Hooker(87)

I’m consumed with disappointment when Jade doesn’t arrive at the house. I’m certain I heard my mother invite her back here at the cemetery. But I can’t blame her after I gave her the cold shoulder like I did. I’m eager to apologise. My heart sank at the funeral when I finally turned back around to find her gone.

Heading for the bar in my father’s office, I pour myself a drink from one of his 25-year-old bottles of scotch. He’s been collecting these for years. It’s been my drink of choice this week. My father would roll over in his grave if he knew I was pissing away his beloved scotch, but it’s no good to him now. You can’t take it with you. He should’ve drunk the fucker while he had the chance.

His death has made me realise just how short life really is. One day you’re here, the next you’re not. We all should live each day like it’s our last.

I get a pain in my chest as my mind flashes back to that day. I’ll never be able to get the image of his lifeless body out of my head. He must’ve had a major heart attack because I couldn’t even get a pulse as I worked on him. In truth he deserved everything he got—you reap what you sow, so they say. I just never expected to have a hand in his death.

Downing the scotch in one gulp, I pour another before heading back out onto the patio. It turns my stomach to hear people reminisce about my father, saying what a great man he was, as I pass. He wasn’t a great man at all.

‘There you are, Brock,’ Clarissa whines, coming to a stop beside me as I stand by the pool. Her voice makes the hairs on my neck stand up. To my dismay, she’s been dropping by the house almost every day. I’m sure it was only because she knew I was staying here. I got the impression she was even getting on my mother’s nerves. Like me, I’m certain Mum can see straight through Clarissa’s façade. My father was the only one she could fool.

‘I’m not in the mood for your shit today, Clarissa, leave me alone.’ Harsh, but it’s the truth. Sometimes brutal is the only thing she understands. I still haven’t forgiven her for the trouble she caused with Jade.

‘Come on, babe,’ she says, hooking her arm through mine. I hate when she calls me babe, I’m not her fucking babe. ‘I’ll excuse your rude behaviour because you buried your father today, but I think we should discuss our future. Maybe it’s time we granted him his dying wish. You know how much he wanted to see us married.’

I can’t help but chuckle bitterly at her brazenness. Is this woman for real? My father’s dying wish, my arse. She’ll stoop to any level to get what she wants.

Removing her arm from mine, I take a step back. ‘When are you going to get it through your thick head? I have no intentions of ever marrying you. I have a girlfriend, remember?’ Well, I hope I still do. I need to pull my head out of my arse and make things right with Jade before I lose her forever.

‘The whore from the function.’ Clarissa stamps her foot as she speaks, like the annoying brat she is. ‘Wasn’t she at the funeral today with another man? They looked awfully cosy.’

Her statement pisses me off. I’ll admit I felt insanely jealous when Theo had his arm around Jade. I know their relationship is completely platonic, and I’m extremely grateful that he’s been caring for her all week while I’ve been unable too, but I wanted to be the one holding her, instead of him.

‘She’s not a fucking whore,’ I snap.

‘If the shoe fits,’ Clarissa retorts, raising one of her perfectly sculpted eyebrows.

Something inside me snaps. Reaching out, I place my hand on her scrawny chest, giving it a slight shove. It doesn’t take much. She’s so thin I’m surprised the wind doesn’t carry her away. I have to suppress my laugh when I see the look of horror on her face as she tumbles backwards, falling straight into the pool. Everyone around us gasps when she lands in the water with a splash. That should cool her down a bit.

She’s coughing and spluttering when she finally comes up for air, looking like a drowned rat. ‘Brock!’ she screams, banging her hands down on the surface in one of her temper tantrums.

Ignoring her outburst, I turn away and head towards my brother.

‘Did you just push Clarissa in the pool?’ he asks. The amusement in his voice doesn’t go unnoticed.

‘I may have accidentally-on-purpose knocked her in.’ When he holds up his hand, I give him a high-five. She’s not his favourite person either. She gave him such a hard time when he came out. She’s just as narrow-minded as my father was. ‘Listen, can you keep an eye on Mum? I have to duck out for a while.’