Nolan Lancaster made tea in the hotel room kitchenette. He was literally watching the kettle for boiling as he considered his weekend. After his time in the clinic, he’d called his mother and told her what happened. Brett had thrown a party and during it had tried to rape a girl. Nolan told her that he’d called the police and that the girls’ brother and boyfriend had come in and stopped it. Now their house was a crime scene and she had better come home as quickly as she could.
She didn’t make it home until the next day, Saturday. Nolan had been put up in a Parthenon suite, with a kitchenette and when she came back into town she was offered another room, which she refused. So they were rooming together with Nolan sleeping on the rooms comfortable couch while his mother took the bed.
By Monday, neither of them had been to visit Brett yet, but Nolan had been thinking about it … and he wanted to talk to his mother about … all of it. He was in jeans and a baseball shirt. No shoes, naturally.
Sharon Lancaster was still in shock. She had gotten a terrible phone call and rushed home from a business trip, as fast as she could get on a ferry, which was the morning after the incident that was changing her whole world and her children’s. Nolan had called her. Brett had a party. That was normal teenage behaviour. But at the party Brett had tried to rape a girl? Sharon was destroyed by the very thought. The girl’s boyfriend and brother had stopped it and the boyfriend had then beaten Brett badly. He was hospitalized but she couldn’t bring herself to even look at him. And to top it off their home was now a crime scene and had been potentially exposed to Covid. She and Nolan were in a hotel room at the Parthenon now and she was sitting on the bed staring out the window, trying to make any sense of it all. Nolan had been by the kettle making tea. She looked over at him “Do they have Earl Grey?”
Nolan gathers the two cups. “Yea. They do.” he tells her just as the water heats up and he begins to pour. He makes two cups full and stared into the cups, watching it steep. “Mom … I’m sorry.” he murmurs.
Sharon was in a pair of faded jeans and a khaki green t shirt. Her feet were bare and recently pedicured. She had had a bit of a spa day with the ladies from the credit union on Denman as the weekend had started out seeming like a fun getaway as well as work.
Now Nolan was apologizing. “You didn’t do anything wrong Sweetheart. Don’t ever apologize for your brother.”
He stared into the tea, watching the water darken. Part of him knew his mother was right but at the same time, he felt a measure of responsibility. “I knew Brett hadn’t changed. I knew he was still doing the same old shit. He’s not going to change, Mom.” he paused and started preparing the tea the way he knew his mother preferred. Then he carefully brought the cups, handing the one he made for his mother to her. “He’s just as bad as Dad, if not worse.” he held his cup in both of his hands now and just said it.
Sharon took her cup with a pained expression “I knew your father had accusations... which I suspected were true. And I worked so hard to talk with you boys about consent. I thought we covered it...did I not do enough?” She’s blaming herself. “I know I work long hours....” The tea cup shakes in her hand “This was supposed to be our fresh start...”Her face is ashen.
Nolan blows on his tea, but can see his mother shaking. “You did cover it, Mom.” he assures her. “At least I know no means no and not to force myself on a girl or anyone else. And not to do it to try and punish or control someone else.” he blows out a breath. He doesn’t even know if she knows the details about why Brett tried to rape Gen. And he isn’t sure he knows all of it.
Sharon looks a tiny bit relieved that she got through to one of them. “Why didn’t it get through to Brett? Why would he even think to do this? Isn’t this Gen his friend’s girlfriend? The boy across the street...I don’t understand how this happened...thank you for the tea.” She sigh “I’m still in shock.”
Nolan sighs. “Yea … Gen is Dante’s girlfriend. And Brett didn’t like it, because Gen was helping Dante .. not be a criminal anymore.” he blows out a breath. “Brett’s a fence, just like Dad. But Dante’s the better thief … or he was, so Brett wanted to control Dante and Dante wouldn’t let him and … he was punishing Dante by raping Gen … Brett likes it when girls fight him. He told me …” he knows this might be too much information, but he is trying to stall and gather courage. He sips at his tea and moves to one of the room chairs to sit.
Sharon’s eyes grow wider and wider as Nolan explains until they fill with tears “Fucking Flynn....” She closes her eyes as the tears soak her face and she sobs “I’m sorry I know he’s your father. But he’s done this to Brett. I tried to get him away. And I wasn’t fast enough...Oh god. I don’t know if I can look at Brett.... this is too much...”
