You Look Just Like Your Sister

by Rachel Burns

  “I see.”

  “As you can see we have the family tradition of going overboard. We will very slowly open presents, so Elise won’t miss much.”

  Derrick wanted to go wait in the car for Elise to finish in here. They were a mismatched pair. Looking around here, he knew he wasn’t good enough for Elise.

  She should have married someone who had the same first name as his father and his father before him, a William the fifth or someone like that.

  When would she notice, she could have done better?

  Patrick fell asleep, and Elise didn’t want to go back to her husband. It felt so good to be lying in her own bed.

  She stayed in bed and thought about things. She felt guilty about not being a better wife. Was the problem her own shortcomings? Perhaps if she’d been better and more mature? She could have done a million things differently. Why hadn’t she?

  When Elise hadn’t joined them two hours later, Derrick informed the others that he would check on his wife.

  Ashton gave him directions to her room. Derrick went up the stairs and counted doors to find the one that should be hers. He knocked softly. No one answered.

  Derrick stood in the hall and felt like an idiot. He opened the door and looked inside, prepared to excuse himself if he’d opened the wrong door. He saw his wife and son sleeping in the bed.

  Her breasts were bare, and she’d changed her clothes. She looked normal again. He wished he hadn’t made that mistake before.

  He covered her up and picked up Patrick, figuring Elise was tired. She’d cleaned the apartment and taken care of Patrick and him perfectly lately. She must be exhausted.

  Elise had even been seeing to his sexual needs. She was such a goddess in the bedroom. “I love you, Elise. Sleep well.”

  Derrick was glad he had Patrick with him when he went back to the wolves.

  Next year they would go to his parent’s.

  Chapter 32 – The Doghouse

  Elise was startled when she woke up. She feared Patrick had fallen on the floor. When she couldn’t find him, she went downstairs to the others. Patrick was sleeping in his father’s arms.

  “Elise, your back.” Derrick was glad to see her.

  “I’m sorry. I guess I fell asleep.”

  “That’s okay. You’re here now. Come here and open your presents.” Derrick moved on the sofa, making it clear that he wanted her to sit next to him.

  “Yes, do hurry. We’ll be eating soon.” Marshall gave her a reassuring smile. He wanted his daughter to know he still loved her, even if she looked a mess now.

  Elise went to her father's side. “Are we going to watch a movie tonight?”

  “Yes, we are. It’s n 3D. You’ll love it.”

  “I hope I don’t miss it because of Patrick.” Elise heard what she’d said and feared the others would think she didn’t love her precious son. “I’m sorry. It feels like I’m constantly feeding him lately.”

  Ashton stood up and petted over her sister’s head. “We know. Derrick told us. We looked it up while you slept. It’s normal for babies to be extra hungry when they’re around three months old. He’s going through a growth spurt. We know you’re the perfect mother.”

  Elise looked at Ashton and nodded. “If it’s normal, then that’s okay. I didn’t know.”

  “I’ll bet you didn’t. You probably didn’t have any time to look anything up.” Ashton smiled at Elise, thinking that she needed to make time to visit Elise at her place.

  They opened presents and ate together. Derrick tried to take Patrick as often as he could, so Elise could eat. Somehow she looked worse after her nap than before it. It was clear he needed to step up to the plate more often, or she would get sick with exhaustion.

  Elise knew she wasn’t that tired. It was the emotional stress that was wearing her down.

  Derrick had enjoyed the movie. It had been like going to the cinema.

  On the way home he gained and looked at Elise. “The movie was amazing. I never heard of anyone having a movie theater in their house. That was cool.”

  “Yes, I grew up very privileged,” Elise replied.

  Derrick had to wonder if that hadn’t been a barb, pointing out that she was no longer privileged.

  “I want you to take Patrick up and stay in our warm apartment. I’ll walk back and forth to carry up the presents.”

  “Yes, sir,” she answered.

  “Elise, I think we’re past that. You don’t have to call me that anymore.”

  “That’s okay. I think it would be best if we didn’t get too familiar with one another.”

  “I’ve never gotten as familiar with any other woman,” Derrick joked.

  Elise didn’t answer him. She hated him.

  It was wearisome to believe that she ever had loved him. She didn’t want to think of herself as being stupid enough to love a man who didn’t love her back.

