounter. This entire event had brought multiple questions to light, subjects Elijah and I hadn’t broached. “They brought up a valid point, though. If I don’t work for them, what will I do with my life?”

Elijah paused before answering, carefully weighing his response. “Ultimately, that decision is up to you. The world is at your fingertips, Liam. You can work, or not. I don’t want you to feel like a kept man because you are anything but that. I have more than enough money to last us several lifetimes, though, so if you don’t want to work, you don’t have to.”

“I appreciate that, but I need to feel like I’m pulling my weight. I haven’t needed money before, so I’ve never had a job to have earned anything to save. I’m sure I’ll be erased from the Aldrich wills, so family money I can kiss goodbye. Honestly, I’m fine with that. Their money comes with too many caveats. I’ve done nothing but go to school since I was five. Now I have a degree but no resume. Guess that should be where I start, creating a resume.” The document was already swirling around in my head. I had nothing but school to put on it, no real-life work experience. Talk about being a total loser… “Shit, how can I get a job when I can only work nights? Who in their right mind would hire me?”

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