Page 51 of Cruel King
“He was, but not always,” he says before taking a drink of his scotch. “When my mother died, things got bad. I never told you about it, but if you’d been inside our house, you would have seen a very different situation than when she was alive.”
I shake my head, stunned by his comment. “I had no idea. Why didn’t you tell me things were bad then?”
Theo forces himself to smile, but it’s obvious the memory of that time is painful still to this day. “They weren’t that bad. I was still living in a mansion most people would give anything to call home. My father just didn’t care for a while after she died. I think he was so devastated to lose her that he couldn’t find it in him to handle a lot of stuff that had to do with all of us. He was left with five sons who needed to be taken care of, but he was too consumed with grief to do it. So that job fell to other people for that first year after she passed away, like your father and Eleanor.”
My memory of that time period is hazy, but I vaguely remember not going up to the King house for a long time. Theo would come out, joined by a few of his brothers, and we’d still run around the estate, but unlike before his mother died, he didn’t ask me to come up to the house for months.
“I had no idea. I’m sorry. I wish I knew.”
“It’s okay. Your father was a godsend, though. He handled a lot of things my father simply didn’t want to deal with. I remember one time the principal at school gave Matthias a letter to bring home. He and I, since we were the two oldest, walked into my father’s study where he spent nearly every day and night for months after my mother died, and gave it to him. He didn’t even open it. He just threw it onto the table and told us to leave. It was a letter about our tuition and how it needed to be paid for all of us. Your father was there that day and picked it up. It was him who took care of the problem. I know that because we never got another letter about our tuition again.”
I smile at the idea that my father was able to take care of the King boys when Mr. King couldn’t because he was so torn up about losing their mother. “I’m happy he could help. He’s always cared about your family more than just as an employee.”
“When my father finally came out of it, he knew who watched over things while he couldn’t. If it wasn’t for Eleanor handling the day-to-day stuff with us and your father making sure we didn’t get thrown out of school and dozens of other things I’m sure I don’t even know about, we five kids would have been a mess. That’s why I know he’s going to leave your family and Eleanor money in his will. He knows he has a big debt to pay back.”
I take a drink of my wine at Theo’s mention of my family getting anything in the will after his father dies. “He’s going to need it if your brother fires him and throws him out of his house.”
As much as I don’t want to sound alarmed, I’m afraid of what Matthias will do once he has control of the estate. After today’s little performance, I’d say it’s a sure thing he’s going to make things as hard as possible.
Strangely enough, though, Theo shakes his head like he doesn’t agree. “My brother can be heartless, but he’s not that bad. He knows how dedicated your father has been to our family all these years as the estate manager. He saw what he did to make sure we didn’t have to worry about our tuition that time.”
I wish I could be as confident as Theo that Matthias isn’t going to be the world’s worst ogre when the time comes. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that. I thought he and I were friends, and you saw how he was with me today. The first time seeing each other in five years, and he acted like I was his mortal enemy.”
“I know. I couldn’t believe he said those things to you. What was that all about?”
Shrugging, I pretend not to know the reason, but I think I do know why Matthias seems to hate me again. “He’s going to be the executor of your father’s will, though, and I worry that means my father will be out on his ear as soon as Matthias can send him packing. He’s lived there all my life, Theo. I don’t know where he’ll go.”
“Or you. Don’t forget that’s your home too. I can’t believe my brother would be such a dick. Do you want me to see what I can do? He might listen to me. If it looks like he’s going to make things hard for you guys, I’ll talk to him and remind him of all your father’s done for our family.”
“Thank you. I’d appreciate that.”
Theo’s smile returns, that big grin that never fails to brighten my mood. “Then it’s settled. For now, no more talk about Mr. Miserable, who never fails to bring down the vibe. Let’s enjoy tonight and have great meal.”
I agree, happy to know my father and I have someone in our corner with Theo.
CHAPTERTWENTY
Matthias
Alone in theroom we called the game room when we all lived here, I sit in the dark watching some show on TV. I didn’t bother to change whatever it is when I turned it on, but I’m not really paying attention to what’s happening in the show. It’s more background noise for me as I try to process this day.
I still haven’t gone to my father’s room to see him. I’ve been here for nearly twelve hours, but I can’t bring myself to do it yet.
He’s got my brothers Ronan and Kellen there with him, so it’s not like he’s all alone. One King son is as good as another.
Whatever this is on the TV shows me a couple in love strolling through some park on a beautiful sunny day, and all I can think of is rolling my eyes. What nonsense. Love is a joke. “Don’t do it, man. Stay free,” I say to the guy on the screen, but it’s no use. He’s already lost.
Another single man bites the dust.
I can’t watch any more of this, so I grab the remote and say, “Violence.”
The TV instantly switches to something I’m guessing is about the mafia if all the guys dressed in black suits hanging around a bar is any indication. It doesn’t matter what it’s about. I just don’t want to see people smiling and kissing like it’s the happiest day of their fucking lives.
“Take that shit somewhere else, Romeo and Juliet,” I mumble as I toss the remote onto the sofa nearby.
I’ve spent the last hour or so thinking about my marriage ending, and fuck if I can’t find it in myself to be sad. I feel nothing about it. Jillian’s been sleeping with that guy for a while, so I guess I should be happy? Or maybe angry since she was stepping out on me.
I feel neither emotion. I don’t know if she suspected I knew about whoever the guy is, but the truth is I just didn’t care enough to do anything about it.