She curls forward and cries and cries.
Nolan sets his tea aside and goes to kneel beside his mother. “Mom .. it isn’t your fault.” he tells her. “It’s Dad … “ he rubs her back and tries to hug her. He works to control his anger. “Mom … don’t go to see him. Brett. He’s got to deal with this alone.” he swallows, not even sure he has the right to say any of it.
Sharon sets down her own tea and hugs Nolan “I have to go see him. He’s my son. I have to probably hire a lawyer... I mean how do I reconcile that? Is there any chance he’d confess and face the music?”
Nolan sighs and gently backs off so he can look at his mother. “You don’t have to do jack shit, Mom.” he bites his lip. “If you keep digging him out of every hole he willingly jumps into … how does that help him? He’s not going to confess, mom. You’re going to hire a lawyer who might get him off so he can be even more pissed at everyone .. including me.” he places his hand on his chest. “I’m the one who called in the fucking cops in the first place, Mom. I told them what he was going to do.” he tightens his jaw. “I’m done, Mom. I’m done with Brett and his bullshit.”
Sharon looks truly conflicted. It’s all true. If Brett gets off then what happens to Nolan? “I need to think....you did the right thing, Nolan. I don’t want you to be punished for it in the end. I never believed he could do this. And the fence...I knew he was helping your father. I was afraid it was with trafficking. Maybe I will not hire a lawyer but instead, try to get him mental health support. Maybe he can… I don’t even know...” She just looks overwhelmed.
Nolan scoffs. “Once Brett finds out I called then I go to number one on his list. I mean, I’ll fight him if he makes me, but frankly, I’d just rather he go fuck off someplace.” he sighs. “He’ll have a lawyer appointed. Don’t worry about that.” he tightens his jaw. “I guess you can try and get him mental health support.” he bites his lip. “I contacted someone already. I’ll be fine.” there are so many lies mixed in with truths in what he is saying and he kicks himself because it makes him feel like his father or Brett.
Sharon nods tiredly “I know you’re right. You contacted a counsellor for yourself? Nolan I’m so proud of you. I also should have done that for you both ages ago. I am sorry.” She starts to cry again “I should have left your father with you boys when you were babies. Maybe our lives would have been different...made sense..”
Nolan nods. It’s not a complete lie. He’d asked the lady doctor about counselling for himself and she had told him to email Dr Singh, which he had. But it was the weekend so he didn’t expect an answer anytime soon. “It’s done now, Mom.” he wraps his arms around his mother again. “Don’t do that to yourself, Mom. It turned out the way it turned out. I will help you any way I can.” he also realizes he is 14, but he feels very protective of his mother right now.
“Oh Nolan. This shouldn’t be your life at 14.” Sharon sobs into his shoulder “I love you. You should be out there on this island with friends having fun. Going on dates with girls who I know you’d respect and be kind to. These years...your youth should be for you. Brett took that too far but I know you’re different. You deserve some joy.”
Nolan hugs her tight. “Mom, be happy you raised a son who cooks and cleans. How rare is that?” he jokes. “And … I’ll go out … in time. School is only a couple months away and maybe then I can date.” because he thinks, he will be known as the rapists’ brother by then and he can forget about any kind of girl, never mind the one he actually likes. He sighs and hugs his mother tight. “Don’t worry I’m not gonna be all Norman Bates on you, I promise.” he jokes.
Sharon pats him on the back as she lets go “Your cooking and cleaning is wonderful. I’m not complaining. Just follow your own dreams too Sweetheart. No Norman Bates. “ She laughs a bit “What a bizarre life. Our house is inhabitable because of a virus. Your brother destroying everything. I do hope that girl is supported. That nice French family....guess I will hold off on getting a dental check up...”
Nolan grins a bit. “I will, Mom.” he promises to follow his dreams and means it. If he can. He chuckles slightly. “Yea. I don’t know .. it’s a strange place, but I like it here a lot more than Vancouver.” he winces about the french family. “Yea .. me too .. but Sasha … Gens brother .. doesn’t blame me, so maybe we’re safe? Maybe they won’t hate me. Elise … well never mind.” he sighs and leans back, dropping from his kneel and onto his butt.
