The Last Thug Ryder

Part 8

"If tomorrow never comes, will she know how much I loved her. Did I try in every way, to show her everyday, she's my only one."

Regaining consciousness for the second time proved to be an excruciating effort. Ryder felt dazed as hell. His jaw felt broken. Jay stepped forward to help him up. The mood in the room was somber. He found his parents and Iosua sitting on the lounge across from him. The boys all standing. The girls entered placing a tray of tea and finger foods on the coffee table in front of his parents. His father looked at the boys with disapproval, Ryder noticed his father couldn't hold eye contact with Nathaniel who stared back challenging him to voice his opinion on them. Ryder felt like he was at a funeral.

"What are yous doing here?"

His father finally gave Ryder his attention.

"We came to pick up Alofa for loku. Causing trouble I see"

Referring to Ryder's physical state.

"Alofa isn't going anywhere. We have guests over."

"I don't see any guests. Just.."

"If you're about to insult my friends, you will no longer be welcomed here."

"Iosua will be staying here."

"Is that so?"

Alofa took a seat next to Ryder and took hold of his hand making sure she didn't put pressure on his injuries.

Alofa- "I mean no disrespect. But Iosua can't stay here with us."

His parents and Iosua were stunned by Alofa's announcement. Even Ryder went still. Oriana and Ria gave Alofa encouraging smiles lending her their full support.

Alofa- "My husband and I are trying to settle into our marriage and I feel having another man under this roof would only cause disharmony between me and Ryder. A man's home is his castle. Not to say that anything would happen with Iosua here. I just think out of respect for my husband and I that he doesn't stay with us. Pardon me for any insult or if I offended anyone."

Alofa bowed her head humbly. Not knowing if her outspoken opinion angered her husband. The boys nodded giving Alofa their approval.

Ryder's father didn't appreciate it though. Ryder spoke before he could.

"My wife has spoken and I'm in full agreement. If I let him stay, there's no guarantee he'll see the next day. My wife is doing him a service."

"Is that how you speak to your elders boy?!"

His father lunged at him. If Alofa wasn't sitting next to him, Ryder would have let him go but his wife's safety was his first concern. Getting off the lounge just as his father did, Ryder saw that his boys were all of the same mind, moving at the same time to intercept his father from getting near Ryder and Alofa. Nathaniel got to his father first, grabbing hold of his fist that was raised to swing. Nathaniel held onto it forcing Ryder's father to back down, even Iosua tried to hold him back. Nathaniel leaned in whispering something in his father's ear that Ryder couldn't hear. Whatever it was, made him sit back down doing his best to keep his temper in.

"Wife, take the trays away. My parents have overstayed their welcome and will be leaving now."

"I curse the day you were born"

Ryders body went ridged. The only sign that he heard what his father said. He finally nodded accepting his father's words. Oriana couldn't hold it in anymore after witnessing what just happened. She walked to stand right in front of Ryder's Dad. Dommie only realizing too late what she was doing knowing full well his wife loved to speak her mind, groaned inwardly. Ryder's Dad tried to dismiss her.

Oriana- "Curse the day your son was born you say? As though you were the one who carried and nurtured him in your womb for nine months before going through unspeakable pain bringing him into the world. For a man who is working as a vessel for God, you sure don't practice what you preach in loku every sunday nor live the bible. You judge and condemn your own son when it is not your place to. You hold bitterness, unforgiveness and contempt in your heart for a tragedy that was out of Ryder's control yet you stand in front of the church and ask that others show forgiveness. All you see is a man with tattoo's who will never amount to anything but you don't see what an amazing man you have for a son. Who is loyal and kind and giving to those less fortunate. What you have sir is a Man who preaches God's word but his heart and mind is the actions of a man still stuck in the flesh. And then you have the Son who never attends church and doesn't preach His word but his actions show his heart and intentions are clean and genuine in all the things he does. Now answer me this sir. Who do you think the Lord will be more pleased with? You will never find peace until you forgive. Ryder is a good man who keeps good company. That is all I will say...."

She took her place next to Dommie again to the utter silence her words had left. No one had anything to say. Ryder was left speechless and humbled by Oriana's words. He felt himself getting choked up. His parents stood up without another word and left the house with their heads low. Ryder felt mentally drained by the past week he felt his chest tighten and thought maybe he was about to have a heart attack.