Chapter 5
Leon's appearance mirrored his father's. He gave me a contemptuous once-over. "God, you're a mess." Then he turned to Hudson, hand extended expectantly. "Dad, about those birthday presents you promised when Mom and I got back?"
"Eighteen in two days. Last year I got ninety-nine presents. Let's make it an even hundred this time."
Hudson ignored Leon's insult, ruffling his hair with indulgent affection. "Of course." He produced the protection pendant, carefully placing it around Leon's neck with a tenderness he'd never shown Noah.
As if that weren't enough, Hudson snapped his fingers. A fleet of garishly colored sports cars arrived outside the funeral home. "All yours, son. Know how much you love making a statement."
Valeria playfully wrinkled her nose, snuggling against Hudson's arm. "Hey, what about Mama? Don't tell me the boy's your favorite now, hmm?"
Hudson tweaked her nose with a grin. "As if I could forget you."
On cue, people emerged from the cars, carrying dozens of jewelry sets, each museum-worthy, including pieces from European royalty.
Valeria kissed his cheek, playing the eternal ingenue. "Oh my god, aren't these from that royal auction in Europe? Each set worth millions!"
"You bought the whole collection? Baby, you're too much… though I hope poor Reese isn't upset?"
My son's funeral had become their obscene display of wealth. There I stood in my simple black suit, bare-faced and puffy-eyed, looking like a servant beside Valeria's polished perfection. Everything Hudson had ever given Noah wouldn't equal the cost of one of Leon's new cars.
Hudson finally acknowledged my presence. "Reese, don't misunderstand. Valeria and Leon are just used to European customs. And Mom's adopted Leon as her grandson, so him calling me 'Dad' is natural. It's just his birthday coming up, and that pendant—"
Before he could finish, Valeria dramatically stumbled into his arms. "Hudson… I feel faint. The heat…"
Hudson dropped my arm as if it burned, scooping her up. "This is exactly why I bought you the summer villa."
"Ugh, why'd you drag yourself to this depressing thing? You should be at your villa, not this waste of time. Come on, I've got you."
Without a glance at his dead son's ashes, he carried Valeria away. I lifted Noah's urn alone, ignoring the whispers and stares. It's okay, baby. If Daddy doesn't love you, Mommy always will.
Before I could place the urn in its niche, Leon deliberately collided with me. The urn shattered, scattering Noah's ashes across the ground.
"Watch it, would you? This suit's one-of-a-kind from Dad. If that dead kid's ashes mess it up, you can't touch the cleaning bill."
"God, this is gross." He pulled out a water bottle filled with cigarette butts, smirking. "Here, use this for the little accident. See? I can be nice."