Chapter Six
The night came bringing a little wind with it, which Pope isn’t complaining. He opened his window to let the air in when he noticed something from the other house. He leaned out the window and saw Mint attempting to climb out of the window.
“Damn.” He grabbed his robe threw it over his pajama and headed out. He took two steps at a time coming downstairs, mumbling a few unintelligent words. This time he promised himself he’s not going to let her off easily.
Mint tiptoed and opened the gate as quietly as possible. She turned to look at her house one last time and stepped out. That was as far as she got, her body collided with another. She looked up and Pope gave her one of the most unpleasant, pissed off look she had ever seen from him. She tried kicking the gate open, since she didn’t have the chance to close it properly. But she knew even before taking the chance, it would fail miserably. Pope gave one quick reach for her grabbing her arm in a death grip he dragged her with him back to her house.
Pope, let me go, please...” Her pleading went to deaf ears.
“I’m done playing nice with you. Out of all the stupid things you have done, this tops it all.” He quickened his steps.
Mint could see his body stiffened and felt his temper rising with each movement. She swallowed hard, thinking desperately of a way to get out before he wakes her mother up.
“I promise you I will never do it again. I promised!” She yelled out.
If Pope heard her, he didn’t even bother turning. They reached the door he knocked on it so loudly even the dead would wake up from it. Mint tried to move her arm and test her strength but the more she moved it, the harder she felt Pope’s hand. She heard footsteps running to the door and her heart pounded. “Pope.” She whispered but she got nothing, not even one look from him. He kept his eyes on the door until it was opened.
“Mint.” Nan looked at her daughter with a worried expression then anger sets in.
Pope yanked her inside while her mom closed the door none too gently only when she was deep inside the house did he finally let go of her. She rubbed her arm and kept her eyes off of everyone. He walked over to her, she took a step away from him each time he came near, but he kept on moving himself to her until she was stuck between a sofa and a chair. She gave up and stood still.
“Do you have anything to say?” Pope’s voice was so calm she knew it only meant one thing. He was upset.
Pope’s calmness was a façade, he is boiling inside. The horror in which she could have done herself definite harm took him over the edge. She had promised him not long ago that she would not do such stupid thing again, and here it is she had broken her promise to him.
“Is this because of the party?” Nan paused. Looking at her daughter with her head lowered was enough of an answer. “What am I going to do with you?”
Pope’s anger must have clouded his vision because he just now noticed a bag in Mint’s hand. Mint followed his eyes and quickly hid the bag behind her back. He reached for the bag but Mint made a sudden movement blocking him. He lifted his eyes to her still in a reaching position. “Don’t push your luck it doesn’t look very good as it stands.”
Mint knew she had lost the battle. When he reached for the bag again, she loosened the grip on it. He looked inside and pulled out what looked to be a dress, lifting it to the air his fury came alive once more. She risked her life for a damn party? He threw the dress aside as if it’s the most disgusting thing he had ever seen.
Pope narrowed his eyes, counting to ten silently before he allowed himself to speak. “You climbed out a window that could potentially kill you just so you can attend a party?”
“Mint, why do you do such childish things? You could have fallen and break your neck!” Nan concentrated on a thought. “Do you want me to send you to live with your father?”
Mint’s eyes shot up. The thought made her eyes mist and she shook her head with enough force she almost feel it snap.
Pope crossed his arms and looked at her reaction. No, he told himself, he’s not going to feel sorry for her. She has to learn her lesson. He moved to stand in front of her, lifting her chin up he made her looked him in the eyes. “If you ever do anything like that again, I will personally drive you to your father, are we clear?”
Mint looked into those eyes where fire seemed to swim in them. She doesn’t want to believe Pope would be that cruel considering what her father had done to her. She searched his eyes but it revealed nothing. Her lips shaking, she felt her tears coming. Unable to speak, she nodded.
“Go upstairs and I recommend for you to stay there.” Pope stepped away to make room for her. “Learn to think before you act. There’s only you and your mom, imagine what it would do to her if you end up seriously hurt.”
She saw the truth in his comment and her tears became more aggressive. She blinked once and a single tear trickled down her cheek. Turning around, she wiped her eyes and rushed upstairs.
Grate was dressed for a date and ready to head out the door when he opened it, he found his brother standing looking like hell. His hair all lope sided, his shirt one side tucked in the other out. His features looked as if he hadn’t had a good sleep in days. How was that possible when it hasn’t been twenty four hours yet since they last met?
