Downstairs, the pantry cupboard slammed shut. Evie crouched down carefully at the top of the staircase, straining her ears to hear her parents' voices. She gripped the wooden baluster tight, face pressed between the gaps to peer into the dimly lit kitchen. "I'm not upset!" Her mother whispered harshly.
"Darling," her father began calmly, "It's perfectly normal for you to be upset. You just found out that I have a son. Albeit, I also didn't know he existed until last week, and it was before we were together, but still, you have a right to be upset with me."
"Fine, then I'm upset!" Sera Song was still reeling from the letter they had received the week before. Thomas Ren. Her husband's son. Raina Ren, his mother, had passed away the day before. What would happen to him? She was scared for Evie, and how this would change their lives.
"I'm worried," she admitted and faced her husband. "What'll this do to our family?" She asked, barely able to keep in her tears. James Song pulled her into his arms, wishing he could do more. Inner turmoil grew within him. He swore at his younger self for being reckless. Why hadn't Raina just told him, all those years ago? But the thought shook him deeply. If she had told him, how different would his life be today? Would he have stayed with the love of his life, the woman in his arms? Would he have Evie?
"We'll get through this," he said, "I promise."
After her mother had gone to bed, only slightly appeased by her husband's words of comfort, Evie tiptoed down the staircase. She found her father sitting at the kitchen counter, elbows resting on the marble top with his head in his hands.
Evie supposed this was the moment that people talked about, the moment when a kid finally grew up. For the first time, her father was no longer the invincible hero of her life. The man who knew all the answers. The man who could fix any problem. In his crinkled work shirt, he looked fragile.
He sighed wearily. "I'm sorry, Evie. I don't know what to do," he admitted. Evie padded up toward her dad and allowed him to bring her up onto his lap. She wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"It's okay, daddy. I think you should do the right thing. Bring him home. He needs us now."
YOU ARE READING
Growing Pains
Roman d'amour"You left me. You. left. me. You ran away. How do I know that you won't do it again the next time something goes wrong?" As kids, Evie, Tommy and Abel were best friends. Kind-hearted Evie brought Tommy and Abel under her wing. Until one horrible da...
