Chapter 84 – Tough News

"You wanted to talk, Sir." Nathan said.

"Yes." Marcus said. "I wasn't sure how much of your past that you have shared, so I felt that it was best that this conversation be private."

Nathan let out a harsh breath, then looked at Marcus.

"Who?" Nathan asked.

No more explanation was needed. Marcus understood what Nathan was asking. Marcus hated that such a young man had such a heavy burden to carry because of the actions of others. Through no fault of his own, Nathan had been forced to grow up a lot faster than most and even more than his twin sister as a result of being male. With the way that his father was, Nathan had become the man of the family at an early age and it wore on him. He had to shoulder many things that a young man shouldn't have had to shoulder. He had to give up his dreams to be a stable presence in his sister's life, not that it helped much.

Marcus felt for Nathan. There was a time that Marcus thought that Nathan could have easily joined the New York City Police Academy and then quickly be able to rise in the ranks. Yet, Nathan had given up his dream of law enforcement because of his mother's irrational fears. Marcus knew that Nathan sent money home to help his mother still, something that he shouldn't have to do. Marcus also knew that Nathan would look after his sister as best as he could, despite her marrying someone like their father. Marcus was sure that there wasn't anything that Nathan wouldn't do for his sister and niece.

"I don't know if it makes a difference." Marcus said. "But I thought you should know."

"Who and what?" Nathan said.

"Dylan." Marcus said.

"Are Colleen and Allie okay?" Nathan asked.

"They weren't involved." Marcus said.

"Then what happened?" Nathan asked.

"Please sit down." Marcus said.

Once they were both seated, Marcus said a quick prayer.

"I am not telling you this, so you will go off half cocked and do something stupid." Marcus said.

"I will try." Nathan said.

"Dylan was arrested in Peekskill." Marcus said.

"What was he doing up there?" Nathan asked. "Colleen and him live in Brooklyn."

"I know that." Marcus said. "I looked into the arrest myself."

"Please just tell me." Nathan said.

"Dylan was arrested at the home of a young woman." Marcus said. "They were fighting in the yard and the neighbors called the cops. When officers arrived, they realized that the two were mutual combatants. While detaining the two, both were found to have small amounts of a controlled substance on them. Both were arrested on that charge and the officers dropped the mutual domestic violence charges. The thing is that according to the neighbors, Dylan has been this girl's on again off again live-in boyfriend for at least the last year."

Nathan let out another harsh breath.

"Meth?" Nathan asked.

"Most likely." Marcus said. "I don't know for sure."

"When?" Nathan asked.

"Two days ago." Marcus said.

"So he is being held?" Nathan asked.

"Yes." Marcus said. "Because of the situation, the officers felt it was best to hold them for a couple of days. They were supposed to have a bail hearing today. I don't know the results of that, but I can assume that it was set at a pretty decent amount."

"I am sure." Nathan said. "I need to make a call."

"Want me to go?" Marcus asked.

"No." Nathan said.

… … … …

When Jack and Elizabeth both got to the kitchen, they found Doug and Lee helping Gran get some things ready.

"What can we do?" Jack asked.

"I have veggies that need to be cut." Gran said. "I need to put two platters together. I found that it was cheaper to buy the veggies in bulk and cut them up ourselves."

"Okay." Jack said. "What do you want cut?"

"There are carrots, celery, peppers, green onions, and radishes." Gran said. "There should also be broccoli and cauliflower."

"Dip in the middle or on the side?" Elizabeth asked.

"On the side." Gran said.

"Good." Elizabeth said. "That makes it easier."

"What platters do you want?" Jack asked.

"I bought some plastic ones." Gran said. "That way I don't have to worry. They should be in the cabinet in the back by the pantry."

Jack went to look and found them both, along with the covers.

"Found them." Jack said.

The four then started washing and cutting veggies, while Gran went about making platters of cookies. The group talked as they worked, teasing each other and generally having fun. Jack was glad that his dad had gone back to work in the office. The last thing that Jack wanted was a further confrontation with his father. Jack didn't understand why they were treating him like they were. Jack knew that both of his parents liked to have control, but they also needed to realize that Jack was an adult and has been making adult decisions for at least a couple of years. Jack was so lost in thought that he had stopped working.

"What are you thinking?" Elizabeth asked.

When she got no response from Jack, she bumped his hip with hers. That broke Jack out of his thoughts and he looked over at Elizabeth with a mischievous grin on his face.

"Don't start something you aren't ready to finish." Jack teased.

"I was just asking what you were thinking." Elizabeth said. "You were so deep in thought that you didn't hear me. I didn't want to touch your arm as you have a knife in your hand."

Jack put his knife down and took Elizabeth's out of her hand. He then grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into himself. He kissed her nose before tickling her lightly. Elizabeth let out a squeal and tried to get out of Jack's grip. Jack stopped and held her close. They got lost in each other's eyes as Jack held her. Elizabeth started to lean in to kiss Jack when she heard someone clear their throat. Elizabeth looked around and saw Gran standing right there. Elizabeth blushed and Jack had color in his cheeks as well. Jack released Elizabeth and she stepped back.

"Sorry, Gran." Jack said.

"Sorry." Elizabeth said.

