Page 50 of Poetry of Flowers

He sighed, “Where are you?”

“On a train to Chicago, well, not directly, but I’ll get there by the end of the week.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“Do I sound like I’m kidding you?”

I heard a female voice whisper to my brother if everything was okay. That was most likely his girlfriend Violett. I liked her, she made my brother the happiest version of himself that he had ever been, and that meant a lot because he was always happy.

“Kayden, Mom called me crying, asking me if you were here with me.” Did I hear true concern in my brother’s voice? An unusual experience.

“And did you lie for me?” We had a deal, if I was gone, he’d cover for me. If he was gone, I’d cover for him.

This train was way too crowded.

Where on Earth was Autumn?

“Yes, but only because Mom was hysterical on the phone. What happened, Kayden?”

“Mom had an affair.”

Rip it off like a band-aid, there is no need in trying to hide the truth.

“And? Dad has them too, she’s got a right to find someone to love her. We both know they are only still together because Dad doesn’t want any talk about our family in the media,” Nash didn’t sound surprised because he didn’t understand what I was telling him here. Dad had affairs, but Mom wouldn’t— I mean nowadays, not when I was— conceived. That’s a pretty disgusting thought.

“Nash?”

“Yeah?”

“Patrick Kidd is not my father.”

There was a pregnant pause before there was a loud crash.

“Ah fuck, sorry, my phone slipped out of my hand,” he cursed on the other end.

“Say you’re kidding me, Kayden.”

“There is nothing to joke about, I found Mom’s letters dedicated to me where she confessed her sins and wrote that the guilt was destroying her.”

“I’m sorry,” he breathed; his voice pained. Nash was always good with sympathy, but I think he didn’t realize that this also affected him. Sometimes he’s a bit slow.

“She lied to me.”

“Mom can be a lot sometimes, Kay, there is no excuse for what she did to you with staying with him and lying to you. But don’t hate her, it would destroy Mom.”

Was he serious?!

“Oh, so that she lied to me wouldn’t destroy me?! Mom never had a backbone, and I have a right to be angry at her.”

“Yes, you have, but- what am I saying, you will do whatever you think is right anyway.”

“Damn right.” I agreed, eyeing a very familiar redhead laughing with two guys by her side.

There was a little green cigarette in her hand, nope, not a cigarette. A joint.

Oh, Autumn, come on.

“I want you to know that this won’t change anything, Kayden, you’re my brother, and you will always be.”

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