Family History
It was like a constant white noise in his head, the words going around and around. He had heard the conversation loud and clear, his children unaware he was to close for them to no here. His temper throughout the day had gotten much worse to the point he had locked himself in his office after barking at Zasha.
It didnt take long before his children new something was deeply wrong. He had stayed behind at work trying to figure out how to approch the situation but the more he thought on it the angry he became until some of his furniture had been damaged.
It was way passed time for him to come home before he walked through the door, It was one look from Zasha and his eldest wanted to cower in the corner as Asher headed straight for the kitchen know Penelope was in there cooking dinner.
Asher slammed his hand down on the table making Zasha jump a foot in the air.
“Do you have any idea what our daughter has been doing.” He said through gritted teeth his face like thunder.
Penelope was very startled at Ashers current outburst. Since he didn’t specify which daughter, she put down the vegetables she was chopping and frowned. “No?” She replied gently.
He turned around before shouting. “MELINA GET DOWN HERE NOW.” He roared.
Zasha knew what was coming and knew this wasnt going to end well. He wanted to leave but it didnt matter because had been stuck in the middle of this argument since he was three years old. He looked between his parents with nothing but concern. He watched the way his father stood there ridget to the spot clutching the bench hard enough his knuckles had gone white and it slightly scared him to see what was going to happen next.
That was not a tone Melina wanted to hear her name in. Terrified as to what was going on, she hesitantly made her way into the kitchen and paused in the doorway. Penelope couldn’t remember the last time she has had heard asher yell like that.
“Where were you this afternoon.” Asher asked in a very low tone. Zasha winced because he knew instantly that Melina had been caught out, how he had no idea but this was as bad as it was about to get.
As soon as that question was asked, Melina was terrified. She didn’t answer for a moment, looking between her parents and then to the ground. “I was out having coffee…” she said, very quietly.
Asher watched her. “Who where you having that coffee with.” He pushed finally releasing his hand from the counter and crossing his arms.
Penelope could tell Melina was extremely uncomfortable right now and she felt dread rapidly overwhelm her.
Melina couldn’t even look at either of them. “Mum’s parents,” she murmured eventually.
“What did I tell you and your siblings.” Asher demanded of her.
Zasha winced looking away at the car crash that was about to happen.
Penelope didn’t even know what to say to what Melina had said. Her parents. Why on earth would Melina try and do such a thing was beyond her. Feeling nauseous, Penelope just moved to sit down without saying anything.
“Not to see them, try and contact them, ignore them if they try…” Melina trailed off, looking at her mum and her reaction.
“You deliberately disobeyed me.” Asher half shouted at her. “Do you think i willingly tell you not to talk to someone lightly? You are playing with fire in a situation you no nothing about. When I tell you to do something you do it, Melina.” He told her
Zasha watched there mother moving to go and sit down next to her. “Mum…” He said lightly to her.
“I just wanted to give them a chance,” Melina basically pleaded with her father, the way he had raised her voice told her that she had fucked up fairly badly. “You don’t tell us anything and I didn’t think it would be that bad.”
Penelope couldn’t even say anything to Zasha as she sat there. Herself and Asher had tried so hard to keep her parents away and here Melina was going off and talking to them herself.
What Melina had just said made him livid. “DONT TELL YOU ANYTHING.” He shouted slamming his hand down on the table. “I DONT TELL YOU TO PROTECT YOU, I DONT HAVE TO TELL YOU MY REASONING.”
“I’m sorry!” Melina yelled back, but she had tears streaming down her face. “I was just trying to be nice.”
“I dont want you to be nice to them.” Asher shouted at her. “They were in jail for a reason, Melina I put them there for a reason. They are more dangerous then you will ever know.” He told her ignoring her tears. “What did they promise you huh? There is no way they didnt lure you in for no reason so what was it that they promised, what lies did they spin you.”
Penelope knew that her parents would do anything to get at least one of their children on their side. They would manipulate Melina because she was too nice for her own good sometimes. She would give people the benefit of the doubt.
Melina looked good her mother and then back to her father, not knowing what the hell she was going to do about this. Her father was yelling at her as if she had killed someone. “They just wanted to know about my sanctuaries…” she trailed off.
Asher took in a breath and paused for a moment trying to calm himself even though he knew it wouldnt work. “Tell me exactly what you told them regarding your sanctuaries, Melina.”
Melina shook her head in respond, her stubborn side deciding to make an appearance, “It doesn’t matter,” she told him.
“Like hell it does matter Melina.” Asher raised his voice again. “You tell me what you told them because its important.”
“They were just really interested in what I was doing, I don’t see anything wrong with that,” Melina crossed her arms.
“Everything is wrong with that. Think for a moment as to why they were in jail.” Asher pointed out to her.
“People can change,” Melina told him with a huff. “Second chances. Third chances. Whatever.”
“Trust me when I say i believe in chances, I am big on them.” Asher was given his own experiences in the past. “This is different, Melina and you have to trust me, know that i wouldnt feel this strongly if i didnt have my reasons.”
Penelope didn’t want to say anything because she knew that Asher had a much stronger ability to get a handle on Melina when she was stubborn. For Melina to see how much this affected him would hopefully mean she wouldn’t try again.
Melina shook her head, “They’re really nice…” she said to him. “I don’t see what’s wrong with them wanting to see their grandchildren.”
“They are not nice, they are manipulative people that make you think there nice before destroying you in seconds. I love you Melina but sometimes your naivety can get you into trouble. I am dammed if I let them anywhere near you, ever.” Asher told her with a fierce look.
“Melina please listen to him.” Zasha said softly. He would have to tell her everything after this conversation but it would have to be in the strictest of confidence, he knew his mother new nothing and maybe if they had a conversation Melina would understand a little bit more.
“And what if I want to see them,” Melina then asked, ignoring her brother. She did not appreciate the way she was being spoken to. This was about family, estranged or otherwise. “What if I ignore you.”
Asher knew exactly what to say to her to make a point, something he had never ever said to her before. “Then you will have disappointed me even more and all trust will be gone.” He said in an eerily calm voice.
Zasha winced if there was something scarier then there father yelling it was when he was calm while he was angry it was deadly.
Melina stayed very quiet at that and she looked to the ground in silence.
Asher watched her for a response. He knew he had hit her where it hurt and that would have an effect.
“I’m sorry,” Melina said to her mother who just looked at her with a sad expression. But then she looked back at her father and didn’t say anything before walking off.
