happiness is a butterfly

father and son

The Jacobs' family reacted in a strange way to the news.

Marsha responded by laughing hysterically and taking off to their family cabin in Lake Tahoe for who knows how long.

"So you're leaving us? But what are we going to do for food and stuff?" A worried Aaron had asked in the foyer, at the news of her departure.

"Aaron, it's time you take care of yourself." She had then looked over at her younger son and his girlfriend. "And Nate, you moved your pregnant girlfriend in, so you can definitely take care of yourself."

The young adults stood shocked at the latest development in their family breakdown.

"Do you know how to cook?" Aaron had looked over at Cassie and asked.

"I guess..." And no, she didn't really know how to cook but yes, she had cooked a few times when her mother was out for the count or when her and Lexi would visit her dad.

"Get fucking take out, bro." Nate had given his older brother a light shove on the shoulder, before leading Cassie out of the room.

It was funny, because although Nate had been so quick to dismiss his brother's concerns about food at the time, Cassie had soon been given the role of breakfast, lunch and dinner maker in the household.

She liked this though.

It made her feel womanly and important to take care of Nate.

For the first few days they fell into this idealistic domestic routine. She washed his laundry, made their bed, and prepared his lunches and dinners. She cooked for Aaron as well, even though Nate had told her not to worry about his brother. She felt bad, though. In return, Nate told her she would make a great mom- which made her heart feel like it was about to explode from love.

They skipped school, because no one was there to make them go. They were adults, they made their own decisions.

They hadn't really seen or heard from Cal until that Thursday afternoon. Aaron had been out, so Cassie and Nate had been making the most of the almost Spring weather and an empty house.

Meaning they were in the pool naked when Cal had made his presence known, spoiling the mood of the young couple. They would later discover a drunk Marsha had called Cal from their cabin to congratulate him on becoming a soon to be grandfather.

"You should cover up." He instructed a mortified Cassie, extending a towel her way. "Nathaniel, meet me in my office."

Nate was surprised his father had taken some time away from his newfound freedom to come and speak to his son. After all, he hadn't contacted any of them since that night he peed in the foyer and called Nate his biggest regret.

"Are you here for cigars and congratulations?" Nate had asked sarcastically, with his arms spread wide as he made his way into his dad's home office.

"You think this is funny? You keep going through life thinking you can do whatever you want. You have no regard for the people around you."

"That's rich coming from you, Dad." Nate scoffed. "You clearly held your family in high regard."

"Nathaniel, you think you are an adult but you are still a child. You keep making these terrible decisions which will ruin your future."

"Wow, considering you had a family at my age, I was expecting more diaper changing tips than a lecture." Nate's sarcastic tone was definitely grating on Cal's nerves.

"Precisely because I have been in your position before, I want more for you. A better life, a chance to live life to your potential."

"Why? You already said I'm your biggest regret." He found it ironic that his father was suddenly so concerned with him and his potential. His brother was a fuck up and his dad was a sex addict that fucked up his whole family to stick his tongue up a some guy's ass. Yet, somehow, Nate was always the big issue.

"You have the power to achieve greatness, Nathaniel." Cal had gotten up from his chair to come rest a hand on Nate's shoulder. "I see so much of the good of me in you, I want to give you an opportunity to be the man I didn't get to be."

"I am nothing like you." He had shrugged himself out of his father's hold.

"I know you think you're going to have a sweet life, maybe take over my business. And your girl? Yeah, sure, she's a hot piece of ass." Cal had grabbed his shoulders and looked at him in the eye. "But you'll never be happy, Nathaniel. You're going to get to my age and hate your life, and you'll destroy everyone around you."

"Fuck you!" Nate's aggressive tone had him almost spitting in his dad's face. He felt such fury in that moment, like his insides were burning hot lava bubbling through his body and up his throat ready to erupt.

And destroy.

"Listen to me-" Cal's face had also gone red with anger, as he shook his son's shoulders. "You're going to break it off with this poor girl. Then, I will take care of your problem like I do with every other fucking mess you have made."

Cal had gone on to explain he would be offering Cassie some money to start over elsewhere and he would pay her child support for the next 18 years. In return, Nate would go to his Ivy League college and make something of himself. He would forget this girl and this child and this town. And he would get the opportunity to be the free man Cal wished he had been.

"Do you understand me?"

Lava bubbling, insides burning, volcano eruptions.

But Nate had given his father a long hard stare, studying every bit of his reddened face, before saying:

"Okay."

All the times that I cried, keeping all the things I knew inside, 

It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it

If they were right, I'd agree, but it's them you know not me

Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away