Please Remember Me

A Family Meeting #1

Kota Lee's POV

I couldn't stop counting by multiples of three under my breath; my knee bouncing rapidly as Owen drove us home. Before we left, he notified North and Luke of the family meeting we would be having tonight when they returned from their shift. 

What in the world was Nathan thinking? 

What exactly did he say to Tulip to make her look so...vacant. 

Even though we only just met on Saturday, I could already understand why many of my brothers were captivated by the tiny bird. She was beautiful in an almost understated way. She hid herself beneath baggy clothes, but we could all see that she was thin. 

Unnervingly so. 

For a moment I wondered if she came from a past similar to ours.

Owen placed his right hand on my knee to steady its nervous bouncing. His touch was calming and reassuring. I had full confidence that with his guidance, we all would be able to right Nathan's wrong. To do that though, we needed to understand exactly what was said between the two during their conversation. 

We needed more information. 

Sighing, I reached my hand down to squeeze Owen's in a sign of thanks. I don't know where I would be in this life, had he not found my broken body in that alley years ago. I don't know what would have become of my mom and Jessica without the Academy's support. 

Owen and Victor became my voice when I didn't have one. 

They were my comfort; my source of strength.

We kept our relationship from our brothers due to my own fears. Every time I was almost confident enough, my father's hateful voice and disgusting words would echo in my mind. I was worried our brothers wouldn't understand. Terrified they would reject our relationship. I couldn't risk fracturing our family, despite the reassurance from Owen and Victor it wouldn't happen. 

I wondered how Tulip would feel if she found out; would she even want to be around us anymore? 

Something in my gut told me that she would be more than accepting. She would probably admire our love being more than meets the eye. I saw how my brothers looked at her; even Owen and Victor. I wasn't jealous, but I was curious. I want to get to spend more time with Tulip. 

We needed to fix this.

Mr. Blackborne's POV

I stared at my family as they took their seats around the large dining table where we held all our family meetings. My gaze honed in on Nathan as he took a seat between North and Luke. He looked like he hadn't slept in days. I had wondered why he'd been secluding himself from us; now it was obvious. 

Besides North sat Silas. Across from Silas, on the other side of the table, was Sean. Gabe next to Sean, Victor next to Gabe, and Kota next to Victor closest to me. I stood at the head of the table. When silence and tension swept through the room, I decided it was time to start this family meeting.

"Today Kota and I were able to get a moment with Tulip to speak about what has caused her sudden cold shoulder. As you all know, we discuss our concerns, and insecurities, as a family. We make decisions as a family. Unfortunately, one of us has taken decision making into his own hands, resulting in Tulip believing it was best for her to remove herself from our lives."