Song: Beautiful Crazy by Luke Combs

Chapter Sixty-three: He's going to eat you for lunch instead

"I can explain."

"That's what I asked you to do."

I was quiet for a while, thinking of what to say. Maybe I can't actually explain.

Shane spoke up, "Char, is there something you're not telling us?"

"Where's Mum?" Shayna bit out.

"Please calm down, so I can think and I can talk."

"First question. Whose house is this?"

"Let's not start with questions. Let me say everything from the start."

"Go ahead."

I settled back in the seat. "Dad came back two and a half months ago."

"How dare he show his face back here after what he did?!" Shane growled.

I guess she told Shane.

Well, they're twins. That's one person split in two.

I don't think-.

"And this is his house."

Not exactly the best way to put it.

Shane started out of the kitchen.

"Where are you going?"

He turned. "To get my things and leave!"

"You can't go."

"I'm over 18. I'm an adult. I'm pretty sure I can do what I want."

"Would you just listen?"

"Listen to what?" Shane growled. "You trying to defend the man who almost raped our sister?"

Shayna winced and stumbled back, but Shane continued. "The man who cheated on our mum? The man who left us?"

Well if you put it like that.

I ran to him and grabbed his hand, "Shane, listen to me. Let me finish and if you decide to still leave the house after I'm done, then I'd let you go."

"Better idea. Why don't I stay and he goes?"

I creased my brows. "Cos it's his house."

"Well, he has to pay someway."

"He is paying. For a lot of things. He said he'd buy a new house for us once we left here, he'd pay all our tuition. He'd pay for everything he needs to like a father should."

"When I said pay, that's not what I meant. He can't just use money to worm his way back into our lives. Is that why you forgave him?"

"Not exactly. Aren't you tired of being angry? Aren't you ready to forgive?"

"No. I'm not. Look at Shay. She looks every expression except happiness."

I turned to Shay as tears started falling from her eyes. Shane went up to her and engulfed her in a hug. "I can't be hear when he gets back." She choked out. "I think I'd live with mum."

"Mum's in Africa."

Shane released Shay and turned to me. "She left you guys with a rapist and a drunk."

"That's our dad Shane. And technically he's not a rapist."

"He's not my dad."

"He's changed."

"Do people ever really change?"

"Yes, they do, and dad has. He's just like he was before that holiday."

"Why is Mum in Africa?" Shay asked. 

"If you two would stop bombarding me with questions, I'd be able to give all answers."

Shayna sniffed and went to sit on one of the stools and Shane came to stand in front of me. "I wouldn't like to be interrupted this time."

I looked at both of them, also checking to see if Shay was okay. Honestly, my heart broke for her. Seeing her here just brought up a lot of emotions with me and it made me remember why I hated Dad so much. God, I'm so conflicted!

I placed my hands on my lap, looked at it and began. "Dad came back two and a half months ago. It was a shock to all of us. I was entering they Principal's office and there he was, looking better than ever with a flawless woman and a beautiful girl my age. I felt like I was being ripped apart all over again. I decided to ignore it, and maybe it'd disappear, but it didn't. The girl and I encountered a few times that day and she showed me that her beauty is definitely only on the outside. I didn't want to tell Rev because I knew she'd take it worse than me, but it was kind of difficult to hide them when they showed up at our doorstep. Turns out he has an eight year old son who is very pleasant by the way. Well, Dad showed up to have dinner with us and it didn't turn out well. It was very clear Mum was trying to keep herself together, but Mrs. Nicholas Brooks is not the easie-st to deal with. She was pushy and rude in a weird way, but Mum held it in. Reveka and I, on the other hand, totally lost it. We yelled and cried, and then Rev stormed off. That was the end of the dinner, and we thought that was the end of ever having to deal with him, but it was not. Mum was in a car accident the next week."

Shane cut me off, "What?!!"

Shayna jumped down from her stool to stand beside Shane, in front of me. "Is she okay? Is that why she went to Africa?"

"No. She's fine now."

Shay let out a breath, but Shane still seemed completely on edge.

Since they both weren't saying anything, I decided to continue. "Since she had to stay in the hospital for a month and a half, doctors' orders, Rev and I had to be under parent or guardian supervision."

"And that was dad."

"Yes. So she healed about three weeks ago, but then she went to Africa with Dr. Wallace."

"Who's Dr. Wallace?" Shane asked.

"How could you have forgotten? He's mum's friend. He's been working with her for years."

It still didn't click into Shane's head until Shayna said, "He was the one there with us the day dad left."

"Oh." It clicked. "I like him."

"Well, he and Mum are dating now. And to get her to rest since she was healed, he took her to Africa."

"I like him more."

"And that gave us three more weeks here. She'll be back by Wednesday."

"Good. I can't spend too long in this house."

"Well, dad, Rev and I had a talk."

"Don't tell me Rev forgave him too?" Shane whined.

