“Your father was having memory problems months before he died, sweetheart. He was forgetful and then suspicious. He wasn’t very well, and it took a toll on his mental state.”
I hate that she’s saying this about our father. I didn’t see a decline in his mental health before his death. Was she just saying that to stop us prying more?
“Oh my God.” Antonia gets to her feet abruptly, drawing their attention. “This is why you didn’t want me dating Finlay. It wasn’t because you didn’t think he was good enough for me or a decent man. It was because we share a freaking sister.”
Janet’s eyes wander to me and she swallows down whatever insulting comment she wants to spit. I don’t know why she has a dislike towards me; she’s known me my whole life and there’s nothing I can recall that would warrant her disdain.
“It’s weird that you’re dating when you’re technically related.” She grunts.
Antonia’s body stiffens and so does mine.
“How are we related just because we share a sister? Wait a minute. Oh God. Is there a chance me and Finlay…?” she chokes out.
I already know the answer to that question. I’ve seen DNA results that conclude I’m my father’s son, but I’m tense as fuck anyway.
“No, no. Finlay’s father had both Finlay and Gaby tested. Finlay is their son.”
Antonia’s chest relaxes, and I breathe out the breath I was holding. I can’t believe how silent David is being through all this.
“This is crazy. I can’t believe you had the audacity to attack his character because of something you both did,” Antonia tells them, her tone laced with venom.
Janet scowls between Antonia and me.
“It’s just not right, you two being together when you share a sibling!”
I want to choke her again, but before I can even move, Antonia is laughing, loud and unnatural. She howls into the room, making everyone squirm.
“You have some balls telling us what’s right and what is weird when you bone your freaking best friends and all father each other’s kids!”
A snigger leaves Gavin’s lips, gaining him a glare from everyone.
“She said bone.” He shrugs.
“Antonia!” her mother snaps, but she’s cut off with a hand wave from her daughter,
“Don’t, Mother. Just freaking don’t. You all robbed Gaby and me of our entire youth of being sisters. You’re all selfish, and quite frankly, I’m disappointed in you all. Now, get out of my apartment while we deal with the bomb you just dropped on us.”
This is a whole different side of the girl I know, and I like that she’s sticking up for us. She’s right. They have no right telling us what’s moral. I feel sick at the thought of them all being with each other and risking what’s come to pass with Gaby.
God, Antonia and I are lucky this wasn’t us who are related. After everything I did with Gavin and Gaby that would be a kick in the nuts by karma.
The truth is, I don’t know if that would even stop me being with her. Love doesn’t just go away. Gross. My head is fucked.
“There’s no reason to be rude about it, Antonia. We’re still your parents and deserve respect when being spoken to. We came here for you.”
I almost snort at that comment; she doesn’t like to show respect but demands it? Fuck, she’s hard work.
“And I appreciate that, Mum, but all you’ve done is add to the stress and grief I’m going through. I have a sister. I’ve been an only child my entire life and asked for a sibling constantly when all the time I freaking had one. A great one, my best friend, for Christ sake. I need time.”
The atmosphere is tangible. I get to my feet and block Janet’s view of Antonia. She’s had enough, and talking more while everyone is riled up is only going to end in arguments.
“I think we all need to process,” I tell them, hinting that they should leave and give Antonia and Gaby time.
David walks over to Antonia and tries to calm her with a pat to her shoulders. She glares at him, and he takes the warning, stepping back.
“You’re right. We should have had the test done when Gaby was born. Poor judgment on our part, but it happened, and we can’t change it now, only move on from it and try to make up for the lost time,” David says.
Gaby shakes her head as she marches past him. “You can all go to hell. I’m over it. You all act like this is about a child, but I’m not a kid, I’m a woman, and soon I’ll be married and starting a family of my own. I sure as hell don’t need any of you trying to play parent,” she scoffs, before turning to Antonia.
“I love you, Antonia, and we can talk about this later when they’ve all gone back to their lives.”
Gavin jumps to his feet and follows Gaby. I’m not comfortable with the thought of them being alone and him making a play for her, even with the truth out there. The chance of them being related was an excuse when, deep down, I just don’t want Gavin with my sister. He’s a player when it comes to women and will end up breaking her heart. Going to the door, I hold it open and wait for everyone else to file out.
Antonia took an hour long soak in the tub when everyone eventually left, leaving me alone with my thoughts that just swirled around my head, giving me a headache.
She’s not eaten and won’t speak to me about everything that just went down with our parents. I can’t make sense of it all myself, and I’m not the one who found out I had a sibling. It’s weird that Gaby is our sister, just not in the perverse way Janet tried to make it.
“How are you feeling? Can I get you anything?” I ask her, walking into her room and standing there like a spare part. I don’t know where we stand. Everything is so fragile and distorted.
“No. I just want to take a nap, if you don’t mind.” She smiles, but it’s fleeting. She climbs onto the bed and fiddles with the fabric of her comforter; we’ve never had the awkward silence before.
We’ve always had a tension surrounding us, an electric pulse pulling us to each other, but all I can feel now is her pulling away, and I don’t know what to do.
Should I force her to confront everything she’s feeling, or do I give her space and time to deal with it?
I hate this.
“Do you want me to stay and sleep with you?”
“No. I’m just going to sleep for a little while.”
There’s something hiding in her tone. She won’t look directly at me, and she’s chewing the inside of her gum.
“I have Brad coming over. I have some work I need to do.”
She’s nodding her head but doesn’t appear to be interested. She’s gotten to her feet. She’s impatient; she keeps shuffling from foot to foot, and her fingers are drumming on the side table.
“Well, you can go to the office. I don’t need a babysitter, despite what my mum thinks.” She rolls her eyes and smiles, but something is missing. I feel pushed away, and like an outsider. My heart won’t stop racing in my chest and I need to go to her and hold her until all her pain seeps out of her into me; it’s maddening.
“I don’t want to babysit you. I want to love you, be with you.”