A New Beginning
1176 Words
Xavier stepped closer, hand on Joshua’s shoulder. “You’re both. You don’t have to choose.”
Joshua snapped, “That’s easy for you to say. You’ve had eighteen years of this. I just got tossed out of my house like garbage.”
Olivia’s face crumpled. “Oh, sweetheart…”
“Don’t,” Joshua said quickly. “Don’t call me that either.”
Harrison’s jaw tightened. “Olivia, give him space.”
She bit her lip, trying to contain herself.
Harrison addressed Joshua carefully. “We are not trying to erase your past. You have every right to your memories. To your loyalty to the Rowlands. We… we only want to offer you the truth. And a place where you’re wanted.”
Joshua barked a short, humorless laugh. “Yeah, well, the Rowlands wanted me until about five hours ago.”
Xavier said gently, “That’s on them. Not you.”
Joshua glared at Harrison. “So what, now you want me to just slot into your life like a missing puzzle piece? I’m not a piece. I’m a whole different goddamn puzzle.”
Harrison surprised him by giving a dry, almost amused huff. “You sound exactly like your mother.”
Joshua blinked. “Excuse me?”
Olivia shot Harrison a watery glare. “Harrison, don’t—”
Harrison shrugged. “He does. It’s a compliment.”
Olivia exhaled shakily. “Joshua. Look at me.”
He hesitated… then lifted his eyes.
“I know this is overwhelming,” Olivia said softly. “You’re angry. You’re grieving the life you thought you had. And you don’t owe us forgiveness or affection. But please… don’t shut us out. Let us be your family.”
Joshua said nothing, swallowing hard.
Xavier muttered, “You should’ve seen him earlier, Mom. He threatened to haunt me if I dumped him in the Hudson.”
Joshua shot him a murderous look. “Shut. Up.”
Harrison chuckled. “Good instinct. That’s where we dump bodies.”
Olivia gasped, swatting Harrison’s arm. “Harrison!”
“What?” he protested. “I’m trying to lighten the mood.”
Joshua stared at them, half horrified, half stunned. “…Are you people serious right now?”
Xavier was laughing helplessly. “God, I missed this.”
Joshua snapped, “You didn’t even know me to miss me.”
Xavier sobered instantly. “Actually… I did. You’ve been a ghost in our house for eighteen years. We missed you every single day.”
Olivia reached for Joshua’s hand again. This time, he didn’t pull away fast enough. Her fingers closed around his, warm and trembling.
“I kept waiting for someone to tell me it was all a mistake,” she whispered. “That you were coming home. And now… here you are.”
Joshua swallowed. “Stop. You’re gonna cry.”
Olivia gave a shaky laugh. “Too late.”
Joshua stared at the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. They were silent tears, sliding down her cheeks without sobs or wails.
Something twisted painfully in his chest.
“I… I don’t know how to do this,” he said hoarsely.
“You don’t have to do anything,” Olivia said. “Just… stay. Please. Let us feed you. Let us talk to you. Or just sit quietly with you. Whatever you want.”
Joshua looked at Harrison, whose eyes were suspiciously shiny too.
“You’re not gonna try to hug me, are you?” Joshua asked warily.
Harrison snorted. “I’m not a hugger.”
Olivia swatted his arm again. “You hug me all the time.”
“That’s different,” Harrison said. “You don’t look like you’re about to bolt for the fire escape.”
Joshua managed a strangled laugh.
Xavier grinned. “See? I told you they’d be weird enough to make you feel at home.”
Joshua rolled his eyes. “This is not normal.”
Olivia wiped her eyes. “Normal is overrated.”
Joshua mumbled, “Understatement.”
Olivia gently squeezed his hand. “Are you hungry? We made everything. We didn’t know what you like. So… we made everything.”
Joshua blinked. “Everything?”
Xavier piped up. “Mom cooked enough food for a UN summit.”
Joshua shot him a look. “You people need therapy.”
Harrison said, deadpan, “Already tried it. Our therapist quit.”
Joshua snorted. “Of course they did.”
Olivia was laughing now through her tears. “Please. Come see what we made.”
Joshua hesitated. His legs felt like stone. But Olivia was still holding his hand, tugging gently.
Xavier whispered, “Just one step at a time, man.”
Joshua blew out a shaky breath. “Okay.”
They moved deeper into the penthouse. The smell hit him first—a riot of garlic, herbs, and savory spices that smelled like home… even if he’d never been there before.
They entered a massive open kitchen and dining area. Stainless steel counters gleamed under warm lights. The kitchen island was covered end-to-end with platters: roast chicken, grilled salmon, handmade pasta, trays of roasted vegetables, platters of fruit, crusty bread, delicate pastries dusted with powdered sugar.
Joshua stared. “Holy… Did you people rob an Italian restaurant?”
Olivia gave him a radiant smile. “I didn’t know what you’d like. So I made options.”
Xavier grinned. “Mom’s love language is carbs.”
Joshua muttered, “I can’t even look at this without gaining ten pounds.”
Olivia said, “Please. Eat. Or just sit with us.”
Harrison cleared his throat. “And there’s whiskey. If you’d rather start there.”
Joshua raised an eyebrow. “Seriously?”
Harrison gestured toward a crystal decanter glinting amber on the bar cart. “Welcome home drink.”
Joshua whispered, “Stop saying ‘home.’”
Harrison inclined his head. “Fair enough. Welcome drink.”
Joshua hesitated… then finally said, “Pour me one.”
Harrison cracked a small, relieved smile. He poured two fingers into a crystal tumbler and passed it across the marble counter.
Joshua took it, swirling the glass. He sniffed. “Jesus. This smells expensive.”
Harrison nodded. “It is.”
Joshua took a cautious sip. Liquid fire slid down his throat, smooth and smoky. He coughed once.
“God. That’s… good.”
Harrison lifted his own glass. “To… new beginnings.”
Joshua stared at him for a long moment… then lifted his glass and clinked it lightly. “New beginnings.”
Olivia was crying again.
Joshua dropped his face into his free hand. “Oh my God. Please stop crying.”
Olivia just laughed, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I can’t.”
Xavier slung an arm around Joshua’s shoulders. “You’re stuck with us now, little brother.”
Joshua stared at them all the tears, the ridiculous amount of food, the glinting skyline outside the windows and felt something cracking open in his chest.
He wasn’t sure it was hope.
But it wasn’t despair, either.
- Writer
