Chapter 17

Before he left, Adam took the time to get dressed into some practical clothing. That meant actual shoes for once. His mother suggested wearing long pants for safety on the hike, but Adam waved that off. He didn’t need to worry about things like getting his legs scratched up on some underbrush. Not anymore. So Adam opted for comfort — shorts and a long sleeve shirt.

Erin was already in her hiking gear. It was a little strange for Adam to see his mother in something other than a dress. She still looked good though. Erin was wearing long cargo pants, a white sleeveless top, and a long sleeve shirt that she left partly unbuttoned. She’d had it tied around her waist when she had first appeared at his door, but had put it on after Holly and Kendra had seen the bruise on her arm. In theory this was a pretty drab outfit, but Adam couldn’t help but note his that his mother’s curves were fighting against the shapelessly loose cargo pants ... and winning. The fact that he noticed something like that about his mother ... worried him.

Adam said goodbye to Holly and Kendra and followed his mother. He walked next to her, silently for a time — just studying her out of the corner of his eye. Adam saw his mother glance at him a few times and then away. He glanced down towards where the vivid bruise that was on her upper arm — it had purpled overnight and had a greenish tinge towards the edges. It made Adam angry, a sullen and simmering rage that bubbled below the surface.

“They seem like nice girls.”

Adam blinked. His mother’s words distracted him — catching him off-balance. Adam eyed his mother. He mustered up a hesitant smile.

“Yeah. They are.”

“I should have introduced myself to them properly. That wasn’t polite of me.”

“I don’t think they minded. You had ... other things on your mind.”

“Even so. I should have taken the time.”

Adam scratched at his head. His mother had never shown much interest in any friends he had been allowed to have before.

“It’s fine. I’ll, uh, introduce you to them when we get back if you like.”

“That would be nice. Thank you.”

They were both quiet for a few moments. Erin was leading her son towards where some clearly marked trails began. Adam was about to ask his mother about where exactly they were going when she surprised him again, her words making him stumble.

“And there aren’t any issues with you sleeping with the both of them?”

Adam looked at his mother, his eyes wide.

“Um, I’m not — I mean, I —”

“Adam, it’s fine. I’m not judging you. I’m just ... curious.”

Erin was looking at her son, her expression serene. Almost expectant. Adam laughed quietly to himself — wondering if this blasé attitude was because of the background effect of his changes, or if it was just his mother’s personality. He really didn’t know her at all.

“How did you know? I’m just curious as well.”

“It was the way they both looked at you. It seemed quite obvious to me.”

It was Erin’s turn to laugh quietly to herself as she continued.

“How strange. I never knew my son was so sought after. I guess I don’t really know much about you, do I?”

Adam watched his mother for a moment, struck by the echoing of his own sentiments. He rubbed absently at his forehead, sighing.

“I guess you can never really know someone, right?”

“Mmm. If you say so, Adam.”

Adam’s father and his aunt Tessa were waiting at the beginnings of the trail, and they were not happy to see Adam with his mother. Adam got the impression that his father had been about to bark something at his wife, but it took second place to the glare he directed at his son.

“What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean, dad? Isn’t this a family holiday? I just thought joining you all on a hike would be kinda wholesome.”

Erin nudged her son surreptitiously as she moved by him — warning him away from antagonising his father too much. Remembering what had happened to his mother the last time his father had got annoyed, Adam tempered his tone. He forced a crooked smile on his face as he looked at his dad.

“I haven’t been doing much the last few days. Thought I’d take a page out of your book and do something active.”

John stared at his son for a long moment, his eyes narrowing. He humphed to himself, looking away.

“Been laying around since we got here, have you? I’m not surprised. Don’t think we’ll wait around for you on the trail if you decide to slack off.”

Adam’s eye twitched.

“I’ll try to keep up, Dad.”

