Page 89 of Final Installment
“Why wouldn’t I?I’m not spending one penny more than necessary to get rid of him.He's lucky I didn't throw him under a bridge to rot!He didn’t have any friends who would have come to a funeral anyway.”
“That’s not the—.”
“Don’t stand there and defend that monster!”our mother sharply interrupted.“He was a disgusting old man.He was evil.He abused your father.He beat your grandmother right up until the week that she died from cancer.He hated you kids.All three of you.Even Skender.”Her voice grew shriller and shriller with each word.“Your grandfather was the one who started the rumor about paternity.”
She shook her head and practically panted as she tried to get control of herself.“Yes, I did have an affair.AfterSkender was born.Enver died in the war, defending your father.That’s all I’m going to say about it.”She stormed toward the door of the hangar.“If you want to get paternity tests, go ahead.You’ve already made up your mind about me.I’ll be with your brother in Athens when you’re ready to apologize.”
We didn’t stop her from leaving.I felt a little bad about it but only a little.
“See?”Dafina turned toward Dusan who sat ramrod straight in the too small chair.“I told you my family is crazy.”She glanced back at me and held up her hands in a placating manner.“No offense.”
“None taken.”She wasn’t saying anything I hadn’t thought a million times.
"Poor Skender," my sister said sadly."Recovering from all that surgery and not being able to escape our mother?"She shuddered dramatically."I'd be begging for sedatives from the nurses."
Skender had been flown my medical helicopter to Athens as soon as Brett had arrived in Tirana.He'd wanted our brother to have better care than was available in the capital.The surgeon there, a famous plastic specialist, had given strict orders that Skender not fly by plane for at least three months.For now, he was stuck there with her.
"I've hired people to look after him," Brett assured us."When he’s healthy enough to fly, I’ll bring him over to Dallas.”
“Dallas?”Dafina repeated with surprise.“Not Houston?”
“I asked him, and he was very clear that he wanted no part of Houston,” Brett said.“I’m going to put him up at the house or out at the ranch.We’ll figure out what he’s going to do about school once he’s recovered.”
“So you two are talking now?”Dafina asked with obvious surprise.
“I know I made a mistake not fighting harder for him.”His expression darkened.“The biggest regret of my life was not fighting your mother to get custody of all three of you when we divorced.I should have paid her whatever she wanted.Maybe I could have kept Skender in the US where he belonged.”
“No, you couldn’t,” Dusan finally spoke, his voice deep and steady.“As soon as the old man stopped paying the tithe, the clock was ticking.It wasn’t a problem outside money could fix.It was a promise made that had to be kept.”
Brett regarded Dusan for a moment.“Be that as it may, I should have tried.”He glanced at Dafina.“I should have done more for you.”
“You paid for my private school, for both of my degrees, my cars, my allowance,” she listed all the things our stepdad had provided.
“And it wasn’t nearly enough,” he argued.“I knew what your mother was.What she is,” he amended.“It was wrong of me to leave you alone with that.”
“Well,” Dafina squirmed uncomfortably, “your apology is accepted.We’re fine.”
Brett looked like he was anything but fine.He seemed truly saddened by his mistakes and deeply troubled by his regrets.“Okay, but I’m paying for the real wedding.”
Dafina smiled at Dusan.“See?I told you he wouldn’t be upset about the whole baby before the wedding thing.”
“I didn’t say that,” Brett grumbled.Flicking his fingers at Dusan, he said, “Son, why don’t you walk with me to the plane.We need to chat.”
Dusan hefted himself out of the chair, gave Dafina a nervous glance and then lumbered after Brett who was headed for the doorway to the tarmac.
“That went better than I expected.”Dafina looped her arm through mine.“You need some help?”
“A little if you don’t mind,” I admitted, feeling tired and a little unsteady.
“That was hilarious about the FUPA by the way.”
I snorted.“It was gross.I shouldn’t have said it.”
“She deserved it.We should make a habit of telling her off from now on,” Dafina decided.
“I doubt I’m going to cross paths with her much at all after this.”
“Because you’re moving to China?”she asked, holding the door open for me.
