The Steps

Needless to say, it was awkward.

Garden stared straight at the door ahead of him and refused to look at the two.

"Ahem," His Step-Mother cleared her throat.

Garden held in a sigh.

"I understand now this isn't the best time, but I believe some introductions are due."

"You should leave them to Dad."

"My name's Lavenda, and this is my daughter Violetta." She continued as if she hadn't heard what they said.

Garden reluctantly turned to stare.

Lavenda, she was a beautiful woman, with her ink-black hair and mauve eyes, she looked as if she was returning from an award ceremony dressed to the nines in a glittery black dress that exposed her hips, it had been hidden by a trench coat before but now feeling hot she took it off.

Far too glamorous and rich looking to marry one silly detective.

Albeit the Baciu's looked like commoners, Garden's grandparents, and Uncles and Aunts made a living selling wine and jam and owned countless vineyards across the globe.

But regardless of this, the Baciu's were humble people who could easily blend in with the common populace.

They didn't flaunt their wealth by wearing such luxurious clothing without due occasion. After all, they simply saw themselves as farmers, people that tended soil.

She didn't fit. Garden couldn't help recalling his own mother and her normal attire so often that were stained with dirt from gardening or flour from baking sweets.

"Earth has always spoken about you, so I was looking forward to meeting you."

"How sad, he never said a word about you so I can't say I feel the same."

Violetta had heard enough. "Hey! Must you be so rude, where are your manners?"

"I forgot them when I saw you were married."

"Hey!" Violetta shouted only to recompose herself. "I didn't know about their marriage either, but since it's something we have no control over-

He cut her off, the intensity in his gaze skyrocketing. "What? You think I should just accept it? Me? When my own birth mother is somewhere out there possibly alive and breathing?! Ha! Bring me her body first!"

Lavenda pulled Violetta away from him as he rose from his seat.

"Then we'll talk! Because I don't owe you, people, anything! If you want to play house that's fine by me, but don't expect me to play along!"

SLAP!

Earth emerged from the room in time to witness his son's explosion. His gaze was frosty.

"Apologize. Now."

The slap did little to quell Garden's swirling emotions. Garden took a deep breath as he held the side of his face.

"Just kill me."

"...You brat. Why are you being like this? Huh? Now's not the time..." Earth already had a lot on his plate.

Garden bit his lip.

He didn't own his Dad, he couldn't stop him from marrying, but marrying a stranger behind his back felt like a betrayal. Once it's done he couldn't object. His opinion didn't matter but he still wanted to play family?

Garden sighed he didn't have the emotional energy to argue anymore.

"Just... do what you want. But leave me out of it."

". . .Earth reached out his hand but Garden smacked it away.

"Don't touch me." He fled inside Stella's hospital bedroom and slid the door shut.

Earth tried to open it but the other side was stuck.

"You! You better come home tomorrow!"

"..."

"Did something happen?" He had almost forgotten Stella who was still propped up in bed staring in his direction, too tired and somber to be bewildered by his friend's sudden behavior.

"I'm... sorry. Can I crash here for the night?"

"..." Stella pointed.

"There's a spare blanket in the cabinet, I think."