Page 58 of Between Brothers

“We went in together for the same stupid shit,” Cell said. He looked almost angry, affronted that my dad would even bring it up and my heart sank.

“And what stupid shit would that be?” My father sounded less than impressed but a little angry himself. I set down my fork and put my face in my hand, flaming with embarrassment.

“Illegal weapons charge, first offense…” Blue said honestly.

“How long?”

“Five years each,” Cell answered. “We did our time, paid our debt, now we just want to be left alone, go do our jobs, and come home.”

“Hayley, did you know about this?”

“Yes,” I answered and shook my head, ready to cry.

“Well,” my dad said unhappily, “thank you for being honest with me.”

“I know you don’t like it sir – ”

“Of course I don’t like it,” my dad snapped. “She’s my little girl, my only child. Would you like it if you were sitting here instead of there?”

“Probably not,” Cell admitted.

“Dad, stop!” I cried. “Oh, my god! I’m not twelve.”

“You’re my daughter, Hayley. I have a right to worry when a couple of Sacred Hearts come through my door for dinner.”

“They’re nice people, Dad.”

“That’s not our reputation, though,” Blue said softly.

My dad frowned and said, “What he said.”

I rolled my eyes. “Jesus Dad, what would Mom say?” That made him frown harder. He shook his head and sighed.

“I apologize,” he said to the two men. “I’m out of line, Hayley’s right, just when it comes to my little girl’s safety I get a little crazy. She’s right, though. My wife would be all kinds of mad she saw me treating guests this way.”

“Believe me, sir… Your daughter couldn’t be safer with us. I care about her very much and anyone that would try to hurt her would have a lot to answer for.” Blue said.

“We’d collect on that debt, believe me,” Cell echoed the sentiment and his voice was as chilly as the winter wind outside.

I bowed my head feeling equal parts ashamed and loved and Blue reached over under the table beside me and gathered up my hand, giving it a squeeze. I sighed and held back the tears, still having to sniff. My dad’s face crumbled a little bit and I asked, “Can we please pretend this conversation never happened and just have a nice dinner?”

“Sure.”

“Yeah.”

“You bet.”

“Thank you.”

The mood was heavier and quite a bit more sullen than it had been before my dad’s outburst. I understood it, but it didn’t make me feel any less awful for Blue or Cell. After dinner, Cell and Blue helped me clear plates. Cell stood with his hands braced against one of the counters, leaning back into it while I packed up some food for each of them to take and Blue helped me do the dishes.

“Well that was awkward,” Cell said with the ghost of a smile on his lips. One that didn’t or couldn’t reach his eyes.

“I am so sorry,” I murmured.

“Not your fault, little one.”

I nodded and Cell said, “Seriously, he’s just a dad, being a dad.” I looked up at him sharply and saw just the tail end of something passing between him and Blue. My heart swelled for the both of them that they would worry about my feelings after having been so heartily offended by my father.

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