Intimidation

Chapter 12

I felt like eveything was in slow motion and moving backwards as I tried not to fall over.

"Excuse me..what?" I was confused and angry at the same time.

He could be lying but..mom has been out of our lives for quite some time and that would explain a lot.

"It's true" mom said.

I looked at her and my brothers and dad..they all looked just as angry and hurt as I was.

"This has to be some sort of joke" my youngest brother said.

"It's not. And please just let me explain before you all decide to leave me. Just let me explain everything" mom said.

"So..when you defended me at the airport..what was that?" I asked.

"I wasn't ready to tell anyone yet because I knew how it would look so I had to make it seem as if I was taking your side" mom said.

"As if? So you weren't really on my side?" I asked angrily as I stood up.

"No honey that's not what I said. I just.." she looked around at everyone else and she noticed Lyla had sat up from her lap.

Lyla looked really really different.

Like she was about to loose her cool at any moment.

"So you didn't think we were mature enough or old enough to understand this? Mom do you know what we've been through for the last few years? And you didn't want to tell us something like this?" Lyla said.

She sounded as if she was about to cry and I walked over to comfort her.

"Yes I know all of that and I apologize to all of you for keeping this from you. It's not as simple as it sounds and I just need some time to explain" mom said.

We all looked at eachother and waited for her to finish.

"I didn't want to hurt our family more than I had already. It's not something I'm proud of but..at the time I was really upset and angry at your father for what he did and I left. That's when I went to Europe the first time and you all didn't see me for some time. That was because while I was there I got remarried to Kason's father and everything was fine for some time. Until he left me for his ex wife and I couldn't handle all of that and the thought that I had left all of you because of something your father did. It wasn't fair to you and I understand how you all feel but I never stopped loving you and I will make up to you all if you let me" mom said.

She didn't look up,just kept her eyes down on the floor and I felt bad for her.

We all softened knowing what mom was referring to and dad looked sad.

"I've apologized to you so many times for that. I wasn't in a good place back then and I have tried to make it up to you" he said.

"Now yes. Then you weren't. When I came to you about it you told me you didnt see the problem with it because we weren't married" mom said.

That was new.

We all looked at dad and he shrugged his shoulders.

"I was young and stupid at the time and I didn't know what I wanted. I apologize once again and I have done better since then. Yes I regret it but i can't change the past" he said.

"Everyone makes mistakes. Remember when we were little and Lyla and I almost broke moms favorite glass set? We knew we wouldn't have been playing like that in the house but we at least told you what had happened and e moved past it" I said.

Lyla nodded.

"When you know you do something wrong and you still admit it yes it may hurt people or someone but you made it less painful by telling them the truth straight up instead of hiding it or making it seem as if it didn't happen. Mom we're family and yes it hurts that you didn't tell us but we are going to move past it as a family. Kason..i have never liked you and I still don't even though you're technically my brother now. But you've been nothing but a pain in the butt since we met and you've hurt my sister so therefore I forgive you but we are not cool" Lyla said.

I nodded and leaned back on the wall.

It's been really hard trying to process this whole night and I really just want to get some sleep right now.

2 men came over to us and untied Kason and he sat down comfortably.

"I understand. And I apologize to you and Cam. I've just always felt a connection between us and I'll admit at first I was afraid of it being true. When I found out I was at a loss for words then I saw you two at the restaurant and I didn't know what to say or do so I guess I just made more problems for you. I'm so sorry. But I will make it up to you in any way I can. Just let me know what I can do and I will do it" he said.

One of my brothers sighed and we all turned to him.

"Do you really believe that?" He asked,looking at Lyla and I.

We looked at him confused then I nodded yes.

"I guess so. People change right? What's the harm in giving him another chance" I said.

He rolled his eyes and stood up.

"See. That's why things happen. You are too forgiving and you always put others before you. You need to stop that and stop giving people second chances. If you don't then you will be the one to keep getting hurt and I'm getting really tired of always telling you things and telling you what peolle do while you disregard it and don't listen. You're my sister and I love you but you need to keeen how to protect yourself and your heart better than that" he said.

"What are you talking about? I know how to protect myself and I do know how to let people go. But you know how we deal with family and weather we knew about him or not he's basically a part of our family now" I said.

"No. He's not my family. All of you know what this kid has put me through and you're just going to forgive him? Just like that? No thanks" he said,walking off and into another room.

I sighed and walked into the room after him.

"Look. I understand what he did to you and I'm so so so sorry for it on his behalf. But you have to let her go. People come and go and there's nothing we can do about that" I said.

He turned to me with tears in his eyes.

"She left me for him. After 2 years together she just left like i mesnt absolutely nothing to her. Then she came back to me when she heard about your house catching fire and told me how much she missed me and still loved me. We talked for a long time until I found out she had a child..by someone else. Do you know how I feel right now? I feel like i want to punch him in the face and not stop until I see blood" he said.

"Wow..I didn't know that..but that's a great example and a good reason to leave her alone. She does nothing but hurt you and I don't want you to keep going through that. Just like you don't want us dealing with anything like that" I said.

He looked down and nodded and I gave him a hug.

"We're going to be okay. Just keep your head up and don't do anything you would regret okay?" I said.

"Okay. Let's get back in there before someone gets angry" he said.

I laughed and he wiped his face as we walked back into the room with everyone else.

"Alright now hat everyone's back I think it's time to get some sleep. Girls have the room on the left and boys have the room on the right. All of this is really new so Kason you have the room in the back" Dad said.

We all walked up to our rooms and I couldn't help but notice mom looked really sad.

But this was something her and dad needed to talk about alone so i followed Lyla and claimed my side of the room.