Tessa frowned, looking at her brother-in-law. Of all of them, she was wearing the most impractical hiking outfit. She had shoes on, but was wearing little more than a tube top and a skirt. Tessa did fill them out quite attractively, but Adam felt nothing except dislike when he looked at her. His aunt seemed so trashy next to his mother, and he truly wondered at his father’s taste. Tessa complained, not looking directly at her nephew.

“John, you said we were going to a private waterfall — do you really want ... him, hanging around with us?”

Adam’s jaw dropped despite himself. His aunt wasn’t usually that blatant. He wondered if she held a grudge from when he had called her out at dinner a few nights ago. Adam wasn’t sure what he was going to say to that, but his mother stepped in. Her face was schooled to calmness as she looked at her husband and sister.

“It’s not exactly a ‘private waterfall’, Theresa. I enquired at the front desk, and it’s simply remote. Most guests stick to the beach, but it does get visitors fairly regularly.”

Tessa rolled her eyes.

“I know that. But we hardly want a kid around, do we.”

Erin’s eyes flashed. Uncharacteristically angry.

“He’s hardly a child.”

John held up a hand, frowning at the two women. Like his sister-in-law, he avoided looking at Adam. Erin turned her attention to him, speaking before John could.

“They also said that there is a possible storm forecast for this afternoon. You were right. With the hills right up against the ocean, it blows in very fast apparently. So we shouldn’t waste too much time in getting started.”

John stared, noticeably taken aback at his wife actually expressing her opinion. He wrestled internally for a few moments, then a dark smile spread on his face.

“Fine. I’m sick of listening to you all harp at me. But since he’s here, he can carry our stuff. I’m sure a young man won’t have a problem with helping out.”

Adam looked down at the pile of gear on the ground behind his father and aunt. There was one large backpack, overly stuffed to the point of overflowing, as well as a handful of mostly empty smaller bags. Erin frowned at her husband.

“Dear, we were going to divide them up. That’s too much for one person to carry. Adam might hurt —”

“It’s fine, Mom.”

Adam walked forward and picked up the full backpack, hefting it in his hand for moment. It wasn’t too heavy for him — not anymore — but it was definitely too much for a regular person. Adam smiled easily at his father as he swung the bag over his shoulder.

“If you take the smaller bags, we can get started. I’m looking forward to getting to this waterfall you want to see, Dad!”

John stared at his son for a moment, frowning at seeing Adam easily holding the heavy bag. He grunted in displeasure, turning around and grabbing one of the small packs.

“Come on, let’s get going.”

John strode off, followed by Tessa. She was patting her brother-in-laws arm, whispering soothingly at him. Neither of them looked back. Erin picked up the remaining bag, looking into it. It held little more than a towel. She looked worriedly at her son.

“Adam, let me take some of that. We were going to spread out of the weight. It’s too much for one person to carry.”

Adam hefted the bag, testing it. It felt a little unbalanced, but nothing he couldn’t handle.

“It’s fine, Mom. Really. But what’s in here anyway? Seems like a lot for a day hike.”

“Raincoats. Wet weather gear. Some food and water.”

“Raincoats, really?”

Adam looked up at the bright and sunny sky. There were some clouds out to sea, but that was it.

“Tropical storms roll in fast, Adam. It’s better to be prepared. Look, give me my coat at least, and I’ll —”

“No, it’s not heavy. Come on, let’s get started. Why are you going on a hike if it might rain?”

Erin looked at her son, surprised at how easily he was carrying the burden. They began to walk up the trail. It was a dirt path, with boards of wood set into the earth in certain places to add traction. The foliage overtook them on all sides, a wall of greenery that quickly blotted out the sky overhead.

“ ... your father wants to visit the waterfall. It’s his schedule, and he wants to —”

Adam laughed. He grinned at his mother sardonically. His dad and aunt had already disappeared around the bend in the trail, but they soon caught up. Tessa didn’t appear to be the fittest of individuals and was holding John back.

“Oh yeah, that’s right. Dad and his schedules. Heaven help anyone who interferes with his plans, right?”

“That’s right.”

