A Family Affair- Short story

Violet

My father would die soon.

Tonight was Victor Van Camp Senior’s 90th birthday party. To me, that is the official notice that my father was nearing the end of His life. It was also the notice that it was time for me to move on. Forgive Victor Van Camp, forget Viola Van Camp, and more than anything, let go of childhood. Eyes closed and taking a deep breath, I sink down into the crimson crushed velvet couch behind me. I spent the vast majority of my life in this house, but I no longer recognize it. 

Huntley’s hand rests gently on his daughter’s shoulder, as he stands beside her chair. His head twists towards Ezra and I. Our stares meet and my brother’s blood-shot eyes give me a knowing look.

I take another steadying breath, relaxing further into the furniture. 

My husband settles in next to me. 

“Are you ready for this?” He leans in to whisper to me. 

As I’ll ever be, I guess. I think, but merely raise my eyebrows to him as response enough. 

“Ah, children.” My father says from the archway into the room as his gaze slithers over us, only to reach Seraphina, where his gaze lingers on his only grandchild. “Thank you for coming.” He says, directing it only to Sera. The teen beams under his gaze. 

Maybe the attention he paid me when I was her age is the reason I’m “throwing his fortune away” on my therapy.

“Victor,” he says cooly, pulling His eyes to my brother.

“Huntley. My name is Huntley.” He mutters, but Victor the elder, as always, ignores this correction. 

 

My father turns his head to me, nods wordlessly, then turns and walks away without even acknowledging my husband of 3 years. 

“Dinner will be served momentarily,” he called over his shoulder. 

I supposed he still hasn’t forgiven me for picking him, or forgiven Ezra for…  Well, whatever it is that happened between them a week before our wedding. Maybe I should give up on my forgive and forget mission tonight and follow the protocol in my genes—avoid and ignore. 

Huntley:

My sister may think she can forgive and forget, but I could never.

I moved my glass of bourbon as I rested it against the porcelain sink, staring as the running water rushed down the drain. Slowly, I gaze my eyes up and met my own bloodshot eyes in the mirror, a raven black strand of hair stuck to my brow in the budding sweat there. My own reflection had begun to only remind me of my father. The bloodshot eyes were a result of his actions. I could never forgive him. 

Not that what he did to her was somehow better than what he did to me, it was probably worse. But I can not forgive him, it wasn’t in me to. He had destroyed my family. I thought when he offered to take Sera it was him mending bridges, but when my sister told me what he did— I saw red. He preyed on her when she was missing the most and I left her with him. I let him take her, let him ruin her. I was glad he would be gone soon. He destroyed my family, the only thing I had cared about, and soon enough I’d return the favour.

Seraphina

 I tried to go to Grandfather, but my father had wrapped his hand around my wrist before I even got within 3 feet of Him. Ever since I got home from staying with Him after Mom died, Dad’s been acting like this. I think he figured out that Grandfather and I are keeping a secret from him. Grandfather was right -- my family didn’t understand us, that’s why we had to keep it a secret. 

But I don’t mind keeping a secret from my dad, because Grandfather said we had to. He said that the rest of them hated Him, and that’s why my love for him was a secret— so it couldn’t isolate me from them; to keep my family in my life because they’d already left him.  

That summer was the first time my Grandfather showed me how lonely He was; I think he saw it in me too, that’s why he told me. Because of who our family is I’d been homeschooled and left without friends, except my mother. Then she died and left me behind. My father dropped caring for me on my Grandfather for the summer. It was supposed to “heal” us both, Dad had said. 

But I knew we couldn’t be healed to what we were before Mom died and that part of my dad died with her. His eyes were red all the time now, when they never were before. That’s how I knew he was sad- his eyes. Not only were they red, but… cloudy, almost. He was never truly there anymore, the sunlight that used to shine through his eyes had clouded over, like thunderclouds on a rainy day. 

That all got worse on the day my father picked me up- three weeks early. He was sad and angry. Something that hadn’t gone away since then. But I had plans that would change that all tonight. 

Tonight, I had big news for my family tonight, something that will make Grandfather so happy.

Ezra:

My family has been preparing me for this ever since Violet and I first got together— the ruin of Victor Van Camp. I only told them about her once I was already in love with her, but their excitement of my relationship was something completely separate from me. Violet had immediately become their chance at vengeance.

Well, maybe “vengeance” wasn’t the right word, but it was as close as I could guess at their feelings. Ever since Van Camp had decided his oil money wasn’t enough and stepped his designer shoes into our territory, my family knew he had to be eliminated.

Truthfully, Van Camp had more money than God before he entered our criminal underworld, but that would never have been enough for him. Our way of life was a sick game of Monopoly to him, nothing more than another income stacking onto his mass amounts already.

 The day of our wedding, he finally figured it out. Victor realized I was a Siegel. His words from three years ago hung in my mind as clearly as they had been spoken that day.

She can’t be a perfect wife for you to ruin. That’s not something you can take from me. I ruined her for myself before she even thought about meeting you. 

The thought of his smirk when he said those words still made me shudder. Violet had asked me many times about that fight and why her father, even now, continued to ignore me vehemently. But I could never tell her about it, his words would only hurt her. I had abandoned my family’s plans to be with her, mistakenly thinking ending him would only hurt her. But, that was the moment that I decided that my family was right, he had to be removed. But I wouldn’t do it for them any longer. Now it was for Violet. 

After my conversation with Huntley a few weeks ago, we had both come to an understanding. We had agreed that tonight was the night. Victor’s reign had gone on too long and it was finally time for him to be ruined. So we made a plan and drank to it. I knew the plan was serious for me, but it wasn’t until a few days later when I realized how seriously my brother-in-law had taken it. So with a clear head, we decided that tonight was the night. Tonight was the end of Victor Van Camp. 

***

The night had passed in a haze of knowing looks and whispered secrets. Eventually, the crisp ringing of dinner bells summons the solemn family into the dining room. The patriarch already in his place at the head of the table, smirking down at his family as they take position around him. Nobody says a word until the aflame cake is carried into the room.

A moment after the family had sat down at the large, Seraphina jerkily stands once more. She clears her throat as silver metal glints from her waist band. 

“Everyone, I have an announcement to make.” Her eyes gleam as they meet her grandfather’s. The girl reaches into the back of her pants and retrieves a revolver. Suddenly, a shot rings through the air. Crimson soars through the air, marking the stark white table cloth in an arc of glory before it splatters across the teenager’s face. 

Huntley Van Camp drops to the floor as smoke coils up from the tip of the gun. She places the weapon onto a servant’s tray near her before she turns around the table to stand next to her grandfather, hand resting on his shoulder. Love reflects in her eyes as she peers over the old man.

“I’m pregnant, and now…” Her gaze dropped to the pool of blood on the floor, “No one will stand in the way of us.”