Page 3 of Feeding Hope
Dante dug in. “Eddie, you were so unwanted that your real mama dumped you at the orphanage and ran. If you hadn’t attached yourself to my mom, you’d still be there. Mom was toonice to refuse you, a manipulative beggar. Mom should have left you there!”
I saw pure red. I yanked free of Aaron and punched Dante straight in the nose. He yelled as I struck a second time, and then I smashed his face into the bowl of mash. Dante began making choking noises as he struggled to breathe.
Aaron grabbed me and swung me away as Dad hauled Dante up. I was kicking and screaming and wanted to hurt Dante in the worst way possible. That little shithead – to borrow a phrase from Mama Phoe. I wasn’t the only adopted kid, and what Dante just said wounded us all. Dad got hold of Dante, but Tony was there and smashed Dante in the nose again. Furiously, Tony then rubbed food in Dante’s face before upending one of the pots over him.
“Tony!” Jared cried, shocked as he grabbed my twin. Tony, the most placid sibling, stepped back as Jared pulled him away.
“You’re not Mom and Dad’s real kid!” Dante yelled.
“That means none of us are,” Scout said slowly.
Dante looked surprised before turning his head to Scout. “What? No, you are, Eddie isn’t. Eddie’s adopted!”
“So are we,” Timmy replied.
“No, you’re my brothers,” Dante insisted.
“Yeah, you’re no brother of mine,” Garrett retorted. He stood beside me, as did the rest of the adopted siblings. Even Peyton took my side.
“I’ve heard enough,” a voice stated angrily, and we spun and faced Mama Phoe. She leaned against the doorway, looking pale.
“Mama?” Tony gasped, hurrying over. Mama Phoe reached out, touched his face, and offered him a loving smile.
“Can everybody but Dad, Dante and Eddie leave? Aaron, as the meal is completely ruined, please take everyone into the family lounge and order dinner,” Mama Phoe said.
Aaron nodded and began chivvying the younger kids out. He sent me a look and gripped my shoulder. “Kid, I have never considered you anything but a full sibling.”
“Except my adoption papers mean we’re not, as Dante pointed out.”
Mama Phoe hissed in a breath. “Aaron, go.” Moments later, she turned. “Edwina Michaelson, I’ve never, ever treated you differently. As far as I am concerned, you’re my child. You chose me, and I was so honoured you did. The little girl you were looked up at me with pure love in her eyes and trust. Are you telling me I failed you?”
“No!” I gasped, horrified.
“Why comment about adoption mattering in this household?”
“Because Dante is saying that!” I yelled. Tony appeared and put a hand on my shoulder to comfort me.
Mama Phoe regarded me solemnly. “Sadly, I can’t disagree.” She faced Dante, who Dad was holding. Even now, he looked defiant.
“I’ve never been ashamed of one of my children. Not until now. What you said to your sister was unmitigatedly cruel. I’m beyond disappointed. Adoption was never a problem in this family. You’ve made that an issue.”
“Did not!” Dante snapped.
“Don’t deny it. Dante, I heard you clear as day. You intended to be hurtful and, congratulations, you succeeded. But you didn’t wound Eddie, you hurt everyone else and me. Your words were vicious, spiteful, and thoughtless. You’ve been given far too much leeway and are spoiled, brattish, and quite frankly, someone I don’t want to be around. The fault is not entirely yours; your father and I are to blame, too.”
To my horror, Dante held Mama Phoe’s eyes and shrugged. Damn, he really didn’t care. Dante was becoming a monster. Dadclearly had seen enough. He shook Dante hard and spun him around to face him.
“Disrespect your mother like that?” Dad growled out. Dante now looked worried. It was rare for Dad to get annoyed with him.
“What? That’s the truth. Mom, you keep telling us not to lie!” Dante retorted.
“Don’t twist my words! This isn’t about lying, Dante, this is about you being an entitled brat!”
“Says who? Eddie acts more privileged than me!”
That gave me pause for thought. Did I? It was true that Mama Phoe raised us in luxury, and I took things for granted. Shit, I didn’t want to be the kid who acted as if everyone owed them something.
“No, she doesn’t. Eddie is a brat and a handful, but she never behaves as you do. Plus, Eddie would never have used such thoughtless words. She’s bloody grateful to be a part of this family, you aren’t!” Mama Phoe chipped in. She stared at Dad, and there was something in her demeanour that made me shiver.