Erin’s voice was hushed, trying not to let her husband hear their conversation. She was also frowning — Adam didn’t think she realised she was doing it — at watching her younger sister fawn over her husband. They were walking close together. Too close. Adam’s aunt seemed to take every opportunity she could to reach out and touch his father. It was unsettling at how blatant they were being. Adam figured this was yet another thing that he had been oblivious about. Or maybe it was just because he was more experienced now. Whatever the reason, it was patently obvious to Adam that his father and aunt were intimate.

Adam wondered how long that had been going on.

When Adam’s father reached out and put his arm familiarly around his sister-in-law, Adam snapped. The look of resigned embarrassment on his mother’s face was too much to put up with. Adam put his hands up to his mouth, calling out loudly.

“Hey, Tessa! Watch out!”

Adam’s voice boomed, echoing amongst the trees, making his aunt and father jump. Tessa sprung away from John, looking around wildly.

“What, what?!”

Adam smiled easily at his aunt.

“Oh, there was a hornet or something about to land on the back of your neck. I didn’t want you to get stung.”

Tessa stared at her nephew, put off by his earnestly innocent expression. She frowned, then hesitated.

“ ... thanks.”

“Hey, no problem! You’d do the same for me, right?”

Adam grinned as his father looked at him suspiciously. Erin hissed next to her son, her voice low and hushed.

“Adam! What are you doing?”

Adam winked at his mother.

“Oh, nothing, Mom. Promise.”

For the next hour, whenever Adam saw his father and aunt get too cozy together, he called out a ‘warning’. The reason changed each time, the point was to make them feel uncomfortable. Adam didn’t have a lot of respect for his father and aunt to begin with, but to see them act so carelessly intimate while his mother had to watch? Nope. Adam wasn’t going to put up with that.

The last time he called out they ignored him, just stiffening their backs ... so Adam upped his game. He picked up a branch off the ground, hefting it to judge its weight. Then he carefully lobbed it high into the air as they were all walking along a straight stretch of the trail.

“Hey, look out!”

His father and aunt didn’t react to his voice, but when the branch — carefully aimed so that it crashed down just behind them — landed, they jumped and scrambled so much that Tessa actually fell over. Adam hurried forward, his face a mask of concern.

“Phew, that was lucky! I saw that coming down at the last second. You alright down there, Tessa?”

Adam’s father stared at him for a long moment, nonplussed. He glanced back at his wife. Erin’s eyes were wide in shock, but that could easily be explained by being surprised by the falling branch. Not being able to accuse Adam of anything, his father instead gritted his teeth.

“Address. Your aunt. With respect, boy.”

Adam widened his eyes theatrically.

“Even when she was in danger? That’s more important than convention, right? Besides, we are all adults here, Dad. We don’t have to be needlessly formal.”

John’s face purpled as he stared at his son. He didn’t seem to know what to do now that Adam wasn’t kowtowing to him. The muscles in his jaw rippled. John turned on the spot, pausing only long enough to yank Tessa to her feet. He then stomped off, dragging his sister-in-law behind him, pulling ahead of his wife and son.

When they had vanished around a bend in the trail, Adam felt his mother take him by the hand. She squeezed gently for a moment, her hand very soft, before she released him.

It was a little after midday when they arrived at the waterfall. Adam was initially underwhelmed. He had been picturing an actually cascading white torrent of water. What they found was a gentle unbroken ribbon of water, pouring down over tiered ledges of stone, finishing in a deep pool of astonishingly clear water. Adam decided the reality was a lot nicer than what he had expected. It was very relaxing and beautiful.

The scenery was slightly spoilt by Adam’s fuming father. John and Tessa had maintained their fast pace, refusing to walk anywhere near Adam. For all that, they hadn’t arrived much before Adam and his mother — the only thing they had accomplished was that they were noticeably more red in the face and sweaty. John in particular seemed to take it as a personal affront that his son looked completely relaxed despite having lugged the heavy backpack all the way.

John glared at his son and wife.

