Turmoil | Spruceworth 5.1 (#Wattys2018)

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Shaw

       For the past few days, my mind has been all over the place, especially since today was Castiel's birthday party, and Kendra and I had been doing a lot of planning for it. I was hoping when the party was over, or even during the party, my mind wouldn't be so clustered.

       That wasn't the case.

       We booked out The Gold Mine for the birthday party, mainly because I worked there so it was a lot easier to do so. It was a good thing we did because at first, it was going to be at Kendra's house which wasn't fairly big and Castiel wanted to invite his whole kindergarten class. He was such a friendly and social kid.

       The only part I didn't like about the party was that Kendra's dad, Rudy, was here and we wasn't particularly fond of me.

       Okay, that was a complete lie. He couldn't stand me and he was always trying to tear me down. In fact, he even hated me a lot more than Holden's parents. Well, just Holden's mom. Lawrence was somewhat okay with me and Holden dating now, but at least he wasn't saying over and over again how I wasn't right for his son.

       I was hoping he would just choose to ignore me today instead so he wouldn't kill my mood at my youngest son's birthday party. 

       He didn't.

       The kids were playing one of the games right now, and Kendra was the one running it so I was standing off to the side by the table with all the food and drinks. Rudy walked over to me and I was trying my hardest not to scowl. "So," he said. "I am a bit surprised you're here. Wouldn't you rather be off drinking or something?"

       "For your information, I've been sober for a while now," I said. "And I wouldn't want to miss my son's birthday anyway."

       "I still have no idea why Kendra is letting you back into their lives," he said. "You almost ruined them."

       "Well, I didn't," I said. "I sobered up and I manned up. So I would really appreciate it if you wouldn't undermine me today of all days. Feel free to do it any other day."

       Surprisingly, Rudy didn't say anything else to tear me down, but he still stood beside me. He then looked at one of the tables Holden was sitting at with Mercy and Lucian. Those two were more interesting in drawing something instead of playing the game with the kindergartens.

       Even though the twins were only two years older.

       And they wouldn't let Holden move at all. They wanted him to stay with them, and he didn't mind at all.

       "So, who's that?" Rudy asked. "He kind of looks familiar, but not too much. Almost like I haven't seen him in years or something."

       "That's Holden, Lawrence and Tara's second eldest son," I said. "That's probably how you know him."

       "Ah, right," Rudy said. "The one that was in boarding school. What's he doing here, then? I mean, the rest of Lawrence and Tara's sons aren't that close with the kids, and Mercy and Lucian seem to really like him."

       "Because he's also my boyfriend," I said.

       "Isn't he a little young?" Rudy asked. "You're twenty-five and how old is he? And how are Lawrence and Tara okay with it?"

       No matter what, Rudy always found some way to judge me, even if it was nothing that involved him or Kendra or the kids.

       "He's eighteen," I said. "And to answer your question, Lawrence is somewhat okay with it. Tara's not, but it's not their choice."