Sharon nods “Well that’s good about the brother.” She has to think “Elise? Is that the sister?” She’s still getting to know names. If they’re not related to her work they sometimes slip.
Nolan sighs deeply. “No …” he shrugs. “The sisters’ best friend. She lives a couple doors down out the back .. petty long black hair .. togue … great smile …” he grins a little, but then it vanishes. “Brett used me to distract her whIle he took Gen upstairs and locked her in his bedroom with him.” he pinches the bridge of his nose like a man 20 years older than he is. The crush he had is still a thing, but now its very much a pointless thing in his mind. Another thing his brother destroyed.
Sharon listens, and hearing how Nolan describes the girl she gets a knowing smile and then it fades quickly “He separated the friends using you...so he could rape someone. Fuck...” Sharon doesn’t swear often. “I can’t believe him.” She shudders and then looks up “You are not your brother. I suspect this Elise knows that. When you said toque I knew who you meant. The Girards have a business account with the credit union. They’re kind people. Give her time Nolan. Give you time. And she is pretty.”
Nolan nods. “Yea. He did.” he tries to smile, but fails. “I’m not my brother but my brother tried to rape her best friend. Isn’t that like 6 degrees of separation or something?” he sighs. “I’ll give her time. That won’t be hard ..” he snorts. “Since on top of everything else those ass holes turned the party into a Covid Party. Jesus fucking Christ. So she’ll also be stuck in isolation for two weeks of her summer vacation. Kindness only goes so far. Shit, I barely forgive me, so why should she?”
Sharon pats Nolan’s arm “Give it time. Like I said. It’s complicated I know. You really like this girl? Were you close or just getting to know her?” She sighs “Brett has taken advantage of us both. He’s a much better liar than Flynn even and that’s a little frightening to me.”
Nolan takes a deep breath. “Yea. It’s stupid. I took one look and …” he shrugs. “It ended at knowing her name, where she lives, her best friend and she likes sushi. And maybe coffee.” he remembers she had a cup from Perkatory and the few times he was there, so was she. Then he nods. “Oh he’s a fantastic liar, Mom So be careful if he starts in on how misunderstood he is. He’ll smile at you while he slits your throat.” he moves to get his tea and returns. “Maybe I’m a shitty brother and a bad son, but … Mom, I think we’d be better off without either of them in our life.”
Sharon sighs sadly at Nolan. This crush or budding romance was the kind of joy she was talking about earlier that she wanted him to find. Unfortunately the object of his adoration was the best friend of the girl Brett tried to destroy. Because it just couldn’t be awful enough at that and Covid “Let’s focus on getting our house livable again after the police are done collecting evidence. I have a recommended cleaning service on call for when we get the all clear. Then in no time you’ll be in school. Routine might help everyone put this behind them.” She hoped what she was saying was true. Kids could be both great and cruel. She had one of each.
Nolan nods a bit. “Mom, I can clean the place myself. Save you some money.” he insists. “I have two weeks if they’re done collecting all their evidence by then.” he rolls his eyes. “Meanwhile … this place has a decent kitchenette … and I haven’t seen you eat since you’ve been back. Let me order some groceries and cook you up something? You name it.” he coaxes her appetite. “I’ll cook it.”
Sharon shakes her head “No, I want to hire professionals in case one of those dim witted party goers did have Covid. I am not risking you to save us money. Let’s order in lunch and then we’ll get groceries later.” She’s about to reach for her phone to look at her food delivery app when it rings. She looks at the call display “L. Samuels?” She pauses but then answers “Sharon Lancaster?” It could always be a work call so that was how she answered. Then she frowned and sighed “Yes…..I am aware. You’re their counsel….” She looked gravely at Nolan as she listened to the caller “Alright, what time then? Well we are technically quarantined as well. Your office is arranged to meet safely? Very well then. We’ll see you then. Thank you.” She clicks to hang up and looks up at Nolan “Definitely a quick lunch order. We’re to meet Mr. Levi Samuels. He’s the lawyer representing Dante Mandoza and Sasha Beaulieu in your brother’s case.”
