Kyle leaned against the doorframe, watching Kay wiping her eyes. They were the only ones left to say goodbye. His brothers had already retreated inside the house and Jessie and Angie were in the cab, waiting for Kay.
Sam and Jerry had wished them a safe trip and a hasty return. Neither of them knew how probable it was for none of the girls to come back.
Tom and Jimmy knew this and it had been hard for them to say goodbye. But they'd done it. Instead, he couldn't stop staring at Kay, even if the cabdriver honked impatiently.
"I should be going," she said and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Kyle held on to her tightly, trying to take in everything about her: her forget-me-not blue eyes, her golden waves, her fair, perfect skin, the lily scent around her and the warmth of her touch. Who was he kidding, trying to be strong? He was going to miss her like crazy.
Kay rose on the tips of her toes and planted a short kiss on his lips, after which she wanted to pull away. He didn't loosen his grip.
"Kyle, I have to go." Her voice suggested she actually wanted to stay. "I'll come back, but you have to let me go." She put her hand on his cheek and smiled weakly.
He smiled back. Of course she would. If she didn't, he'd come to her.
"I know, but I want to say goodbye to you properly." He pulled her against him and kissed her deeply, passionately, trying to make up for all the days he knew he wouldn't get to do this.
Kay's whole body shook as she tightened her grip on him, returning his kiss with as much enthusiasm. Whatever happened, things would be different. If their adventure had taught them anything, it was independence. They were both too old to be bullied by their parents.
The cabdriver honked again. Kay pulled away, breathless and he could finally bring himself to let her go. She smiled widely, winked at him and ran towards the car.
Kyle leaned back against the jamb, watching the car drive away into the night. If she didn't return before the school year started, he'd bring her back. Even if it meant getting shot by her father.
An angry cough from behind made Kyle jump and turn around. Freider and Maxi stood in the small hallway, Freider scowling, almost bearing his teeth, Maxi with wide eyes. Ah, crap!
"How long have you been here?" Kyle asked, keeping his voice causal.
"Long enough," Maxi whispered. She didn't look angry, just shocked.
Freider on the other hand was becoming red and a vein bulged in his forehead, ready to pop. The rage appeared to have struck him temporarily dumb.
Taking advantage of this, Kyle walked past them, and into the living room. He knew his father well enough to tell Freider needed a timeout to calm down a bit. If he'd just manage to get to his room—
"Where do you think you're going?" Freider bellowed, stampeding inside the room with Maxi in his wake.
Then again... Kyle turned around and shrugged. "To my room."
"How...Why..." Freider's frame shook with fury as he pointed to his son, unable to produce a coherent phrase. "I thought I told you to stay away from girls. Especially that girl! How dare you?"
Kyle took in a deep breath trying to keep the anger bubbling inside him at bay. There was no point in answering that question or any other remark coming from his father. Just suck it up, pretend to listen to his raging then walk away.
"I want an answer!" Freider yelled.
"How dare I what?" He tried to sound bored, but Kyle wasn't sure he'd managed it. Anger rose inside him like a tidal wave, and as much as he tried to stay calm, he was losing the battle.
"And out of all those girls, you had to go for the blonde bimbo! You could have gotten the redhead or the brunette. But nooo—"
Kyle took a step forward, his fists clenched, all self-control flying out the window. "Don't dare call Kay names! What's your problem with blondes, anyway? You married one yourself."
"Yes!" Freider raged on. "I married one. Me. Me not you!"
Kyle stepped back. "What?" Had his father completely lost his mind?
"I won't let you throw away all that we've built for you—" Freider started.
Ah, hell no! "What you've built?" He wouldn't let Freider play that card. "Does abandoning me in Texas count as building? I know why you never came to visit me. I heard you and Max fighting over the phone. You never actually wanted me. So don't come claiming you've built anything for me."
"Honey, that's not true," Maxi whispered, her eyes drowning in tears.
"Really, Mom?" Kyle faced her. "You didn't even bother to ask your brother why I was depressed when I came home. He knew about Kay. He would've told you what was wrong in an instant."
Maxi covered her mouth with her hands and whimpered, tears cascading down her cheeks. Kyle's heart tightened. He loved his mother, but she had it coming. Her choices had consequences.
"You and that girl are never to see each other again!" Freider shouted.
"Says who? I'm not breaking up with Kay because you say so. You have absolutely no idea what we've been through together. If Snitch Gravel couldn't come between us, neither will you."
