I hear the voice of rage and ruin

 

Gabe knew his dad wanted to get him alone. Sure, he was the perfect guy when they were all together at Easter. He was sweet to Sammie. Of course, he said he was too young to be a grandfather, but then said, "Just kidding!"

Gabe suspected he was kidding about everything. 

His handshake was strong, and it didn't rattle him to find Gabe's mom with someone new. He'd said, "It's been years," was the only words he announced with that plastered grin. Gabe was beginning to think it was plastic. Oh, he didn't think that was aftershave he smelled on his long-lost Dad.

Gabe knew he'd been drinking, but of course, his dad kept a tight lip, and no one seemed to suspect.

Naturally, he kept addressing Pan and Pete, and even Wade noticed this. Although his dad remained cool when he found out they both worked at the police station. 

Gabe was just glad it was over and hoped he didn't have to go through that again.

"Well, you  guys are having a baby?" Pan looked at him as if this was just the beginning.

Gabe swelled a frown as if Pan was just trying to make things worse. 

"I bet he moves back. Probably already moved into his brother's basement."

Pan hugged himself as if he'd been having nightmares about it already.

"Well, he's not going to go after you," Gabe said, not sure what Pan was getting at. Still, it was good to talk with his brother without anyone else around.

"You don't know that, I saw how he looked at me."

Pan was rather grim about it. "The only good thing that came out of all this..is..is that mom's with Cam now."

"Cam?" Gabe winced. He didn't believe that.

"Yeah, didn't you see how she was? How they were?"

Gabe didn't want to think about it. He was sure Rico was going to call him about it, but he hadn't. He didn't stay too long. Besides, Mona came down with kidney stones and ended up in the hospital.

He went to get his brother some cold water in the fridge. The last few days were forecast of stormy weather, but it was just windy. Still, Gabe knew it would catch up to them. There would a bad storm on the horizon. And it was probably their Dad.