Falling into Exposure Read Online Free PDF

were all still young then, the four of us. My parents had planned one of their vacations without us. But the nanny got sick and they couldn’t find anyone at such short notice. They refused to let us spoil their fun, so they took us along with them. It was the only family trip we’d ever went on together.”
    My heart melts at the expression on his face. This is a whole new side of Gabriel Maddox. One that I’m sure not everyone gets to see, but he is letting me in, and I know that’s huge for him.
    “They usually liked to send us off to expensive summer camps,” he continues. “So they could have their fun without us. Anyway, they were stuck with us this time, so we went sailing for about a week. Parker loved it. Well, I guess we all did. When you’re young you sort of want those kinds of memories with your family. For one week, we all had fun together. Dad taught us how to sail, and mom mostly sunbathed… but it was good.”
    “It sounds nice,” I murmur, squeezing his hand and encouraging him to continue.
    “When we got back home, we begged them to take us again sometime. Especially Parker, he wouldn’t relent. We all found it hilarious at the time, but they never did take us on a vacation with them again. I guess they thought their time together was more precious.”
    His tone takes on a bitter edge, and the resentment inside of him is palpable. I never noticed it before, but it’s clear as day now. And I realize, this probably has a lot to do with the front he puts up for everyone.
    “Anyway, back to my point,” he says distractedly. “That’s why we all get together on April 1 st every year. To pretend we are one big happy family for Parker’s sake. It’s how my parents say they will remember him. Because I guess it’s easier for them that way. But, truthfully, I dread it every year. Pretending to be something we aren’t. And I know Parker would have hated it too. He would have much rather had us just be ourselves.”
    I feel a sharp twinge of pain in my stomach, knowing exactly what it’s like to lose someone important. I clear my throat nervously, trying not to sound choked up as I speak. It’s nearly impossible, though, listening to him, feeling everything he feels.
    “What happened to Parker?”
    Gabriel shifts beside me, his eyes going cold as he regards me intently. He looks… well… angry. And that was not my intention at all. I bide my time, thinking of what I should say or do. And then he speaks, but it isn’t anger in his voice. It’s raw and pure grief.
    “Parker committed suicide. When he was nineteen.”
    I choke back the tears that are too close to falling. “Gabriel, I’m so sorry. That’s awful.”
    He relaxes beneath me, stroking my hair in a comforting gesture. I’m not sure who it’s comforting more, but I’m thankful nonetheless.
    “Parker was the oldest out of all of us, the firstborn. He was smart and outgoing, and ridiculously funny. He could always make you smile, even when you didn’t feel like it. But I guess deep down, he was also the most sensitive. He took things to heart and bottled them up inside. He was the one who struggled the most with our parents. They couldn’t understand that he was acting out in order to get their attention. My mom especially isn’t very maternal. I don’t know why she even had four kids… I guess it looked good to everyone on the outside.”
    I curl in closer to him, losing myself in his deep voice as he unburdens himself.
    “Parker started acting out a lot when he was in high school. Getting into trouble… drinking, partying, embarrassing them. My mother hated it. She always wanted everything in a neat little box, and when it didn’t fit, she couldn’t stand it. She sent Parker away to boarding schools, wilderness camps, that sort of thing. He always managed to get kicked out or run away. He just wanted to be home with us. But she was insistent that she was going to punish him. My Dad went along with it like he always