The Hidden Truth

Chapter Fifteen: Karma

After the table is cleaned off, the woman returns to her seat while the man puts on some coffee. As for the two children, they scatter. I assume they went to their bedrooms so that the adults could talk in private. As uncomfortable as I am right now, I wish I could join them but I don’t  want to be rude to my hosts so I remain at the table waiting for the interrogation to begin. I have no clue who these people are but I was curious as to why they gladly opened their home to my brother. I thought that maybe Zoey was Alex’s girlfriend until I recalled a time when he and I had a heart to heart conversation where he told me that he had no interest in girls whatsoever. He was eight back then but old enough to know what was more appealing to him in that nature. Alex always reminds me of the old saying about an old soul trapped in a younger body.

As soon as the man returns to the table with three cups of coffee he sets one in front of each of us and says, “We were wondering when you would finally grace us with your presence. Alex talked alot about you while he’s been here.”

“I’m surprised he would talk about me at all.” I reply, shocked that he would even mention my name to anyone.

“As much as we enjoy having him around we can’t financially afford to take in another child. I asked him to go back home and work things out with you. Unfortunately, he stressed to us how that wasn’t going to happen. So we thought it was best to have you come over and see if we adults can't come to some sort of an agreement, together,” the woman says.

I open my mouth to speak but then close it again. I’m lost at what to say. There are too many unanswered questions roaming my mind but I didn’t know where to start. So I sat there silent staring at the cup before me, hoping that they would give me the answers or at least a starting point. 

“Michael, I understand you’re under a lot of stress and we want to help you out as much as we can but I’m afraid that when you find what you're looking for it will be all for nothing.” the woman adds.

Her words confuse me for a second before realizing that Alex must’ve told them what he saw in my mind and it hits me like a brick. I close my eyes, scolding myself while whispering the question, “Why?” 

It was more aimed at myself for why I didn’t break the connection sooner but they took it as if I was asking them as the woman continues, “We are family and families stick together.”

“That’s impossible because both of my parents were only children.”

“That isn’t entirely true my dear boy, I am your mother's sister.”

“You are lying.”

“No I’m not. Ask yourself this, has she ever talked about her side of the family to you?”

I sat there thinking back to all the talks I had with my mother. We used to talk about the weather, gems and our family but she never said anything other than her family is long gone. I didn’t pry into what she meant by that, I just assumed that they died a long time ago before I was born. “No. Not really. The only thing she ever said was that they died.”

“Fate has a funny way of working. It's designed to ease your burdens and no one must change that. For if you decide to step in its way, karma will rain upon you.”

Apparently this woman likes to talk in riddles. So I ask, “Are you saying that karma killed my mother?”

“Yes I am and it's coming for you too.”

“Why? What did I do?”

“You changed your sister's fate when you saved her from drowning. You should have let destiny run its course.” 

“I couldn't do that.”

“It's not too late to let nature take its course.”

“I wont allow that to happen!”

“Then you leave us no choice but to take Alex from you.” 

At that moment I feel as if I’ve just been kicked in the gut so I remind her of her words in an attempt to make her change her mind, “But you told me you can't afford another child.”

“That’s true but we’re not going to sit back and allow your actions to destroy his life.”

*****

Later in the evening as I’m sitting at the table thinking. The events from today play over and over in my mind. What have I done to them to deserve this kind of treatment? They say they are family but yet they split my brother and I apart. For what… all because I refuse to allow my sister to die. Not to mention they crushed all the hope I had at saving my baby sister. How can a family be so cold as to turn their backs on me like that? Although, It was strange how the woman did all the talking while her husband sat beside her as if he’s supporting his wife’s decisions. 

As I continue to wallow in my sorrows and wondering what I could have done differently there's a rapid tap at the patio door. Sliding it open I’m greeted by Alex profusely apologizing to me. Saying things like It's all my fault and I didn’t think they would do that to you. I step aside while pulling him in and shutting the door, curious about whether or not this isn't another one of their attempts to try and change my mind. I stop Alex’s rambling with a flick of my wrist as I say, “What possessed you to tell them anything in the first place?”

“I … I … I don’t know.” he stutters before continuing “When they told me they were my aunt and uncle, I just couldn't stop myself from talking.”

A strange feeling washes over me that these people might not be who they say they are and I had to know more. “That’s not like you Alex. What exactly happened? Tell me everything and don't skip a detail.”

“It was the first night I was there. After I finished my homework with Zoey they sat me down at the kitchen table and offered me a mug of hot chocolate. At that point they asked me who my parents were. And I told them. That’s when Lula informed me that she was mom’s sister. From there everything just started pouring out.”

A few ideas rolled around in my brain but I had to push him for more answers to determine what they could’ve done to him to make him spill the beans so easily. “Did you drink the hot chocolate?”

“Of course I did.”

I sigh just before asking, “Who was doing most of the talking?”

“Lula. Her husband just made my drink then sat down beside her.”

Just what I thought! They tried to do the same thing to me but I refused to drink or eat anything they offered and I’m glad I did. His actions reminded me too much of what Justice is capable of if left to his own devices. 

I knew as frightened as he was that he came to me of his own free will so I offered him some advice, “Whatever you do, watch your back. These people have tricks up their sleeves and they know how to use them well.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to do some digging and see if I can find out who these people really are.”