The Mafia's Son [REVISED]

4. Brookens

"Okay!" I agree with his proposal. 

"Okay?" He asks slowly a little confused and shocked. 

"Yes. I don't ever want to repeat that," I say.

He nods and chuckles at my response and claps with enthusiasm.

"I don't want to press onto anything but what happened to your mom?" He asked.

We are currently on the hood of his car just sitting and staring at the vast green grass laid out in front of us with the sun set shining on our faces in the east still at the park. 

"Why do you want to know?" I question him back.

He's asked this twice now and I was curious why he wanted to know. 

Mom was difficult topic to speak upon. I have been avoiding this conversation for so so long. I even avoided talking to the man who married her because I just felt like I needed the space. I didn't want people's pity or empathy. I didn't need their "I'm so sorry" 's and I definitely didn't need their awkward smiles after I tell them. Those were all the reasons why I chose to not tell him.

"Nothing. I was just curious and I really want to get to know you," He explains slowly.

By getting to know what happened to my mom? 

Uhh...

If he wanted to know about me, then why is he asking about my mom?

"Well if you want to know me, knowing my history isn't exactly what I would reveal to you first." I laugh and gulp, avoiding the topic altogether.

"Then what can you tell me...about your family?" He asks.

"I can tell you that my father wasn't the best man when it comes to being there when you need him the most." I sigh and look down at my nails just playing with them.

"Mine too." Caleb adds and I look up to see his eyes filled with sadness.

I think for just that one moment - we had something in common and I actually felt sorry for him...exactly what I didn't want him to feel moments ago. Now, it wasn't something to be proud of having in common but it was a start.

I can't believe this was what he had in common. 

"Funny, isn't it? It's a good thing we have something in common but it's bad that this is the thing we both relate too." I blurt out and I can see him reaching out to take my hand into his - which I awkwardly shake off.

I'm just not there yet, Caleb. 

"Sorry." He whispers. I just look at the grass to my right.

Well, he might find out about it later anyway so I might as well tell him myself then let him hear about it from someone else. Here goes nothing!

"My mother...died three years ago. I was with her that night. The details are clear in some parts and foggy for others, but I remember that she was driving me home from swimming practice that night. The tire had deflated due to a nail puncturing it somewhere along the road. We pulled over to fix it and replace it with a tire in the trunk, but when we got off the road to check, we noticed a car had been tailing us for some time. I told her to stay in the car, but she insisted that we fix it fast and get out of their sooner. As we were fixing the tire, the car that tailed us pulled over and pulled out a gun. They threatened both my life and my mother's and as I dialed 911, the gun man shot her. The police did a full investigation or so they said, but it was useless. They didn't find any evidence that night. My father who was a detective took it the worst. He couldn't even manage to solve his wife's murder and I was left alone to figure out life without either parent," I retell the story that I used to tell years back.