Chapter 34: Chapter 34

MASON

Jamie’s fingers laced through mine as we left Uncle William’s fresh grave behind. I glanced at her, ready to offer a feeble smile, a stark contrast to the frown she’d been seeing on my face lately. But she was staring straight ahead, her gaze locked on the path before us.

I gave her hand a gentle squeeze, a small attempt at comfort. The day’s weight was heavy, my uncle’s loss a harsh reminder of life’s fleeting nature.

I couldn’t help but think she was reflecting on her own mother, just as I was on mine. My mother’s funeral had been a grand affair, a lavish farewell my father had managed to arrange despite his grief.

I, on the other hand, couldn’t bear to sit through even five minutes of the ceremony. The pain was too raw, the guilt of her accident too overwhelming.

I watched Eoin, his arm securely around his mother Elaine, as she sobbed into a tissue. He was gently guiding her toward the parked limo, its sleek and shiny exterior catching the eyes of the mourners slowly leaving the cemetery.

“Elaine looks devastated,” Jamie murmured, her voice soft.

She glanced at Elaine, her eyes filled with sympathy.

“I’m sure she is,” I responded. “But at least she has Eoin to look after her.”

As Jamie and I made our way to my car, the day’s weight remained heavy. My father was waiting there, a familiar figure amidst the sea of mourners. He noticed us approaching and managed a weak smile, his eyes a mix of sadness and resignation.

“Everyone’s heading back to Elaine’s for food and drinks. You’re coming, right?” he asked.

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. I didn’t want to go; I despised funerals and everything that came with them. The forced smiles, the somber atmosphere, the small talk—it was all so draining.

“Of course…,” Jamie interjected, her voice filled with understanding. “We’ll follow you.”

Jamie often pushed me into situations I wasn’t comfortable with, but usually, it was for the best.

We got into our car, Jamie in the passenger seat and me behind the wheel for a change. It felt odd to be driving; usually, Ezra or Eric would chauffeur me around.

Jamie turned to me, her eyes filled with worry. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I replied.

“I know you didn’t want to go back to Elaine’s,” Jamie said, guilt coloring her voice. “I shouldn’t have spoken up. I just thought it was important we support Eoin.”

“It’s okay,” I replied, starting the engine. “I didn’t want to go, but I understand it’s important. We can stay for an hour.”

I pulled out of the parking lot. The crisp autumn air rushed through the window.

“So, um, I noticed you hired a new physiotherapist,” she began hesitantly. “I got the email this morning, confirming tomorrow’s appointment.”

“Well, Adam is definitely not coming back to my house, so I didn’t have a choice,” I replied, annoyance creeping into my voice. I quickly corrected myself. “I meant our house.”

Jamie’s eyes widened in surprise, as if she was thinking, I can’t believe he just said that.

“No, you’re right,” she said. “It is your house. Thanks for reminding me, Mason.”

Great, now she’s mad.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to imply the house was only mine. I wasn’t thinking.”

She nodded, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. It was clear she was upset, but I didn’t push the conversation. Arguing now would only make things worse.

Elaine’s living room, small and quaint, brought back childhood memories of family gatherings and parties. Despite the years, parts of it remained unchanged.

Being here made me realize how different my upbringing was from my cousin’s. I grew up in a mansion, with cooks and maids at my beck and call, and family vacations were a regular occurrence.

Eoin didn’t have any of that. He was raised in a modest two-story house with just three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a far cry from the sprawling estates I was used to.

His vacations weren’t filled with luxury and extravagance like mine, and his toy collection was nowhere near as extensive or expensive.

His family had it tough. My Uncle William owned a small mechanic shop, working from dawn till dusk. Despite his relentless efforts, making ends meet was a constant struggle.

Eventually, he lost his business to the bank, a year after my mother passed away. We were oblivious to this at the time, and I only discovered the truth a couple of years ago.

Eoin never spoke about his family’s hardships, and I never brought it up either. I believed in the principle that a man’s business was his own, and I didn’t want to intrude.

I noticed Jamie, bustling around making tea and coffee for guests while chatting with Elaine. Her eagerness to help was a stark contrast to my own reluctance to get involved.

My phone buzzed abruptly in my pocket, and I quickly pulled it out. Ezra’s name flashed on the screen, which was unexpected since it was his day off.

Navigating through the house, I maneuvered around the crowd of people gathered in the living room. The air was heavy with the hum of conversation.

By the time I reached the front door, the call had ended. I stepped outside into the crisp air, intending to call Ezra back. But within seconds, an incoming text message appeared on my phone screen.

