You Belong To Me

“You’re kicking me out of my own apartment?”

“Kaley’s going to be mine. The only way to make her mine is to get rid of you. You’re like an added layer of protection she can hide behind. I don’t want her hiding or running to you.”

“She’ll be pissed at me, Quinn. Can’t you think of something else?”

He sat back, running a finger over his lip. “No. You’ve got to go. Make an excuse.”

“Well, Scott turned out to be gay. I could use being heartbroken as an excuse.” Dorothy drank her coffee, frowning. “I hope you know what you’re doing. If Kaley starts to hate me, I won’t speak to you ever again.”

Kaley wasn’t going to hate him or her. He was going to make sure she didn’t get a chance to think about anything but him.

“It’ll be fine.”

For the rest of the afternoon, he helped his sister pack and saw her off. She was going to visit their parents. Quinn promised to take care of Kaley. He asked Dorothy to wait until it was time for Kaley to get off work before she sent a text. Entering the apartment, Quinn was more in control. There was no doubt in his mind that he was going to get what he wanted. He never gave up.

Entering the kitchen, he made a quick casserole so he and Kaley would come home to wonderful smells. He phoned his mother to talk him through Kaley’s favorite foods.

“You’re being sneaky, like your father,” his mother said. Her voice filled the kitchen, where he had her on speakerphone.

“I know what I want.”

“Kaley’s a dear girl. We’re happy for you to get together. We’re just worried about what this will all mean.”

“Mom, this isn’t some test I’m cramming for, or some hobby I want to master. She’s the woman I’ve been in love with for a long time. I did exactly what you, Dad, and Dorothy asked me to do. I left to give her time to spread her wings. I’m done waiting for her. I want to be with her more than anything else.”

His parents were the only two people he could be completely honest with. They saw a hell of a lot more than he thought was possible for two people to see. Both his mother and father had seen what was happening to him with Kaley. Dorothy had been a surprise child, as they’d been trying for over ten years to have more children. He didn’t know the complete medical history, but it was hard for his parents to have lots of children, even though they both wanted them.

The eleven-year age gap had never bothered him with Dorothy. He enjoyed helping his folks look after her. Being a big brother meant something to him. He warned all the prospective boys away, kept her and Kaley safe. Then one day he came home from college to see Dorothy dancing around the living room. She was shouting over the music, encouraging Kaley to dance with her. He’d been silent as he watched the two girls. When he’d seen Kaley, it had been like he’d been hit in the gut. The feelings she inspired inside him had been powerful, consuming. He hadn’t seen a mousy, shy girl. Quinn had seen the beautiful woman she was going to turn into.

From that moment, he’d been hooked. Every chance he could, he’d come home just to see her. Those initial feelings had developed, strengthening with every passing year. Now, she was going to be his. They’d give his parents grandchildren. He wanted a big family, but first, he needed Kaley.

****

The library was half an hour from being shut for the night. Martha was helping a family become acquainted with the books and sections. Kaley stood behind the reception desk, serving anyone who came forward. When she first started working at the library, she’d been terrified about dealing with customers.

She’d always been shy. Kaley didn’t know why she was shy, it was just something she’d developed.

When her cell phone chimed, she reached into her pocket to see a message from Dorothy.

Sorry to do this to you, Kaley. Scott broke up with me. The bastard was gay. I’m not going to be around for a few days. Love you. See you soon.

Groaning, she pocketed her cell, wishing Dorothy had called her sooner. If she was brokenhearted, she was going back home to her parents. There was no way Kaley would get the time off work. The last half-hour went by so fast and she didn’t have any spare time to come up with a good reason to get out of going home.

Outside of the large window, she saw Quinn stood waiting for her. It was still light. In a few months, it would be totally dark at this time of night.

“See you tomorrow,” Martha said.