“I think we agree that there was quite a bit of damage done by one disturbed young girl,” Gareth said.
Dylan added, “Where does the blame stop? With our great-granddad? He’s the one who didn’t help her.”
“It was a different time back then, Dylan. No one understood someone like Audrey. The only thing to do was to pretend she never existed. Unfortunately, she had my father and passed along her abusive ways to him,” Brice said. “I feel for anyone directly affected by her actions.”
“Like our granddad. Audrey had abused him so much that he did the same to our father.” Dylan ran his hand through his hair. “I have no idea how our father didn’t do the same to us.”
“There are things, Dylan, that we’re never going to know. It was a long time ago. We could keep digging, but what good will it do? None of us can change it. All we can do is try not to be anything like them,” Brice said.
Dylan peered at him long and hard. Was he sharing everything he knew? There seemed to be more. “What aren’t you telling us Brice?”
“You don’t want to know,” he replied.
“We’re here for a reason,” Gareth said.
Brice let out a heavy sigh. “There were things my father did, that are very disturbing. But what he did was recruit some other wealthy bastard to help him do his dirty work.”
“Does this have to do with why you and your family are spending billions of dollars in Tabiq?” Gareth asked.
Brice arched a brow. “You have done your homework.”
“We might be related, but that doesn’t mean we trust you,” Gareth added.
“Nor I you,” Brice replied. “But to answer your question, yes, the Tabiq project has everything to do with my father. It might be too late for some, but it’s our mission to break the pattern.”
“And this has what to do with us?” Dylan asked.
“Your dear old granddad was one of the people my father seemed to connect with on a regular basis. I don’t think my father had a clue he was his uncle. At that time, my father only saw someone who hated women as much as he did. What neither of them realized, it was the same woman who had brought that hatred upon them.”
Dylan said, “One woman, two families, and a hell of a lot of—”
“Cruelty,” Brice said.
“And yet, we all seem, would ‘normal’ be too strong of a word?” Gareth asked.
Brice and Dylan both nodded. “I don’t know about the Lawsons, but for the Hendersons, it’s always in the back of our minds. A fear of finding out we’re no better. But the more I learn about them, the more I know we’re nothing like them.”
“God I hope not.” Dylan turned to Gareth and asked, “Is there anything else you want to know?”
“Yes. Charles mentioned that years ago there was a business deal on the table between you and him. Something changed. What was it?”
“I’m not sure. Everything was in order. Asher Barrington and I were in the process of building a factory overseas. But then suddenly, the communication ended and the contract didn’t go through. We went with someone else,” Brice said.
“So you had no idea back then who we were? That we’re your cousins?” Gareth asked.
“No. If I did, I’m not sure it would’ve changed anything. Not then, at least. My father was still alive and I kept my distance from him as much as possible. We all did,” Brice said. “It actually was his death that brought us back together. If he were still alive…well, let’s just say I wouldn’t be a father now.”
“I’m sure your mother had a positive influence on you,” Dylan said.
“That’s a story for another time,” Brice said. “But we did have a strong female influence. Asher and I have known each other a long time. His mother Sophie must’ve realized that there were a few things lacking in our home and I’m not talking about money. We had an abundance of that, which I guess was supposed to make up for everything else. It didn’t. Kindness, love, compassion were forbidden whether it be towards each other, or outsiders. Any sign of it, came with a punishment. But Sophie had an open door policy and we were always welcome. Because of her, we knew what a normal family looked like. If it wasn’t for her, God knows what type of men we’d have turned out to be. Not saying we’re saints, but we’re nothing even close to what our father James was. It’s a name I still have trouble saying.”
Brice didn’t even try to hide his dislike, maybe hatred, for his father. Some wounds don’t heal even after time. “Then I guess we got lucky, because our mother was that for us,” Dylan replied. “If it weren’t for her, I’m not sure what my father would’ve been. Even now, she is what keeps him…rooted.” Us on the other hand, no one tells us what to do.Well Charles isn’t so lucky any more.
“So where do we go from here?” Gareth asked. “Do we tell the others that our family tree just got a whole lot bigger? There are six of you, right?”
Brice laughed. “Once again, that story is for another time. But to answer your question, I’m not sure how to present this to everyone. We definitely don’t want this getting out of control and the media learning of our connection.”
“You mean what really happened to Aunt Audrey?” Dylan asked.