Brandon
I was just ripping off the underwear of the slim blonde in the darkened hotel room, ready to be inside of her in this penthouse suite that was mine for the week here in Chicago. She was easy, giving in to my bright blue eyes and heavy, dark hair after only one drink. It was convenient that I met her in the hotel bar where I was partying with my twin brother, Brent. I was certain that he was in his own room with the sexy redhead he’d been kissing at the bar. I could hear the wind outside of the many windows as I slid a finger inside of her body and found her neck with my lips. I was horny as hell and ready for this woman, at least until it was time to kick her out.
I was just moving over her when my phone rang from the living room of the huge suite. I assumed it was some girl that wanted to hook up, but I was busy. I had a girl and I was ready to rock her world as I moved over her. I heard the phone ring once more after it went through the three rings before going to voice mail. Who the hell was so hell bent on getting through to me at one in the morning? I sat for a moment and listened to it go through the cycle, breathing in the fruity scent of her body as it went silent.
I was just sliding into her when I heard the phone yet fucking again. She was tight and wet and I didn’t want to pull out of her, but I sensed this was important. I kissed her neck and whispered that I needed to take this call, pushing my body back as I left the bed. I didn’t bother to dress since we were alone and I was going to be back in that bed as soon as I could, coming back to reality as the shrill ring taunted me from the living room where my half-filled glass of whiskey was on the bar. I glanced around the room to see the screen blinking on the couch, walking over to it with a resigned sigh. I grabbed the phone and noticed Brent’s name on the screen, wondering why he wasn’t with the redhead. “Brent? What the hell?” I asked as I placed it to my ear, annoyed at my brother for one of the few times in my life. We were twins, born five minutes apart and as close as we could be. “Is everything okay?”
“No, Bran. It isn’t. Dad was in a car accident on the way home from the airport. We need to catch a flight back to New York as soon as possible. Mom and Ashley need us.” His voice was low and I could hear the emotion in it that he was withholding.
“Shit. Okay. I’ll pack a bag and meet you at your room.” I hung up and stood in the empty, gorgeous room for a moment. I was here because of my father and all his hard work building the most successful shipping company in the world. He’d started it himself just after college, beginning from the garage of their house and now it was in the ranks with Amazon, though he focused on computer parts and office supplies. Amazon sold everything. I went back to the bedroom, seeing the blonde on the bed waiting for me, looking dazed and horny. “Sorry, doll. Change of plans. I have to go back to New York for a moment.”
“Is everything okay?” She asked as concern flashed over her face. I would never talk to her about my personal life. She was one of many that was here because of my name and money, my father’s success. I knew that she didn’t care about who I was inside, even though it looked cute on her.
“Yeah,” I told her vaguely as I reached for my pants and slipped them over my body. I glanced around for my shirt and slipped the black t-shirt over my broad shoulders and ran a hand through my shoulder length hair as I tried to think about what was happening. I needed to pack the week or so worth of clothes that I had here and get to Brent’s room. I needed to go home. I walk over to pull the shirts from the closet, the pants, and tees from the drawer. I toss them into my Hartmann luggage that was sitting on top of the big cherry wood dresser. I get my jeans and toss them on top before I go to the bathroom and wrapping everything in one of the thick towels from the shelf to keep everything else dry.
I glance at the bed once the chore is done, seeing the woman dressing in her short black skirt and red silk blouse. I knew
that I’d torn her underwear and that she was bare underneath but she was gorgeous. She’d be with another man in no time, whatsoever. I didn’t care that she would, either. I zipped my black suitcase closed as she stood and slipped her feet into the heels that matched her clothes well, though I didn’t pay a lot of attention to women and their shoe obsession. I appreciated a pretty face and the lingerie that covered their bodies before I ruined it, but the clothes and shoes weren’t something I mind to.
I felt the woman looking at me as she stood across the room. “Do you need a cab?” I asked her as I shot her a glance.
“I have a room here as well. I just knew that yours was better,” she assured me, sealing the knowledge that I already knew. She wanted a night with the trust fund kid. I watched her walk out and heard the door close before I made sure that I had all my things. I grabbed the suitcase and left the room, taking a right to my brother’s room before I tapped at the door.
It opened and my likeness stood before me, looking concerned and stressed. I walked inside the room that was just like mine and over to the bar where I poured myself another whiskey. “How is he?”
“Critical,” Brent replied as I looked at him. He was closer to our dad, though we were similar in our lifestyles. We both traveled a lot, partying all over the globe even though he wanted his only sons to go to college for a Business degree. He wanted us taking over from him, but we were only twenty-one and he was just forty-six, healthy as a horse right along with my mother. Wasn’t he? “Mom said the plane will be at the airport in the next half an hour to get us.”
We had a private plane. We had boats in every ocean that existed and homes in all my parent’s favorite vacation spots. We had everything that money could buy and enough in the bank to keep that going, thanks to the man that was in the hospital right now. He worked hard for us. Who would take care of things now?
Brent
I got off the plane and walked to the car parked near the runway that Mom sent. She sounded so distraught over the phone as they waited breathlessly for news and I just wanted to be there. Brent followed me, quietly and I knew that he was dealing with this in his own way. I was almost surprised that he didn’t stay back since he seemed so into the blonde and was bigger on avoidance than I was. Just because we were twins it didn’t mean that we were wired the same. We were close though. I loved the partying and the women as well, but I was actually considering going to school like Dad had been asking both of us to do for the last couple of years.
