Ruined (completed) ✔️

94

"Austin," Mom calls out as she opens my bedroom door and walks into the room. "I got in touch with one of the therapists in town and she has an opening this morning. You need to get out of bed and get ready."

Pulling the sheets back I look at her in the pitch-black room. "I'll be out in ten. Thanks, Mom. For making the phone call and making this happen for me."

"You're welcome." She turns the light on and before she walks out of my room she says. "Austin, you need to be at the hospital when Eliza gives birth. I know you think it's not your right to be there, but it is. She won't let you in the room beforehand and I have a feeling her partner won't be in there, either."

"I'll think about it, Mom. I have to make it through my first therapy session and then I have to come home and go through all the evidence I have for the case against, Casey. Too many things are happening at once and I feel like my head is about to burst. Maybe, I should set up a gym in the garage like I did when I was a teen. That got me through all my problems too."

"Do whatever you need to, Austin." She looks around my room and a smile spreads across her face. "I see you're making this room manly. It's not the resemblance of you're formative years." Closing the door she leaves me to get ready for the day.

I'm glad she likes the way my room is now.

Grabbing a towel I walk into the bathroom and have a shower. I wash my hair and body before I step out and dry myself off. Wrapping the towel around my hips I head to my bedroom and change into a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt.

When I get to the kitchen Mom has the kitchen table set with all sorts of food. Growing up she did this for my brother and me. Sometimes, I would take the food to go and eat while I drove over to Eliza's place. She would take the pancakes that I brought with me. Mom put choc chips in them and they were Eliza's favourite.

I'm not sure if she still likes them.

I start digging into breakfast when my father joins me. "Mom made her famous breakfast. I can't believe I haven't been home in so long. I missed this."

A smile spreads across his face. "So did your mother. After the fight, you got into with your mother she never forgot about you. She was mad at the way you treated Eliza and when she found out that Eliza was carrying your child she wanted to reach out to you but didn't know if you'd take her calls. When your brother called to tell us about the baby not being yours she knew you would need us. Even if you didn't want us around."

"I want mom and you around me all the time. This time around I want you in every aspect of my life. I'm not going to distance myself from you. I missed a lot while I was gone and I don't intend to make past mistakes again."

He claps me on the back before sitting across from me. "That's good to hear. Son, while you're here are you going to work?"

Shrugging I look at my food. "I don't know, Dad. I haven't thought that far."

"I have a construction job available for you if you want to do that. Take your mind off your problems and get away from the house. I know knocking down houses will make you happy. Just think about it." He starts eating breakfast and doesn't ask me anything else, which I'm grateful for.

Mom joins us at the table. "Over the weekend this table is going to be full. Your brother and his family will be joining us. I have to go shopping before they come over." she picks up a notepad and pen and start scribbling furiously on it.

"Mom," she looks up at me and waits for me to finish what I'm about to say. "Eat breakfast and then you can worry about what you're going to make when they come around."