My Deer Girl

Chapter 2: Weird Setup

                                                                                       Dominick

The loud ringing of the alarm clock on my nightstand had me sit bolt upright. I rubbed my eyes off sleep as I sighed.

“D*mn it!” I said under my breath, hammering the ringing clock with my fist.

I squinted my eyes to the streaming rays of the sun through the glass window. The blue curtains were pushed aside. I was oblivious to the vast space of my room, which had a minimalist design. I only had the bed, the study table and chair, the walk-in closet, the nightstand and a lampshade. The lights were recessed in the ceiling, and the light blue walls were bare except for a family portrait that I didn’t want to look at, really. But it was my mother’s idea to put it there, which was to my right side, opposite the window.

It was the first day of classes. First days were always exciting for me but getting up early was hell! I groaned and forced myself to get up. I didn’t even bother to put my slippers on as I went straight to the bathroom. I cursed when the cold water sprayed on my body before the temperature changed to the set one. Sleep already left my consciousness, and I thought about what to do today.

Maybe staying home was a bad decision. I should’ve remained in the dorm just like last year. But then my mom persuaded me to come back in the mansion for some reason. I couldn’t even remember what it was. And I didn’t want to dig my brain to know what it was.

D*mn it. I am always too soft-hearted when it comes to my mother. I guess I am that type of son. A push-over to her. Great for my ego, right?

D*mn!

I was only clad in blue jeans and white T-shirt. September is still summer, so like any other Canadians, I take advantage of the sun.

***

My mother was smiling so widely as I stepped into the bright dining room for breakfast. The long table was in the center of the room, with the left side wall made of glass, so light is abundant here.

Right, this reminded me of going to sweat it out on the soccer field later. Being part of the ice hockey varsity, I also loved to play soccer with my friends.

As I got closer to the table, I could smell the bacon and maple jam. But aside from these, there were sliced bread, fruits, scrambled eggs, dried cheese and cottage cheese served on the table. I just saw our middle-aged housekeeper walk out of the dining room.

“Where’s… uh… your husband?” I asked my mom, dropping my gaze to the food when I sat down.

“Oh, come on! He’s your father now, Dominick,” mom’s soft rejoinder with disappointment laced in her voice. “Can’t you call him Dad?”

“How can I even call my uncle Dad, Mom?” I grimaced.

My mother married my father’s younger and only brother some months ago, before I finished my first year in Hornden University. If my two-decade memory serves me right, she was married to him for almost half a year now, and she’d been a widow for more than two years. I sometimes wondered if they really had something going on between them before my father died of complicated diabetes.

Me and my late old man never got along much, but I learned from him that life is something you have to work hard for if you want to get to the top and be successful. Although yes, I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth but everything I had, I worked hard for them. At least, pleasing my father. Most of it. When he was happy about me, he gifted me things, which I have now, including the sports car, credit and debit cards, and other things. But as much as possible, I used my money on important things. The rest, my mother always took care of everything.

I saw my mother Emma shake her dark blond head and sat across from me. “Julian is coming in a few minutes, so we can send you to your campus together.”

My jaw hung. “What?” I thought I had gone deaf or maybe I heard it wrong. I scowled while watching her face.

“Sweetheart, can’t you at least let him do what he wants to be your new father?”

“Mom, he’s not my father! You know I still can’t wrap my head around this… this new family setup we have now.” My hand moved in the air as I spoke to her. “Just when did this happen?” I thought aloud with frustration, looking at the food absent-mindedly.

“Half a year now, in fact. Time does fly fast.” Uncle Julian, dressed in casual jeans and shirt, did walk in at that moment and sat at the head of the table where my father used to sit. But he did kiss my mom on the forehead before he settled.

Now, he was the head of this family. I didn’t even want to think about my surname being changed because there was no need. He was also a Tremblay. Right, my mom, too. She didn’t have to adjust when it comes to be called Mrs. Tremblay.

D*mn it. Life! It’s full of complicated crap!

Although the surname was not a problem, my relationship with my uncle became one after he married mom and changed his role as my stepfather. He wanted to play as my real father. I didn’t know if he was sick in the head or what. I couldn’t say. Was he really in love with my mom?

His dark blue eyes regarded me when I didn’t even greet him. “Good morning, too, Nick!” he said in a playful tone, taking the white table napkin and arranging it on his lap.

Right. He was always playful and called me Nick.

I sighed and glanced at him. He almost looked like my father except that my father’s eyes were light blue just like my mom’s. And so, I inherited the light blue eyes from them. But I got my hair color from my mom, while my father had the night shade.

“You know, you don’t have to send me to the campus. I can go there on my own. I’m a sophomore now! I’m not an elementary kid anymore!” I said pointedly. Thinking about them sending me there makes me want to cringe. Or better yet, it gave me the urge to be violent.

Why is this happening to me of all people? I really can’t understand how my mother is able to sleep with two men who were brothers! Jesus!

“Just eat, Nick. You, Emma and I… we’ll talk about us some more in another time, okay? But for now, let’s eat,” Uncle Julian said calmly.

Mom touched his hand that was on the table, and I saw how he caressed it.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I thought I was going to be sick.

“Dominick, be a good son and eat, all right?”

I heard my mom say gently.

Yeah, Mom. I love you, too.

I picked up my fork and stabbed the crispy bacon on my plate. See? I do what she wants.