Dignified

Chapter two

The sun was setting in the distance, giving the lake a warm, orange color. The house they were staying in was large and grand, but wasn't very luxurious. It was worn and tattered, made almost entirely of wood. It wasn't very pretty, but it was home to the four boys. This was their seventh summer in a row staying at the lake house, known to them as "Camp Safe Haven." It was their everything. Nothing made them happier than getting to stay at the lake house together for an entire summer. They looked forward to it every year, counting down the days during the school year. Camp Save Haven belonged to Scott McKinley, father of the four boys. The man was rich and powerful in the marketing Industry, owning many companies and businesses. He hadn't been successful until seven years before, the same year he left his sons at Camp Safe Haven for the first time. Scott was once a loving, caring father, but had changed in a heartbeat. Lindsey Sanderson was the best thing that could have ever happened to Scott. He loved her with all his might, and considered himself the luckiest man alive to have her. The best day of his life was the day she agreed to marry him. About a year later, their first son, Clark, was born. He had dark hair and bright blue eyes just like his father. Scott was very happy with his wife and son, but he wanted another child. The following year, their second son, Ryan, was born. He had dark hair with matching eyes and was a very calm boy. Lindsey was a very loving mother, but she wanted a girl in the family too. To her disappointment, her third son named Zach was born the year after. He had his mother's brown hair with his father's blue eyes, and was always a fussy baby. The pair decided they needed a break. Three children was enough for now. During this time period, Scott began his career in the marketing industry. Three years later, Lindsey and Scott tried again hoping to finally receive their little girl. During her fourth pregnancy, Lindsey became terribly ill. Her husband was having a tough time at his job, and their three boys were becoming a hassle. The next year, little Trace was born. He was the smallest baby of them all, and he was the last one Lindsey ever saw. He had jet black hair, but his mother's green eyes. She passed away while giving birth to her fourth and final son. Scott was devastated. He changed drastically towards his kids, no longer being the kind father he once was. But out of all of his boys, it was Trace he resented the most. He blamed Trace for the loss of his wife, his soulmate, the only person who ever understood him. He took refuge at his job, working overtime nearly everyday to clear his mind. He didn't want to see his sons. They reminded him too much of her. They looked too much like her. They were, after all, a part of her. Scott pushed them away, never again hugging them or kissing them. Clark took the hardest hit out of all the boys. First his Mom dies, and then his Dad, the best person in the world, suddenly stops loving him. He became a very quiet, serious boy after that. He couldn't understand jokes anymore, and he rarely found anything funny. It took a lot to get him to smile, but it was only because he was heartbroken. He was aching inside. Ryan was hurt as well, but not as much as Clark. He missed his Mom terribly, but he knew there was nothing he could do about it. Instead of feeling hurt by his father's resentment, he felt anger towards him. He knew it was unfair that his father stopped loving him just because his Mom died, but he was always willing to forgive his father. Zach was only three at the age, but he was most hurt by Scott. He was very attached to his father, and he was even angrier than Ryan at him for having left them like that. Zach became carefree and immature after it all happened. It affected him in a very negative way. Trace never felt any love from either of his parents. His Mom was only able to kiss him goodbye, and his father never even gave him a hug. No matter how unlikely it was, Trace became and grew into the most loving, caring boy out of all four them. He became very sweet and kind, although he never received much affection from his parents. Sure, his brothers loved him, but it would never be the same as his parents' love. Four years after Lindsey's death, Scott became very successful in the marketing industry. He became rich and decided to use his money to his advantage. He bought a lake house that had once been a small camp, A small camp where he met lindsey. He left his sons there, leaving Clark in charge, even though he was only ten.

"Clark, take care of your brothers. I'll be back soon." He said. "Where are you going?" A young Clark asked, looking up at his dad. "I've got a lot of work, and I've already told you not to question me." He said sternly, refusing to look Clark in the eye. "Whenever you boys run out of food, give my assistant a call, and she will make sure to have food delivered. One of my workers will drop by once a week and restock the refrigerator and cabinets. Don't open the door for anyone unless they work for me." He sighed and looked around the house, the old memories all rushing back to him. The tears caught in his throat, making it burn and itch as he tried not to cry. Scott opened the door before turning to his eldest son. "Watch your brothers, Clark. Make sure you don't let them in the deep part of the pool and don't go too far in the lake. Take care of them. Especially...especially Trace. He's...he's the youngest and he'll need you the most. Goodbye, Clark."

As soon as Scott left, Clark burst into tears. He didn't even hug him goodbye. What happened to the man who loved him more than anything else in the world? The man who promised he'd always be there?