"Okay." Gran said. "Just please be more aware."

"Yes, ma'am." Jack said.

They went back to chopping the veggies, while exchanging guilty glances. Doug and Lee were trying not to laugh.

… … … …

Nathan pulled out his phone and dialed. He waited for it to pick up.

"Hey." Nathan said. "Can you talk?"

("Yes." The other person said.)

"I am worried about you, Col." Nathan said.

("Nate." Colleen said. "I am fine. Allie is fine. I just sold a painting. I have also been working a little as a housekeeper. We may not have the best of everything, but we have what we need.")

"And where is Dylan?" Nathan asked.

("I don't know." Colleen said. "We had a fight about a month ago and he took off. I told him that if he didn't want to be a father then he shouldn't come back. That was the last I have heard. Why are you asking about him?")

"He was arrested." Nathan said. "I don't want you to bail him out."

("Why was he arrested?" Colleen asked.)

"Does it matter?" Nathan said. "You know how I feel about him. I don't want him around Allie. He is only going to bring trouble. Please think about things."

("I don't know." Colleen said.)

"Praze, da." Nathan said. "Ti monkey. Tu a kep." (Please, yes. For Allie. To be safe.)

("I will think about it." Colleen said.)

"Dank." Nathan said. "E ba ta." (Thanks. I love you.)

Nathan hung up the phone, put it back in his pocket and when turned around, he forgot that Marcus was there.

"I followed most of that." Marcus said. "What was that last part?"

"Sorry about that." Nathan said. "Colleen and I have our own language. It is a twin thing. I forget and use it from time to time, usually to keep something private or when I am upset."

"Is Colleen okay?" Marcus said.

"I guess." Nathan said. "She didn't sound like her usual self, which might be why I resorted to our language."

"She will be fine." Marcus said. "She is stronger than most people give her credit for."

"She shouldn't have to be." Nathan said. "Now she has gone and married someone just like Archie. I don't want Allie to experience the pain that we did growing up."

"I understand that." Marcus said. "But you need to let Colleen make her own choices. All you can do is be there for the two of them. I can assume that you were talking about divorce?"

"Yes." Nathan said.

"That is not a decision that you can make for her." Marcus said. "She needs to be the one that makes that decision. She might be afraid that she can't make it on her own."

"I will try to remember that." Nathan said. "I just think that if things were easier. I feel like I should be there to protect her."

"I understand that." Marcus said. "That is part of your nature, but it is not your job. I understand that she is your twin and you are a guy and feel the need to protect those you love, but you also need to understand that Colleen is her own person and that she needs to learn her own lessons. As hard as they may be and as hard as it is for you to watch her make those mistakes."

"But …." Nathan said.

"No but about it." Marcus said. "I can try and protect my children from everything, but then they wouldn't learn anything. I have allowed them to make mistakes so they learn. I have always been there when they fall. I pick them up, dust them off and tell them that they are important, they matter to their mother and I and that we love them no matter what. That is all you can do."

Nathan nodded. He closed his eyes and said a prayer for his sister. He also prayed for himself that he would know what to do to help Colleen when she needed it.

… … … …

The group had most of the veggies chopped as Elizabeth started to arrange them on the platter. When Jack put a handful of veggies on the platter, Elizabeth swatted his hand.

"You can't just throw them on there." Elizabeth said. "I was making it look nice."

"Sorry." Jack said. "I was trying to help."

"If you want to help." Elizabeth said. "You boys can try and copy what I am doing with the other platter."

Jack bit his lip and ducked his head. He grabbed the other platter as Doug chuckled at him. Doug looked at what Elizabeth was doing and thought that he could copy what she was doing. Doug started putting the veggies on the tray that Jack had set down. As much as he tried, Doug couldn't get the platter to look as nice as Elizabeth's.

"Elizabeth." Doug said. "A little help. Yours looks so much better. I tried."

"You did a good job." Elizabeth said. "It just takes practice."

"Thank you for thinking so." Doug said. "I just don't think that I am cut out for decorating."

"At least you were willing to try." Elizabeth said.

They were just finishing up the veggie trays when Nathan and Marcus came out into the kitchen. Jack was the first to see the expression on Nathan's face and he was worried that he had gotten bad news.

"Marcus it was nice to see you again." Gran said. "Here."

Gran handed him a small tin that she had filled with spice cookies.

"Do you want a coffee for the drive back?" Gran asked.

"I can just stop and grab one." Marcus said.

"Nonsense." Gran said. "I have fresh coffee and to go mugs."

"Best not to argue." Doug said, coming over.

Marcus nodded. Gran grabbed a Coal Creek travel mug. She filled it with coffee.

"Cream or sugar?" Gran asked.

"Black is fine." Marcus said.

Gran put the lid on and walked over.

"Here." Gran said.

"I will bring your mug back." Marcus said.

"No, keep it." Gran said. "Charlotte ordered a couple cases of them. We give them away, so it is not a big deal."

"Then I will use it happily." Marcus said. "Thank you for the cookies and I should be going, I have been here longer than expected, but it was needed. I will see you again."

"Thank you for coming out." Jack said. "We will let you know more about the show, but be sure to let Kathy know so she can plan for the kids."

"I will." Marcus said. "I will see myself out."