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“It will come Dad. I know it will. It has to. After all I went to Harvard. Maybe people are a little intimidated by me.” I laugh. You have to find the funny sometimes. I got another rejection the other day. Over qualified. That was their reason.
The position was junior to what I actually need and they needed a junior who will stay. Not someone like me who is looking for a stop gap and move on at the first chance of something bigger. I get it. It makes perfect business sense. It does, and I would probably do the same thing if I were them. I remember now why I always aimed high. It’s exactly for that thing of being overqualified.
Dad gives me a grin. “I’m proud of you Mia. I really am. I agree too that they’re most likely intimidated by my girl.”
“Thanks Dad. I love your good news. It’s made my day.”
“Good news?” Carries a voice behind us. A voice that stabs me to my soul and drains my life force all at once.
Dad and I both turn to see Carter, standing in the doorway.
I never even heard him come in.
He holds up the spare keys and smiles wide. He looks a lot like Dad when he smiles. And me. We look so similar we could be twins even though he’s five years older than me.
“You know you guys really shouldn’t keep the spare keys were all can find it. Under the flower pot is so obvious.” He walks into the kitchen and jingles the keys as he gets up to us by the end of the counter. “Gonna tell me the good news too?”
Neither Dad nor me are saying anything. I haven’t seen Carter in years.
I actually haven’t seen him in a little over six years, and when I last saw him it was when he came to ask Dad for money at Christmas.
He came on Christmas day and they talked outside because he gave some bullshit excuse about not wanting to confuse Beth. It wasn’t that though. He didn’t want to see her. It was a simple as that. He didn’t come inside because he didn’t want to see his daughter who was two years old at the time.
I remember looking at him as I am now and feeling disgust. The only difference between then and now is that back then I glowered at him through the stained glass window in the living room while I held Beth. She was miserable because she was about to cut a back tooth.
He looked every bit the asshole he is standing in front of me now.
Why the hell is he here?
“Carter, you don’t usually come into the house,” Dad says ignoring his question about good news.
“Glad I did though. Got to see my little sister. How long’s it been little bit? A year or two?”
Little bit…
That was what he used to call me growing up because I was so little and stayed short for a very long time. I’m still short and next to him at six feet six, I look like a dwarf.
“Over six years Carter. It’s been over six years,” I answer. I can’t believe we’re talking. There’s actually a lot I have to say to him. A lot . There’s been so many times when I wanted to cuss him out and hand him his ass. There’s been multiple times just this year alone.
“Damn,” he scuffs. “No wonder you look so pissed. But didn’t think you’d be so mad at not seeing me. It’s not like we meet up and share stories or eat together. Shit like that.”
“Why are you here?” That’s all I want to know. I’m not interested in whatever shit he has to say and all the extra shit that comes out of his mouth.
He angles his head to the side and stares at me. He only comes to ask for money so I don’t know why I bother to ask.
“Need to speak to Dad.” He looks over to dad now and straightens. “Can we go outside and talk?”
“Where’s the money I lent you?” Dad answers and shocks me. He’s never been one to argue with Carter or ask a question like that. “Hector came here and nearly killed me. He threatened to take your sister and sell Beth. It’s more than a little late Carter.”
He doesn’t even look fazed. Which infuriates me.
“Well I’m glad that never happened.”
That’s it. That’s what he says. Wow. No sorry or any form of apology. Just a fucked up answer we’re supposed to accept. And he still hasn’t answered the question of the money.
“I can’t believe that’s all you can say.” I take him on and step away from Dad.
“What else am I supposed to say? It’s fucking bad, but it’s not like I can do anything about it. I am glad he didn’t kill Dad, take you and sell the girl.”
