The Jerk Next Door

Chapter 23: The Cruel Visit

Asher

"I'm home!" I call out setting my keys down at the front door. I knew my mom would be here unless she went to the store, but Kelly and Carly wouldn't get home for another hour.

Maksean was trailing in behind me with her history book. We planned on studying for our test Friday. When we got home yesterday after our double date, we just ended up cuddling while watching some cartoons. But today wasn't as bad, we made sure the other wasn't being messed with by others who were too nosy.

"Asher! In the dining room, please!" My mother's voice surprised me when it was heard from its place from the most unused room in the house. She was never in there if we didn't have family over.

I sent Maks a look as she tilted her head in confusion. My mind went to awe at how she was already accustomed to coming home with me enough to understand how different that was. Another voice from the dining room immediately stopped my thoughts.

"Asher, sometime today would be nice, son." A cold, and dark voice followed causing me to straighten up.

"Asher? Who's that?" Maksie whispered, setting her books down on the countertop on our way to the room in question.

I knew that voice, it was cold and dark with a twisted sense of how to care for others. "My father." I answered, my right hand reaching out in front of her as if that would hide her from the terror that is my father. I didn't allow my hand to touch her though, I didn't want her to feel it when it began to shake. My father has an act for making me that way. Anxious and nervous.

Despite this, I felt my girlfriend's smaller hand grasp my own. I looked back to see a small comforting smile on her face. With that added confidence, I lifted my head and walked into the unused dining room.

It was one of the larger rooms in our house. With a grand diner table that had twelve matching chairs. The walls were white with ivory trimmings. Way too fancy looking for our late night pizzas and spaghetti. This is probably the first time I've stepped foot in this room since last Christmas.

I spotted my mom sitting at one end of the table, my father sat opposite of her giving me a stern look once I came into view. Mom stood up with a smile and waved at Maksie, happy to see her.

"Hey honey, how was your day?" My mother's voice was soft, and almost made me worry over what her ex might have done before I arrived. He wasn't the nicest person to be alone with, and often made my mother cry when I wasn't watching.

I felt Maksean let my hand go to allow me to walk over and hug my mom. When I let go, I was surprised at how still she was. When growing up, I remember my mother shaking with nerves when she would be with her husband (which is where I get my nervous shaking from), but now she had a much more held-together appearance. It warmed my heart to know my mom was getting better after all he put her through.

"My day was great." I spoke, trying my best to make my voice even.

"Asher, who is this young lady?" My father asked not even putting in the effort to point or nod towards Maksean.

When I released my mom and reached for the red head's hand, I saw his eyebrow twitch.

"Oh, I see," he began. His eyes narrowing down on our hands. "This must be Maksean. Hello my dear, I've heard so much about you. I used to know your grandparents. How is Kathy and Robert doing these days?"

My eyes widened as his words came out. He didn't know the Swifts, he said it himself. He thought she was a nobody, and that was why he didn't like her. He said so just last week. So why?

Newspaper. When you run a news media, you have unlimited access to big and little stories. Including a small house fire killing two. The information was buzzing through my head. The possibilities of him lying being calculated faster than I could process. My mental debate on what to say was thrown away when the head in mind tightened.

"They are doing wonderfully in heaven, Sir. How did you know them exactly? They were popular locals. Almost the entire town was at the funeral service, but I don't remember your face." Maksean's voice shook a bit, but she didn't allow it to stop her. She knew what he was doing, I could tell. She was smart, and I had tried to explain just how cold my father could be. So she knew. She knew he was lying, and was only trying to mess with her.

A sinister chuckle sounded off from where my father was seated. He had an amusing smile that made my blood boil and hands shake.

"How polite. I'm sure I'll like you." The tall man stood up and made his way towards the three of us.

"What are you here for exactly?" I asked, realizing he never really said much to me. What did he come here for? Surely he didn't know Maksean would be here for him to question.

"I decided I wanted to just have a talk with my son, and see how he was doing. That's all. Sadly though, I have a meeting to attend, so it'll have to be cut short." We watched as he grabbed his coat that was laying across the back of a chair. He threw it over his fancy suit and made his way to the exit. "Goodbye Asher, and you too Miss Swift."

No one went to make sure he left. The three of us stayed there in the old unused dining room. It took a few moments, but mom finally spoke.

"Oh, Carly won't be in until later tonight. She's going out to eat with the cheer squad after practice. So it'll just be us four if Maksean decides to eat here."

I looked over at my mom and saw just how happy she was now that my father was gone. Just how much she had changed since they were together. She smiled more, and stopped being afraid to voice how she felt. I was so proud of her.

"Hey, mom," I untangled my hand from Maksean's and grabbed my mother's smaller ones. "Why don't you and Kelly go out for dinner tonight? Just the two of you? I'll go over next door for dinner and study over there with Maskie, and you just have a date night. The two of you haven't done that in months." I wore a small smile on my face that my mother copied and pasted on her own five times bigger.

"Well, okay then. I'll go upstairs and call Kelly, and you kids head next door." She wrapped her arms around me for a moment. "You're a good kid, you know that?"

"Yeah," I whispered back letting her go. She smiled at Maksean who smiled back before making her way up the stairs to call her wife.

I shook my head with a soft smile as I felt arms wrap around my torso.

"Well, now it's time to study and eat." The girl behind me said as she let me go to grab her books.