Nolan sighed, but had to agree with his mother. If someone at the party had Covid then some, or even all of them, could come down with it. He tried to remember how close he had been to who for how long before hed put on the mask, but couldn’t quite guess. It had all been insanity, even before Gen had arrived. Then his mother’s phone arrived and when his mother was done, she told him that they had a meeting with Dante and Sasha’s lawyer. He blinked and nodded. “O …. K. was all he replied before his mother ordered something from the Daily Deli and they had a quick lunch of sandwiches, pickles and chips before donning their masks and walking over tot he address that had been given to his mother. The building had been sort of a ‘coming soon’ thing but now the windows had blinds on them and when they walked in they were greeted by a woman sitting behind the receptionist’s desk. She was wearing one of those high-security masks Nolan had seen on television and at the clinic when he’d been with Sasha and Dante.
Rachel Aaron had arrived at nine in the morning to notes describing utter chaos, which she had not expected. She had been told that she would get help, eventually, but for the now, she was doing the job of both paralegal and secretary. And it seemed she was going through a baptism of fire. Alexandra was supposed to be a sleepy little town or so she’d been told when she was sent to help her cousin Levi out. Now she was ready and waiting with two N95 masks. “Mrs. Lancaster and Nolan?” she greeted them politely. “Mr. Samuels will be with you in a moment.” she motioned to the seats in the lobby.
Levi Samuels walked out of his office before Rachel had even finished speaking. “Mrs. Lancaster? Nolan? I’m Levi Samuels. Please, if you’ll put on your masks and follow me…” he headed down the narrow hallway to the second door on the right, slid it open and walked inside. It was a small office with a couple of boxes on top of a locked file cabinet. There was a small desk and two small but comfortable chairs. On the wall was a law degree and little else. “Forgive the mess, we are literally moving in here.” he has a couple of folders on his desk as well as a leather-bound legal pad. His suit looks expensive … he looks expensive.
Sharon put on her mask and nodded. “Nice to meet you Mr. Samuels.” She used the hand sanitizer on the front desk again as she passes it after touching her face to put on the mask. Then she hoisted her purse up a bit, gave Nolan a reassuring look and followed. She sat down in the chair on the inside of the office and looked around. This was a high priced legal practice. She had dealt with a few through her work and she could tell. “I recently opened the credit union so I completely understand.” She waited for Mr. Samuels to begin.
Nolan pus his mask on and almost forgets the hand sanitizer, then remembers when his mother does and mirrors her. He follows them into the office, which looks new, but he knows that is it. He sits and lets the adults talk, but hes confused and feels a little scared as well.
Levi nods as Sharon speaks. He could small talk all day if he had to, but he knows it might be better if he just got tot he point. “I called you in here because I wanted to talk to Nolan about what happened that night.” he addresses Sharon. “And I would like your permission to speak to him, if he is even willing to.”
Sharon nods briefly at Levi but then looks at Nolan “I will only give that if Nolan feels alright to speak about it. But if he chooses to, I'm here to support him.” She only had one son that wasn’t screwed up royally and she’d be damned if she was going to force him to talk about any of this if he wasn’t comfortable.
Nolan sighs and nods. He’d known that, after his call to 911, he might be facing this. “Um .. yea … what do you want to know Mr. Samuels?”
Levi nods at Sharon. “Alright …” he looks at Nolan. “I know you called 911.” he tells him. : “And I know what you said to Sergeant Wright. I’m interested to know what led to all of that.”
Sharon gives Nolan a curious look. She didn’t know what he had said to the Sargent. She did know that Nolan had expressed to her Brett’s liking of when girls fought him hich was truly the most disturbing thing she could ever imagine one of her boys saying about women.
Nolan sighs deeply. He glances at his mother. “I .. well you know I’m the one who called 911 … I told them that my brother was going to rape Gen .. I think I said ‘a girl’, but that’s who I meant. And later .. when I saw Gen .. I told Sergeant Wright I didn’t know what Brett was going to do until it was too late.” he blows out a breath and looks at Levi. “You mean that night or you mean all my fucking life with my brother?”
Levi listens and looks at Nolan. “I’d like to know both, actually,” he admits. “Because it sounds like history…”
Sharon swallowed and closed her eyes for a moment but nodded as if giving permission. This was awful, but necessary.
Nolan nods slowly. “Brett has always been like two people … I mean like around Mom he’d be all sweet and loving and shit, but then he’d hit on me or threaten me.” he explains. “Like … when my Dad wasn’t really supposed to visit us and he would still show up. Brett wanted to spend time with Dad, but I didn’t. At first, he would beg me not to tell Mom, but later it was threats.” he sighs and looks at his mother. “I know I should have said something … I’m sorry.”
