Twins Make Four

Fucking cancer, why couldn’t they just find a cure for it already?

Whenever I did get back to the States I was going to knock some heads at some pharmaceutical companies. Young kids didn’t need that shit in their lives.

Finally, after minutes of contemplating it, she said, “I want you to promise me. If you are serious about this, Owen, you have to promise. This is not a joke. This is my family.”

“I promise you. I will take care of it. Will you stay with me for a little longer?”

She nodded and fell into my arms again.

Thank God for money.

“Now, let’s eat some pancakes and then I’ll make a few calls and get this all taken care of.”

She smiled at me. “I thought you’d never ask.”

+++

“How do you feel about boats?” I asked, munching on what was left of our breakfast a couple days later. We were sitting outside on the veranda enjoying the weather.

“You have a boat? What am I saying, of course you have a boat! I haven’t been on one for years, but I’m totally game.”

“I have three boats, actually.” Business had been good. “And how do you feel about hiking?”

“Not right after this ginormous breakfast, but I love it! I grew up outside Springfield, and we used to go camping every other weekend with our parents.”

“They’re not with you anymore?” I asked on a hunch.

She looked up at me, but she didn’t look angry about the question. “No, not for some time. What gave it away?”

“You had that look on your face when you mentioned them. I used to see the same expression in the mirror when my folks passed away.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too. Accident when I was fifteen. You?”

“Mom was cancer. Dad just kind of bailed after that. I don’t think he could look at us kids. He’s around, but not actually there, ya know?”

I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure what that felt like.

“So boats,” I added awkwardly, trying to move the conversation forward.

“Yes tell me all about your boats!”

+++

In the afternoon, we got dressed and set out for our little hiking trip. I sent a maid out to buy some clothes for Sydney. Yoga pants looked good on her.

Hell everything did.

The port was on the other side of the island, in a small artificial gulf. I knew the shortest route, naturally, but decided to take a longer one, to show Sydney some views. She absolutely loved it.

“I always wanted to get out more, you know?” Sydney said during a water break.

“What stopped you?”

“Work. Money. Responsibility,” she said, and I was thinking she really needed to add: My brother.

“None of those things can hold you back here.”