Dad.
What would happen if he…I shoved the thought away. Dad was healthier than most men I knew and he’d fight. He wouldn’t leave us, not when I didn’t know what to do if he did. I slipped into the back of the car while Brandon sat across from me, looking quietly out of the window. The car pulled out of the airport and headed to Presbyterian where our family was waiting for us.
It was about a thirty-minute drive and I was shaking by the time Walter pulled into the ER parking lot. I jumped out of the car and Brandon followed me as Walter parked the car to join us in a few minutes. I knew that they were in a private room and strode towards them with my brother following me, seeing my blonde mother and sister sitting together as they listened to something that a man was telling them. He was dressed in the white coat of a doctor, though I noticed that the material was wrinkled as we approached. I saw my mother look past the man to the two of us; the tears sliding down her cheeks as I paused. Brandon crashed into me, asking what was wrong as my mom stood and walked out towards us, followed by a crying Ashley.
I knew that Dad was gone.
We stayed at the hospital for a while longer before I drove all of us to the brownstone in the city, my family’s main home. Ashley was still in high school and lived here to go to the private school that Dad insisted on. She was his princess and mom his queen and he spoiled them to no end, though my brother and I had it good as well. Dad treated all of us well and I didn’t know what was going to happen now.
I got my mom to sleep after a few strong cocktails that she deserved after tonight. She wasn’t normally a drinker, but her nerves were shot and she fell asleep on the couch in front of the television set before I covered her with a blanket.
Ashley was passed out in her room after crying herself to sleep, and I looked in on her for a long moment. She was just sixteen and her life was turned upside down now.
I made my way to the third floor where Brandon and I had large rooms and a loft, seeing his door open. I noticed when he disappeared after we got back here and I was trying not to resent that fact. I walked into the master sized bedroom and saw him looking out over the city from the fortieth story of the building. “Are they asleep?” Brandon asked in a soft voice and I walked over to join him.
“Yes. I think we have tomorrow free to let this settle in. I’d like you to handle as much as possible with me after that, Bran. I need you.” I looked at him as he nodded, knowing how hard this was going to be.
My parents were married for twenty-six years, still in love. A lot of my friends had money as well but their parents weren’t like mine. I grew up with real love and my brother was my everything. We’d slept holding hands in our crib, according to my mom and then shared a room until we needed our space. We were still close and I knew that he might be tempted to handle this a bit differently than I was going to, but we needed to remain a team.
“Of course, I’m just so stunned by this. He was supposed to live longer than anyone, Brent. Both were.” I could hear the pain in my brother’s voice as I looked at the bright lights through the thick window pane.
The days following were a blur. Our family was small, with the only set of grandparents living out in California. There were so many friends, though. They were at the house with Mom a lot while Ashley went to her friend’s house to escape. I think it was a break from lots of sad talk and casseroles for her. Dad was ahead of the game and had details about what he wanted from here. His funeral was to be held at the large Catholic church in town that we’d attended when we were younger. None of us were practicing anymore but Dad was raised Catholic and always held his faith in his heart. Brandon and I picked out a coffin for him and planned the long service, along with the gathering at our house. It was going to be catered by Dad’s favorite restaurant.
It was the longest day of my life. Both my brother and I stayed away from the beer during the entire event, but hit the whiskey the second it was over. There was a lot of grieving as well as a lot of laughter. People told stories about Dad that brought back happy memories and I felt a bittersweet ache in my heart as Brandon passed me the bottle.
We shared it, feeling numb when we went to sleep late into the night. Tomorrow was another day of rest and we were meeting with the family lawyer the following day. I knew Dad and he had his finances all sorted out, so there wouldn’t be any fighting about anything. I just didn’t know what it meant for Brandon and me.
Brandon
I sat up straight in the stuffy office, looking at Brent. “The business?”
“Your father always wanted you to take over the business. I know he pushed you to take some classes at school in the past for that reason.” That’s right. The business degree. “Anyway, I know that he has some good managers on board to teach you the ropes as well as a great team of accountants and all the help that you’ll need.” I glanced at Mom, crying softly as she nodded towards us.
I was twenty-one and my only skill was of the social kind. I graduated high school and just went wild, to what I knew was disapproval from my parents but they gave me my freedom. I knew about the business before this but assumed that it would be at least ten years before I’d have to think about it. Not now. I didn’t know what to do.
I told Brent that I wanted to get a drink and we headed to a favorite corner bar of ours. We ordered beer and sat at the bar to watch the Islanders game as we sipped them. “Do you know shit about running a business?” I asked him as he looked at me and shrugged.
“No, but you heard Larry.
We’ll have a lot of help and its Dad’s wish to keep it going. Mom is set to stay in the house and we’re not losing anything, so let’s keep the business going and set up a future for her and Ashley. Mom’s so young still and she can travel and live her life. Do you want her worrying about the business, Bran?” Brent asked as I felt the sting of his words. I didn’t want that. Mom took great care of us kids growing up while Dad worked on the business, while still being an excellent father. She deserved to enjoy life as much as she could without her soul mate, once she recovered a bit more. Mom was also a beautiful woman and she might find love again, in a few years.