Page 20 of Watch Me Burn
She threw her head back in sickly cackles. “How will you be able to do anything like that when I can simply call the court to enforce another no-contact order?” she shot back. My face blanched, and I scrambled for some defense to dig myself and Ethan out of a legal nightmare.
“Anna, Mom, STOP!” Out of nowhere, my brother appeared at the pillar behind the kitchen. He was panting, dad-bod stomach drooping over his belt while he regarded us with sadness. “Please,” he begged.
“Nathan,” I said rather belatedly. “I’m sorry. But if you could see the way she’s been giving me shit for the past few days—”
“—I know,” Nathan cut me off. My eyebrows shot up in surprise—I mean, he wasn’t even there when his former best friend pleaded for his innocence in my condo. Yet here he was, believing me just like he did when I called him up a few days ago.
My mom’s eyes darted furiously between us. “Nathan, what are you saying? Your sister is going to have us all killed if she keeps playing around with convicted murderers!” Her temples were sweating a marathon. I wondered if that was from the weather or how deeply she despised Ethan. “Think about your kids!”
Nathan’s judgmental stance seemed to falter, but he didn’t cave in. “Mom, you can’t control Anna’s life. She’s a grown woman and is free to make her own decisions. And if Ethan was really sitting all those years in prison for something he didn’t do, we need to help him. Why not find out what really happened to Dad?”
My mom fidgeted with her dress collar. “Because we can’t just run off into the sunset with a man we literally watched get a prison sentence for MURDER!”
Shaking his head, Nathan turned to me with sympathy. “Anna, can I talk to you outside for a minute?”
I nodded hesitantly, following him to our backyard deck.
Once we were alone, I said, “Glad to see you and the kids doing well. It’s good you’re visiting Mom with them. I honestly didn’t come here to fight.”
Nathan passed me a sad smile. “All good, little sis. You’re not the villain here. And it’s not like anyone saw Ethan crack Dad’s skull in the yard, did we? I wish I could be of more help, but with the kids, I can’t really get involved in any of that.”
“I get it,” I croaked quietly. The weather outside had now become a bit cooler, drafts of wind nipping my red fingers.
He then reached for my hand and squeezed it in his palm. “You’re doing the right thing, Anna. And Mom may not realize it now, but we all need to move on from the horrors of the past by acknowledging the chance there might be another side to the story.”
My brother was the last person who I’d expect to support me so unconditionally. He’d always carried a heart of gold, but even I could recognize I was teetering the line here. The fact he was so willing to stand by me in this situation felt as surprising as it did incredible.
“Thanks, Nathan. I know Ethan would really appreciate this.” I said gently.
Nathan raised his gaze to the sky. “Don’t worry about it. Let him know I’m really sorry for what happened. If he ever needs help financially to get back on his feet, tell him to give me a call.”
He rustled my hair playfully, to which I stumbled backwards in laughter and swatted him off.
This was what I missed. Having family who could join me in lighthearted moments, who could show what really brought us together in a bond stronger than anything else. I was tired of all the stiff moments where we nibbled holiday feasts as if nothing was wrong, as if the vibe hadn’t totally changed since the events of fifteen years ago.
I didn’t want to pretend any longer. Putting up a brave face during that court hearing was hard enough. Seeing the love of my life being dragged out by cops was even worse. And knowing that he could’ve served fifteen years in hell for something he didn’t do? The thought killed me.
Reading my pained expression, Nathan suggested, “How about you go back to Ethan? Maybe he’s gotten some new clues you guys need to go over. The kids and I will cheer Mom back up.”
That stabbing pain in my chest eased a bit. “You know what, I will. Tell Mom I’ll call her later.”
Waving farewell to the kids, who looked sad for a moment but then focused back on their cookies, I began to walk out the side exit that would take me to the driveway without running into my mother again. From the house’s side windows, I peeked that she was rubbing her temples on the living room sofa. Clearly, she was stressed—but why keep fighting against the right cause?
That didn’t matter now. Talking to her would only lead to another fight. It was better to give her some space and call her later.
When I inserted my keys into my condo’s keyhole, Ethan was on his way out. Form the inside of my apartment . . . without having a key.
I knit my eyebrows as he was standing in the hallway. “I see prison taught you some tricks,” I remarked, the metallic chime of my keys dancing in the air.
Ethan didn’t fight back but just frowned.
“What’s going on?” I asked. Ethan’s face was cold, little emotion slipping through his hardened jaw and intense brown gaze.
He shoved his hands in his pockets, replying, “I guess it gets old when folks throw eggs at your window for a crime you didn’t commit.”
My face fell in disbelief. Yeah, of course that could piss someone off, and although we hadn’t seen each other in years, he still shoved his hands in his pockets when I upset him, just like he did when we were kids.
“Ethan, what’s really going on?” He stepped closer. Really, really close. My body trembled with heat under his muscular, intimidating presence, but I did my best to speak evenly. “Why are you leaving?”
