That Summer in Nevis (Lams)

Chapter 20

*sigh* the updating streak has ended

"Dammit, it's still storming," George grumbled when he woke up to the loud thunder.

He was concerned about Alex. He knew how he could get sometimes with this weather, and he hated seeing him like that. Hated seeing him being haunted by the things that happened on this island. This was supposed to be a vacation.

He sat up and rubbed the sleepiness away from his face before getting up to check on his elder son. Alex was tucked into the comfort of the hotel bed. He was sleeping, but he didn't by all means look peaceful. His brows were furrowed, his eyes were clamped shut, and he was mumbling a name over and over. James is what it sounded like. James.

George tried to fall back asleep. But he couldn't. It was only 3 am and he knew the logical thing to do was to sleep, especially with eight kids he had to chaperone, but something in the back of his mind was bugging him. Who is James?

Alex had mentioned what had happened to him and his family before him and Martha adopted him, but a James was never mentioned. He knew Alex had a deadbeat father, knew his mother had died from an illness they both contracted, but never a James. James. He thought of the cousin Alex stayed with but pushed the thought away when he remembered his son sharing a name.

-

John's eyes widened as he read whatever was on his phone.

"Um, I, uh, I-I have to go..." John stuttered out, getting up from the floor and slinging his backpack around him.

"Where ya going?" Eliza asked.

"Yeah, you're gonna miss UNO," Herc added.

"No, it's fine. I really- I have to go," John insisted. With that, he ran out the door.

-

"Aw, baby, you're shivering," Francis smirked. He unlocked the car and let John in. "Here-" he handed John a black leather jacket. "-take your clothes off and wear this." John nodded and climbed into the backseat so he would have more room to change.

Francis started driving off.

-

"Alex, can I ask you something?" George asked.

"Sure, dad."

Of course, Alex had been calling him that for a while, but every timer said it, his heart warmed. It meant a lot, especially here where Alex grew up.

"Who's James?"

Alex paled. "He...is my- was my brother."

"How come you never mentioned him?"

"I dunno," he lied. He knew why. He wanted to forget him. Well, not forget him exactly. He wanted to forget what happened, what he did.

"You said he was your brother." Alex nodded, looking at the floor. "Can I ask, what happened to him?"

"He died," Alex answered vaguely. George nodded, not wanting to overstep.

-

Francis broke away from the kiss. "Mm, baby, I gotta unlock the door."

John let out a breath. He was kinda tired, ya know, the rain and all. He didn't know what Francis wanted, but he wasn't really in the mood for their usual activities.

John stepped into the hotel with Francis. The first thing he noticed was a lacy, dusty pink bra on the floor.

He bit his lip. As fond as John was of crop tops and feminine clothing when not under the supervision of his father, lingerie was not really his thing. He really was tired today, and especially not in the mood for putting on a show.

"I thought I told you to leave," Francis growled in a rough voice.

What?

A young woman, definitely a few years older than him, walked into view. She was wearing a shirt that hung loosely over her frame. One of Francis' shirts John realized.

"But baby, I need you," she begged.

"Who is she?" John asked, voice quivering.

Sure maybe deep down John knew he didn't love Francis and he wasn't really into the relationship, but this hurt. Francis had come to him and started their relationship again just to cheat? Was he not enough? Was he too fat? Too ugly? Too gay?

"No one of importance." He faced the woman who was now basically crawling on him. "Get out."

"But-"

The two argued for a while, and eventually, John just left in tears.

He sat there on the concrete near the hotel in the rain crying about who knows what.

-

The Hamilsquad™️ was playing UNO again. Alex was mad because Peggy was always winning. Peggy was cackling because a mad gremlin who was spewing death threats over a petty card game was "funny."

Tired of the kids' screaming, Mr. and Mrs. Washington was in the other room watching television.

"Peggy! Stop provoking him!" Angelica yelled.

Martha walked into the room. "Did John say when he was going to be back?"

They all shook their heads.

"It's getting kind of late. Could one of you text him?" She asked.

"I'm sure he'll be fine," Laf said.

Then, there was an alarm blaring and a voice through the building's speakers.

"Attention. The storm has evolved into a category 2 hurricane. Please evacuate. There will be signs where to go. There are hotels up in the mountains, so they will be safer. Take care."

Alex froze. Again. Again! It was exactly like this all those years ago. Those years he wanted to forget. Erase. He wanted to not start crying whenever there was a storm. Not be reminded of his brother.

His brother.

"Okay, someone call John, now," Martha ordered.

His brother saved him.

Peggy dialed his number.

One ring. Two rings. Three rings.

"Um, hi! John Laurens is currently unavailable. I'll probably call you back later. Peggy don't spam." The recording of John's voice said.

"Just...call again," Martha said.

Peggy dialed again.

One ring. Two- what.

It was John's ringtone.

"Goddammit, Laurens!" Peggy exclaimed.

"What do we do?!" Eliza panicked.

There were a series of overlapping chatter and arguing, but Alex couldn't hear them. His mind was racing with thoughts.

"I'll get him," he interrupted.

-

oop-

I wanna know what you think's gonna happen. Go tell me. Right heere —>