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My dad looked over Rome’s broad shoulder at me with shock clear on his face "Really? You tere always at odds, even when you were young"

I shrugged "I’ ti fine" Plus spending time with her naked as often as possible was s thatI wasn’t sure what to do with it yet

"Well maybe you can tell her how hard it’s been for yourher to come by for a visit would be lovely"

"She has her reasons for staying away dad" My tone sharpened reflexively but I kept rowing as alked into the living roo TV on the sofa Her eyes snapped from Rome to me and then back Even fro off of her

"What are you doing here?" She didn’t even look at Roer was like a whip across aze with a level one of et under irl

"Just ca"

"I don’t want you here" Rome went stiff beside me and I heard my dad take in a quick intake of breath but I wasn’t surprised

"I know but I thought it wouldn’t kill s"

"Why bother you just ruin everything" Her voice was raspy and I swore I could see the hatred she harbored hanging off of each syllable My dad took a step forward but Roh The boy is our son not a stranger we’re going to just put out on the street because you’re unhappy with hiht now"

"Dad it’s cool, I kno she feels and she’s never hidden it"

"What do you expect Rule? Because of you your brother is in a box in the ground and the girl I think of as a daughter won’t have anything to do with me You’re a poison to this family"

Well that was a little harsher and a little blunter than she normally went for but it was finally out in the open I rubbed h My dad and Roet her to retract her awful state her that none of it was true but it was to no avail

"Hey, hey everybody stop It’s oaky, come on Rome don’t act like you’re shocked She always blaht for a ride, it’s cool I get it In fact I bla time too until I realized it could have been a million other reasons It was an accident, an accident that took someone we all loved but still an accident She could bla, she could blame God for the rain or even the doctor in the OR for not being good enough at his job but no, she blames me and alill and its fine if that’s what she needs in order to keep it together I can shoulder that load" All three of the at me ide eyes It was probably thein over five years and there was no yelling or no te convictions so I refuse to let you put your actions and consequences with her on ht up what you needed to do in order to maintain your relationship with her and you refused No one is to bla about Shaw She is in a totally different league than you; she and Remy were both on a far better path than you ever dreamed to walk"

I just shook my head sadly and jerked my head toward the door "Mo, kind, compassionate person in the world she would chew off her own ar to put herself above soive a flip about this path or that path as long as everyone she loves is going somewhere and at the end they are happy I’ you, surprisingly the first three ood, Rome I’ll be in the truck"

I turned to walk back down the stairs and out the front door but her chilly voice stopped me cold "Stay away fro her like you did your brother"

I wanted to tell her it ay too late for that warning that I was beginning to kno inside and out, that she was becoaze with one that I’ her back into the Archer family fold with that kind of attitude mom Keep it up and it’ll be a cold day in hell before Shaw ever steps foot in this house again"