‘Part of this family’ he repeated back to himself as he spoke, a phrase he began getting used to hearing. Anytime he disagreed with a simple statement now, it was seen as disobeying his father and hed get the same lecture on how if he was a ‘part of the family’ then he would do as his older siblings did. Which in Kais mind, meant following along like a little puppy and hanging onto his every word. “Youre right I forgot mourning and recovery had a time limit, my apologies for burdening the great Vanessa Montgomery who tells people she has one brother,” And even at his age, he was as individual as they came, and to much of a mommas boy to worry about being in his fathers good graces. He knew he was always protected no matter how angry his father got, but now? He was out in the open, ready for the hunting and no one in his family or their friends were there to protect him and have his back, ”easy for you to say,” slipped through his lips before he had the time to process his thoughts.
“Ah yes, the police chiefs wife in jail, doing drugs, or involved with a gang. That’ll really seal his legacy huh?” He hissed out before sighing for a moment, rubbing his face roughly. “Look, you keep up whatever picture perfect appearance you think you need to have. Unlike those two, and clearly yourself, I dont care if i show emotion. Everyone has an emotion, and everyone shares it in their way. Unfortunately for myself, I have three stone faced people surrounding me. Im gonna look out of place regardless if I speak or not, Id rather save myself the knowledge of knowing everyone saw me sobbing at my mothers coffin,”
He smiled and shook hands of the people who went by, nodding at some of words given his way. Already feeling to small for the group around them and wanting to slink to the corner with his mom, but unfortunately this would become his new normal. Being in the middle of the attention given to the Montgomery, regardless if they all knew the truth or not.
“Have you even thought to ask me what I want to do to honor Momma, or are you to busy pleasing dear old dad to care?” He whispered, before smiling at the gentleman in front of him.
“Mourning? You’ve been skipping school and smoking with every Snow Bunny in walking distance. That’s hardly grieving,” Vanessa replied, rolling her eyes. Instead of getting annoyed at the next part however, Vanessa found a scary calmness. A tone unfamiliar to her towards Kai, but the same dry, cold calmness she delivered at Degrassi to anyone who challenged her. “I have a younger brother named Malachai who doesn’t go by Malachai nor acknowledges he’s a Montgomery so save me the woe is me act. You wanted your life separate from ours, forgive me for not following your wishes.”
And even as Vanessa turned it on Kai, she knew she was i the wrong. Sure Kai did want to be his own person outside of their family name and in a way Vanessa admired that––wished she had the confidence to do it herself. But it was easier to find confidence in their name and let that be her guide. Nathanial and Vanessa were the perfect children to the perfect family from a perfect marriage; all Kai ever did in their families’ eyes was harm that image. So when Kai expressed his wants to feel like his own person, Vanessa took that get out of jail free card and erased him from her legacy, or at least the legacy that was public.
“I don’t give a shit what that man wants,” Vanessa hissed back lowly. She looked to the casket behind them, then to Heaven, “Sorry Ma... No cursing at church,” she whispered more-so to herself than anything. Once it seemed that most people were beginning to hoard their father, Vanessa grabbed Kai’s arm pulling him into a more private hallway. It felt even in a separate room, their father’s eyes were burning a timer into their backs. “
I’m doing what I need to do to honor Ma. I’m trying to keep this family together and you’re fighting me at every corner. You and Nate are so stuck in being on Ma or Daddy’s side that you both forgot the one thing both of them cared about––us staying together. So hate the world, hate me and Nate, hate Daddy for all I care. But whatever the hell you’re doing ain’t honoring Mama.”