“There you are. Hurry up and give me one of the water bottles. It was selfish to have all of them to yourself.”

Once upon a time — not that long, really — the injustice of that would have upset Adam. Not anymore. Now he just found it amusing. He and his mother hadn’t even needed to rest on their hike, but his father and aunt had tired themselves out.

Erin took a step towards her husband, frowning.

“Dear, it’s not Adam’s fault if —”

John stared at his wife incredulously. He scowled, his eyes going dark.

“ ... be silent.”

Adam narrowed his own eyes. He swung the heavy pack off his shoulders and rummaged around inside of it.

“You look thirsty, Dad. So sorry you had a rough time of it. Here.”

Adam pulled out a bottle and flung it fast and accurately at his father. It was a perfect throw. The bottle shot through the air, barely spinning — a targeted missile.

John’s eyes widened, but he lifted his hands in time to intercept the water bottle. He misjudged how fast it was moving though, and it slid through his fingers, spearing him in his stomach. The breath left his lungs in a rush, and he staggered.

Adam grinned, waving his hand apologetically.

“Hey, nice catch, Dad!”

John’s hands clenched as he struggled to regain his breath. He glared at his son, his face going dark with anger. Erin looked between her husband and son worriedly. Tessa looked incredulous. Adam looked around breezily.

“Hey, this really is a nice place! Good work, Dad. So, are you all going to go for a swim?”

Erin and Tessa went behind some rocks to get changed, leaving Adam and his father alone. Adam thought that his father would ignore him entirely — indeed, John seemed content to just glare at him at first — but then he stomped over, standing right in front of Adam.

“I’ve had just about enough out of you today, boy. You’ve forgotten your place.”

Adam smiled breezily at his father. He was mildly surprised to see that they were both of a height. Adam had been so used to thinking of his father towering above him.

“What place is that, Dad? I never much got the impression that you wanted me around at all to start with.”

John started at his son’s quick reply, but then gave Adam a malicious smile.

“Well well. I suppose you aren’t entirely unintelligent then.”

Adam rolled his eyes.

“Well, I suppose this is the part where I ask you why you’ve always hated me — John broke in, sneering.

“Don’t be a dramatic g—”

Adam spoke louder, drowning out his father.

“— but I don’t care. At all.”

John stared at his son — dumbfounded by the fact that he was being talked back to more than anything else. Adam continued, staring down his father.

“You’ve been doing this same tired routine since as long as I can remember. It’s like you think your forever the adult, lording it over perpetual children. It’s embarrassing.”

John clenched his hands into fists at his side.

“You uppity little shit.”

“Classy.”

John took a step closer to his son.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Did you hit your head or something?”

“Or something. Don’t pretend that you care, Dad.”

“You are rapidly heading towards being cut off, boy. I don’t need your love — or whatever pathetic thing you crave — but I will have your respect. That will never change.”

Adam laughed incredulously. He cocked his head to one side, studying his father.

“No, you had fear. Never respect. And cut off? That kind of shit isn’t going to fly anymore, no matter how hard you try. Cut off from what? I haven’t had a dime from you since I turned eighteen. You weren’t even going to pay for my room when I got here!”

John’s chest expanded as he pulled in tight, angry breaths. Adam’s father was pushing sixty, but he was still hale. Large and strong. John reached out suddenly and grabbed Adam’s forearm, wrapping his large hand around his son’s arm. He squeezed tightly and yanked Adam forward — or at least he tried to.

Adam barely rocked in place as his father pulled at him. He didn’t react to John’s tightening grip on his arm either. Before Adam had changed, it would have been excruciating. He thought about his mother, about the vivid bruise around her arm from her husband’s clutching grasp ... it must have hurt her a lot.

Adam used his free hand to grip his father’s arm that was holding him, wrapping his fingers around the older man’s bicep. It almost looked like a manly clasping of arms. Adam tightened his own grip, holding his father in place even as John’s eyes widened in shock and he tried to pull away.