Family
1513 Words
VICTORIA'S POV
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It's white walls in pique condition that's so bright that it reflects the sun with a blinding glow, pillars tall, carved with vertical lines and pristine detail of veins and hawk statues carved from granite, soft greenery blooming from the granite pots that stand tall, but spotless even though it's outdoors and the pond out front sparkles as the sun shines down on the water.
My heart beats a little faster as the Uber I took drives out, the tires making little to no sound as it rolls down towards the too big gate. I saw the driver's face when we pulled up to it, the awe in it. It's a look that has made me uncomfortable several times, but never ashamed.
"Vick!" Wystan's rough, deep voice calls out from the tall, oak front door. Turning slowly, I inhale a deep breath as my eyes meet those of a silvery blue hue. Inclining my head in a greeting, I smile, "Brother." Wystan stops dead in his tracks, head tilting slightly.
"What's wrong?" he asks, eyes studying me, and at the same time, my phone vibrates in my hand, a little ding following the vibration.
"Nothing," I tell my brother, lifting my phone to see a text from Ryder. My gaze flicks over the words just below his name in the notification list.
Ryder: Are you sure you don't want to stay over tonight?
His question makes heat plow through my veins faster and hotter.
"Earth to Vick," Wystan snaps his fingers, strolling over as if he has all the time in the world, which I guess he does. He's built and much more muscular than what he used to be, his light brown hair combed sideways perfectly, his button up shirt rolled to his elbows, making him look sleek and relaxed, something I rarely used to see. He used to be way more tensed.
"My feet are on the ground, aren't they?" I shoot back with a grin, and he snorts, smiling as he drapes his arm around my shoulders.
"You're barely here and already smart with that mouth," He groans, pulling me into his side and he steers me towards the front door a little earlier than I'd like.
"Why are you here?" he asks, this time more curious. Raised brow and all. Rolling my eyes, I jab my elbow into his ribcage. Wystan groans, chuckling through it.
"No one said that you were coming," He says, and if it were possible to stop dead in my tracks, I would have, but my brother drags me into the house while I keep on wondering one thing over and over. Does Mom know that I'm coming back? Did Dad not mention me at all?
"Not even Dad?" I ask, hating how my voice cracks as anxiety clings to my vocal cords.
"Dad knew?" Wystan stops in the foyer, peeling away, glancing down at me with furrowed brows, and there's this knowing look, as if he already knew. He always knew anyway.
"Don't," I warn with a slight shake of my head, teeth already grinding together.
"What happened, Victoria?" I cringe at the use of my full name. He only ever uses it when he's serious.
"I need to talk to Dad first," I say, struggling to keep my gaze locked on his. I mean to step around him when he stops me, blocking my path with his large frame.
"Victoria..." His voice drops low, "Are you in trouble?" he asks and a second later, his gaze drops to my stomach.
"f*****g hell, Wystan. I'm not pregnant," I hiss, being careful with the volume of my voice. One thing of this large ass house is how well it carries a voice and it won't make a good impression if I come in here already cursing the lights out of the walls.
"Then what is it?" he asks in a way that makes me feel horrible for not wanting to tell him just yet. My lips part as I stare up at my very first friend in this world.
"Let's just go to Dad," I shrug, playing it cool even though there's a sting right behind my eyes. Wystan doesn't realize as he nods and leads me towards Dad's home office as if I didn't grow up here too. I let him lead me anyway, just to find Mom sitting across from him.
She doesn't look surprised one bit as I stride in right behind Dad, and even her eyes soften, lips relaxing.
"Hello," I murmur, keeping my voice soft, but the word clear. Dad's office hasn't changed much, but what is different is the gray hairs in his hair and beard.
"Welcome home, Victoria," Dad says, smiling softly, kindly, eyes sparkling with joy.
"Sit," He gestures to the chair next to Mom, and I suddenly wish that I accepted Ryder's offer instead. I refuse to let my body tremble in their presence. Not from fear, but from shame. How could I have left them for a man who never really cared about me?
"Your father filled me in," Mom says, and I'm a little surprised when she reaches over, placing her hand on my arm in comfort. Flashes of how we left things when I walked out of this family crosses my mind in sickening clarity.
'Victoria Devereaux, if you walk out of that door, you aren't welcome back! Ever!' Mom screams, tears lining her eyes, "You're the one pushing me!" I scream at the top of my lungs, "Don't talk to your mother like that!" Dad's voice is thick with emotion. Turning, I look him straight in the eye, "She's not my mother anymore."
I left right after, and I wish so badly to take it all back. I should've listened.
"Can someone fill me in too?" Wystan drags, sounding a little desperate as if it were life threatening. Both of my parents look at me, eyebrows raised. Great. Sighing, my shoulders curve forward as I hold my father's stare, but the words I speak are for my brother, "Jax cheated on me," The silence after those words left my mouth was deafening, the temperature dropping in the room and I swear even the books seem to shudder.
"He. Did. What?" Wystan grinds out, anger bubbling from his pores. I ignore the question, refusing to explain or repeat what I had said. "Wystan..." Mom warns.
"This is diabolical!" He shouts.
"Relax," Father insists in a voice meant for business. Wystan stares at him as if he'd grown a second head.
"Relax?" Wystan grits out, sounding furious.
"Yes, you're stressing her out." Dad waves a hand in dismissal.
"I'm fine," I insist, even though it is a lie. How much time have I missed with my family? How many years have I wasted on a team that never cared about me when I cared for them? How many nights have I lost sleep over strategy planning and parties that I hosted, but never enjoyed?
"You should book a spa day," Mom changes the subject. She's always been good at that, steering the conversation elsewhere.
"I don't have time," It's not entirely true, it's more like a reflex to say it. I'm so used to not having time to do such things, but do I even want to?
"You do now," Mom argues as if she's been in my life every single day.
"Mom," I sigh through gritted teeth.
"What?" She says as if it were a no brainer. "You're going to get frown lines." She adds, and I know it's just because she cares in her own, weird way. My mother is the picture of beautiful, her skin fair and blemish free. Of course she'd care about her daughter's skin, it's not something I can fault her for.
My phone starts ringing, and I've never felt more thankful. Glancing down at my screen, I bite back a smile at the flash of Ryder's name.
"Excuse me," I mutter, already standing.
"It better not be him," Wystan growls, eyes tracking my every movement as I strut out of dad's office. I mouth to him, 'It's not,' As I answer and disappear.
"Hello?" I answer, phone pressed to my ear, my palm sweaty.
"I wanted to know what to get for dinner," Ryder chimes, although it's just a lame joke.
"A plate for one," I say gleefully, and he hisses on an inhale of breath, "I swear you said two this morning."
My eyes roll, though, a smile tugs at the corners of my lips.
"I said I have a place to stay," I remind him, "And I'm just making sure that your soon-to-be ex husband didn't abduct you, since you weren't answering my text." I snort at the realization that Jax does give off the vibe of a ill minded man.
"I was busy," Not that some people would call coming home busy, but to me it's something entirely different. It's facing mistakes, it's making up for what I had done to probably the only people who ever loved me wholly.
- Writer
