Inheritance (13/30)
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“Get out of my way,” Justin said firmly, trying to squeeze past Kevin and Scotty. Neither man moved, and Justin started to struggle with them.
“Justin, we’re trying to help you,” Scotty said.
“Oh, what do you care? You think just because we share some genes, you have any part of this? We’ve known you for, what, a year?”
“Shut up,” Kevin said. “Don’t be a jerk.”
“Of course you’re going to take his side. News flash, Kevin, I’m your brother.”
“Yeah, I know. And I’m on your side - you aren’t. You’re the one destroying yourself here.”
“I am so sick of everyone taking care of me. I’m not a baby; I can take care of myself.”
“Clearly.”
“Stop it!” Kitty said as loudly as she could.
***
Scotty leaned against the counter in the dark kitchen, sipping a cup of coffee. He lifted a hand, rubbing at his burning eyes. It had been an exceptionally long night. There was a soft noise, and Scotty looked up. Kevin tapped the counter as he walked past Scotty to the coffee pot.
“How’s it going up there?”
“Shaking, sweating and puking. And Justin’s not doing so well either.”
Scotty gave him a small smile.
Kevin poured himself a mug, taking a quick sip and grimacing. “God, who made this?”
“Your mother.”
Kevin rolled his eyes. “Obviously. Wow, I may never sleep again.”
“It’s a bit strong.”
Kevin walked over to Scotty, stopping close by him. “What are you guys doing down here?”
“Sarah tried to teach me to knit, which lasted all of five minutes because I sucked at it. And Nora has cleaned me out of 20 bucks at Old Maid; don’t ask me how.”
Kevin nodded, looking down at his feet. Scotty sighed.
“Maybe I should just go,” he said. “I’m not really doing anything here, and - and Justin was right. I’m not - ”
“You are,” Kevin interrupted, strongly contradicting him. “You are a part of this family. And Justin thinks so too. You can’t listen to anything he said. Interventions 101.”
Scotty nodded. They were silent for a few minutes, and then he changed the subject. “Are you OK? You seem bothered by something. Not just Justin; it’s been a couple days.”
Kevin bit his lip, looking away. He made a noncommittal noise, and Scotty guessed what was on his mind.
“Is it Jason?”
Kevin shrugged, avoiding Scotty’s eyes. “I haven’t talked to him in a while, is all.”
“Well, he is in another country.”
“They have phones there. If he really wanted to talk to me, he’d call.”
Scotty didn’t answer. He simply looked back out at the room, exhaling quietly.
***
Justin sought Scotty out almost two weeks later. Scotty wasn’t working, for once, and was more than happy to give Justin all the time he needed. He led Justin into Holly’s living room and watched, silently amused, as Justin paced from the nerves.
“So, I just wanted to say…I wanted to say - ”
“Justin, it’s OK.”
Justin shook his head. “No, no. It’s not. What I said to you was...uncalled for. And really rude. You know I don’t feel that way, right? I really do consider you a brother.”
Scotty nodded. “I know. I feel the same way. And I’m pretty sure part of being a brother is forgiving things said in the heat of the moment.”
Justin laughed, clearly relieved. “Yeah. Yeah, that’s a big part of it, actually!”
Scotty smiled. Then he stood. “You want something to eat?”
“Ugh. Yeah, man. I’m starving. Mom has refused to cook for me; she says I need to grow up.”
Scotty laughed as he disappeared into the kitchen. “Maybe I shouldn’t feed you then. Maybe you do need to learn how to do it yourself.”
“Oh, come on!”
Scotty took pity on him, continuing their conversation in a yell as he prepared a small lunch for the two of them.
“How’s Tyler taking things?”
“Ah, it was touch and go there, for a while. I swore to her that it wouldn’t happen again, and I think I convinced her to give me another chance. I don’t know how many more she’s going to give me, so I have to make sure not to blow it.”
“Definitely.”
“Right. So, we’re taking a little break while things settle, and we’ll see where we stand at Kitty’s wedding.”
Scotty nodded as he walked back into the living room, two plates in his hand. “That’s good news. And if I talk to her, I’ll make sure to mention your good qualities. All two of them.”
Justin laughed. “Great. Thanks, man.”
“And since you mentioned it, I have to say I’m looking forward to Kitty’s wedding,” Scotty said. “It should be fun.”
***
Scotty sighed loudly. “I can’t believe you got us locked in here,” he said tersely.
“I don’t know how many more times I can say I’m sorry,” Kevin replied from his makeshift seat.
“You realize everyone else, including your mom’s date - who’s totally high, by the way - is out there enjoying themselves, while we’re under arrest for assassination threats. Well, you are. I wasn’t saying anything at all, and yet here I am."
Kevin tilted his head back with a sigh. “Oh my God, would you stop complaining? I’m sorry, but there’s nothing we can do except wait. And we're not under arrest. We're being detained. We were never read our rights, which - ”
"Kevin. Shut up."
Kevin stopped talking abruptly. Scotty was silent for several long moments, looking down at his feet. “I was looking forward to the dancing,” he confessed sadly.
