Page 50 of Fighter
“Sorry, I just had to get away from there for a while. My brother, his wife Mallory, Maverick, and a few other siblings are all in the waiting room at the same time and that's the worst idea ever. They're all so freaking intense it's like having a board meeting.”
Tremors of frustration ran through his voice as he spoke. They came out in sharp bursts, like a staccato. The idea of several Benjamin's or Maverick's sent a little shudder through me. Maverick had always been so kind, but there was definitely something big about his size and quick mind. Benjamin, of course, carried himself like a panther, so he always looked like a prowling animal ready to pounce.
“No worries,” I said. “Give it to me.”
He paused. “Give it to me?”
My cheeks heated with the double entendre, and I decided to totally ignore the other connotations. I flapped a hand, as if he could see me, and said, “Yeah. Give it to me. Tell me all about it. Why are you frustrated? What are they saying? What flavor of ice cream would you rather be eating right now?”
“Ice cream?”
The perplexed tone made my eyes roll. Darling man-child, he had no idea how to just be a normal human. Clearly, I'd have to pare this down for him in a far more direct manner. Not for the first time, I wondered about his family dynamics. Did they not know how to talk about their bad days?
Now more than ever, Benjamin needed me. The idea should have scared me, but it didn’t.
“This is an opportunity for you to tell me what's in your head, Ben. Tell me all the things, good and bad. And, you know, what ice cream you're craving. All bad days breed a need for ice cream.”
“Oh.”
“What thoughts are coming up for you after seeing everyone?”
“Are you my therapist now?”
An edge colored the human. Geez, but this man . . . Next he would tell me that he didn't eat ice cream unless it was made from something healthy, like coconut milk or something.
“No, because you couldn't afford me. Give it to me! What are you feeling?”
“Frustration.”
“With?”
“Mom.”
“Why?”
“Because she was four months late to her last cardiology appointment. They were going to do a stress test and could have caught thisbeforeshe had a heart attack.”
“Yikes.”
“Yeah.”
The image of him rubbing the back of his neck filtered through my mind. He sounded agitated. I'd bet all my savings he was pacing somewhere awkward, like a closed lobby, where people thought he might explode.
“And Mallory too?”
He groaned. “Don't get me started on her. She drives me nuts. In the weirdest way possible she's almost an exact replica of my Mom, except she was born in Sri Lanka and immigrated here as a baby. So she's somehow become the mouthpiece for my Mom's wishes in this family and everyone is arguing against what she thinks. But Mallory is taking them all down. Baxter, my brother, is just sitting there and letting it happen because he's totally whipped for her. I think Mallory is nervous, so she just takes charge.”
No wonder Ava wasn't comfortable with her. Mallory sounded terrifying.
“And Mav?” I asked.
“He's the only thing keeping Mallory in check. He's the only one she really listens to.” He sighed. “It has something to do with the fact that he saved her company. Anyway, the bottom line is that everyone is stressed and I don't want to be here.”
The last part came out quietly and I felt a pang of compassion for him. Was there anything more stressful than broken family issues? No.
Could confirm.
“Sounds like a lot, Ben, and it doesn't help that your Mom's recovery is an unknown point amongst all this bickering. I'm sorry it's happening that way. Wish I could be there with you.”
