Secrets

Chapter Two - Wait, WHAT!

POV Ace

Mom keeps looking up at me and then down to her lap. Malia gently takes a hold of mom's chin and makes her to look up into Malia's eyes. ''You can do it Holly. Tell him, he deserves to know.'' I watch Malia give my mom an encouraging smile. Again, what is so important that mom needs a pep talk from Malia? She takes a breath and looks at me with a blank face, but her eyes betray her. I have always been good at reading people, and at the moment I see different emotions running thru her eyes. The one that stands out the most is guilt.

I wait patiently until she starts talking. While I ain't the most patient person, I know that she wants to tell me something important.

~

She takes a deep breath and finally starts talking. ''We got a call from nonna. She told us that pops got a heart attack. He already went into surgery and came out fine. However, he needs to take it easy and rest a lot, but you know your pops. He is always doing something because he can't sit still, only if it is just for a minute. That is why we will move to Culloden, so we can help nonna with taking care of pops. We will probably stay with them for six months, to make sure that he is fine.''

I am glad that pops is alright, but I didn't expect anything else of the man. I never met a stronger person than him, even though he is seventy-three, he acts like he thirty. He's always fishing, running and even mountain biking. He is my favorite grandfather.

He is my only grandfather, because I don't know my father's side of the family. Hell, I don't even know who my father is. And if I'm being honest, I don't even want to know him. I am seventeen years old and in these seventeen years I have never seen him. I stopped asking my mom about him when I was six years old. Mostly because the only answer I got was: 'Your father just isn't here anymore'.

Truth be told, mom was in a bad place back then. She was very depressed and drowned herself in alcohol and drugs. Despite her drinking and drugs problems, she was never a bad mother. She would always put on a smile when I was around, make my favorite breakfast – chocolate pancakes – and we would go to the park.

Only when she met Malia, she overwon her depression and substance abuse. They've been together for almost five years. Four months ago, Malia finally proposed to her. They haven't set the wedding date yet but with pops being sick, I think that it will take a while longer.

I am glad that we will move to nonna and pops, because I haven't seen them in six months. But I am in my last year of high school and don't want to go thru the whole 'new kid' process. ''When do we leave and where would we stay? Nonna's and pops house isn't exactly big enough for the five of us.'' Mom looks at me and tears appear in her eyes. ''You won't be going with us Ace. You will be going to live with your father and brothers in Los Angeles. Your father has already enrolled you in a private school there.''

Wait, WHAT! I stared at her dumbfounded. After I processed everything, I finally burst. ''What do you mean with 'my father and brothers'? Why did you never tell me? Al these years you always said that 'he just isn't here anymore', and now you tell me that I also have brothers. Fuck this, I'm not going!'' I run back to my bedroom, grab a duffel bag and throw in some clothes and other things. If she thinks I'm going to live with them, she's wrong.

Opening the door, I almost trip over my mom. Her whole body trembles and tears stream down her cheeks. ''Please honey, I'm so sorry for not telling you, it's complicated. I've talked to your father, and we'll explain everything to you when we get back.'' I want her to explain everything to me now, but she stops me from speaking. ''Please honey, they've been wanting to meet you for a while now. It will only be for six months, and I will call you every day.''

I take a deep breath and nod. ''Okay.'' Her face lights up and I give her a small smile. Only six months, how bad could it be.

634 WORDS

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