“I’m sorry,” Kevin said again, more sincerely.
“What’s your deal today, anyway?”
Kevin paused before exhaling loudly. “It’s Jason,” he said. “I still haven’t talked to him. You’d think he’d find a few minutes to call or some way to get back here. It’s his only brother’s wedding, after all.”
Scotty didn’t say anything, but his silence was incredibly pointed.
“What?”
Scotty shook his head. “I’m not going to say anything. It’s your life.”
“What is your problem with him?”
Scotty shrugged. “I don’t have a problem with him.”
Kevin stood, facing Scotty. “Yes, you do! You always have!”
Scotty lifted his hands to his face, dragging them down slowly. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I don’t know. It’s stupid, and it’s definitely my problem. Maybe I just need to get laid too. But can we please not talk about him anymore?”
Kevin watched him for a moment, before sighing and turning away. “Fine.”
***
Scotty managed to spin the Secret Service detainment into a rather humorous anecdote by the time he told Holly what happened. They were sitting in the living room, relaxing with nightcaps. Scotty's tie hung loose around his neck, and he tilted his head backwards against the couch as he chuckled quietly. Holly literally had tears of laughter streaming down her face as a result of Scotty's impression of the agent who asked Kevin and Scotty to ‘come with him.’
“I have a federal record now; I’m sure of it,” Scotty said, shaking his head as he took a sip. “I will never forgive him for this.”
Holly was about to respond when there was a knock at the door. They both turned to look at it, surprised and confused at the prospect of a visitor this late at night.
“They’re coming to take me away,” Scotty joked.
Holly laughed as she made to stand. Scotty gestured at her, getting up himself and walking to the door. There was an older, bearded man on the other side. He looked at Scotty curiously.
“Is Holly Harper here?” he asked.
“May I ask who’s calling?” Scotty responded.
“David Caplan.”
Scotty raised an eyebrow as he recognized the name. “One second,” he said, turning away from the door and closing it slightly. He didn’t want to let David in if Holly didn’t want to see the man after all these years. Holly was looking at him questioningly.
“David Caplan,” he said quietly.
“Oh my God,” Holly said, walking over to the door and pulling it open wider. “David?”
“Hi Holly.”
Scotty watched them for a moment. Then he backed away from the door, smirking at Holly as she briefly turned to face him.
“I’ll let you two catch up. Alone,” Scotty said, before heading towards the hallway.
“Who’s that?” he heard David ask.
Curiously, Holly hesitated briefly. Then she replied, “My son.”
And then Scotty was too far away to hear more.
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“Get out of my way,” Justin said firmly, trying to squeeze past Kevin and Scotty. Neither man moved, and Justin started to struggle with them.
“Justin, we’re trying to help you,” Scotty said.
“Oh, what do you care? You think just because we share some genes, you have any part of this? We’ve known you for, what, a year?”
“Shut up,” Kevin said. “Don’t be a jerk.”
“Of course you’re going to take his side. News flash, Kevin, I’m your brother.”
“Yeah, I know. And I’m on your side - you aren’t. You’re the one destroying yourself here.”
“I am so sick of everyone taking care of me. I’m not a baby; I can take care of myself.”
“Clearly.”
“Stop it!” Kitty said as loudly as she could.
***
Scotty leaned against the counter in the dark kitchen, sipping a cup of coffee. He lifted a hand, rubbing at his burning eyes. It had been an exceptionally long night. There was a soft noise, and Scotty looked up. Kevin tapped the counter as he walked past Scotty to the coffee pot.
“How’s it going up there?”
“Shaking, sweating and puking. And Justin’s not doing so well either.”
Scotty gave him a small smile.
Kevin poured himself a mug, taking a quick sip and grimacing. “God, who made this?”
“Your mother.”
Kevin rolled his eyes. “Obviously. Wow, I may never sleep again.”
“It’s a bit strong.”
Kevin walked over to Scotty, stopping close by him. “What are you guys doing down here?”
“Sarah tried to teach me to knit, which lasted all of five minutes because I sucked at it. And Nora has cleaned me out of 20 bucks at Old Maid; don’t ask me how.”
Kevin nodded, looking down at his feet. Scotty sighed.
“Maybe I should just go,” he said. “I’m not really doing anything here, and - and Justin was right. I’m not - ”
“You are,” Kevin interrupted, strongly contradicting him. “You are a part of this family. And Justin thinks so too. You can’t listen to anything he said. Interventions 101.”
Scotty nodded. They were silent for a few minutes, and then he changed the subject. “Are you OK? You seem bothered by something. Not just Justin; it’s been a couple days.”
Kevin bit his lip, looking away. He made a noncommittal noise, and Scotty guessed what was on his mind.
“Is it Jason?”
Kevin shrugged, avoiding Scotty’s eyes. “I haven’t talked to him in a while, is all.”
“Well, he is in another country.”
“They have phones there. If he really wanted to talk to me, he’d call.”
Scotty didn’t answer. He simply looked back out at the room, exhaling quietly.
