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“That’s nice,” Melody and Brittany said in unison to support the change of subject.
“We went on a cruise to Alaska once,” Granny said dryly. “I didn’t like it.”
“No, honey, that was Mexico. We went to Mexico and we loved it,” Granddad Charlie chimed in. “Remember all the great food and how we danced in the ballroom.”
My grandmother, who is close to ninety and has been married to my grandfather since she was twenty-two, gave her husband a grim stare. “I’ve never been to Mexico with you. Did you take someone else?”
He rolled his eyes. “Of course not. It was in nineteen-eighty-four, and I can show you the pictures when we get home.”
“What are you laughing at?” Brent said to Nick, who snickered at his great-grandmother. “Did you even wash your hands before coming to the table? And don’t stuff your plate like that.”
“It’s okay, we have plenty of food,” my mom said softly. “He’s only ten.”
“No, it’s not okay, I don’t want a fat kid who is too stupid to wash his hands,” Brent said coldly.
Nick’s shoulders slumped down and his smile was gone. I had a flashback to Brent sitting in that same chair twenty years ago and being reprimanded for everything on this earth by his father. The fact that the only thing he had learned from taking all that abuse was how to pass it on to others made me resent him.
“I’ve got something exciting to share,” I said and felt my heart race triple-speed when everyone turned their heads to look at me.
“It turns out that we have a family member that we never knew about.”
Brent put down his knife and fork with a warning glance. But I didn’t budge.
“Twenty-one years ago, before meeting Janet, Brent had a daughter, and I’m really excited about bringing her into our family today.”
“I have another sister?” Nick asked excitedly. “Where is she?”
I nodded toward Cia. “Right here. Cia is your half-sister.”
“What is he saying?” Granny asked Charlie.
“Gabriel says that Cia is Brent’s daughter.”
My grandmother squinted her eyes. “Of course Mia is Brent’s daughter; we always knew that.”
“No, Granny… Cia. I’m talking about my girlfriend.” I pointed to Cia on my right side.
“Your girlfriend is Brent’s daughter?” Granny said with confusion. “Since when?”
“Well technically since she was born, I would assume,” Gareth said and seemed mildly amused.
“Is Brent okay with Gabriel dating his daughter?” Granny asked Charlie in a loud whisper. “You should talk to them about how improper incest is and warn them not to have children… inbreeding makes for weak and sick offspring.”
Charlie shushed her and placed his wrinkled hand on hers.
I spoke up. “We’re not blood related, Granny,” I pointed out.
A big puff of air came from Brent, who shot me a death glare. “I told you not to bring her here.”
Janet kept looking from Cia to Brent. “You had a child and you didn’t tell me?”
My mom opened her mouth to speak but closed it again and sat back in her chair. Apparently, not even she knew how to smooth these waters.
“Well, this is just nice,” Brent said sardonically, “While you’re at it,brother,why don’t you tell them about what kind of person she is and how she got arrested by the police? Oh, that’s right… you didn’t mention that, did you, because as always you let people use you, just like Heidi used you.”
“What the hell does that have to with anything?” I asked.
“God, you’re so naïve, G. Don’t you see – she’s just another of your pet projects, another lost soul to fix, and while you’re pouring your soft heart into healing her, she’s using you, just like Heidi and all the others did. When will you ever learn? There’s a reason no one else wanted her.”
