He then turned to the three of us.

MR. CARLTON: Well, you all know me as Mr. Carlton–but in all due sense; please arrange me as uncle Carl; since from my perspective–it would be more appropriate.

With a hint of dubiety from all of us–even my mother looked towards my father with confused understanding.

With moments of silence and the road of cars blaring by–my father eventually gave in.

DAD: I–I wanted to protect you all from this..

He then put a hand to his forehead to feign in pain.

JEREMY(DAD): Mr. Carlton here..he’s my younger brother..

With widened eyes I only looked. We all only looked. In shock, in surprise and somewhat doubt.

CHRIS: H-He’s…

Chris spoke up first–but her hesitancy didn’t let her speak.

DEREL: Your brother..?

I finished confusingly.

My mother just stayed silent–her short ash blonde hair only made her worries other worldly in comparison to us.

With my mother knowing my father the longest–the look of betrayal was clear on her face.

KYLA(MOM): J-Jeremy..that–I thought…

KYLA(MOM): Didn’t we promise..?

Her voice shook as her glossy eyes started to shape her lips into a pained expression.

I glanced at my father with minor frustration.

My father, Jeremy, just stared towards the ground with lifeless eyes.

JEREMY(DAD): Please..I–I’m sorry Kyla..Derel…Chris..

Feigning even more confusion–Chris just looked at my father.

My father stared back at her.

JEREMY(DAD): I…I guess it's time I tell you all the truth..

Calming the tears within my mothers eyes–I could only comfort her to the best of my ability.

Sitting across from us–my father cleared his throat.

JEREMY(DAD): So…where to start..

He then looked down as a sign of deflating guilt.

JEREMY(DAD): I guess, it was when I left the family back in California. Suppose you could say my father and older uncle had a feud on who was to inherit the family's treasury..

As we sat and listened, Chris’ expression was dead set on knowing his story.

JEREMY(DAD): When I was about seventeen–it's when I met your mother–of course you two already knew we found each other in a flower shop nearby where she worked. But after that–what I didn’t tell you all was that–I was disowned due to marrying a person with “lower status”

He took a pause.

JEREMY(DAD): In turn we had to travel across the country soon stationing down in a town with no real name nor real identity–just some backwoods that we would call home.

My father again took another breath.

JEREMY(DAD): After you, Derel. When you were about three years old–news about the family reached our porch–saying something about going bankrupt and having an accident that killed two people.

He then looked up at me and my mother.

JEREMY(DAD): If it's alright–do you two remember the day I left for a four month work trip?

We both nodded minutely.

JEREMY(DAD): Well, safe to say–it wasn’t a trip towards New Orleans but California. From there I hired an investigator on what happened during the time I was disowned.

JEREMY(DAD): It wasn’t until a couple of weeks later I found out that the two people who’re killed were parents of two young children–now orphaned.

With a growing anxiety within my stomach–I glanced at Chris all the while she stared intently at my dad.

JEREMY(DAD): When I had the courage to visit my old home–no one else but my–Mr. Carlton sat at the door.

Without a hint of deviation from his face–Mr. Carltons’ stationary grin just sat statically–listening on in.

JEREMY(DAD): At the time–the family had small amounts of funds left to support their new inheritor–Mr. Carlton.

Gesturing towards uncle Carlton again–my father then quickly looked back towards us.

JEREMY(DAD): From there I decided to help them, as I didn’t have the will to let the young master declare bankruptcy..

JEREMY(DAD): It wasn’t until I was working on the first hologram vessel for a broadcast system–I asked Mr. Carlton to invest all of the funds into the program–since it was going to be the first-ever first nation wide accessed hologram system.

JEREMY(DAD): Of course–we had our doubts, but eventually it was a success; with him being the biggest shareholder of the business now.

Nodding his head–Mr. Carlton agreed to all of Jeremy’s words.

JEREMY(DAD): It was then about a week before my flight–that the accident from the news kept nagging me. Pestering about my family's involvement.

JEREMY(DAD): It was all because of my family–another had been torn apart..

He then looked at Chris.

Her eyes were somewhat neutrally saddened and frightened.

My father then looked away towards the ground once more.

JEREMY(DAD): I-I knew I had to get you and your sister out of the situation–

He stumbled on his words.

JEREMY(DAD): I–I can’t…I couldn’t leave the two of you behind with my family's mess.

Chris’ eyes soon started to glisten with tears at this sudden realization–my mothers as well.

My father–Jeremy, with now his hands on his head–he apologized.

DAD: I-I’m so, sorry Christina…I’m..I’m so sorry..

With a tightened lip–Chris only looked on with shock–sadness, frustration and gratitude.

She turned her head towards the ground–balling her fists.

DAD: I-I’m so sorry, your sister–

Chris then looked up swiftly–with tears streaming down her face.

Stifling a sniff–my dad soon composed himself.

JEREMY(DAD): Ah..I’m sorry–I lost my head there. Please ignore my outburst Mr. Carlton.

Uncle Carl just nodded.

UNCLE CARL: No–express all you like, we’ve a couple of hours before our destination..

Now with multiple questions running through my mind–I had no energy to ask them all.

As my father looked back at Chris–he then said.

DAD: Christina–Chris..

He quickly corrected himself.

DAD: It–it was my fault that your sister..

He then stuttered before moving onto another topic.

CHRIS: . . .!

DAD: . . .

DAD: Kyla..honey, I’m sorry I couldn’t keep our promise…

My mother just looked down in defeat.

His gaze then turned towards me.

DAD: . . .

DAD:..Derel…

DAD:...Son..

DAD:..I’m sorry I disappointed you.

With a stinging in my nose–I couldn’t help but feel frustrated at my father–at myself.

He tried. To protect us. To protect our ignorance. As well as himself from his problems that weren’t exactly his own.

I then stared at Mr. Carlton.

He noticed my gaze.

Then sighed a breath.

MR. CARLTON: (Sigh) I know this is a lot to take in–even some parts of it I wasn’t fully aware of..

He paused–putting his words into consideration.

UNCLE CARL: But seeing how you all are–well technically the only family I have left..Jeremy–brother.

My fathers gaze turned towards him.

UNCLE CARL: This isn’t an equivalent exchange–by all means, it's my decision that I save my family from the end of the world.

UNCLE CARL: And, even though we’ve all technically just met as of today. Your names have been around my ears for some time.

He looked down for a moment, but only a moment.

Saying no words nor thoughts we just kept on listening.

UNCLE CARL: If you’re all willing to understand, then please ask me anything that you're all concerned about.

Putting his hand out–he intends for my father to shake it–not out of intent but out of love.

My father–noticing my uncles’ actions, shook it without hesitancy.

DAD: T-Thank..you Carl..

With a smile uncle Carl just looked on with confirmation.

UNCLE CARL: It is no issue–but please, call me Mr. Carlton, if ever doing business with others.

Nodding knowingly, my father just said the swift words of.

DAD: Yes, Mr. Carlton.