Page 37 of Because of Them

Stuck inside my contemplation, I nod in response to Brendan’s shock. I’m still coming to terms with the whole twins thing anyway, so I don’t exactly know what else there is to say. He stares at me, waiting for a response. Although the ultrasound technician had explained missed twins in early ultrasounds—how the babies had developed in a way that one twin had hid the other from view during earlier scans—I still don’t quitegethow we are only just finding out. Surely there’s a test pregnantwomen can do to find out how many babies are growing in there. Or should we have picked up on the signs because of how sick Audrey was feeling?

“You there?” Brendan questions, clicking his fingers in front of my face.

“I don’t fucking know,” I snap. “I wasn’t even expecting one kid and now I’ll have two. Never mind the fact I don’t mean anything to Audrey. She keeps saying it’s fun, but it still feels like more than that to me. I want it to be more than that to her too, but fuck if a relationship wouldn’t make things a hundred times more complicated than they already are. I don’t blame her for trying to keep her distance.”

It all spills out, and my shoulders are a little looser with each admission.

“I don’t know what to do, man.”

Brendan throws his toolbelt into the back of his truck and turns to lean against it. With a foot propped up against the tire he twists his hands together. “Maybe you should have kept it in your pants?” he jests, shrugging a shoulder. The words jab at me all the same.

I throw my empty water bottle at him. “Bit late for that advice.”

A shiny black pick-up rolls to a stop on the street in front of us, interrupting us and looking entirely out of place amongst the muddy worksites.

“What’s your old man doing here?”

My shoulders pull towards my ears. Whatever the reason, I suspect it’s something to do with me. Brendan bails out as my dad’s too clean work boots step onto the pavement, calling out that he’ll meet me at the gym. I don’t have time to tell him I’m not sure I’m up for it. Don’t have the brainpower to figure out why that is.

My father strides over to me like he is the king of the world, but that’s always how he has held himself. Even when he was a young apprentice, I still picture him acting like he was the most important person on the job site. It’s a confidence that never passed down to me, and I hate the way he makes me want to cower behind Baxter.

My traitorous dog bounds towards his granddad, stopping short of jumping up to leave messy paw prints on clean jeans. My dad leans down to pet behind his ears. His mop of too long, rough curls fall over his face.

“Son.” He nods in my direction.

“Father. What have we done for you to grace us with your presence?”

It’s been years since he has stepped foot on a site, outsourcing literally everything until all he has to do is sit behind a desk making outrageous promises to customers and demanding we make it work.

“I was hoping to catch you before you packed up for the day.”

“And?” There’s something, I can tell.

“Can’t a father want to come see his son?”

I scoff. “Sure, but there’s always something else with you.”

“Do you have to be so sceptical?” His smile fades, a firm crease forming between his eyebrows.

“I am how you made me.”

He doesn’t try to deny it. Doesn’t do anything to prove me wrong either. Instead, he takes a step toward me, grimacing a little when his boot squelches into the mud. I pretend not to notice.

With a hand now firmly clasped over my shoulder, my father drills his eyes around the job site before turning to face me again. He shakes his head. I want to squirm under his scrutiny.

“You’re worth more than this, Mikey.”

Here it comes. I step out of his grasp, folding my arms across my chest.

“I’ve been thinking about that job you sent my way. Noel, was it?”

“Noah.”

“Right, well it’s a big job. But it was all you. So, I think you should take the reins. Have a little trial run.”

Trial run?My face must mimic the confusion I feel. I agreed to take on a job, not one as big as Noah’s hotel.

“I’m retiring at the end of next year. At least, I want to. You know the business is yours when I do, whether you think you’re ready or not. It’s time you started to step up and learn how to handle things.”

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