Chapter 94: Chapter 94

Chapter 92: The tears

I never add songs but sure thing by Miguel would be the theme song that played on this (scene) `chapter`` if it was a movie. anyways enjoy and stay safe x

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Pride will always be the longest distance between two people. Austin was willing but Henry was not having it. A sense of bitterness sat right on the top of his chest. He would never be able to get over any of this mediocrity. He thought, he could but he was failing dismally. He had not slept that night, blankly staring at the ceiling. As if punishment, he could hear Merri and Austin giggling... God, knows what they were doing. They acted like hormonal teenagers who finally got to be with the one they had been courting for the longest time. It annoyed him to no end, did the walls have to be any thinner? Did the echoes have to be any louder? Did Austin's room have to be right next to his?  Why was it so difficult to see Austin happy... his own brother. It bothered him. Perhaps because for the longest of time, he had believed with time Austin would suffer for his consequences. Wasn't life a boomerang and you receive what you give..? Didn't one philosopher say 'you can't do ugly things to people and expect to live a beautiful life?'

When was Austin going to finally suffer for his consequences? It was long overdue. Something did not sit right with Henry. He can not have kids but God proceeds to give Austin double luck? What kind of hell was this... fumbling for any reasoning, he could not find it.

This lead Henry to make a decision. He did not want to be here to witness Austin get blessed beyond measures when he is a horrid person who deserves none of it. Henry would rather be far off than here with Austin's stupid bangers and watch him prosper. Henry has always always been the child that his parent were most proud of? He was well established. Austin had always been the letdown, Henry the golden child... now being at the same level of disappointment with Austin in his parents eyes agitated him.

That morning after breakfast.

"Mother, father thank you for the hospitality but it's time. It's time I return home. I can not reside here for the rest of my days."

"Oh Henry? You're always welcome but are you sure?" His mother questioned with concern. Merri and Austin gave each other a knowing look before looking away. It was so weird, Thomas had always been her best friend and now Austin was. He wasn't just a lover anymore rather more than that. She felt comfortable sharing the most personal things with him. Even her shyness of being bare around him had similarly disappeared. Merrigold did not feel guilty, knowing this was probably her doing. If the man wanted to leave, he could.

"Good riddance! I did do not want to have to kick you out." Walter heaved out.

"Well, I will be off then."

"Farewell brother."

"Where will you go?" His mother seemed like the only person who cared enough.

"I've made a decision... it will upset some but frankly I do not care enough to let it bother me."

Austin let out a sardonic laugh. "I knew you would!" The atmosphere immediately changed. Austin abruptly with no warning roughly pushed his chair back, threw the napkin onto the table and left without a word. Merri decided to sit still and hear what he had to say. She was not sure what Austin meant, a part of her knew Austin would not be taking any of this well. The twins were still asleep, their daily routine of being wide awake all night then suddenly yearning and scrambling for sleep in the early hours of the day.

Henry swallowed a lump on his throat as the many eyes scrutinized him. "Stella never left, she never ran off with the kids." He added somberly suddenly finding the floor interesting. "What has occurred has occurred. I've raised these kids like my own. I love them dearly, I miss them. I think of them constantly especially with my nephews now here. I do not think I could ever turn a blind eye and simply forget about the life I've built with the woman; I love. The woman, I fell for many years back. The woman who still brings me joy in my heart. I'm upset, always will be. I'm angry, wrathful but it brings me nothing but sorrow. My life is not here, helping out with the enslavement of human beings. My life is not—"

"Henry, are you cuckoo?!" Walter yelled having had enough of what he considered a speech of excuses delivered by a weak man who can not stand his ground. A weak man who is betraying his family. A weak daft man!

"MY LIFE IS NOT HERE WITH YOUR PATHETIC GOSPEL AND HYPOCRISY!" Henry yelled back at his father who seemed appalled. Austin could say whatever he wanted so could his wife but Henry had never ever belittled him in such a state.

Lowering his voice, surprised that his anger had taken him to such an extent of high confidence. "My life is not here. My life is back there with my boys."

"They're not your kids you bloody fool!"

"They're my kids! I raised them. They call me father—" Henry felt a tear escape his eyes. Feeling heavy with emotion, he could not help it. His father had belittled him enough. He did not feel manly enough, he couldn't even have kids of his own. "They miss me, they've written to me asking when I'd be back home. They might never have Austin's grey eyes or Mom's blue eyes and why does their eye color even matter? You made me feel horrid when they were born with brown eyes. They're beautiful, you have brown eyes yourself but I digress... sure they do not have Cunningham blue-blooded aristocratic aloof nose but they're still my son's and part of this family. The only family they know. Not some homeless man who begs for pennies on the corner of a church."

"Excuse me, the twins must be—" Merri said awkwardly trying to get away from this feuding fire that was only getting worse and maladroit to the point of discomfort.

"Go Merrigold, go check on my grandsons. My actual blood, the only heirs to my forefathers estate. My blood." Walter said bitterly. "Henry? A weakling with no backbone. Austin? oh goodness where do I even start with that male Jezebel of the century. Bertha? My only sweet innocent daughter who has made me proud. Never once embarrassed me. Never once brought talks of my name in people's mouths. Never brought shame to our last name. Such a shame she wasn't a son."

"Fine with me, father. Very fine with me. I bid you farewell mother. Thank you for everything."

