Chapter 49

“You were certainly enjoying yourself.” Angela watched as her son ignored her and her husband’s presence, venturing into his refrigerator to grab a bottled water. He was moving around items in search, his irritation rising at the thought that he’d forgotten to restock. His tongue drying out more and more by the second.

“Angel,” Brad rested his hand on her shoulder, drawing her attention to him momentarily. She ignored his silent plea and continued to stare at her son’s broad shoulder and lean back. The pea sized patience she was holding onto was disintegrating like wild fire.

“I am pretty sure his hair was *dry* when he left *hours* ago.” She stressed on all the triggering words, her blood pressure surging the longer Harvey took to acknowledge her. The sound of him clattering about in the refrigerator was the equivalent of someone banging a hammer against her skull. She pressed her fingers to her temples and exhaled furiously. He told her he was planning to get answers, she didn’t realise answers involved sex.

“Now he’s returned with soaking wet hair, as if I wouldn’t know what he’s been doing.” She scoffed, her gaze penetrating her husband’s blank expression as if he was the one to blame. Brad scratched his head, he was assessing Harvey’s demeanour. While his wife was ready to throw hands at their son for his behaviour, Brad was waiting. Waiting for the answers only their son could give them.
Brad gazed at his watch. He’d gone home to find Eva sprawled out on the couch alone, his wife nowhere to be found. His daughter had revealed the circumstances to him and it was obvious where Angela had gone. He’d called his mother, dropping Eva off before heading to Harvey’s apartment. He’d found Angela in the apartment. She’d let him in, refusing to leave until Harvey returned.

“It not soaking wet.” Harvey finally turned to face them, cracking the seal on the water bottle. He made a mental note to restock his refrigerator. Something in him advised that if he were to walk to his spare room, the one where he stored his drinks and other items, his mother’s anger would escalate. It was best to let her fume; he knew she wouldn’t be ready to listen to anything he had to say until her anger subsided.

“What a distinction.” Angela threw her hands up in the air. “That changes everything.” She sang sarcastically leaning her elbow on the counter, propping her face with her knuckles pressed against her cheek. She gazed at him through two tiny slits, her lips pursed into a straight line.
She twisted to gaze at Brad standing at the side of her. “Do I have *stupid* written on my forehead or something?” She asked her husband vehemently, waiting for a response. Harvey passed his thumb across his bottom lip unresponsively, gazing down at his floor. How long as it been since he cleaned? A week? He had to remember to do a deep clean over the weekend, the accumulation of dust always affected his sinus’ and he felt miserable when it was triggered.

“Babe,” Brad caressed Angela’s arm, “Perhaps, we should calm down a bit.” He’d leaned over her, trying to catch her gaze. Angela raised her eyebrows at him. “Calm?” She repeated the word with a single chuckle, closing her eyes for two seconds.

“What part of me signals anything but me being calm?” She’s opened her eyes to the sight of her husband. She directed her anger at him now. Brad gazed at Harvey casually drinking his water and shook his head, his son was on his own with this. Angela was not backing down, any attempt on his part would only infuriate her further.

“If your temperament is affected feel free to take a turn about the room.” She patted Brad’s hand, turning her attention and wrath to her son. Brad rubbed his hand over the stubble on his face and chin, shrugging his shoulders for his son to see.

“If you have a question, you can simply ask it.” Harvey finally broke his silence, covering the empty water bottle and chucking it into his garbage bin.

“I have to ask? I think it’s obvious what I want to know.” She leaned back in her seat and waited. He’d left earlier today promising her to deal with the situation, to find closure in the fact that he could not continue a relationship with a married woman and now he was back home exhibiting the physical signs of someone who did the exact opposite.

“I can’t tell past the passive aggression.” He responded warily and instantly regretted it. The dousing fire in her eyes was refuelled. Angela pushed back on her chair and stood, he parted her lips to speak, but Brad encased her arm in his hands and pulled her to his side. Angela shot him a heated glare, one that he matched. Her lips pressed together as a result of his silent demand.

