Contract War

Chapter 13

Don't Pretend - Khalid

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My breath silently hitched in the back of my throat as I took it all in...the burgundy carpet beneath our feet that muffled the click sound of my heels in the room. Shelves that were overflowing with books that didn't seem to feel like giving away their genre. Windows that were letting the sun's rays softly bounce off the snow globe settled right next to the bottle of scotch on a small table beside the wall...the picture of mom, Joshua and me on one corner of the large antique mahogany desk.

I let my fingertips brush over the leathered part of the desk as I tried to picture papa sitting in the huge chair that looked like a throne and for some reason it just didn't fit.

This whole thing didn't fit.

My soft and caring father who taught me how to ride a bike, a horse and an ostrich. This huge office that seemed fit for some ruthless mafia leader and was dominated by a strong burgundy and a stinging silver. It just didn't fit together. If someone had brought me into this room a month ago and told me that this office had belonged to my father I would have called Derek's colleague, Victor who's a psychiatrist and told him to send an ambulance ASAP...after laughing my ass off, of course.

"Joshua, your father wanted you to have this." Uncle George handed him the heavy glass bottle of scotch, "He was reserving it for the birth of your first child, but I might as well just give it to you now." His hand found the snow globe and he picked it up from the small table, "Turquoise, this belongs to you."

I took the snow globe and shook it. I watched the snow dance around in the liquid and then settle down at the base where there is a ceramic figure. A single sunflower...in a land of snow. In my peripheral vision I could see Uncle George exiting the room and closing the doors behind him. I removed the note attached to the bottom of the globe and unfolded it.

My beautiful flower.

The words were scribbled in a messy-but-still-legible handwriting...papa's handwriting. There was something else at the bottom of the globe,

You are everything you need.

I released a breath I hadn't even realised I was holding as my thumb traced over the letters engraved in gold on it's own accord.
"It almost feels like a dream," Joe said as he looked over my shoulder at the delicate snow globe in my hands.

"I still can't believe we have cousins,"

"Second cousins," he corrected me.

"It's the same thing,"

"No it's not,"

"Whatever." I plonked onto the leather sofa at the back of the room as Joe poured the scotch into two glasses on the small table. He handed me one glass and sat down beside me.

"This is gonna take some getting used to," he swirled his drink and looked at me, "What should we toast to? New beginnings?"

"Bleh,"

"Life's hidden chapters?"

"Too sophisticated,"

"Oranges and orangutans?"

"Too orange-y,"

"Giraffes, pandas and samurai swords?"

"Just perfect,"

We clinked our glasses and downed our drinks.

"Maman et papa me manquet," I whispered.

(I miss mom and papa)