Levi picks up his pen and starts writing. He nods and looks at Nolan, just waiting for him to continue.
Sharon looks pained and reaches to put her arm on Nolan’s shoulder “It’s ok Nolan. I should have seen it….please, go on Sweetheart. It’s ok.” It was far from ok but she wanted him to get it all out.
Nolan shakes his head. “No, Mom. That was the point. Brett knows how to hide shit. SO you couldn’t have seen it. Hell I wish I didn’t know … I don’t know.” he sighs again. “OK so … as we got older, Brett would brag about girls. You know … sex. He…” he glances at his mother again and shrugs. “The girls he had sex with and how he liked to treat them rough and how he liked it when they would fight him. I know he had girlfriends, but I don’t know any of their names.” he bites his lip. “But he went through them pretty fast…”
Levi continues to write, keeping his face, or what there was to see of it, neutral.
Sharon nods knowingly but looks a bit ill “The volume of what I didn’t know about Brett could sink an ocean liner…” She shudders as Noaln confirms the thing about Brett liking when girls fought him.
Nolan shrugs. “Yea .. well … Moving here, Brett acted like things were all starting new and good for him, but he keps fencing. I don’t know when he met Dante, but they had a deal and were working together. Dante would …” he pauses and continues. “DO stuff, I guess. And then a couple weeks after us, the Beauleus moved in … and Dante met Gen. And soon Brett was mad because I guess Dante wanted to go straight because of Gen … and Brett kept saying he had to get rid of her.” he sighs.
Levi glances up from his note taking. “I know about the crimes Dante committed, Nolan. It’s alright.”
Sharon rolled her head back and closed her eyes again and then dropped it forward “It’s admirable that you want to protect Dante in this telling of events but do tell them if it helps things, Nolan.”
Nolan nods at both of the adults. “Alright …” he licks his lips. “I didn’t know exactly what was up, but when Mom said she had to go out of town, Brett started talking about how we’d be fine here by ourselves and looking at me to back him up. I knew if I didn’t he’d pound me. But he was really eager for Mom to leave town … that was my first clue he had something planned. I just didn’t know what. He invited Dante and got turned down so I thought maybe it didn’t have to do with that. So I served all the guests and when they ignored the cups and started passing the bottles of booze, I gave up and went upstairs for a mask .. then decided to just stay there. I heard a really loud noise and thought it might be someone breaking up the furniture, but it was just a couple of girls leaving. But Gen and Elise were outside and Brett told me to talk to Elise. And I like her .. so I did. Then Brett told Gen that Dante was upstairs and damn near dragged her up. I heard the door close and lock and that’s when Elise got mad and left … then she saw Dante across the street so she knew Brett had lied ..and so did I … that’s when I realized what Brett was going to do. By the time I got on my phone, Sasha and Dante were on their way upstairs.” he blows out another long breath and looks at the floor.
Levi continues to write notes and, once Nolan stops speaking looks at him. “Yes. I know the rest. Thank you Nolan. I appreciate this talk.”
Sharon sighed angrily about Brett being glad she was leaving town “I should have dragged you guys to Denman with me…..it would have been a chore for you I’m sure with Brett while I worked though…..but not THIS.” She sighs and nods at Levi “Thank you Mr. Samuels. I wish you the best with it. Odd thing to say but I don’t know who my oldest is anymore. I just hope we can get him some help….” She reaches for Nolan’s hand and gives it a squeeze if you can “You spoke well and clearly. I know that was hard. Let’s head back to the hotel and let you rest.”
Nolan nodded, sighed and shrugged all at the same time. “Don’t do that to yourself, mom. It’ll just stress you out more.” He squeezes her hand and smiles. “Thanks … and thanks to you Mr. Samuels. I hope I was helpful.”
Levi stands. “Thank you both for coming in. I wish you the best on your search for help for your oldest and Nolan.” he looked at him. “I know this couldn’t have been easy for you. Now if either of you needs anything let me know and I will help if I can.” he sees them out then and returns to his notes. He felt even more confident about the case. It was one big mess, but he thought things could work themselves out in the long run and at least not become a bigger mess.
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