“By the way,” Charlie said from the top of the porch steps once we’d reached Edward’s car. Edward and I both turned around at the sound of his voice, my insides churning with the unsettling tone of Charlie’s voice.
“Some gum might be a smart idea next time. The smell of an ash tray isn’t particularly pleasant.”
My mouth fell agape, disbelieving of Charlie’s rudeness. I chanced a glance at Edward, whose jaw seemed clenched so tight I thought I’d hear his teeth shatter.
Without a word, he thrust his driver’s side door open with a little more force than necessary and threw himself into the car, his agitation and anger rolling off of him in waves.
I turned my gaze to Charlie and shook my head at him as I frowned. I knew the divorce never left Charlie the same, turning him into a pessimist and an atheist to love and relationships but I hadn’t expected him to throw that onto me and my life. It hurt.
The sound of Edward’s car roaring to life, yanked me out of my thoughts. I opened my car door and slipped myself into the cold leather seat and slammed the door shut after me.
Edward pulled away from the curb and I could tell it was taking everything in him, not to thrust his foot against the gas pedal and fly down the street.
I fixed my eyes to the scenery outside my window, the tension in the car palpable and unsettling. I very well knew Edward had been treated unfairly. Charlie seemed to see the bad in people these days before any good and that was something I could never forgive my mother for. I felt that recognizable pang in my chest in remembrance of my parent’s nasty divorce and shook my head, wishing it was as easy as shaking the thoughts and bleak memories away.
I was afraid to break the silence. I could see Edward’s hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles a snow white from the pressure. His whole body was rigid and I wasn’t sure what to say or if I should even say anything at all. What on earth do I say? Do I apologize for my father’s rude behavior or do I try and justify what he’d said? It didn’t change my feelings toward Edward, I still loved him, God did I love him and nothing anybody could say would ever change that.
We reached his aunt’s house in deafening silence. I could see his Uncle Caius’ motorbike in the driveway, exactly where it had been parked the day before. As I was staring at it, Edward climbed out of the car and rounded it to my side, opening my door and waiting for me to step out.
I slipped out, glimpsing the look on his face as I did. He looked irritated more than angry and I was hoping he’d speak to me before we went inside but to my disappointment, he slammed my door shut and turned for the front door.
“Some gum might be a smart idea next time. The smell of an ash tray isn’t particularly pleasant.”
My mouth fell agape, disbelieving of Charlie’s rudeness. I chanced a glance at Edward, whose jaw seemed clenched so tight I thought I’d hear his teeth shatter.
Without a word, he thrust his driver’s side door open with a little more force than necessary and threw himself into the car, his agitation and anger rolling off of him in waves.
I turned my gaze to Charlie and shook my head at him as I frowned. I knew the divorce never left Charlie the same, turning him into a pessimist and an atheist to love and relationships but I hadn’t expected him to throw that onto me and my life. It hurt.
The sound of Edward’s car roaring to life, yanked me out of my thoughts. I opened my car door and slipped myself into the cold leather seat and slammed the door shut after me.
Edward pulled away from the curb and I could tell it was taking everything in him, not to thrust his foot against the gas pedal and fly down the street.
I fixed my eyes to the scenery outside my window, the tension in the car palpable and unsettling. I very well knew Edward had been treated unfairly. Charlie seemed to see the bad in people these days before any good and that was something I could never forgive my mother for. I felt that recognizable pang in my chest in remembrance of my parent’s nasty divorce and shook my head, wishing it was as easy as shaking the thoughts and bleak memories away.
I was afraid to break the silence. I could see Edward’s hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles a snow white from the pressure. His whole body was rigid and I wasn’t sure what to say or if I should even say anything at all. What on earth do I say? Do I apologize for my father’s rude behavior or do I try and justify what he’d said? It didn’t change my feelings toward Edward, I still loved him, God did I love him and nothing anybody could say would ever change that.
We reached his aunt’s house in deafening silence. I could see his Uncle Caius’ motorbike in the driveway, exactly where it had been parked the day before. As I was staring at it, Edward climbed out of the car and rounded it to my side, opening my door and waiting for me to step out.
I slipped out, glimpsing the look on his face as I did. He looked irritated more than angry and I was hoping he’d speak to me before we went inside but to my disappointment, he slammed my door shut and turned for the front door.
