CHOICES #Wattys2016 #Hidden Gems

Chapter 10

Alec Marcos pounded on the door in the shabby apartment building, calling his sister's name. He knew someone was inside because the TV was blaring and his anger mounted with each need to bang on the door. His patience vanished and Alec stepped back and put his boot to the door, smashing it from the hinges and sending it in splinters onto the stained carpet inside.

He charged into the room shouting for his sister and stopped short as he took in the squalor and the overriding odor of marijuana. He picked his way through to the bedroom and froze at the door. Tina was sprawled on the bed, between another woman and a skinny black man. Her only cover was a torn t-shirt and it was pushed up above her navel. Alec went to the bed and shook her leg, eliciting a long groan. He grabbed her ankles and pulled her from between the other two and onto the floor at the foot of the bed.

"Ow, geez!" Tina's eyes squinted open and she stuck out a bone-dry tongue.

"Get up, Tina. Get up and get into the bathroom." Alec grabbed her arm and started to hoist her up.

"Hey, wass goin' on?" The woman rolled over onto her side and held out a limp hand toward Alec.

"Nothing, just shut up and go back to sleep." He steered his sister into the bathroom and closed the door.

"Ale- Alec? What are you doin'?"

"You are a disgrace." He turned on the shower then yanked off the wrinkled t-shirt. It was the first time Alec had seen his sister nude and he found himself shocked to see the condition she was in, with bruises and small marks on her arms. He pushed her into the stall, cranked the water on full force and held her under the spray.

******

Tina sat with both hands wrapped about her coffee cup, listening while Alec berated her up and down both sides and around the middle. Other customers in the coffee shop eyed them with disgusted curiosity. Tina shook with a sob and a tear spilled down her cheek and onto her hand. She wiped it on her pant leg and then grabbed the cup again. It was an anchor, a lifeline to the reality her brother had forced her to confront.

"Mom has been sick with worry and she's not well herself. What in God's name possessed you to do this to yourself? Ever since dad died you drifted farther and farther away from the family. That- that slut you took up with led you down into this mess, Tina and for your information, it was on purpose."

Tina's head came up slowly and her forehead wrinkled. "What do mean, on purpose?"

Alec explained the entire story as he had been told and discovered for himself, about their father and the mother of Lori McRae. He told her all about their conflict in high school, about Benny and his wife and Lori's mother and when he was finished, Tina sat with tears streaking down her face and her body quivering nervously.

"I had no idea she was Ginny McRae's daughter."

"This is the last time I'm going to try and rescue you, Tina. I have enough to do looking after mom and holding down a job. You get your act together or don't ever show your face around us again."

"Alec I didn't know- I don't know why it happened..."

"I told you why it happened. Lose that McRae woman, Tina. I don't care if you have to quit your job, just lose her and get yourself sorted out. This is the last chance you get from me."

"Can I come back home?" Her face was red and scrunched with desperation.

"You prove to me you can get cleaned up and I'll speak to mom. I don't need you bringing her any aggravation in her condition."