Chapter 85: Coincidental similarities

Forward- Brax is now 28, Heath 23, Kyle 19, and Casey 15.

Brax had managed to land himself a job at a local restaurant as a manager and Heath had gotten himself a steady job helping out at a garage. One morning as Heath, Brax and Casey were having breakfast there was a knock at the door. Brax answered, only to see a policeman. Giving a confused look, he thought, had one of his brothers gotten in trouble with the law again? He was taken out of thought when the policeman spoke.

"Darryl Braxton?"

"Yeah."

"I regret to inform you that there has been a serious fight outbreak at the prison where your father was held." The policeman explained.

Brax thought, what did that mean? Had his father gotten out and was now coming back after them?

"Your father sustained terrible injuries that could not be fixed. I'm sorry to say, but your father Danny Braxton has passed away."

Brax stood in shock. Casey and Heath who also listened were in shock. "Now I understand this must be a shock."

"A shock? It's the best thing that could have happened to the bastard!" Brax yelled.

"Well just so you know a funeral service will be held this Friday at 12 o'clock."

"He can rot for all I care! Thanks for the news officer." Brax closed the door leaving the man to go.

"Dad's dead?" Casey questioned. "Yes you idiot. Didn't you hear what he said?" Heath retaliated, angry.

It seemed Casey was the only one who didn't feel angry. "Are we going to the funeral?" Casey asked.

Brax walked towards the table. "Are you kidding me? After all he did to us."

"You really are thick Casey." Heath replied.

"Why Heath? Because I want to go to Dad's funeral?" Casey replied annoyed.

Brax stepped in between them before they could fight. "Enough. We're not going to Dad's funeral."

Casey sat back down. Heath left to blow off some steam, he was angry at his father, because of the way he treated them, he had so many questions of why, he never understood, and now he wouldn't ever get the chance to.

Brax also left leaving Casey at home. Casey didn't know what to feel, whether it was guilt for getting his father put in jail all those years ago, or anger?

Kyle walked through the caravan park. He stopped when he came across a headline on the front page of a newspaper lying on the ground. Bending down he picked up the paper. 'Serious jail fight leads to death' the headline read. Curious, Kyle read on.

He felt a sick feeling in his stomach when he saw a picture of the victim. It was his father. He hadn't even known his father was in jail. Maybe his mother was right all that time in telling him his father was a criminal.

When Kyle came out of his shock he became curious to the name underneath the picture. 'Danny Braxton' it read. He never knew his father's name but always assumed he was a Bennett.

"This can't be right? Why does that name sound familiar? Braxton?" Kyle thought. If this guy was Danny Braxton, did that mean he wasn't even his real father? But how would Kyle find out now, the guy was dead and he had no idea where his mother lived anymore.

"This can't be real" Kyle whispered. Kyle read the last line 'a funeral service will be held this coming Friday, for family and friends to pay their respects.'

With many questions now unanswered Kyle knew he still had to attend the funeral, because even if this guy wasn't his real Dad, he was someone whom Kyle had longed for approval from most of his life and he felt it only right he paid his respects.

By the time the funeral came Brax rethought his decision and decided him and his brothers should go to the funeral as it may be a way to say goodbye to their past.

At the funeral the three brothers watched as Danny's coffin was lowered into the ground. Casey looked up to see a tall boy on the other side of the field who looked familiar. Casey walked over to him, his movement alerted Heath and Brax who watched their brother.

"Do I know you?"Casey questioned. Kyle looked up and realized he knew this boy too.

"Maybe. What are you doing at my Dad's funeral?" Kyle asked abruptly.

"I could ask you the same question." Casey replied.

Kyle was in no mood to argue with a boy he knew from his past and so turned away. Casey then punched Kyle in the mouth and held him down on the ground. Brax and Heath rushed over and pulled a grieving Casey off the boy.

"What the hell Casey?" Brax yelled and Heath slapped his arm glaring at him.

"This jerk is saying our Dad is his Dad!" Casey exclaimed.

Brax took a better look at the boy and something in his eyes reminded him of something familiar. Where have I seen that face before? Brax thought.

Kyle looked at the three brothers shocked, holding his bleeding lip. "What? Your Dad?"

"Yeah that's right Danny Braxton is our father! So who are you to go around staying that?" Heath defended Casey.

"He is my father! Well at least I think he is." Kyle yelled, but went quiet towards the end.

"What do you mean by that?" Heath questioned.

"He was never around a lot." Kyle spoke.

Brax thought, he once remembered his Dad talk about another boy to his mates, but never put two and two together and if this man said his father was never around a lot, it made some sense.

"You scum!" Heath yelled also ready to lay into Kyle.

"Wait!" Brax yelled, holding Heath back.

"What's your name?" Brax questioned.

"What's it to you!" Kyle yelled angry that he was dealing with all this on top of his Dad's funeral.

"Just answer the question!" Brax gritted his teeth.

"Kyle Bennett." Kyle grunted.

"How old are you?" Brax continued.

"Nineteen."

That would mean that when Heath was five. Brax thought as he remembered his father always going out somewhere.

"What?" Heath pressed Brax.

"He might be telling the truth."

"What?" Casey and Heath yelled in surprise.

"Are you serious? Dad never told us we had another brother!" Heath added.

"Don't you see, Casey hadn't been born and Dad always used to go out all the time?" Brax grabbed Kyle off the ground. "Come on, you're coming home with us. We have to talk."

Kyle pulled away. "I don't have to go anywhere with you."

Brax grabbed him roughly. "You do if you know what's good for you." Brax shoved him towards his car with Heath and Casey following.