Whirlwind

Falling into Place

June 8th, 6 AM

My mom, Ruby, and I sat in front of the television in the living room watching the news as my baby siblings were asleep in their rooms. We were anticipating the long-awaited report of Ace's killers.

What a weird word. Killers. But that is who we were. What we did. Murderers. Of course you never grow up thinking one day you will identify yourself as a murderer. As a kid you never think about all the bad things you are going to do. Just the good. So how did we get here?

I can't answer that. I just know that if we go down for this. We have to own up to it and do our time.

"Breaking news, the answers we finally received on who murdered Ace Walters, the 17-year-old boy who went missing in the mountains last December when the explosion went off."

We sat there as we listened to the news anchor. Here we go.

"Thanks to a witness, it was discovered that Roberto Riccaro's henchmen, the Mafia boss involved in drug trafficking, were Ace Walter's murderers. They have been taken into custody and are looking at 15 to life."

What the fuck. He framed Ruby's dad.

"Oh my god," I looked over at Ruby, he hadn't moved, he hadn't spoke, he just sat there. Staring at the television. "Ruby, are you okay?"

"Actually, yeah, I could care less, I am just glad it wasn't us."

"But Ruby, that is your dad."

"He isn't my dad. He doesn't care about me. He just wants power. And he got it. I actually have a family. I have you, your mom, and your siblings. Brooks and Octavia, Emmett and Josh. I am good." He smiled at me and kissed my forehead as he wrapped me up in a hug. "You are the only person I need."

I love him so much. He was perfect.

8 AM

Ruby and I were sat on my balcony, we watched the sunrise, and were smoking a joint. I felt bliss. For the first time, in 2 years I felt the full bliss, the peacefulness. Everything I was worried about had vanished, my nightmares were gone, I came to terms with what we did, and I was with the love of my life and my family.

And like clockwork, my phone had to ring to destroy my serenity.

My father, again.

"If you don't answer, he will just keep calling."

I looked up from my phone at Ruby, he was right. Might as well just answer.

"Hello?"

"Surprised you picked up."

"What do you want?"

"I would watch your tone, I am the reason you aren't in prison right now."

I didn't say anything. At this point if he went back on his word he would look like a liar. Which he was.

"I wanted to check in on my family. But none of you will pick up my calls."

"I am not your family. You made that clear when you told mom I was her daughter. Not yours."

He didn't say anything for a moment.

"You're right."

The line went dead. I don't know why I cared but I could feel my heart break. The tears slowly rolled down my cheeks.

"Baby, what is it?"

"The other day when he showed up here, he told my mom, 'You are going to pick your daughter over your husband,' he didn't say our daughter. I already knew our relationship was done for but that just solidified it. And on the phone just then, he didn't even try to apologize. He just agreed."

"I understand the pain," he pulled me onto his chest and held me as I let the tears flow. He didn't say I am sorry, he just knew how to comfort me. He knew I needed to grieve. And he let me.

12 PM

I woke up in bed, I don't know how I got there but I was thankful for it assuming Ruby had put me here. I was so warm and cozy.

I knew I had to actually get up the rest of the day though. The morning was so emotional and it had only been a few hours.

"Hey babe," Ruby came in holding a cup of coffee and came over to hand it to me.

"Oh my god, I love you," I grabbed the cup from him and chugged it. It was so good.

He laughed, "I had an idea, I was thinking since we don't graduate till next week and we still don't have our plan set for moving, what do you think about the four of us going to look at some house?"

"The four of us?"

"Yeah us and Brooks and Octavia, what do you think?"

I smiled, "that sounds like a wonderful idea."

"Great! I will go ask them!" He kissed my forehead, "I am going downstairs to make some food, you want anything?"

I shook my head, he gave me a smile before going downstairs. My smile dropped as soon as he left the room. My stomach was in knots. It's not that I don't want to go but I feel guilty knowing my mom would be on her own.

I pulled open my laptop and looked on Zillow for three houses in Hawaii. We were rich, surely they could come and buy a house there too.

I found three in two different neighborhoods about 10 mins apart, they would work perfectly. I scheduled tours and quickly went to buy 4 plane tickets to Kauai. I started to get excited, this could work!

"They said yes!"

"Great! Because I just booked the plane tickets, we leave tomorrow and come back next week."

"Awesome, I am so excited!"

He was like a kid in a toy store, I don't think I had ever seen him this excited. I was excited too, it was a quick vacation we all needed. We got to packing, everything felt like it was starting to work out the way it was supposed to.