“This needs to end.” A silent message passed between him and Angela. Her body was still tense, he could feel the negative energy swirling around her, but she’d heeded him. “This is getting out of hand.” He said to both of them. “I understand this is a difficult situation for you, Harvey but you do not disrespect your mother.” He said to his son. Angela was forgetting that their son was emotionally attached to a woman he couldn’t establish a relationship with. Logic and emotion were opposing forces. While the logical step was walking away, it wouldn’t be as easy as that.

“If there is one person in this entire world that had the best intentions for you, it is your mother.” He told his son.

“I am fully aware of that,” Harvey responded respectfully, “but I am not ready to have this discussion.” He didn’t want to talk about Mia and the fact that today was the last day he’d be seeing her, tasting her or breathing in her scent. All he wanted to do was drown himself in a bottle of whisky until his mind turned numb and she was just an afterthought.
Angela moved forward to speak, but Brad pulled her back to his side. “And *we*.” He stared into his wife’s eyes, “need to respect that.” Angela frowned. Her maternal instincts fretting about. How was she to ignore this for the time being? She wanted her son to confide in her, to let her know what conclusion he came to.
Harvey gazed at his mother and knew. She wouldn’t be in peace. “It has ended.” His leaned back against the kitchen sink. His mother’s gaze slowly turned to him.

“I don’t want you to get the wrong impression of..of…” he sighed. Her name was on the tip of his tongue but he couldn’t speak it aloud. “her.” He finished, shaking his head at his own cowardice to say her name. “But give me the freedom to explain the situation when I have cleared my head and I’ve come to terms with everything.” He shoved his hands in his hair and pulled, the tendrils yet to finish drying.

“Fair enough,” Angela allowed the anger to seep out of her. The sight of her son seeming so drawn and blank left her depleted. How had she not noticed his pain before? Brad nodding his approval at his wife’s acceptance. He knew it was difficult for her to accept that their son was grown, a whole human being with his own individual thoughts and ideas, but she had too. Harvey had to be allowed space to be his own person and make his own decisions.

“But for our peace of mind, at least agree to stay with us a few days.” Her eyes were pleading with him.

“I do not need to be watched like some love-sick fool on the brink of death.” He countered. The very thought offended him. What was one woman in a sea of millions? He’d bounce back and soon enough he’d forget her name.

“In the same manner you needed us to understand you, I need you to understand us,” she began, “that is more for us and it is for you.” She’d walked up in front of him, her hand cupping his face, “for my peace of mind.” She begged. Harvey gazed at the sadness in her eyes and nodded without further thought.

“Okay.” He voiced the decision. “I’ll pack a bag.” He said.

“Great.” Brad patted his shoulders. “Do us a favour and pick up your sister at your grandmother’s on the way back.” He told his son. He turned his attention to his wife,

“We were supposed to pick up our dinner order before closing.” He reminded Angela. The place was on the opposite side of their house location.

“I’ll get Eva, when I am done packing.” Harvey assured them and they left. He knew why his father gave him the task, it was to ensure he would actually go to the house.
He knocked on the door to Eva’s room. Their grandmother had made sure to have spare rooms for them both growing up so whenever they visited it was more like a second home. He heard Eva’s voice from the inside signalling permission for him to enter.
He pushed the door open and gazed at her lying down on the floor, her eyes stuck to the ceiling fan above head. “I’m here to carry you home.” He said, breaking her out of her trance.

Eva gazed at him and shifted, “Are you mad at me?” She’d folded her legs on the floor, coming up into a seated position. She gazed at him expectantly. “For?” He questioned, pushing his way fully into the room.

“I told ma about Mia.” She gazed down at her hands, her voice cracking.
He shoved his hands into his pockets. The mention of her name stung. “I know you were thinking about my best interests.” He said, waiting for her eyes to return to him.

“I could never be mad at you.” He assured his baby sister.