HEALING THE SCARS

CHAPTER 33

PENELOPES 

"Did you hurt Penelope? What really happened between you guys?" Andrew's voice is firm, almost demanding, as I press my ear closer to the door, trying to catch every word.

"Andrew, I'm a bad man. It's complicated, and you're just a kid," Dylan replies, his tone heavy.

"I'm no longer a child, Dylan. I'm almost sixteen years old. I'm basically an adult. And I even have a girlfriend," Andrew counters, sounding both defiant and eager to prove himself.

"No, you're not, Andrew. You're still a kid. But way to go—a girlfriend already? What's her name?" Dylan tries to shift the conversation, but Andrew isn't having it.

"Don't try to change the subject, Dylan. What happened between you and Penelope? Did you marry my sister only to hurt her? Why would you do that? You made her life so hard. She often cries herself to sleep, you know. That's not cool, man. We can't be friends if you do that," Andrew's voice is filled with concern, protective of me in a way that tugs at my heart.

"Andrew, it's complicated... Well, it's none of your business. You're saying that she cries herself to sleep?" Dylan sounds surprised, almost shaken.

"Yeah, she does. She doesn't know that I see it all. For years.  And when she talks to Mabel, she cries and says that she hates you for everything that she goes through."

"What else does she say?" Dylan presses, his voice tinged with something I can't quite place—guilt, maybe?

"I heard them say that you're here to take Jason away from her," Andrew reveals, his words hitting me like a punch to the gut.

"When did you hear that, Andrew?" Dylan asks, his tone shifting, more serious now.

"Everybody thinks I'm invisible and they basically treat me like I don't exist, so it's really easy to snoop in on people's conversations. Is it true, though? Are you here to take Jason away?" Andrew's voice wavers, a mix of fear, happiness and anger.

"Andrew, I'm not here to take him away. He's my son, and I just want to get to know him. For a kid, you sure do ask too many questions, you know," Dylan tries to deflect again, but his voice lacks conviction.

"If you take him away, I'd probably be happy, but then again, Penelope would hate you even more," Andrew threatens, and I can hear the pain in his voice.

"Why would it make you happy? He is your nephew." Dylan asks him.

"Never mind." Andrew brushes it off.

"Go to sleep, Andrew. I'm not here to cause any harm, okay?" Dylan's voice softens, but I know him well enough to detect the underlying tension.

I step back from the door, my heart pounding. Hearing Andrew defend me like that fills me with both pride and sorrow. I know I need to talk to him, to reassure him that things will be okay, but right now, I feel like I'm drowning in my own emotions.

I hear Dylan walking toward the door, and I immediately pretend to be just coming in. I've heard every single word they've said, and now, all I want is for him to leave—leave my home, my life, every part of me.

I open the door and nearly bump into him.

"Dylan, what are you still doing in my house? Get out. I don't want to do this in front of my brother, okay? Please leave," I say as I walk toward Andrew's bed to tuck him in.

"Hey, Andrew. I haven't seen you all day. Did you enjoy yourself?" I ask, trying to keep my voice light.

"Yeah, I did. I'm so exhausted."

"Well, you should sleep, okay?"

"Okay."

"Goodnight, Andrew. I love you," I say, leaning down to kiss his forehead.