Page 48 of Feral
“It’s funny when you think of it,” I mumble, taking out another cigarette and lighting it. “This car cost me much more than scars and a missing limb.”
I watch him as he walks closer, running his hand over the wrecked lines of what used to be an extraordinary piece of machinery.
“You know, dad, you have to stop beating yourself up; you can always change your mind about getting a prosthesis and live a much better life.”
I scoff at him because he should be the last one to talk. “Seriously, son? You’re gonna give me advice on how to live my life now? Do you think I don’t wonder day in and day out what kind of life I’d live had I made the decision not to get inside this car that day? How different things would be if I had just used my brain, instead of being emotional, and never started this fucking engine?”
He sighs, but it’s clear that his mind is preoccupied with other problems besides my own.
“I want to show Gemma around town today if that’s alright with you. Give her a chance to get all the stuff she needs before she has her things brought in, what do you say?”
I go back to the workbench, his last words hitting me like a punch right in the gut. “You go ahead, son.”
Gemma walks in on us right at that moment, holding two steaming mugs. “Hey, I thought you guys could use some more coffee.”
She looks at me first, then Bastien, sensing the tension in the air. “What’s wrong?”
I throw the rag onto the nearby bench and turn to look at her. “Nothing’s wrong, sweetheart. Everything is just peachy.”
“Bastien? What did I miss?”
My son just smirks. “I was just saying to my father how I’d like to take you around town.”
“Aw, that’s lovely of you, thanks. Why his long face, then?” she says, turning to look back at me.
“He’s not exactly thrilled at the idea.”
“Jacob, please. Can’t you come, too? How long has it been since you last had some fun, huh?”
I put out the cigarette and turn to look at my son first, then her. “I said I’m good.”
“Suit yourself, dad.”
“Be sure to have her back by eleven,” I growl, making sure I have his attention.
He turns to glare at me and I match his heated gaze. “Or else you’ll have your fun spanking and fucking her senseless again, right? God, dad, when did you grow this depraved? She’s half your age, just in case you forgot.”
He’s lucky that he’s out the door before I can get to him.
A moment of pregnant silence goes by before Gemma’s voice fills it.
“You don’t have to argue with him, you know. He cares about you.”
She leaves one of the mugs on the bench, sighing heavily. I pick it up, take a hasty sip, scalding my tongue and cursing inwardly. “Thanks for the coffee, sweetie. I’ll see you back inside.”
She takes the hint and leaves me the fuck alone to simmer in my self-pity.
Fuck. That went well.
Chapter 30
Gemma
The ride on the pirogue is longer than I remember it coming in and it’s spent mostly bantering about Tom’s wife, his newborns, and the state of the world in general. I am absorbed in the stunning scenery around me when Bastien croons in his melodic voice, "We’re here.”
“Where’s here, exactly?” I ask, curious to find out more about this picturesque little town he’s brought me to.
“This is Lafayette District, Gemma. I want you to come with me to Shadows on the Teche. I’ll give you a guided tour of the plantation. Come on, let’s go get my car and I’ll show you around the grounds. It’s beautiful this time of year.”