Shay inputted "Yeah, I won't believe it. She's literally a tough nut to crack."

"I guess her longing for a father figure surpassed her hardheadedness."

"I'd take a squirrel over him as my father any day."

"Shane..." I scolded.

"You were always so willing to forgive. How do you do that?"

"I forgive others because I'd want to be forgiven too. I may never do anything as bad as them, but everyone has their limits. It may not be very easy to forgive, but when you do, it gives you peace of mind."

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you." Shay muttered. "I read that on a poster, but I just can't do it. I can't even look at him. How am I supposed to forgive him?" 

I put a hand on her shoulder and smiled, "Nobody said it doesn't take time. And you know our dad. I mean, he's been your dad for 19 years, before he did all that. I promise you, he isn't actually like that. He was drunk most of the time and he doesn't even remember most of that holiday. You know what a drink can do to people."

"Well, he should have stayed. He should have gone to a counselor. He left because he was a coward." Shane scoffed.

"And he has no excuse for that. He claims our lives would have been better without him, but he was wrong. So, what do we do now? We learn to live with it. We learn to live with it because we can't let it hunt us for the rest of our lives."

Tears started running down Shay's eyes. "He was supposed to be the one to protect me. Fight for me during times like that. And yet he was the one. He was the one who dared to lay his hands on me."

I winced at her words. "Don't tell me he actually touched you." 

"He pushed me on the bed, but before anything could happen, Mum walked in." Shane hugged her and she sobbed into his chest. "I was so scared. I thought that was it. I just-"

"I wish I'd been there to protect you. To prevent you from all these thoughts, Shay. I'm really sorry." Shane soothed as he rubbed her hair.

She just nodded into his chest. I joined the hug and Shane put his hands around me too. We hugged for a while, we didn't even notice anyone come in, until they spoke.

"Oh my God, you guys are here!" I heard Rev squeal. 

We all looked up to see her, and her smile dropped into a frown. She took slow steps towards us, and then grabbed Shay and hugged her tight.

"I'm starting to think you two have a favorite twin." Shane grumbled.

Rev laughed as she added him to the hug. I was added too. We hugged for a long time. Just enjoying being held in each other's arms. I loved my family.

Well, most of them.

***********************

"I'm really nervous to meet them."

I somehow convinced the twins to stay until Mum got back which was just in about three days from now. I hoped Dad and Mrs. Brooks would like some extra, extra time alone so they won't be back till Thanksgiving Day. That'd make everything so much better.

It was about 6 pm and Zane was back from Wren's cabin. Before he could tell me about how it went, I had told him that my siblings were at home. I hadn't told them about him yet, but I was eager for him to meet them. I was sure they'd like him. He, on the other hand, was freaking out.

"They're going to love you like I do." I assured him.

"I don't want them to love me like you do. That's just weird."

I chuckled at the inside meaning of what I had said. "That's not what I meant."

"I figured. But older brothers usually eat the boyfriends of their younger sisters for breakfast."

I patted his shoulder, "Well I promise you that Shane isn't like that. He is going to eat you for lunch instead."

He turned to me with a horrified expression. I couldn't hold in my laugh as I told him, "I was just kidding."

He literally growled at me. "Cherry..." He scolded. "You're really no helping."

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. Maybe we should go inside."

"Not yet. Prep me on what they're like."

I rolled my eyes at how unnecessary he was acting. It's not like they're my parents.

"Shayna is nice, sweet, caring and very charming."

"Okay, so what about Shane?"

I shrugged. "He's an animal that needs to be caged."

"Cherry..." He scolded again. 

"What?"

"Be serious."

"I am. My brother is really an animal."

He glared at me. 

"Fine. Shane is like you."

"Are you calling me an animal?"

I chuckled at his face. "That's not what I meant. I meant, he's arrogant like you. Cocky like you. Self-absorbed like you. Immature like you. Stupid, but smart at the same time like you-"

"Get to the point." Zane bit out.

I smiled at him and put my hand on his cheek. "All in all, he's sweet, charming and important to me. Like you."

Zane smiled at me and put his hand over mine on his cheek. "Thanks for the pep talk."

"That's just to tell you, you owe me compliments."

He rolled his eyes, still beaming. "You're beautiful, smart, cute, charming, amazing, kind-hearted, adorable."

I reveled in his compliments, "Keep 'em coming."

"I have a better idea." He replied. And then he leaned down and kissed me. I didn't know how long. I didn't even know if I'd ever get used to his kisses. I just knew that this was better than any compliment anyone could have given me.

Someone cleared their throat from behind us. We broke apart and turned around to see Shane standing a few feet away from us, a cup of water in hand.

His eyes were set on Zane's, but for some reason, he wasn't glaring or gritting his teeth, he just had a straight face as he said, "I don't think the best place to kiss my little sister is at our doorstep."

*****************

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