To Hate My Stepbrother

Ava’s POV

Danny’s burial soon came and everything was set and ready. The priest spoke before asking us to come make a speech.

Walking up to the altar, I looked at everyone around and it felt like I had nothing to say about Danny except the fact that he was a good father to me.

“When everyone was less supportive of me, Danny stayed with me, he could disbelieve a lot of things but he never stopped believing in me. He really is the best father in the world and I don’t think they make fathers like him because I think I took the last one.” I laughed and sniffled and the mood was lightened up a bit.

“Danny had touched our lives one way or the other and I don’t think he would want us here crying, he was always so full of life and as crazy as it might sound, I think Danny would want us to be glad that he lived the best of his life.” I finished before walking off.

Mason made a speech about his father too and watching him stand there just made my heart come crashing down.

“We disagree on a lot of things even when I’m being a brat but we always both agree on one thing and that’s the fact that he loves me, he never stopped loving me even when I know that I’m not really the best of sons.” He continued.

“Ava is right and I thank you all for coming out for him but I don’t think he would want a gloomy day just because he died, especially with his wife,” he added and we all turned to look at my mother.

“He loves her so much that I know he’s probably standing right next to het begging her to stop crying.” He continued, Mason took the floor before leaving and it was my mother’s turn to make her own speech.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

She had a lot of things to say about her husband, she spoke about how much he loved her and since they went around the world together she had so much to say.

The speech was over and we were all asked to pay our respect which everyone did and even Xander was around because he was invited too.

Danny was buried and everyone started walking around talking to people they knew as they offered their condolences to my mother and Mason.

I consoled my mother and looked around but Mason was nowhere in sight. I decided to go look for him but I found Nicole instead.

Making my way to Nicole, I thanked her for all she’s done and for also watching the kids.

“You know you don’t have to always act so strong and so tough, you’re human, you’re allowed to feel so cry and let it all out instead of bottling it all up and shouldering all the responsibilities.” Nicole started and I raised an eyebrow in question.

“What I mean is for you to cry, bawl your eyes out and just feel the pain of losing your second father.” She explained and I nodded slightly before shaking my head.

“You don’t understand, Nicole,” I started, “I don’t know how to cry.” I added.

“It’s like I’ve lost my ability to cry and not just that, everyone around me seemed so important to Danny but me, my mother was his wife and Mason was his son.” I finished with a sigh.

“Yes, I understand all that but you can’t tell me that you don’t feel the least bit of pain, you can’t tell me that you don’t feel like your heart is tearing out of your chest.” She said and she’s right.

I feel all of those things. Finally letting it all out, I allowed myself to cry and talk to my best friend about how good Danny was to me and how much I’d miss him.

Nicole was glad that I finally let it out and she tried her best to console me. We spoke for a while before I excused myself to find Mason.

I found him talking to a friend and I also went to stand beside him, offering him all of the support that I could possibly give.

We finished talking to his friend before I told him that I needed to talk to him, he looked worried and thought that something was wrong with me but I calmed him down.

“I wanted to talk to you about your mother,” I finally let out, “you should see her and inform her about Danny’s death. She deserves to know about it.” I finished.

Mason agreed to go see her with me and we went back to the burial site. Mason had a one on one with his father and almost all invited guests started leaving and went to their various homes.

ONE WEEK LATER

Everyone tried doing what worked for them to get over Danny’s death but we all knew that we couldn’t possibly get over it a hundred percent.

Mason and I prepared to go see his mother in prison to inform her about Danny’s death. We got there and she asked for forgiveness from her son.

“How is Danny? Is he okay?” She asked and Mason looked at me before looking back at his mother.

“My father is dead.” He broke the news and I watched the shock on her face grow wider as she sobbed.

“I’ve been a horrible mother to you and wife to your father and the fact that I won’t be able to ask him for forgiveness breaks my heart.” She cried as she looked at Mason remorsefully.

“I’m so sorry, please forgive me.” She cried again and the sight of her was probably uncomfortable for Mason because he shifted a little and looked at me as if asking for approval.

Giving his hand a little squeeze, I nodded, “I need some time to think about it because forgiveness isn’t just something one gives out, I’ll think about it and maybe then I can actually forgive you.” Mason said and his mother smiled.

“Thank you so much,” she thanked him before looking at me, “I’m sorry for acting so terribly to you, you don’t deserve that.” She apologized to me too and I just smiled.

We went back home to a full house with kids running around the house and I just couldn’t stop thinking about my life.

I felt fulfilled and happy that I met Mason who started off as my step-sibling. I really am glad that things turned out great for me.

For us, we overcame every trial together.