She lied because she thought Alec had a chance to better his life even if it took a decade, he had a dream of becoming a chef and needed to narrow it down to chasing only one goal,
she thought telling him about his unborn child might be a stumbling block to his goals and forcing him to commit, she knew how Alec could easily be distracted too.
She asked Dale to give him a chance and it hadn't been easy, given the circumstances, Dale snapped at some point and got violent because he had to put up with his nephew every day.
Waiting for the sun to come out every day, she thought maybe he might come around, she still saw him as the sweet, charming Dale he was before. Other times the man he'd become snapped the daylight out of her.
She thought conceiving his child might be the best solution, Gracie was the love of his life when she was born and he never hurt her. She wished she tried harder, she also wished she protected George more.
"I'm waiting! Four stinking years Rose"
"Please Dale_"
"No, I'm not talking to him, you're gonna have to call him yourself, you're the one fucking him!"
It wasn't the first time he reminded her of her unfaithfulness. That mistake was set in stone.
"I'm sorry if I wasn't the best mom and I believe you'll be happier with Alec"
"You're dumping me?" George stood up when she roved to the door. "You think getting rid of me will resolve all this? He's a monster"
"Where else do I go? They're all I have, I'm not going through with the divorce"
"Rose, I'll talk to him_"
"No, I don't want you in the picture" Her nostrils flared gaping at Alec, he took her shoulder.
"That'll piss him off"
Her eyes moved to George then him. "I want change for George as much as I want Dale to change, we might get far"
"You need to rest" Alec demanded and she shook her head.
"No, I'm going home"
_ _ _
Nothing would change her mind now that she was leaving, George could only go with her just in case and he had his exams to make up for and he wasn't far off from the Final week either, he was just as afraid of Dale as she was but if she wanted to stay behind and keep going, he wanted no part of it. He had 19 years of his life to attest to that.
Alec wanted to come along with them so he took a few days off with little luggage to Lavenders Crescent, they got home by car and he hissed when Rose got out. Alec was anxious, he hadn't seen his twin for almost twenty years, twenty years they grew apart leading their own lives, not a word from each other since.
He gave George one quizzical look and they were all hesitant to leave, even Rose but her shoulders were set and she walked into the house to find him seated with his account statements, the house was a jumble and he wasn't clean-shaven, his lizard eyes narrowed at her and he got up when Alec walked in facing his other half.
They stared at each other still astonished by their looks, George held back and swallowed when Dale circled him with an angry look on his face, he snorted at Alec's black hoodie, he was still dressed like a hipster now and then and his haircut was disgusting. "Long time no see, you even have the guts to strut in here."
Dale hated to call him that since they were thirteen seconds apart with Alec being the firstborn.
"You didn't have to punish him, it's me you have to deal with"
"You weren't even here to let me do that"
"I thought you wanted some space and I apologize, little brother"
Dale snuffed with resentment at Alec "You claimed to love me and then you go ahead to screw my wife. You always had something to be sorry about, you were good at it! You're not my brother, you're a plague."
"I still am, nothing will change that"
"You got the attention while I tried hard to lay low and stay out of trouble...you even took my wife. What else do you want from me Alec, what!?" He asked in frustration walking around then avoided George's eyes when he moved around.
"Your forgiveness"
"No," He said restless, the sight of them made his blood boil and his heart tightened refusing to let the hurt go. He wanted so badly to hurt them the way they hurt him, he tried to fill that void and Grace was his only excuse, he raked his hair.
For the first time, George saw a hurt young boy who was insecure and jealous trying to make up from his inadequacy.
"Go to hell, you, mom, dad and the rest of you!" He pointed at Rose and George.
"Please" Alec pleaded with a throaty voice stepping forward, Dale turned away to face the wall shaking his head, his breathing became deeper much to his astonishment. His fists clenched and his heart raced rapidly, he hardened when he felt Alec draw closer, closing in even more. He grit his teeth and sobbed letting out a deep breath, tears dropped
"I don't know how," He said with a raw voice.
The lines of his cheek ticked when he ground his teeth, his breathing was audible like a dog recovering from a race.
"I...I_forgi_ I can't do it"
"If I did then why can't you?"
"I'm not you, you lying son of a..." He caught his tongue and exhaled wiping his eyes. His other attempts were muffled and he had difficulty letting the words flow.
"I forgive you," He said and Alec embraced him, his eyes were on Rose where she stood.
"I'm still angry" His arms tightened around Alec.
"You know what this might do to her if you separate"
"Have you come here to insult me?" Dale questioned. "You think I can't take care of my family?"