Rebuilding A Home

Same Ol' Bobby

Getting to their following location didn't take long, with Jerry directing Bobby to a large abandoned building. Like most warehouses in Detriot, the weathered brick no longer held its original red color, and windows were broken. Exiting the vehicle, Olivia sized it up, curiosity quickly filling her.

"This is it," Jerry announced as he entered the empty space - his voice echoing loudly. The area, as he explained, was to renovate and turn it into luxury lofts. "Urban sophistication is what I'm talking 'bout."

Bobby made a comment prompting Jerry to show his ideas and describe where he would put shops. Olivia could tell, by the sound of his voice, how excited he was about his plans and how passionate he felt about them. This made her eager for him, knowing out of all of them, Jerry was the one who could make something of himself as he had the ambition. Younger Olivia admired this about Jerry and would later adopt his way of thinking, which helped her get into college and eventually into the police academy.

"No, we ain't burning shit down; you always wanna destroy something."

Jerry's voice pulled Olivia out of her thoughts as the group turned to look at Jackie, who was pissing in the corner.

"Real smooth, Jack," Olivia groaned with an eye roll, her hand rubbing her forehead.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Is this the master suite?" Jack sarcastically asked. "Am I making property value go down?"

"This shithole gives 'Motor City Breakdown' a whole new meaning, Jerry. How the hell you gon' pay for all this?" Bobby asked, settling himself next to Olivia.

Jerry began to explain, showing the amount of research he had done to make his dreams come true. "Y'all stick around long enough, and I might give your asses a job."

"Let's go get a real drink," Bobby suggested, throwing his beer bottle to the ground. As it shattered, Olivia flinched.

— ｆｌａｓｈ ｂａｃｋ —

"How many times do I have to tell you how to make it?" Olivia jumped, her tiny body hiding in the corner as her father threw a glass plate against the wall causing it to shatter. "You're a worthless piece of shit who will never amount to anything, you know that?" He hollered at her, approaching her with a powerful finger pointed her way. The child pressed harder against the wall, her face hiding from her father as she prayed to become invisible. She was too young to get the ingredients right for his favorite dinner, and there was no way she could perfectly recreate his favorite dinner her mother used to prepare.

This he didn't understand under a drunken stupor.

"I'm sorry," the girl stuttered in a low, scared voice.

"So am I, that you were ever born."

— ｆｌａｓｈ ｂａｃｋ —

Bobby placed a hand on Olivia's shoulder, noticing her trance. He worried for her. Lightly he shook her, hoping to bring her back without force. Luckily for him, his touch was just enough to do the trick; Olivia blinked as she turned to look at him, realizing what had happened. The glossed-over, expressionless eyes were all too familiar to him - but it had been many years since the last time he had seen her fall victim to her memories.

"I need a drink," she mumbled as she turned on her heel, making her way toward his car.

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Laughter echoed among the siblings as they toasted another round to their adoptive mother. It felt like it had been years since Olivia let loose, let her hair down, and enjoyed herself. Having the Mercer brothers around, walking down memory lane, and exchanging the most significant memories they had from childhood seemed a little surreal. Nevertheless, Olivia enjoyed herself.