The sound of the front door opening and closing caught my attention. I looked up to see Jamie approaching me, her walking stick in hand.

“Is everything okay? I saw you rush out,” she asked, concerned.

“Everything is fine,” I assured her. “I just got a call from Ezra.”

“Oh,” Jamie responded, wrapping her arms around herself against the chill. “I thought today was his day off. Is everything okay?”

“Well, actually…,” I began, taking a deep breath. “When Adam left the house that night, he left his jacket behind. I found a bag of pills in his pocket.”

Jamie’s eyes widened in shock. “Pills?” she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. “What kind of pills were they?”

I hesitated, seeing the look on her face. “Fentanyl,” I finally answered. “He had a bag of potent painkillers in his pocket. I wondered if he might’ve been selling them to his clients or perhaps taking them himself.”

“Are you serious?” she asked shakily. “I had no idea. Adam didn’t seem like the type.”

I looked at her, bracing myself to ask the question, even though it might land me in hot water. “So he didn’t try to give you any?”

“No, Mason. Of course not,” Jamie responded, a hint of defensiveness in her tone. “I would never take anything like that. If Adam tried to push drugs on me, I would’ve come to you, I swear.”

I nodded, trying to reassure her. “I believe you.”

I noticed her shivering, her body trembling slightly in her black fitted dress. “All right, let’s go back inside,” I suggested, placing a hand on the small of her back as I guided her toward the front door.

As we stepped back into the warmth of the house, I could immediately sense a change in the atmosphere. A tense silence hung in the air, punctuated only by the sound of yelling from the kitchen. The guests stood around awkwardly, their faces etched with confusion and concern.

“What’s going on?” Jamie asked.

“Wait here,” I instructed. I started toward the kitchen. But, true to form, Jamie was right behind me, not heeding my words.

The closer we got to the kitchen, the louder the shouting became. I nudged the door open and stepped inside, taking in the sight before me. Eoin was propped up against the kitchen table, his funeral attire looking a little worse for wear compared to earlier. He was clutching a bottle of cheap booze, which explained his flushed cheeks and bloodshot eyes.

A few family members were scattered around the kitchen, including my dad who was trying to convince Eoin to put down the bottle. But Eoin wasn’t having any of it.

“Look who it is…the man of the hour,” Eoin slurred, his gaze landing on me. “How about a drink, Mason? We all know you enjoy a good tipple.” His laughter was sloppy, his words slurred.

“You’re wasted,” I said. “Give me the bottle.”

“Let it go, Eoin,” my dad implored, reaching out toward him. “It’s been a long day, and drinking is only going to make it longer. Hand it over.”

Eoin shot my dad a venomous look. “Don’t tell me what to do,” he snarled. “Stop pretending you’re my dad…like you give a damn. It’s a bit late for that.” His voice was loud, filled with anger.

“Okay, that’s enough,” I said firmly. I moved closer to Eoin, my intentions clear. “You’ve had too much to drink, and you’re causing a scene.”

I reached out for the bottle, but Eoin reacted violently. His eyes narrowed, and he swung at me. I ducked instinctively, his punch missing me by inches. Before he could recover, I stepped in and landed a solid punch on his nose.

Eoin stumbled back, his grip on the bottle loosening. It crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces. Eoin clutched his face in surprise, his eyes watering. Blood began to trickle from his nose.

We stood there for a moment, both of us panting.

“You hit me,” he rasped.

“You had it coming,” I responded calmly, despite my heart pounding in my chest. “You tried to hit me first. Now, do us all a favor and go to bed.”

“Come on, darling,” Elaine said, reaching out to help him up.

Eoin took his mother’s hand, slowly getting to his feet. He was still unsteady.

“That’s it,” she said soothingly. “Let’s get you upstairs.”

Elaine gently led Eoin out of the kitchen, her hand firmly on his arm. The door was left ajar, offering a peek into the living room. I could hear the shocked whispers of our guests, their voices filled with disapproval.

“Are you okay?” Jamie asked. She reached out, placing a hand on my arm.

“I’m good,” I assured her. “He didn’t land a punch.”

“That escalated quickly,” my dad said, shaking his head. “I saw him just a few minutes ago and he seemed fine.”

“Eoin’s never been one to handle his booze well,” I replied.

“Well, he’s going to regret it in the morning,” my dad said, bending down to start picking up the shards of glass scattered across the floor. “Can you grab that broom, son?” he asked.

I retrieved the broom from next to the kitchen trash can and helped my dad clean up the mess. As we worked, I couldn’t help but reflect on Eoin’s behavior. He had just buried his dad today, so I understood his grief. I just hadn’t expected the fight.