Beyond Reason

Chapter 27: Family meeting

~Keenan~

I thought fighting for my freedom would be the hardest thing I'll ever have to do, but I was wrong. Walking out on Joey, knowing in my heart that she means well has to top any amount of pain or guilt I've ever felt in my life so far.

I didn't sign up for this. She was the girl I admired from afar. Someone I could look at and smile on the inside. I didn't expect for her to fall for me, neither did I think my stupid crush would amount to anything.

Yet here we are.

I walk into the living room and Ashley's standing there, glaring at Robert, who is absently packaging his next shipment of drugs, ignoring her. When they hear my footsteps, both turn to face me.

"Where were you?"

"Where were you?" I fire back.

"She just showed up outta nowhere," Rob says.

That's when I notice Ashley's breathing hard, barely able to hold herself together.

"Hey, hey, calm down. What's wrong?"

She holds out a hand to keep me from coming any closer. I look at Rob for assistance but he just shakes his head and shrugs.

"Why didn't you come home before now?" Ashley asks, directing the question to me.

"I told you—"

She shakes her head. "I don't want some bullshit story, I want the truth. What did Dad do?"

The room descends into silence as the weight of her question drops down on us.

"What are you talking about?" I ask.

"You know what I'm talking about."

I shake my head. "Look, we're fine. I'm fine."

"Yeah, you're fine but you're home for the first time in three years only cause you thought I was dying and I'm just supposed to smile like that's normal?"

"I'm not having this conversation."

"I wouldn't do that."

The front door opens and my father walks in, looking every bit like the asshole I barely grew up with. He's skinnier than I remember, with bags under his eyes. His salt and pepper hair is a match to the dark grey of his button up shirt, and he's sporting a black eye that looks at few days old at best. He does a double take as our eyes meet.

"Keenan?"

"What are you doing here?" Rob's hard voice returns to him as he takes in our father's appearance. He turns to Ashley. "What is wrong with you?"

"I invited him. We need to talk as a family." Ashley crosses her arms over her chest. "Because something's obviously been going on for a long time and I've been out of the loop. That ends now."

"So it's true," is the only thing my father says, closing the door behind him. He directs his gaze to me. "You came back here."

"Surprising how he hasn't for three years, isn't it?"

My father buries his hands in the pockets of his trousers. "I have nothing to do with that."