No reply. I grab a pair of her shorts from her top drawer, slide into them and sit on the edge of the bed removing the piece of metal that reminds me daily of the moment I lost my parents.
“Tess,” finally a whisper comes from my sister.
Will bolts straight up in bed. “Everything okay? What’s going on?”
“I don’t want to be alone anymore,” I say through my tears.
Both Tommie and Will are now sitting straight up facing me at the bottom of their bed.
“Are you okay?” Will finally asks.
I just nod in the darkness. The one stream of moonlight is enough light to show my signal of yes, and then I begin to crawl up to my sister just like I did when I was younger.
“Come here, Tess,” she whispers.
I snuggle deep down in between her and Will. The soothing motion of a hand on my hair really makes me lose my self-control and I cry. She undoes my braid and begins to comb my hair out with her fingers and braid it. It’s a nervous habit that Momma passed down.
Finally, I admit out loud what everyone already knows, “I just want to love Finn and be young and carefree. I gave it a shot tonight and it all blew up in my face.”
My words silence the room and begin to control my sobs.
“We love you, Tess, and you will find love one day. Now go to sleep,” Will says.
I giggle at the picture of me snuggled between my sister and her husband. Any other brother in law would have told me to kick rocks and get over my insecurities. Not Will. His love runs that deep for his wife.
“But you do know this really affects our baby making skills with you between us, right?”
We all start to laugh at the comment, and I squeal, “Ewww, TMI.”
The laughter slowly dies out, and I concentrate on Tommie’s hands braiding and unbraiding my hair. In the dark room, I silently wish for a chance of a future with Finn with no drama and insecurities just love, freedom and opportunities to be free.
Chapter 6
You’re Going To Regret This…
“Get up. We’re going to the river.”
“C’mon, bouncy bouncy,” I hear and feel the bed shake.
Pulling the blankets over my head, I hope the two animals in my dreams get the idea and leave. My head is pounding. My mouth is dry as hell, and I’m so freakin’ thirsty. I just want to keep my eyes closed and stay in the dark as long as I can. Damn, I’m thirsty though.
“Tess, up now. Will wants to take the boat out. Let’s roll,” comes a voice, and I know it’s Tommie.
The other voice continues, “Bouncy, bouncy” as Scarlett jumps up and down on the bed.
Only if I could sit straight up and twat twap Scarlett. She’s a bit much to handle hungover.
“Ten minutes,” I hear Will roar and then the very distinct sound of the garage door opening.
Will never fools with times and leaving. His ETA’s are never to be taken lightly. He’s been known to leave Tommie and I then come back with a milkshake flaunting it to us.
“Move it, Tess, I’m not missing this day on the river with our new boat,” Tommie yells, pulling me by my arm.
Scarlett grabs the other, and they both pull me towards the bathroom.
“Sit,” they both demand and push me down on the toilet seat.
“Trash can. Trash can,” I desperately scream.