Unmoving not knowing what to say or what to do? Everything had happened so quickly. Harsh had been thrown in a jiffy, words meant to stab and leave a wound. A deep wound that would leave one wondering for the rest of their life. Henry would always wonder if he truly was the worst thing that could have happened to them. Austin would always wonder why his brother chose her. Walter would always wonder where he went wrong? Perhaps he was a bad father? The actual villain in all this? What could he do to change. He was finding it difficult to change his ideologies, sometimes he wanted to be nice to Merri but some sort of bitterness and rage within him wouldn't allow it. For Mrs Cunningham? She would always wonder if her family would ever reunite and be under the same roof. Hatred? She felt it, for Stella.

If Stella had never came into their lives... Austin would have been decent, Austin would have never been with Merrigold, Austin would have been far off in the west chasing the American Dream too focused to be bothered by dealing with hay, horses and a shovel. Austin wouldn't have been Austin, Austin wouldn't be Austin. Perhaps things happen for a reason. Some to teach us, some to build us into the people we're meant to be. We go through struggles to strengthen us for later days. We go through atrocities so we can be who we're in this very moment. If a certain memory did not occur in one's life the present would be different. Everything we've been through has led, shapes and carved us into the people we're. Mrs Cunningham was caught in between, she could only mutter. "Take care Henry, visit soon. I respect your decision. You're still a honorable man for wanting to be a good father, a better father to those kids. As for Stella, I'd rather keep to myself."

"Thank you mother." Henry turned to his mother's embrace.

From the corner of his eye, Henry saw his father hesitant. Shaking his head slowly. "You know what they say... the same water that a fish uses to breathe and for survival, is the same water that can be used to boil the fish to it's death."

"Whatever that means, I hope you mean well." Henry added ignoring his father's cynicism.

"That snake that you're so comfortable with with one day strangle you."

"Never heard of that bible verse before." Henry added agitated by his father wanting to seem wise when he was really just as idiotic, the only thing he knew was farming."

—

"Cry?" Merrigold said softly. Gullible, Austin blinked his tears away. They were so close. He wouldn't allow himself to cry in front of anyone. He did not want to seem weak. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Merrigold was kneeling in front of him. She knew he was hurting. It was hard for her to see him this way. She felt so much for this man, she could never describe it. Watching him so vulnerable once upon a time would have had her rejoicing and dancing with glee.

"I'm fine." Austin dismissed, his eyes remained glossy. The more this woman continued to ask him, the more his eyes stung. This tingle in his nostrils, this tingle at the corner of his eyes— "God no." Austin said lowering his head. He knew he couldn't hold it in anymore. It was as if a dam had broke. He could see his reflection in Merrigold's dark brown eyes that almost resembled black. His favorite black hole. His favorite escape. They took him places, many unimaginable places.

"...you can cry... you're allowed to?" Merrigold told him. She was his safe place. He felt safe. He felt protected even though it had to be the other way around. He allowed Merri to comfort him. As he cried on her shoulder silently, a few sniffles here and there. Her right hand massaged the scalp of his jet black hair, her left hand rubbed circles on his back. It was peaceful. After a while, he raised his head, eyes puffy and bloodshot red, cheeks rosy, skin as pale as a ghost. The redness in his ears and nose very visible from the sign of sensitivity. Merri felt hurt, he looked so broken.

"I-i j-jus-t thought I'm h-his broth—er and he wouldn't pick that d-devil over me. I-I j-j-j-u-u-s—t—"

Merrigold could only caress his chin with visible stubble. "It's alright." She told him softly understanding he was so emotional he couldn't find his voice, to speak without almost breaking into tears. Bringing his close, she held him in her arms. Delicately as if he was her baby. She felt so much in that moment. She felt his pain, his hurt, his disappointment. "Everything will be fine Austin."

"Y-you're the only thing that makes sense in my life."

Smiling, she replied. "Not really, to others this doesn't make sense either. Your life is complicated, that's fine. Lionel and Lennox need their father. They need you to heal so you could be the best version of yourself for them."

Austin immediately grinned. Wiping his tears away with her thumb. "Will you marry me Merrigold? Will you be my wife? Will you be with me till death do us part. In sickness and health. In riches and poor. Even though this is so abrupt and I don't have a ring or the traditional right of way. Even when I lose my looks and you remain radiant with your dark skin. Even when I look like a wrinkled raisin and I can't—"

Giggling at the thought, Merrigold stared at him for a moment. Caressing his lower lip. Her heart simmered hearing these words. "Yes, I do."

"With the power vested in me, as the lucky still unworthy groom with a horrid past. I now proudly pronounce you my wife. Mrs Merrigold Cunningham, I will never want or need a piece of paper to confirm what I feel for you or what you mean to me. I love you."

"Well this was the most private ceremony, I've ever seen." Merrigold added a little touched and not trying to cry from how overwhelmed she felt.

"The only three people who needed to be there were there. Nothing matters."

"Three?" Merri looked around.

"God is our witness."

Merri laughed, as he pulled her in for a kiss. She could taste his tears of somberness that had ran down to his lips. She couldn't believe he was hers. She was married? Austin was now her husband. This wasn't some game to her, she meant it with her heart and soul.

"Honeymoon postponed, till the bride has healed from giving the groom the best gift there is in this life." Austin added. Merrigold rolled her eyes at his cheesiness as he lifted her up letting her strangle him. She wrapped her arms around him. For a moment they just stared at each other.

"I'm anxious, how have they been so quiet for this long?" Merrigold said suddenly.

"Don't go. We won't have this quietness to ourselves for a while. Can I not enjoy my wife's presence even for just a bit? They've already stolen you from me. I thought I was your one and only grey eyed love..." he pouted.

"You're so needy Mr Cunningham." She pulled away with a hint of playfulness.

Pulling her right back. "Only for you, Mrs Cunningham."