Paradise

Chapter 6 - Confrontation

I'm really excited about this chapter so I hope you guys like it as much as I do! :)

Silence. There was nothing but pure silence among our table of four. My fears had come true that night and it came to a surprise when no one blew up or stormed out. The tension was so thick that it cut short my breathing. Everything had been said and it was impossible to take everything back. Silence had taken over our family dinner as the words Brooke had said still hung in the air eerily. With my breath held and my heart beating rapidly, I stood there in awe staring at my dad's motionless stature waiting for someone to say something.

Finally, after what seemed equivalent to an eternity, my mom broke the dense silence, "Ben..."

My dad's jaw clenched and his nostrils flared. No response.

She didn't quit, "Ben? We can talk about this later, I can explain..."

My dad still didn't show sign of any emotion. After what Brooke just dumped on him, all before he had a chance to enjoy the presence of his family being together under one roof, I understood why he was reacting the way he did.

Fear found its way to my mother's voice realizing she had finally been caught, "Ben... I know this sounds bad but it really isn't what it's made out to be."

The silence was feeding my anxiety. I was anxiously waiting for a reply from my dad but I could tell he's had enough. I think we've all had enough. Enough lies. Enough fights. Enough tension. Enough disloyalty. We've all had enough of this family.

Out of nowhere, I was once again shocked as my dad finally spoke, "Don't you dare... Don't you dare try to manipulate this into one of your pity lies? I always knew there was something noticeably different with us, I just always assumed it was my fault that I was the one to blame when in all reality, you were the problem."

"Ben, please, I swear to you that it wasn't all Brooke is making it seem to be-"

"Stop, mom! For once in your life can you just drop all the lies? Stop trying to be the 'perfect wife' and admit to all your lies!" Brooke angrily shouted.

"Brooke, your own daughter, saw you with her own eyes yet you still didn't have the decency to tell me. For Christ's sake, Linda, it's nearly been three months, maybe even longer! Why didn't you just divorce my ass instead of putting your family through all of this bullshit?!"

And that's when Armageddon sprung. My mom as trying to yell over my dad's furious remarks while Brooke was screeching, trying to defend dad. My ears were being overrun with the sounds of angrily yells trying to beat the other.

At one point, my dad had enough and began to leave the kitchen table.

"Where are you going Ben? We're not finished here!" My mom shouted.

"Oh yes we are, we're finished... For good. I want you out of this house by tomorrow morning. It's only fair that I keep the house considering I was the only one who stayed faithful."

My mother's jaw dropped and tears began to fill her eyes as she followed him upstairs continuing to yell at him.

Brooke sat directly across from me and from the look that was displayed on her face, she didn't feel better about telling dad like she so greatly predicted.

For a brief moment, I took it all in. the last ten minutes will always be carved in my head, it will never leave my memory and I will always be attached to these people for eternity. There will never be a true way out but for now, I'd start with the door.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When I left, my parents were still at it and it sounded as though Brooke was still frozen in the kitchen with nothing but her guilty conscious eating away at her.