Grate looked at Kane for a long minute and opened the door wide for him to get in. Closing the door he reached for his phone and called off his date.
“I’m filing for divorce.”
Grate gave one hard stare at his brother but offer no reply.
“I can’t save my marriage.”
Grate had never seen such bleak look from his brother before. He turned around and walked over to the balcony, thinking a little fresh air was what he needed. Kane followed behind and there stood brothers side to side. One could not commit, the other isn’t afraid, but yet at the moment they are the same, alone.
Kane stared out to the night, seeing the stars for what they are the first time, beautiful.
“I did not set out to have an affair with anyone. The night I met Matt, Pim and I had a huge argument. I had returned from a meeting, it took longer than I first thought. She had called me and I could not answer my phone, the moment I walked inside the door she immediately accused me of being with a girl behind her back.” Kane caught a glimpse of his wedding ring, twisting it around he continued. “I told her that her insecurities are starting to take a toll on our marriage. She hadn’t heard a word I said instead she started yelling at me, calling me an unfaithful jerk. I didn’t want to stay at home thinking if I leave it’ll give her a chance to calm down.”
“And it so happened, you ran into Matt.”
Kane nodded.
“Don’t worry Matt and I are pretty much done after she found out I’m married. All there is left, if she accepts is an apology.”
“She truly doesn’t know and when she said she did not sleep with you was also the truth?”
“Correct.”
Grate turned to his brother and leaned against the balcony. “Who to thought you would get into a mess with women before me.”
“As for Maya...” Kane paused focusing on a single star he withheld the truth. It was going to be a secret that he’ll take to the grave.
“You are going to break your daughter’s heart.”
Kane’s voice changed and it became a little shaky. “I love her. I would not do anything to hurt my daughter. Divorcing her mom does not mean I love her any less.”
Kane and Grate stood there in a moment of silent. Taking a deep breath to feel the breeze slightly rushing through him, Kane closed his eyes, opening them a few minutes later he turned to Grate. “Matt is a good girl.”
“Uh-huh.” His answered dripping with sarcastic and skepticism.
“Get to know her a little, she might surprise you.”
Grate raised an eyebrow questioning his brother but opted out of further conversation, he turned to the night and let the wind carried him away.
The night came bringing a little wind with it, which Pope isn’t complaining. He opened his window to let the air in when he noticed something from the other house. He leaned out the window and saw Mint attempting to climb out of the window.
“Damn.” He grabbed his robe threw it over his pajama and headed out. He took two steps at a time coming downstairs, mumbling a few unintelligent words. This time he promised himself he’s not going to let her off easily.
Mint tiptoed and opened the gate as quietly as possible. She turned to look at her house one last time and stepped out. That was as far as she got, her body collided with another. She looked up and Pope gave her one of the most unpleasant, pissed off look she had ever seen from him. She tried kicking the gate open, since she didn’t have the chance to close it properly. But she knew even before taking the chance, it would fail miserably. Pope gave one quick reach for her grabbing her arm in a death grip he dragged her with him back to her house.
Pope, let me go, please...” Her pleading went to deaf ears.
“I’m done playing nice with you. Out of all the stupid things you have done, this tops it all.” He quickened his steps.
Mint could see his body stiffened and felt his temper rising with each movement. She swallowed hard, thinking desperately of a way to get out before he wakes her mother up.
“I promise you I will never do it again. I promised!” She yelled out.
If Pope heard her, he didn’t even bother turning. They reached the door he knocked on it so loudly even the dead would wake up from it. Mint tried to move her arm and test her strength but the more she moved it, the harder she felt Pope’s hand. She heard footsteps running to the door and her heart pounded. “Pope.” She whispered but she got nothing, not even one look from him. He kept his eyes on the door until it was opened.
“Mint.” Nan looked at her daughter with a worried expression then anger sets in.
Pope yanked her inside while her mom closed the door none too gently only when she was deep inside the house did he finally let go of her. She rubbed her arm and kept her eyes off of everyone. He walked over to her, she took a step away from him each time he came near, but he kept on moving himself to her until she was stuck between a sofa and a chair. She gave up and stood still.
“Do you have anything to say?” Pope’s voice was so calm she knew it only meant one thing. He was upset.
Pope’s calmness was a façade, he is boiling inside. The horror in which she could have done herself definite harm took him over the edge. She had promised him not long ago that she would not do such stupid thing again, and here it is she had broken her promise to him.
