Page 2 of Family Affair
Caroline looked over her shoulder furtively and added in a stage whisper, “I think he’s drunk.”
“Your dad?”
She nodded.
Cade wanted to make sure he understood correctly. “You’re spending the weekend with him, and he’s drunk?”
She shrugged. “He was already drunk when we got here yesterday.”
This conversation made no sense. “And he’s still drunk?”
“He’s got a case of gin in his bedroom.”
Cade set Ricky down. Cary must’ve misunderstood the situation.
“Caroline, I told you to put Ricky to bed.”
There Alex was, silhouetted in the doorframe and looking godawful in wrinkled sweatpants and a wife beater. His face was unshaven and bloated. And Caroline was right, he was drunk as a stinking skunk.
“But daddy… it’s only seven.”
“I don’t care.”
“But Uncle Cade just came…”
“He did, didn’t he? We’ve got ourselves a guest.” Alex’s lip curled. “An uninvited one.” He swayed and grabbed the doorframe.
“I told you I was coming.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“You replied to my text.”
Alex blinked in slo-mo. “What did I say?”
“You said, Fine. And another word that also starts with an F.”
Alex pursed his lips. “When was that?”
“Last Thursday. Are we done with twenty questions? I need to hit the bathroom.”
Alex looked like he was going to argue, but in the end gave a sloppy shrug. “Stay, then. Watch the train wreck.” He looked sharply at his daughter. “Caroline.”
She grabbed Ricky’s hand and they disappeared upstairs.
Cade eyed Alex. He couldn’t remember him being drunk, unshaven, or wearing sweatpants.
“Give me that.” He reached for the half-empty bottle of gin Alex was holding by the neck.
“No way." Alex snatched it out of his reach. "This shit and I – we’re in love.” He stroked the bottle and gave it a wet kiss before taking a swig.
Cade took a step forward and wrestled the bottle from Alex. It wasn’t very hard considering Alex could barely stand upright. A strong push, a jerk – and he had the gin in his hand, with the pissed off Alex slumped against the wall.
“Hey, on the second thought, maybe you should go the fuck away!”
A great idea.But not yet, not until his brother sobered up enough to watch the kids. And if Alex wanted to fight him, well, Alex was welcome to lose.
He went to the kitchen and poured the gin down the drain.
