Chapter 6 #3
“My father was a violent, narcissistic asshole who tormented my mom and us until we were able to finally get free of him. He’s in prison now, convicted of beating up my mom.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “That definitely counts as stuff.”
“Like I said. We all have something.”
“I guess so.” He sat next to her and tipped his face into the late-afternoon sun. “Are you okay? Now, I mean?”
“I do all right, but every so often, something takes me right back to those years, such as wondering what he’d have to say about me living with a man I’m not married to.”
“That gave you a rough moment today?”
“That’s what I was talking to my sister about. Her exact words were ‘fuck him.’ I’m trying to take her advice.”
Smiling, he said, “I like how your sister thinks.”
“He did a number on all of us. We tend to stick together.”
“I’m glad you have each other.”
“I am, too. I don’t know what I’d do without them.” She looked over at him. “Do you have other siblings? Besides your late brother?”
“I have an older sister, Diana. She’s married with two kids. She did everything right, unlike her brothers. I was never close to her, but I was super close to Jess.”
“You must miss him.”
“I do. I think of him every day. I go back in my mind to where it all went wrong for us and think about how I might’ve changed the story.” He made a face that was a cross between a grimace and a grin. “It’s stupid to think I could’ve done anything to change things.”
“You were so young.”
“I was old enough to be married with two little kids at home when I followed my brother into that store. When I think about how different our lives could’ve been if we hadn’t gotten into drugs…”
“All we can do is live with it and move forward with the intention of breaking the cycle. In our case, we’re intensely focused on living peaceful, loving lives. That’s how we exact revenge on the man who raised us, by living completely differently than he did.”
“I’ve learned the same thing about the past through NA and AA. That’s one of the primary lessons that comes from both programs.”
“I’m glad you’ve found comfort there.”
“I have. Both programs saved my life. No question.” He glanced over at her. “Where have you found comfort?”
“Mostly in my mom and siblings and watching them forge new lives for themselves. Two of them are married, and a third is probably getting married soon. The other three are doing so much better than they were. My youngest brother also had drug issues, but thanks to the emergency intervention of my grandparents, he was able to kick the habit and get through college. It was tough for him being the last one at home without the rest of us to run interference for him.”
“I’m glad to hear he’s doing well. What’s his name?”
“Jeff.”
“Ah, I think I know him.”
“Right. From AA. He’s been hanging out at my mom’s the last month or so.”
Jace nodded. “He’s a fine young man.”
“I’m glad you think so. We adore him.”
“Your brother John is a good dude, too.”
“He is. It’s been so fun to have them here. We’re hoping Josh will join us at some point, and then the gang will all be here.”
“Why here?” he asked as he got up to check the chicken on the grill.
“My grandparents, who are my mother’s parents, owned the Surf for more than fifty years, and we spent summers with them growing up. It was the only break we got from the madness at home. Except for when my dad deployed, that is.”
“He was in the military?”
“A general in the air force.”
“Oh damn. Wow.”
“Which is why no one ever did anything about the bruises they saw on the Lawry kids or reported him to the authorities. He wielded so much power in every community we lived in.”
“That’s horrible. I’m so glad he’s paying for his crimes now.”
“We are, too. I still wake up every day and almost can’t believe that justice was served, along with a heavy dose of humiliation.
He would tell us all the time that our family’s business was private, and we’d better never get caught ‘telling tales out of school.’ That was one of his favorite expressions.
His trial got a lot of media attention. That was the best part for us.
That he was publicly humiliated and the sterling reputation he was so proud of was ruined forever. ”
“That’s the least of what he deserved.”
Cindy smiled at him. “Thanks for listening to all that. I don’t usually unload the whole story on new people.”
“I’m happy to listen any time, and I’m not exactly new. We’ve been friends for weeks.”
“True.”
“I do think of you as a good friend, Cindy. I hope you know that.”
“I’m glad, and likewise. I enjoy our chats at the bar.”
“I do, too. Talking to you makes the night go by too quickly. I always want more time to talk to you.” He absolutely loved the way her face flushed with color when he said things like that to her. “We need to have a new rule.”
“What rule?”
“Nothing but fun in this house. None of the bad stuff, unless someone calls time-out to talk about something.”
“I like that rule.”
“We’ve both had enough of the bad stuff. It’s time for good things.” He held up his glass to her. “Here’s to the good stuff.”
She touched her glass to his. “Cheers.”