Thick As Blood {A Menendez Brothers Fic}

40. Confrontation

(August 14th, 1989 - Rosenfeld Masion)
Today was a day that was absolutely dreaded since it had first been spoken of. A day that Lyle would have to do something that could potentially be lethal for the four of us. He'd have to speak to their dad about the horrible abuse Erik has been living with, feeling as if he had to deal with it on his own for so long. Speaking with Jose would be no easy feat, and I felt horrible that Lyle had to even do it on his own. He wouldn't hear of me trying to intervene, in fear of something going incredibly   wrong.

"Is Erik here yet, sissy?! I want to show him what I made him and Lyle last night." I softly smiled upon Ava entering my room with her usual bright smile upon her more than innocent face. I knew we'd have to tell her about our brother or sister that would be born within the coming months, knowing it wouldn't be easy to explain that situation. I hated to have to even bring her into this madness, but knew I couldn't shield her forever. It honestly broke my heart.

"He'll be here in a few. But until then, how about you go ahead and prop it up on my desk. He'll love it." Giddy as can be with a more than happy demeanor, she took good care of placing her project on my desk so that when he did enter my room, he'd be able to see it clear as day. She noticed how gloomy Erik and Lyle both were yesterday when we took her to get ice cream and more art supplies from our usual shop on Rodeo Drive, letting her just have a day of fun. So she wanted to make them something to cheer them up. But even she wouldn't know what was the true nature of their pain until she was much older.

"I hate seeing them so sad. So I wanted to make them something!" Gazing upon one of the many photo boards we purchased for her to let her imagination go wild, I yearned for the days that were displayed in the several photos we had taken months ago. Smiling, enjoying being young and just letting loose, there was more than one of the four of us on trips, during Erik's match's, anything we possibly could have done. Ava had the photos in her room because she loves them so incredibly much. Those moments are ones she'll always cherish, and I never wanted her to let them go.

"You know it'll make their day. Trust me." Softly smiling from the sight of a picture of Erik, holding a beaming Ava who clearly felt happier than ever. We had gone to the beach that day in Santa Monica to just enjoy the sunshine and the sound of the crashing waves, finding seashells and building sandcastles. It always warmed my heart seeing how good he is with her.

"I know you're sad also, sissy. But—but I know your happy place is Erik." She said through a small grin, the all knowing way she has of just seeing things. She is such a good observer. I knew things were going to get worse within the coming days, knowing that what was to come was anything but peaceful. But I would do anything to protect her.

"That he is, peanut. And so are you, Lyle. Even Helen because she is like a grandma to us." With Helen being 65 and full of love and warmth for her family, she has always treated us with such care. She looked after the lot of us as if we were her own. And I knew that wasn't about to stop.

"Will we be okay?" She almost whispered, as if she was fearful of the answer I would give her. Honestly? I didn't know how to answer that. I didn't want to lie to her. She was too smart for that.

"I—I don't know, peanut. I really don't know. All I know is that I will be there for you. Always." She immediately wrapped her arms around me, noting she was getting taller with each passing moment that seemed to be so incredibly fleeting. Eventually, the time would come where I would have to explain things to her, this I knew. But for now? I would protect her. Shield her. As best as I possibly could.

"Hey girls." The sound of Erik's voice was enough to put a more than genuine smile upon my face, thankful my father wasn't home to have seen him enter. He knew he couldn't watch me 24/7. But I always felt that paranoia that he could if he set his mind to it. Cameras had been a threat some time ago to use as surveillance around the home and on the grounds to watch just what was happening in his very own home. But thankfully, Helen persuaded him that it wasn't necessary. She was really the only person he would listen to, somehow feeling like his own mother of sorts who had passed away when I was only 2. My mothers side? Would barley have anything to do with us because of my father. They only showed for a day when she passed.