“Is this because of the party?” Nan paused. Looking at her daughter with her head lowered was enough of an answer. “What am I going to do with you?”
Pope’s anger must have clouded his vision because he just now noticed a bag in Mint’s hand. Mint followed his eyes and quickly hid the bag behind her back. He reached for the bag but Mint made a sudden movement blocking him. He lifted his eyes to her still in a reaching position. “Don’t push your luck it doesn’t look very good as it stands.”
Mint knew she had lost the battle. When he reached for the bag again, she loosened the grip on it. He looked inside and pulled out what looked to be a dress, lifting it to the air his fury came alive once more. She risked her life for a damn party? He threw the dress aside as if it’s the most disgusting thing he had ever seen.
Pope narrowed his eyes, counting to ten silently before he allowed himself to speak. “You climbed out a window that could potentially kill you just so you can attend a party?”
“Mint, why do you do such childish things? You could have fallen and break your neck!” Nan concentrated on a thought. “Do you want me to send you to live with your father?”
Mint’s eyes shot up. The thought made her eyes mist and she shook her head with enough force she almost feel it snap.
Pope crossed his arms and looked at her reaction. No, he told himself, he’s not going to feel sorry for her. She has to learn her lesson. He moved to stand in front of her, lifting her chin up he made her looked him in the eyes. “If you ever do anything like that again, I will personally drive you to your father, are we clear?”
Mint looked into those eyes where fire seemed to swim in them. She doesn’t want to believe Pope would be that cruel considering what her father had done to her. She searched his eyes but it revealed nothing. Her lips shaking, she felt her tears coming. Unable to speak, she nodded.
“Go upstairs and I recommend for you to stay there.” Pope stepped away to make room for her. “Learn to think before you act. There’s only you and your mom, imagine what it would do to her if you end up seriously hurt.”
She saw the truth in his comment and her tears became more aggressive. She blinked once and a single tear trickled down her cheek. Turning around, she wiped her eyes and rushed upstairs.
Grate was dressed for a date and ready to head out the door when he opened it, he found his brother standing looking like hell. His hair all lope sided, his shirt one side tucked in the other out. His features looked as if he hadn’t had a good sleep in days. How was that possible when it hasn’t been twenty four hours yet since they last met?
Grate looked at Kane for a long minute and opened the door wide for him to get in. Closing the door he reached for his phone and called off his date.
“I’m filing for divorce.”
Grate gave one hard stare at his brother but offer no reply.
“I can’t save my marriage.”
Grate had never seen such bleak look from his brother before. He turned around and walked over to the balcony, thinking a little fresh air was what he needed. Kane followed behind and there stood brothers side to side. One could not commit, the other isn’t afraid, but yet at the moment they are the same, alone.
Kane stared out to the night, seeing the stars for what they are the first time, beautiful.
“I did not set out to have an affair with anyone. The night I met Matt, Pim and I had a huge argument. I had returned from a meeting, it took longer than I first thought. She had called me and I could not answer my phone, the moment I walked inside the door she immediately accused me of being with a girl behind her back.” Kane caught a glimpse of his wedding ring, twisting it around he continued. “I told her that her insecurities are starting to take a toll on our marriage. She hadn’t heard a word I said instead she started yelling at me, calling me an unfaithful jerk. I didn’t want to stay at home thinking if I leave it’ll give her a chance to calm down.”
“And it so happened, you ran into Matt.”
Kane nodded.
“Don’t worry Matt and I are pretty much done after she found out I’m married. All there is left, if she accepts is an apology.”
“She truly doesn’t know and when she said she did not sleep with you was also the truth?”
“Correct.”
Grate turned to his brother and leaned against the balcony. “Who to thought you would get into a mess with women before me.”
“As for Maya...” Kane paused focusing on a single star he withheld the truth. It was going to be a secret that he’ll take to the grave.
“You are going to break your daughter’s heart.”
Kane’s voice changed and it became a little shaky. “I love her. I would not do anything to hurt my daughter. Divorcing her mom does not mean I love her any less.”
Kane and Grate stood there in a moment of silent. Taking a deep breath to feel the breeze slightly rushing through him, Kane closed his eyes, opening them a few minutes later he turned to Grate. “Matt is a good girl.”
“Uh-huh.” His answered dripping with sarcastic and skepticism.
“Get to know her a little, she might surprise you.”
Grate raised an eyebrow questioning his brother but opted out of further conversation, he turned to the night and let the wind carried him away.
