Page 53 of The Scrooge Effect

“Why?”

“Well, because you’re his blood. You’re the best parts of him, and for that, he couldn’t love anyone more.”

“Does that mean he’s going to yell at you when he gets home?”

I turned away, not wanting to watch anymore. FNG stared at me, his arms crossed over his chest. “Do you want me to tell you how it ends?”

“Oh, now you can finish a story?” I asked sarcastically.

He shrugged dismissively. “Truth is, I don’t think you want to know how it ends.”

“It’s not that bad,” I said, though I knew it was a weak argument.

“Not that bad? A child thinks you don’t want her around. What are your own kids gonna say in a few years? What about the baby you’re expecting? How much longer do you think Harper will put up with your shitty attitude?”

I turned around and looked at the picture of the four of them, all snuggled up and enjoying a movie. They looked absolutely perfect together, and I just didn’t fit in. Not because they didn’t love me, but because I could never truly make them happy. I’d thought I’d gotten over all the shit from my childhood, but it seemed like every year it got worse.

How was I supposed to move past all that? How could I ever truly be happy when this time of year felt like a massive weight on my shoulders?

“Maybe it would be better if I weren’t there.”

FNG tossed his head back and laughed. “That’s your answer? Walk away?”

“Better to walk away than make them miserable.”

“Is that really all you think you have to offer them? What about that massive revelation you had when Harper walked away from you? Where’s that man who would fight with everything in him to win her back?”

“He’s too fucking damaged,” I snapped. “That man couldn’t hold his shit together long enough to give her the life she deserved.”

“But there’s still a chance. Don’t you see that?”

“No, what I see is a woman who’s miserable being in my company. I see two kids who would be better off without me.”

“And who’s going to take care of them? Shall we look ahead and see what happens?”

“Look, back off, alright? You have no idea what it’s like! You never watched your father kill your mother. You never tried to kill one of your own parents!”

“Maybe not, but that doesn’t change the fact that the man they need is too caught up in his own trauma to be there for them. They’re not asking for much. Just you. That’s all they need.”

I looked back at my family and knew that what they needed was something I couldn’t give them.

“No.” I backed up, walking out of the scene and back to the window where I could look at them from a distance. “It’s better this way.”

FNG sighed as he looked inside the window with me. “Then I guess there’s only one thing left to do.”

“Take me home.”

“Nope. Take you to the future. It’s about time to see what walking away will cost you.”

14

LOCK

“Edu!” I shouted, standing beside the bed in the hospital, hoping he would wake the fuck up.

“Sir, we really don’t recommend shouting at the patients,” the nurse huffed. “I hardly think that’s helpful. The doctor will be in shortly.” She turned and walked away, but not before giving me the stink-eye.

“What would she know? He needs a swift kick in the pants, is what he needs. I just need to get someone in here he’s afraid of.”