Suzie’s House 384 : The Extent of Distrust

She was serious. Ethan’s body froze.

“No.” He fumbled the soup bowl in his hand, but managed to setting it safely on the kitchen counter. “No, I don’t want you to move out. You or Emma. You know I love you both.”

“Then you have to kick James out.” Sophia stood in the doorway with her arms crossed. It looked more protective than belligerent.

“Where is he?” Ethan moved toward her. He better get this out of the way while he still could. He found it difficult to stand up to James.

“I gave him the car keys so he could pick Emma up from her friend’s house. He said he wanted to do it. Then he just dropped her off and took the car.”

“That boy.” Ethan sighed in exasperation. It was exactly the sort of behavior you could expect from James.

“So you’ll do it? For sure?” Sophia looked so hopeful it hurt.

“Yes. If you feel that strongly. Like you said, he’s a grown up now.” Ethan couldn’t help but have a few qualms.

James might be twenty now, but he still acted like a spoiled teenager. Ethan had no confidence that the kid could really take care of himself. He’d been hopeful a year ago when James first move out. Then he’d been picked up for vagrancy and called to ask for bail.

“Then let’s tell Emma. She was threatening to call Social Services.”
Ethan hid his flinch well. Did Emma really distrust them so much? Well, it was probably about James.

Sophia lead the way to Emma’s room.

In this family, everything always came down to James. Before they had kids, Ethan had entertained many illusions about children. He had expected to have a happy, playful, loving home life. But every time he tried to play with James, something would go wrong. Ethan prided himself on his tolerant attitude. James trampled all over it.

“Emma. Honey.” Sophia knocked on the door. “We need to talk. Open the door, Emma.”

Ethan cleared his throat. He tried to sound like an authority as he said, “Emma. We’re holding a family conference.”

There was a thud and a thump, then the door opened, but only a crack. One baleful eye looked at them through the narrow gap.

“Let’s go to the living r…”

“Here is fine.” Emma interrupted him. “He isn’t home, is he?”

“James? No. He’s still out,” Sophia said.

“I-I’m not kidding about m-m-m-moving out. There are other places I could g-go. I-I mean, it’s a few years early, but I’m going to get out of here soon anyway, right?” The door opened wider.

“You know we aren’t going to kick you out at all,” Ethan assured her.

“No. I want to go. As soon as I can.” Emma lifted her chin.

Ethan hid his wince. She didn’t need to know that her words hurt him. Although he didn’t really understand it, he would honor her wishes.

“You don’t need to anymore,” Sophia rushed in to assure her. “We’re going to kick James out.”

“Really?” Emma looked at them through narrowed eyes.

“Yes. For sure this time. Right Dear?” Sophia prompted Ethan.

Ethan was thinking what a sad thing their family had become when the youngest child offered to run away from home because one who was fully grown wouldn’t leave.

“Right Dear?” Sophia’s voice took on an edge.

“Oh. Right.” He nodded dutifully. “Right. As soon as he brings back the car. We’ll find him some other place to spend the night.”

“Well. All right,” Emma said grudgingly. “But if it doesn’t work out again, don’t worry. You don’t have to do anything. I-I-I’ll just go.” She closed the door softly.

Ethan stared at the floor, struggling with feelings of failure and rejection. Sophia touched his shoulder lightly, but he refused to look at her, so she left him standing there. Maybe the one who should have given up on this family was him.

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