Page 192 of The Encore’s Crown

Kiri

The door opens.

Dad steps inside like he still owns every breath in the house. He’s thinner than the last time I saw him at Thanksgiving. The broad frame is still there, the height, the shoulders that used to fill doorways and make every room feel smaller, but age has started pulling at the edges of him. His face has hollowed. The skin beneath his eyes hangs looser. His hands look more knotted around the joints.

He’s frailer, but not frail enough. When I see him, all I can think is that I wish it were finished already.

Dust. Gone.

Then Ma wouldn’t jump every time a car door slammed. Rithy wouldn’t turn toward an entrance before he even realized he was doing it. None of us would have to measure the air around him to work out what kind of night we were about to have.

Dad looks at me first. His eyes move over the shirt, the tattoos, the size of me like he’s checking whether anything has changed since the last time. He gives one short nod. Then he sees Rithy and his mouth curls in the usual disgust. Rithy lifts one hand and gives him a slow wave, smirk already in place.

“Hello, Father dearest.”

Dad ignores him. His gaze moves to the counter. Only crumbs are left behind, miniscule. Nothing anyone normal would even notice but his face hardens anyway.

“What’s all this mess?”

Ma starts moving before he finishes the sentence.

“I will wipe down now.”

“You should’ve done it already.”

“I was—”

“Just shut up and hand me a beer already.”

She turns and opens the fridge. A bottle cap snaps and there's a beer in his hand before I can force my jaw loose. He takes it without thanking her and heads toward the living room. The second he sees the albums open across the coffee table, he stops.

“What the fuck is all this old bullshit doing out?”

Ma flinches.

“I’m coming to get.”

He shoves the top album aside. It hits the floor hard enough that several loose photographs slide free beneath the table. My hand curls at my side. Dad drops into the recliner and plants his beer on the coffee table exactly where the album had been. No coaster or concern for the ring it’ll leave on the wood Ma has spent years polishing around him.

One rule for us. Another for him.

Always.

The television comes on loud enough to shake the quiet out of the room. Ma hurries in and kneels to gather the pictures. I move before she can reach under the table.

“I’ve got it.”

“I'll do.”

“Ma.”

She looks at me. I take the photographs from her hand and stack them carefully while Rithy closes the albums and puts them away. Dad stares at the screen as if we don’t exist. It takes him another full minute to notice Natalia. His eyes drag over her where she stands near the kitchen entrance. Her dress. Her hair. Her hand wrapped tightly around the back of a chair. Then he looks at me.

One scoff, a small shake of his head. Like she’s another stupid thing I’ve wasted my time on. My body reacts before my mind catches up. Shoulders tighten. Teeth lock. Every instinct I have presses forward. Natalia notices, she comes closer and slides her hand into mine and guides me back into the kitchen.

Dad turns the television up.

We try to keep talking anyway. Ma asks Rithy about the album.