***
Justin sought Scotty out almost two weeks later. Scotty wasn’t working, for once, and was more than happy to give Justin all the time he needed. He led Justin into Holly’s living room and watched, silently amused, as Justin paced from the nerves.
“So, I just wanted to say…I wanted to say - ”
“Justin, it’s OK.”
Justin shook his head. “No, no. It’s not. What I said to you was...uncalled for. And really rude. You know I don’t feel that way, right? I really do consider you a brother.”
Scotty nodded. “I know. I feel the same way. And I’m pretty sure part of being a brother is forgiving things said in the heat of the moment.”
Justin laughed, clearly relieved. “Yeah. Yeah, that’s a big part of it, actually!”
Scotty smiled. Then he stood. “You want something to eat?”
“Ugh. Yeah, man. I’m starving. Mom has refused to cook for me; she says I need to grow up.”
Scotty laughed as he disappeared into the kitchen. “Maybe I shouldn’t feed you then. Maybe you do need to learn how to do it yourself.”
“Oh, come on!”
Scotty took pity on him, continuing their conversation in a yell as he prepared a small lunch for the two of them.
“How’s Tyler taking things?”
“Ah, it was touch and go there, for a while. I swore to her that it wouldn’t happen again, and I think I convinced her to give me another chance. I don’t know how many more she’s going to give me, so I have to make sure not to blow it.”
“Definitely.”
“Right. So, we’re taking a little break while things settle, and we’ll see where we stand at Kitty’s wedding.”
Scotty nodded as he walked back into the living room, two plates in his hand. “That’s good news. And if I talk to her, I’ll make sure to mention your good qualities. All two of them.”
Justin laughed. “Great. Thanks, man.”
“And since you mentioned it, I have to say I’m looking forward to Kitty’s wedding,” Scotty said. “It should be fun.”
***
Scotty sighed loudly. “I can’t believe you got us locked in here,” he said tersely.
“I don’t know how many more times I can say I’m sorry,” Kevin replied from his makeshift seat.
“You realize everyone else, including your mom’s date - who’s totally high, by the way - is out there enjoying themselves, while we’re under arrest for assassination threats. Well, you are. I wasn’t saying anything at all, and yet here I am."
Kevin tilted his head back with a sigh. “Oh my God, would you stop complaining? I’m sorry, but there’s nothing we can do except wait. And we're not under arrest. We're being detained. We were never read our rights, which - ”
"Kevin. Shut up."
Kevin stopped talking abruptly. Scotty was silent for several long moments, looking down at his feet. “I was looking forward to the dancing,” he confessed sadly.
“I’m sorry,” Kevin said again, more sincerely.
“What’s your deal today, anyway?”
Kevin paused before exhaling loudly. “It’s Jason,” he said. “I still haven’t talked to him. You’d think he’d find a few minutes to call or some way to get back here. It’s his only brother’s wedding, after all.”
Scotty didn’t say anything, but his silence was incredibly pointed.
“What?”
Scotty shook his head. “I’m not going to say anything. It’s your life.”
“What is your problem with him?”
Scotty shrugged. “I don’t have a problem with him.”
Kevin stood, facing Scotty. “Yes, you do! You always have!”
Scotty lifted his hands to his face, dragging them down slowly. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I don’t know. It’s stupid, and it’s definitely my problem. Maybe I just need to get laid too. But can we please not talk about him anymore?”
Kevin watched him for a moment, before sighing and turning away. “Fine.”
***
Scotty managed to spin the Secret Service detainment into a rather humorous anecdote by the time he told Holly what happened. They were sitting in the living room, relaxing with nightcaps. Scotty's tie hung loose around his neck, and he tilted his head backwards against the couch as he chuckled quietly. Holly literally had tears of laughter streaming down her face as a result of Scotty's impression of the agent who asked Kevin and Scotty to ‘come with him.’
“I have a federal record now; I’m sure of it,” Scotty said, shaking his head as he took a sip. “I will never forgive him for this.”
Holly was about to respond when there was a knock at the door. They both turned to look at it, surprised and confused at the prospect of a visitor this late at night.
“They’re coming to take me away,” Scotty joked.
Holly laughed as she made to stand. Scotty gestured at her, getting up himself and walking to the door. There was an older, bearded man on the other side. He looked at Scotty curiously.
“Is Holly Harper here?” he asked.
“May I ask who’s calling?” Scotty responded.
“David Caplan.”
Scotty raised an eyebrow as he recognized the name. “One second,” he said, turning away from the door and closing it slightly. He didn’t want to let David in if Holly didn’t want to see the man after all these years. Holly was looking at him questioningly.
“David Caplan,” he said quietly.
“Oh my God,” Holly said, walking over to the door and pulling it open wider. “David?”
“Hi Holly.”
Scotty watched them for a moment. Then he backed away from the door, smirking at Holly as she briefly turned to face him.
“I’ll let you two catch up. Alone,” Scotty said, before heading towards the hallway.
“Who’s that?” he heard David ask.
Curiously, Holly hesitated briefly. Then she replied, “My son.”
And then Scotty was too far away to hear more.
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