Page 74 of Takedown

“Mellie, that’s unfair,” Jason says. “She never said I was the only kid she’s ever wanted. I know you two have your issues, but—”

“Dupree, for a supposedly brilliant doctor, you’re either dumb or blind. Maybe both,” Adam says.

“Shut up, Melanie. Just shut your damn mouth,” my mother hisses. She looks around the kitchen like a cornered animal.

“Make me shut up, Mother. I dare you.” She takes a step back and looks to Jason for help. I walk to my brother, point to him and say, “We have our issues, Jason? You’re giving me part of the blame for this fucked up relationship? Really? It’s my fault I’ve never been good enough for her? It’s my fault that all she ever does is hurt me?” My voice turns to venom when I look at Jason in the eye, and all those years of resentment that I thought I had buried resurface. “Some things never change! You’ve succeeded, Mother! Congratulations!” I practically yell. “I’m out of here as soon as we can find another place to live. I’ll sleep in the goddamn train station before I live under the same roof as you.”

“Don’t you people ever stop!” Alex yells. “All you do is fight. Diane, do you have to take every opportunity to antagonize Mellie? It’s such a waste. You have two amazing kids. If you took your head out of Jason’s ass long enough, you’d realize it.” She spins on her heels and walks out of the kitchen.

My mother is stunned silent by Alex’s rant. She looks around the room, her chin jutted out in defiance.

“What are you talking about, Mother? What is it that you don’t want Mellie to tell me?” Jason demands to know.

My mother visibly pales. She even stumbles a little bit and holds onto the table for support, but she’s not down for long before she straightens up and says, “I don’t know. She’s just making trouble as per usual,” she says.

I scoff and toss my hands in the air.

Adam is not so gracious. “You’re a goddamn liar, lady.” He takes a step closer to my mother. “But I think this time your precious Jason will finally see you for who you really are. Tell him, Mel.”

I grab Adam’s hand and say, “Adam, it doesn’t matter.”

“He needs to know, Mel, because if he defends her one more time, I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop myself from ripping him apart.”

“Tell me what?” Jason says, moving closer to our mother. “Whatever it is, I want to hear it from you, Mom.” Jason takes her elbow to keep her in place when she tries to walk out of the kitchen. “Right now. You need to tell me right the hell now.”

“I don’t know what she’s talking about.” Her voice trembles, but she casts her eyes down, almost as if she is too ashamed to look at Jason.

The doorbell rings, and we all look around, stunned at the interruption. Alex returns and gets the food from the delivery man. Addy comes and starts to climb on her highchair. Adam picks her up and puts her in it.

“If you people don’t mind, I want to feed my daughter dinner.” Alex slams the bag on the table and grabs plates from the cabinet.

“I’ve lost my appetite,” I say.

“And I need to talk to my mother.” Jason takes hold of our mother’s elbow and marches her down the hall. We hear a door slam.

“I’m so damn sick of all of this,” Alex says. “So sick of all the fighting. Everything was great until she showed up.” Alex rubs a shaky hand to her forehead. She opens her mouth to say more, but the shouting from the back of the apartment shuts her up.

“How the hell could you say something like that? What is the matter with you?” Loud weeping follows Jason’s bellow. “No! Don’t touch me.” A door opens and slams, then heavy footsteps fill the hall. Jason’s eyes are red with rage, something I’ve never seen from him before. He pulls open the coat closet and grabs his jacket and says, “I need some air.” He walks out the front door and slams it behind him so hard, the walls shake.

My mother comes running down the hall, tears staining her face. She stops short when she sees us, but only long enough to wipe her tears and run to her room. Addy starts to cry, and Alex picks her up.

“It’s a total fucking shit show around here. I’m so damn sick of it.”

40

“I’m sorry, Alex.” She ignores me while she balances Addison in her arms. I walk out of the kitchen, through the living room, and out the front door. I barely make it halfway up the stairs before Adam catches up to me. He tries to grab my hand, but I pull away when I barge through the front door.

I take a quick look out the window while I walk to the bedroom. It’s completely dark now, but right by the streetlight, I can see the snow falling out of the sky. The cars below are covered, as is the sidewalk, but I don’t care.

I burst through the bedroom, the door hitting the wall so hard, I know it will leave a dent. I bend down and pull out the suitcase I keep under the bed. When I get to the dresser, I open a drawer, pull out all the clothes and toss them in the bag. Before I can do the same with another drawer, Adam snatches the bag from me and tosses it across the room. It bangs against the wall and lands on the hardwood floor with a hard crash.

“You’re not leaving me, Mel.” His voice is low, almost quiet, but I don’t miss the danger simmering underneath.

“I need to clear my head for the night. I don’t want to be under the same roof as you,” I tell him.

“Too bad. Your days of running away when things get hard or uncomfortable are over. We’re going to deal with this right now.”

“What are you going to do? Hold me hostage in this bedroom?”

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