Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Bennet

“Why would you call our Rory stupid?”

“What?” Typically, I can guess what my sister is going on about but I must be slipping because today takes me by surprise.

“You heard me. Why are you giving Rory a hard time? She mentioned you stopping by her house by the way. Just wanted to tell you before you try to deny it.”

“I don’t like her being in that big house by herself.”

“Why?”

Sometimes, having a twin is the most frustrating, most painful thing that can happen to you. I love my sister, but she understands how to nail me down and make me tell her things even I haven’t figured out yet.

“I don’t know, okay. I don’t know why it eats at me the way it does. It just does.”

Of course, I worry about her safety, I worry about Te’s safety, and she still lives with our mom, but this is something different. Something more.

“When we were kids the family who lived there left the first week after they moved in. People have said for years it’s haunted because of the murder/suicide in the 30’s.”

“I didn’t think you believed in ghosts.”

“I don’t. I believe in people hearing shit like that and wanting to try to recreate it or thinking they can use it to scare the current owner, which happens to be our friend. I believe real people hurt sweet women like Rory if they can and I don’t want that for her or you!”

“Hmm, maybe I should stay with her some. Just to give her another pair of eyes and ears. And a gun since I’m sure she doesn’t own one.”

“That might not be such a bad idea.” She’ll probably let Te stay with her quicker than she would me.

“On another topic, are you going back out with that bitch, Jayden?”

“What? No! Why would you think…? Rory said something about her today when I dropped by like I would be seeing her later or something. Why would she think that?”

“I don’t know, maybe because the slimy bitch slithered her way up to you and her when the two of you were talking in the store and was a raging cunt to Rory like always.”

“Shit.” The way she treated Rory was one of the reasons I dumped her ass.

“That cow doesn’t deserve you and the way she treats Rory makes me want to punch her lights out!”

“By law, I’m supposed to tell you not to do any violence…but as a brother, I would pretend to be looking the other way. I don’t get what her thing with Rory is in the first place. Do you?”

“Oh, it could be something about how pretty Rory is without smearing her face with so much makeup a drag queen would look at her and scream DAMN! Or how about the fact Rory was always hanging out with me which meant she was also always hanging out with you too. Half the school thought the two of you were dating before you got with the harpie.”

“No! Is that true?” Did people really think I would do something like that with my sister’s best friend, who happened to be two years younger than me?

“Ah, brother dear, you really are clueless sometimes.”

“Why don’t you come to dinner at Mom’s on Sunday and apologize properly to our Rory? It will be good for Mom to have all three of us together again anyway.”

“That doesn’t sound awful. I think I might drop by. See you then, sis. Stay safe.”

Before Te can say another word I hang up and think about all she said. Did everyone think me and Rory…when Rory was just a kid? What is wrong with everybody?

I find myself waiting for Sunday impatiently. I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about something like I am about this dinner. And I don’t know if it’s because I'm going to hang out with the girls like in the past or if I am secretly looking forward to the next sparring match with Rory. The little thing has grown into her teeth, and I am finding I like poking her.

I show up at Mom’s before the girls and help her put the food together and carry it to the table. I hear them way before I see them…just like years before. Those two were always talking and laughing. It’s nice to see Te that way again.

I am ready when the little redhead walks through the doorway of the dining room. “Hi, Princess. Imagine meeting you here.”

I could tell by the look on her face she wasn’t expecting me.

“Oh honey, can you come help me take the brownies out of the oven? Aurora you can sit right here and catch up with Ben while we finish up.”

I can’t keep the smile off my face when I kick a chair out right beside me and wait for her to sit.