Author's Note: All characters are over the age of 18. This story is a work of fiction. Please do not republish on other platforms without my express permission.
Sorry for the delay! This one went longer than I thought because I wanted to include so much!
Constructive criticism welcomed. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy!!
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"Welcome to the Bahamas." I mutter under my breath sarcastically as a worn-down house comes into view.
Luckily, Ava was fast asleep on the passenger side so I could say that about her family home. I had been planning a nice, relaxing getaway to the islands to enjoy the sun and margaritas, but that wasn't what my wife wanted. When I brought it up to her, she said she wanted to visit family instead to reconnect and save money after all the hospital bills. Needless to say, that put a damper on my mood.
I wasn't exactly the family favorite because they saw me as a prissy suburbanite while I saw them as backwards and trashy. I went along with this trip because the therapist had told me Ava's mental state was still fragile so the best bet was to ease her back into life. And the simplest way to do that was getting her in touch with her family.
As the car wheels crunch against the rocks on the property, Ava stirs awake and yawns.
"Mmm, are we here?"
"Yeah. Looks like your parents have some guests."
She rubs her tired eyes then blinks. "Hm? Yeah, looks like it."
"Great," I said through gritted teeth. "The more, the merrier, I guess."
I didn't really have a great impression of her family because of Phelan O'Grady, her grandfather. The old coot was running around groping and harassing the women in my family to the point where my dad and uncle nearly came to blows with their side of the family.
As I drag our suitcases closer to the front door, it felt like I was walking up to a guillotine. Though, Ava seemed pretty excited to see her family again. Good for her, I guess. I try to remember that this is all for her benefit as we knock on the door. I inwardly groan as I see who comes out.
"Ava, my baby girl!"
"Daddy!" Ava exclaims as she runs forward to embrace a large, balding man wearing a wife beater underneath an open blue short-sleeved shirt.
The man then releases his daughter as his beady eyes turn to me. His thick lips curl into a sneer. This was worse than Phelan, it was his son, Owen, who was a fatter and more perverted strain of the same virus.
"Well, if it isn't little Finbar. You look awfully skinny these days."
I swallow my scowl as my fists clench for a brief moment. This was going to be a long week. "Good to see you too, Owen."
I was gonna have to really focus on Ava because her dad was going to keep making those stupid little comments to try to tick me off. What else could I do? He is her dad and her last living parent so I can't say much anyway. Though I did have a lot to say about Owen.
Thankfully, I didn't have to say much because a tall, middle-aged man comes up to greet us. Unlike Owen, he was clean-cut and the smile under his mustache was warm and inviting. I shook his hand happily as he patted my shoulder.
"Doug! So, you're the mystery guest, huh? Good to see you!"
"You as well, Fin! You're looking healthy these days!"
I let out a big sigh internally. Doug was Owen's older brother though you wouldn't know it by the way he behaved. He was college educated, a member of the PTO, and he taught Sunday school. Basically, a normal family man.
Next to him was his wife, Bea, who gave us both big hugs. She then moves back and looks at Ava then me.
"Oh, am I glad to see you two! We have so much to catch up on. But that's for later. Now..." The woman looks back and frowns. "Boys! Get down here! Your cousin Ava is here with her husband!"
A figure appears from the hallway, sauntering towards them with his hands in his pockets. He emerges and blows some smoke.
"Darrell! There you are!" Bea exclaims as she crinkles her nose. "Do you have to smoke that thing here? Now?"
The young man with a mullet answers lazily, "Mom, chill. It's just some grass. We're here to relax anyway. You don't mind, do you, cuz?"
Ava shakes her head gently as she steps forward to give him a hug. "It's good to see you haven't changed, Darrell."
"Hehe, you know me. I'm just chilling and thrilling. What's up, Fin?"
"Hey, I'm good." I reply as I shake his hand which was slack.
"Damn, bro. That's one stiff handshake. I got you after dinner if you-"
His mother clears her throat loudly. "Let's not talk about this right now. Now, where is your brother?"
Darell gives me a wink as we waited. I never really had a problem with him, but I wasn't too thrilled to go on another drug trip. The last time he convinced me to take DMT and I was seeing aliens and shadowy figures around me for weeks. Heavy footsteps drop against the stairs as the second brother arrives.
"Stevie, there you are!" Bea says as she changes her tone to a higher pitch.
The young man stops in the middle of the stairs as his brown eyes slowly scan the room, taking in each person present.
"Mom...dad...Ava!" Stevie exclaims loudly as he scampers down quickly. He holds out his arms as he stomps towards his cousin.
Ava smiles and embraces him, stumbling back a little due to his size. "Hi, Stevie! Boy, am I glad to see you!"
She pushes him back and looks up at him. "Wow, you've grown so much! You're taller than me now!"
Stevie was Doug and Bea's special needs child who was very affectionate when it came to females. The best way to describe him was...well, soft. He was built like a pear and his rounded face was a bit dopey with his beady eyes and large lips. He's never really liked me, but I try to extend an olive branch.
"Hey, bud. Good to see you, Stevie." I said as I hold out my hand.
He takes a look at it for a few seconds then replies curtly, "Hi."
"Haha, he didn't even look at you!" Owen laughs mockingly.
I bite back a scowl. This was going to be a very, very long week.
Later that night, I had my eyes closed, but I couldn't sleep which was becoming a regular occurence. I could still smell the smoke from the gun like it was yesterday. I don't regret pulling the trigger, but I had no idea it would affect me like this. Seeing Julio's eyes as his life left him... I needed a drink of water. Maybe that would help me clear my head. I sit up slowly as to not wake up my wife then I notice a figure at the feet of my bed.
"Holy shit! Stevie! You scared me!" I whisper harshly. "What are you doing here?"
He was just standing there, staring blankly at Ava. It was almost as if my words didn't register.
"Hello? Earth to Stevie!"
He blinks then looks at me, pointing at my wife. "Ava, wake up."
"Uh, she's asleep. It's late, Stevie. What are you still doing up?"
He shakes his head and points at her even more urgently. "No! Need Ava!"
I was getting annoyed at his whiny voice and I hiss, "Leave her alone! Go to your mom! We're trying to get some sleep!"
"Noooooo!" He whines loudly, stomping his feet.
"Shut up, Stevie! You'll wake her-"
