Meddlers

Randall

What the fuck are they thinking? That they can just drop by unannounced and scold me like I’m a five-year-old boy? That they can run my life like they used to?

I frown as I look across the desk at my father, William Brewster, and my older brother, Lloyd.

They weren’t happy when I married the first time. They didn’t even come to the wedding. Now, they’re still unhappy. What? They still want me to marry some CEO’s sister or some Senator’s daughter?

“I regret that you were not informed of my decision.” I sit up in my chair. “But I stand by my decision.”

“And we will not respect it.” Lloyd gets off his chair and rubs his temples. “Have you no decency, Randall? Have you no concern for us? No respect for us?”

“On the contrary, I feel like it is the other way around.”

“You married a nanny, Randall,” Lloyd points out. “Just when the world has finally forgotten that you married a chambermaid, just when you’ve finally made something of yourself, you go and marry your son’s nanny.”

I pick up my pen. “Well, she cares about David and that’s what matters most.”

“Randall.” My father beats his fist on the table.

“You know, I don’t understand. I’ve always been a disappointment to you so why put up a fuss about it now?”

“You think this is funny?” my father asks. “Is this all a game to you?”

“Actually, you–” I point to him and my brother– “are the ones who treat this as a game. You’re the ones who pull the strings, who move your pawns across the chessboard. You’re the ones who think marriage is some business agreement, just another step in your grand plans.”

“We’ve worked hard to establish the family name,” my father reminds me. “And you? What have you done?”

“Haven’t you read my feature in Time magazine, the one with my picture on the cover? I finally have one.”

“Don’t mock me, boy.” He points a finger at me. “You wouldn’t be where you are now if not for my money or my name.”

“Maybe, but now it’s my money and my name and my troubles are my own.”

“Do you really think we want to worry about your problems?” Lloyd asks, approaching the desk. “Do you think we want our business partners to bring up your failures?”

“I’m sure it makes for interesting conversations,” I say, unfazed.

I’m bored, actually. I can’t remember how many times we’ve had this conversation.

“You will divorce that woman, and we will say that the newspaper made a mistake,” my father says, his expression stern.

I shake my head. “I’m sorry, but no.”

“She’s a nobody!”

“So why is everyone worried so much about her?” I place my hands on my desk. “What can she do to you, huh? What has she ever done to you?”

“She can ruin you and all of us,” my father points out. “What if she runs away with all your money? Haven’t you thought of that?”

“Thank you for your concern but she won’t,” I assure him.

“Please tell me you had her sign a pre-nup,” Lloyd says, one hand on his hip.

“Yes, I did.”

“It doesn’t matter,” my father says. “She’s not fit to be a Brewster!”

“Then we’re both alike.”

My father just shakes his head. Lloyd looks like he wants to say something but suddenly, the door opens and my mother and sister enter.

Great. More family.

“Look what that bitch’s dog did to me.” Helena gestures to the muddy paw prints on the front of her jumpsuit.

I try not to laugh. “Well, first of all, that bitch is my wife. Second, the dog isn’t hers. It’s David’s.”

“David should come with me,” my mother says. “That woman is not fit to be his mother.”

I sigh. “Mother, please calm down. David isn’t going anywhere. He’s my son and Sabrina – that’s her name, please call her that – isn’t going anywhere, either. She’s my wife now. She’s indispensable.”

Helena narrows her eyes. “But she said she’s not pregnant. Is she really that good in bed?”

I stand up, going to her. “You may be married now and you may have kids now but you haven’t changed. You’re still as spiteful as ever.”

“And you’re a fool.”

“Fine. I’ll answer. She is amazing in bed. Now, can you say the same for yourself?”

She snarls. “Fuck you.”

“Stop it,” my father says, getting up with the help of his cane. “We’re leaving. We shouldn’t have come.”

“Why did you?” I ask, putting my hands in my pockets.

“How dare you not invite us to your wedding?” my mother says.

“But the last time I invited you, you didn’t come. So, I thought, why bother?”

“We came because we wanted to see with our own eyes if you’ve really made a fool of yourself again,” Lloyd says as he helps my mother. “We hoped it was not the case. We hoped to save you but now, we see it’s hopeless.”

“You don’t have to save me, older brother,” I tell him. “I’m not in trouble. I just married a wonderful woman. I think our marriage may last even longer than your first one did.”

His jaw clenches.

“Why, oh why, did I have a son like you?” my father says as he leaves the room. “I told you, Jackie, we should have just stuck with two children.”

“Well, it wasn’t my fault you insisted on fucking me when I said it was risky,” she says.

I slap my forehead. Really?

“Come on,” I tell them. “Every family needs a black sheep, right?”

They don’t answer, leaving. As soon as they’re gone, I go back to my chair, swiveling it to face the window and sitting back, sighing.

What a morning and what a family. I’m glad I don’t live with them anymore. I’m glad I have David and Sabrina now.

Sabrina.

I stand up. Maybe I should go and talk to her.