4. Hades
Hades
CHAPTER FOUR
Memories of the past
"I want an early birthday present," she said, her voice whiny. I found myself wondering again if the overprotection with which Pam was raised was doing her more harm than good.
"Your birthday has already passed," I said, fastening my pants, grabbing my shirt, and heading towards the adjoining bathroom in the library when she showed clear signs she wasn't leaving.
"But I only had the club party. It's not enough. I need another present. Please."
I had the shirt on and was buttoning it up when I turned back around. "What do you want, Pam?"
"A kiss on the lips."
"We've had this conversation before. Stop this, or I'll never see you in person again."
She put her hand over her heart as if she were feeling physical pain. "Please don't say that. The thought of never seeing you again makes me want to die. I promise I'll just be your sister if you don't want me, but don't push me away."
Tears started streaming down her face, but I remained unmoved. Maybe Ares was right and it was time for me to become a distant protector.
I knew Pam's feelings were just a crush. Maybe she had transferred the love meant for a father onto me, even though I was only eleven years older than her. The fact was, I never saw her as a woman, not even after she turned eighteen.
"As long as you behave, I won't go away."
"You don't love me!"
"Not the way you want. I love you like a big brother."
"I don't want you as a brother. I want to be yours."
"Pam!" I exploded, because I never had patience for drama.
She recognized the tone and understood my patience was wearing thin. Since she’d turned fifteen, I'd endured her passionate looks, and what I wanted was to have my little girl back. My protected one, the sister I never had.
"You're breaking my heart."
"I'm being honest. I will never lie to you. I don't love you that way and I never will."
"If you won't kiss me, give me something else besides the party and the Rolex, which I loved, by the way."
"What do you want?"
"A trip to Cape Cod. To spend a few days there with Juliet, just the two of us."
"You don't have much time before college starts."
"We'll be back before then. And don't worry, I won't let Juliet negatively influence me. The fact that she doesn't want to study, even when she has the chance, won't deter me from my path."
"You speak poorly of her and still want her as a travel companion?"
"I love her, flaws and all. Now, say yes."
"Pick the house you want to rent, but what I said when Kennedy moved in still stands: no drugs or alcohol."
"For my part, you can rest assured."
"What does that mean?"
"She drinks when she goes out with Ryan."
I entered the bathroom before I could punch the wall and show the anger thinking of Kennedy with another man caused me. "We're done talking, Pam."
"You've changed with me, Hades. Is it because of her?"
"What?"
"Juliet—precious Kennedy, as you call her, and I still don't understand why you do."
"Her name is Kennedy."
"If she's the reason you don't love me anymore ? —”
"Pam, don't test my patience. It's hanging by a thread."
As with previous confrontations, her expression immediately shifted from defiant to sweet. "Sorry. I'll be a good girl."
"Stuck in memories, my son?" I hear Vina's voice behind me, bringing me back to the present.
"Vina, you shouldn't be up," I say without moving, and I tense up when she approaches and hugs me.
Despite continuing to care for her after my grandfather died and taking over Pam's support and education, we were never really a family, which is strange since I considered Pam my little sister.
Since the death of her granddaughter, Vina seems to have broken apart. The strong woman is now just a shadow of her former self.
"The nurses told me to walk a bit. Besides, I'm in a room on the first floor. It wasn't a big effort to come here. Shall we go to the kitchen for coffee?"
I'm not in the mood. After the recent memories, all I want is to keep away from this house, but she said she wanted to talk to me.
About ten minutes later, each sitting with a mug of coffee in front of us—untouched in my case—I confirm what she just said. "Is that what you want?"
"Yes, son. I can't stay on this property. I don't want to sound ungrateful, but if I close my eyes, I can hear them talking, laughing, teasing each other. My heart has been broken in more than one place, Hades. Pam was like a daughter to me, and Juliet . . . I loved her too. I don't understand what could have gone wrong to make her act the way she did."
I stand up. "The past can't be understood, Vina, but justice will be served and the guilty will be punished," I say, because I'm not the type to try to understand why things happen. That phase has passed. "I'll have my secretary send you property options. Once you decide on a house, I'll buy it."
"And what will you do with this one?"
"I'll sell it. I need to talk to my brothers because surely there are things here they'll want to keep as mementos, but after that, I don't want to set foot here again."
Kennedy
Two months later
Present
"Are you going to be okay, Delores?" I ask because I know that in a few minutes, Child Services will come to pick me up.
My lawyers' request for me to respond to the homicide accessory charge while out on bail was granted, but most surprisingly, the judge allowed me to leave the state, which only happens in rare cases? 1 .
Ernest told me that my secret protector played a significant role in the granting of my freedom. Apparently, he's very influential and knows the right people to ask for favors.
In the end, I was actually in a cell for only two months, and now, I'm anxious to see my son. Just thinking that he has no idea who I am makes me cry. I missed so much of his development because I was in a coma. I missed enjoying his first two years of life.
"As okay as I've been all these years, my love. Don't worry about it. I've come to terms with my fate, Kennedy. Knowing that my Angela is safe, studying, and on the right path is my reason for breathing."
"I'll keep in touch. I don't know if I'll return to Massachusetts before the trial, but I'll try to write letters, and if you can, call me? I know you use your phone call right to talk to Angela, but I'll miss you terribly."
"Don't cry, dear. I'll be fine. Both of us will. You'll be better off in New Orleans, with your protector and your boy."
"He'll see me as a stranger, Delores. King is two years old and has no idea I'm his mother."
Tears flow uncontrollably now, and I feel her arms wrap around me, which, after a few minutes, calms me down.
"One day at a time, my love. You're not alone. You have me, though I'm not of much use. But there's also my daughter Angela, who already adores you, Mr. Ernest, and also this secret protector who's footing the lawyer bills. Everything will be okay. As for your boy, you'll have time to win him over."
I give her a kiss on the cheek, praying to God that it's true.
1 ? I didn't make this up. According to my research, it can actually happen in special situations in Massachusetts, and remember that the crime happened in Cape Cod, in said state. Despite this, I'm almost certain that in Kennedy's case, due to there not being proof from the court that she was actually a fugitive or that she didn't turn herself in earlier because she was "amnesic," I think this right to answer to the charges while out on bail wouldn't apply or be granted, especially considering it's a violent crime—accessory or complicity to commit murder. The permission to not only answer the charges while out on bail but also leave Massachusetts can be granted in some situations in this state. In the present situation, however, I believe the chance would be slim. But the beauty of a fictional literary work is that we can play with reality.