The Saintwood Series

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Life is to enjoy

Carrington

I settled into school. The courses were okay if you consider your basic classes such as English, math, science, and history fun, which they aren’t. The people here were stodgy, so I livened things up a scant.

When I say a scant, I meant a lot by putting cherry bombs in the lavatories. The toilets exploded, causing the school to shut down, so they could fix the plumbing. It earned a trip to the dean’s office, and it also won a visit from Mason. Oh, joy.

“What were you thinking?” Mason asked me.

I sat on the couch. “This place needed fun.”

Mason didn’t like my answer. Mason never enjoyed my answers because Mason wasn’t fun.

“Carri, life isn’t always about fun and games.”

“No, because why should anyone have fun?” I stood up. “People reach a certain age and become old, then wonder why they die early.”

Mason gave me his infamous expression. It’s the one that says straighten up and fly right, or you’re doing hard time. That’s the face I got now.

“You have a lot to learn about life. There’s more to it than pranks and jokes.”

“And you need to lighten up. Not even Dad was serious like you, and he knew how to balance life.”

Mason furrowed his brows. “It’s amazing how much you’re like, Dad. You even resemble him, including his emerald-green eyes.”

Out of the eight of us, I’m Dad’s mini version, even with our personalities. It’s what kept Mason from throttling me.

“Stay out of trouble, and I will handle the school.” Mason left.

I sat down on the couch.

“Mason should have punished you,” Christine said.

“Do you know what your problem is?”

“What?”

“You stick your nose in other’s business.”

Christine frowned, then stormed out of the room. My sister would be likable if it weren’t for her personality, and Troy might help her with it. I’m still wondering how those two were together, considering I like Troy.

Theresa walked into the house with Grant. “How did it go with Mason?”

“It’s the same as always. I got a lecture. Then, I mentioned Dad, and that shut Mason up and made him back off from me.”

Theresa laughed because she knew Mason’s weakness was Dad. Dad and Mason were close. When our parents died, Mason took it hard. Plus, it tasked Mason with raising some of us since we were still in high school.

“I’ll visit Kate.” I got up and left. I walked to Kate’s bakery and entered the building as she directed the workers. I strolled over to her.

She turned to face me. “I hear you’re causing trouble.”

“Pft, I’m having fun.”

Kate gave me an uh-huh look.

“I can’t help it if people are boring and need to lighten up.” I shrugged.

“Carri, it’s okay to have fun, but there’s a time and place.”

“That is debatable.”

“You have four years to get through here, then join Mason in the family business. We must get you there. Now behave.” Kate returned to directing workers.

Kate’s right, but I’m doubtful. That’s one reason I didn’t date since most girls didn’t understand me or my sense of humor. All they cared about was money.

My family conducted business that I didn’t want in my life and told Mason this when he mentioned bringing me into the family business. I’ll let him deal with the shady s**t.

I walked out of the bakery and ran into someone. I recognized Edward Morgan’s kid, Brian Morgan. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see Kate.”

I spoke little to him as he entered the bakery. Mason does business with Brian Morgan’s father, a crime boss, and Brian is around Joseph’s age. I didn’t know him well, but the Morgans were nothing like the Fraziers. The Fraziers were as corrupt as they came. There are six kids in the family, and Maurice was the third brother.

Then you had the Santiagos, who are horrible. Don’t get me started on them since I can’t stand either family.

As I walked, I heard a familiar, annoying voice.

“Well, well, well. Look, what we have here.”

I turned to see Marco with his i***t cronies. “I see they let you out of your cage.”

Marco glared at me.

“Didn’t anyone tell you that getting your ass kicked over and over makes you a loser?”

“Let’s see if that’s true.” Marco marched towards me.

“Marco!” Someone said.

Marco stopped and cursed to himself. Marty walked towards him. Ooh, big brother was in town. That should be interesting.

Marty and Marco argued as I stood there, bored. Then Marty escorted Marco away. Well, if you consider getting jerked away, we’ll go with that.

I strolled down the street, whistling without a care in the world. Let’s see. I had four years to survive this shithole, Marco Frazier, my family on my back, and have fun. What could go wrong?

*****

Over the next year, I found out how wrong I was about that question. Not only did I deal with the stodgy school officials who threatened to expel me many times, but Marco Frazier and I fought. I hate that family.

It tasked my family with keeping me in line at school, which they weren’t happy about except for Theresa, who agreed with me. She’s my favorite sibling, and the others not so much.

Kate opened her bakery, and Charles got married, moving into an enormous house. Why does anyone need such a vast house when there are only two of them? Charles tried to compete with Mason, but I prefer a decent size house myself.

I wonder about my family sometimes. Who was I kidding? I wonder about them all the time.

*****

While I dealt with my family and other issues, Maurice, Frank, and Greg married women. My brother Charles attended the weddings, and we didn’t because they’re not our friends.

*****

Charles

I had a get-together with everyone at my new house. “Here you go, boys.” I handed my friends a glass.

“So, when is this deal going down?” Frank asked.

“In due time, Frankie. I’m working out the final details.”

“What if it falls through? I have debts to pay back before my wife finds out,” Greg said.

“I told you to stay away from the bookies. How much do you need?”

“A hundred grand,” Greg said.

“Fine, I’ll lend you the money, but stop gambling.”

“I can’t wait to tell my wife that we’ll be living on easy street, and I won’t have to deal with my family.” Maurice gulped down his drink and got another one.

“Slow down.”

“Charles, I’m enjoying myself. You need to chill.” Maurice poured another drink.

*****

Carrington

The problem with my brother was he agreed with the Santiagos, whom you couldn’t trust. Mason dealt with the Santiagos and the Morgan family, who didn’t appreciate secret deals or reneging. It earned you a dirt nap, considering Edward Morgan is a mob boss.

Mason recommended that Charles drop the arrangement, but my i***t brother chose not to listen. It would set in motion what’s to come, causing lies upon lies. I would make the mistake of falling in love with someone, resulting in a greater love than I ever imagined.

That’s when you’ll realize how powerful our family was.