Page 58 of Queen of Ruin

22

YOU CAN’T PLEASE EVERYONE

EVANGELINE

Darren’s been quiet ever since we left Ethel’s house. He’s kept his eyes on the road ahead, eating up the miles as we head back towards Georgetown. The boxes containing some of his parents' things rattle in the backseat as we travel down the bumpy highway. This has been an emotional day for Darren, leaving the lake house and seeing the home his father grew up in.

“Darren?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he snaps.

“You have every right to be upset, but…”

“Evan, don’t.”

“Don’t what?” I ask, offended. “You don’t even know what I was going to say.”

“Whatever it was, it doesn’t matter because it’s not going to make me feel better,” he grits out.

I narrow my eyes at him.

“I get you’re upset.” I place my hand on his that rests on the shifter.

“Upset doesn’t begin to cover it.” He shakes his head.

“You haven’t said a word since we left the house.”

“I shouldn’t have gone there.”

“You didn’t know what was going to happen, but now you do,” I offer.

“My parents are gone. What does it matter now?” He looks over at me, and I hate the tortured look in his eyes.

“It matters, Darren, if it helps you move on.”

“Ethel’s probably going to lose her home because of Rori fucking Colton.”

“He’s not the only one who voted against that Bill.”

Ethel was crushed. Even though she knew there was no guarantee, I think she was more hopeful than she let on, and when Darren found that the bill to establish the relief program had been voted down, I could tell it crushed him too, especially when he saw Lynchburg’s Representative, Rori Colton, had voted against it.

“Yeah, but now he’s the one taking over my father’s seat in Congress,” he grunts.

“Is that what really has you so upset? The thought of someone else taking your father’s seat?”

“I knew his seat couldn’t stay empty, but Jesus, Rori? He’s...” Darren struggles to come up with something so I help him out.

“Not good enough?”

“Not when he’s gonna vote to kick old ladies out of their homes,” Darren laments.

“Rori’s hardly the antichrist because he didn’t vote the way you wanted. I’m sure he’s never met Ethel or anyone in that neighborhood for that matter,” I insist, trying to make him feel better, but Darren grips the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles turning white.

“That’s the problem. He’s supposed to serve the people of his district.”

“Surely your father told you that you can’t please everyone, especially in politics. There’s always going to be someone who benefits and someone who doesn’t, no matter how you vote,” I try to explain.

“It’s not just Rori or my father’s empty seat – it’s Ethel.”

---