Freider's eyes slid out of focus. He gazed from Kyle to Maxi and let out a scream of rage. Before Kyle could react, he'd lunged forward and hit him across the face. Kyle rolled back over the couch and fell on the other side. He got to his feet, holding on to his burning cheek. He never thought Freider had that much strength in him.
Apparently unsatisfied with the result, Freider darted around the couch, his arm in striking position again. Kyle caught his fist in mid-air this time. He put every ounce of self-control into not breaking his bones. If he weren't his father, he would have.
Maxi swept past him and slapped Freider across the face so hard, he swayed on his feet.
Kyle let go of his father and stared at his mother. Her eyes were red and teary, but also burning with anger. He'd never seen her lose composure like that.
"How dare you?" she hissed. "How dare you hit him? Do you think that makes you a better man? How dare you lecture him about girls?"
Freider's slightly mad gaze shot from Kyle to his wife. The vein bulged again as his face contorted with rage. He raised his arm as if to strike her, but Kyle pushed him back and grabbed his wrist.
"Don't you dare hit Mom, or I swear I'll forget you're my father and beat the shit out of you," he said between gritted teeth.
Freider tried to jerk his arm free, but Kyle tightened his grip until his father winced.
"Kyle, Dad, stop this." Sam's voice carried across the room.
The lost look in Freider's eyes vanished and he shook his head. Kyle let go of his arm and stepped back. Jerry had rushed down the stairs and pulled his mother away from the two of them. Sam remained rooted on the bottom step, staring at everyone in the room.
Freider lowered his arm. "I'm so sorry, my dear. I don't know what got into me." He walked forwards and took Maxi out of Jerry's arms.
She fought his grip, but he whispered something to her, something that caused her entire body to fall limp.
"What happened?" Sam asked, finally getting off the staircase and walking towards them.
"Nothing. Your older brother just disappointed me enormously." Freider shook his head and squeezed Maxi tighter against him then smiled. "We have a surprise for you. Your mother and I decided to go on a second honeymoon. I've already phoned your grandmother and she'll be here tomorrow to keep an eye one you."
Sam looked as if someone had hit him over the head. "Dad, really, we don't need a babysitter."
"Oh, but your grandmother would love to see you. All of you. Your mother and I are leaving tonight. Just need to get our luggage sorted." Freider practically dragged Maxi towards the stairs.
Kyle stared after them, his muscles twitching, his face still throbbing where his father had hit him. What was going on? Why wasn't his mother saying anything? What had Freider told her to cause her to turn into a rag doll?
"Kyle, what really happened?" Sam's voice broke through.
Kyle turned to him and Jerry and dropped on the couch. He sank his face in his hands, trying to stop his body from shaking with rage. "How much of it did you see?"
"None. Just you holding on to Dad's arm," Jerry whispered. "You're scary when you're this upset."
"I'm sorry, I'm just trying to fight a really strong feeling of hatred towards him. And it's not really working."
"Okay, now I'm worried." Sam sat on the couch opposite to Kyle's. "Spill."
Kyle sighed. "Mom and Dad walked on me and Kay when we were saying goodbye. Dad went into super pissy mode and started yelling his head off at me. And I kinda snapped back."
Jerry cringed. "I can see why he might have wanted to hit you there."
"Wanted? He punched me right over this couch." Kyle rubbed his face again.
Sam stared at him, his green eyes wide. "Dad punched you over the couch?"
"I half ducked, that's why I rolled over. But as if that wasn't enough, he wanted to do it again."
"So that's why you were holding on to his arm?" Jerry asked weakly.
"No, I did that to stop him hitting Mom."
"What?" Sam and Jerry both got to their feet, their hands balled into fists. They looked towards the stairs as if seriously considering going up and giving their father a piece of their mind.
"Well, Mom hit him first. I've never seen Mom so angry in my life."
"What's wrong with them?" Sam asked, his voice shaking with repressed anger.
"I don't know, but I hope they sort it out while they're away." Jerry sat back down, rubbing his temples. "I'm honestly glad they're leaving. And thanks for not smacking Dad back, Kyle."
Kyle raised his eyebrows. He wasn't used to Jerry ever agreeing with him or taking his side yet. Not after a year of constant fighting. "You think I would hit my own father?"
"I might have," Jerry mumbled, sinking lower into the couch.
Kyle bit the insides of his cheeks to stop the proud smile from stretching across his face. Jerry had grown up so much, it was unbelievable. "I say we don't worry Jimmy and Tom with this."
Sam bit his lip. "Are you sure?"
"They should build some admiration towards him before being disappointed and hating his guts. I'm just kidding," Kyle added, seeing the bemused look on Jerry's face.
Jerry smiled. "I know."