  However, the evidence was stacked against her. She had not only fallen in love with a man she knew loved her sister, but she also married him, knowing he didn’t love her but someone else.

  Her only comfort was that Ashton didn’t love him back either.

  Elise went up with Patrick and changed his diaper. She sat down with him and fed him on the couch. Derrick carried in the many things they had received from her family.

  “I’ll go get ready for bed,” Derrick announced.

  Elise nodded, without looking at him.

  Derrick had a feeling that he was in the doghouse with her. His little mistake was going to get him into a lot of trouble.

  The odd thing was that he’d felt a pull to Elise. The clothes had thrown him off. If only she’d had her necklace out from the beginning, he wouldn’t have made that stupid mistake.

  He would have praised her beauty and greeted Ashton as he would any other day. Didn’t she see that she alone had his complete attention?

  Elise was still feeding the baby when Derrick came out of the bathroom.

  “I’ll just go to bed and wait for you there.”

  Elise nodded.

  Derrick wanted to ask her if she would come. “Or do you need my help with anything?”

  “No, thank you, sir.”

  “I told you not to call me that anymore.” Derrick was so frustrated with her. No matter what he did, he was the bad guy.

  “I told you I felt very comfortable doing so, sir.”

  “I see. So you’re going to pout. Fine. It was a mistake, and I’m sorry.”

  It didn’t sound like he was sorry. Instead, it sounded like he was getting mad and blaming her for his mistake.

  “When are you going to come to bed?”

  “I’m not. Patrick needs me.” Elise looked down at the hungry little baby sucking greedily at her breast.

  “Elise, I said I was sorry. What more do you want from me?”

  “Nothing. I want nothing from you.” Elise had given up wanting things from him. She had only wanted a silly little thing from him anyway – his love.

  Derrick stupidly stood, looking down at his wife and child. What did he have to say to get her to forgive him?

  This was a moment when he should call his father and ask for help, but he couldn’t because his father had no clue that Derrick was married.

  Frustrated he turned away from her and went to bed.

  He didn’t sleep. He tossed and turned, thinking about what he needed to do to right this wrong.

  n his head he played down what had happened, telling himself it hadn’t been a big deal.

  Then he remembered her eyes. She’d been smiling so nicely, and then he ruined it for her. She hadn’t put the dress back on either when she came back.

  He was a terrible husband.

  It took hours for Patrick to fall asleep. Once he finally had, Elise made a bed for herself on the sofa. The past couple of weeks had been great with Derrick in his bed, but it hadn’t been honest.

  She lay down and covered herself up, wanting to sleep, but she couldn’t. The same thoughts were
hammering in her mind, forbidding her the sleep she needed. His family didn’t know about her, he loved Ashton, not her. He’d been forced to marry her.

  They weren’t a match made in heaven.

  Everything had been a mistake.

  Derrick had been watching the crack under his bedroom door. When the light went out, he knew she wasn’t coming.

  He had a feeling she was going to leave him. Was there anything he could do to save a marriage he’d been forced into?

  He lay awake most of the night, trying to think of something that would solve his problems.

  Chapter 33 – Amends

  Derrick used the rest of his vacation to woo his wife. Patrick was his biggest competition. He was constantly hungry.

  Derrick cooked and cleaned and tried to get Elise to sleep. She pushed him away.

  He scolded her and even threatened to spank her. The look of pain on her face stopped him from doing that.

  Derrick came home early from his first day back at work, fearing she would be gone.

  He found her laying on the sofa sound asleep. He let her sleep, knowing she needed it. If she were at home, Patrick would have a nanny and maids would be helping Elise. Her life would be so much easier if she’d married a man of her standing.

  What possessed her to fall in love with him? He wasn’t anything special. In fact, he was a selfish jerk.

  When Patrick woke up, Derrick took care of him, entertaining him, so Elise could sleep as much as possible.

  “You’re being pretty hard on Mommy lately, little guy. Maybe you should let her get more sleep. It would be good for Mommy.” Derrick hugged Patrick and stared at him.

  Having this tiny person put him in awe. It was clear that Patrick was the good guy in this. He’d brought his parents together.

  “I can take him. You don’t have to.” Elise sat up and rubbed her eyes.

  “I don’t mind caring for my son, Elise. He isn’t crying. You could take a shower and get dressed,” Derrick suggested.

  Elise looked at herself. “I’m sorry. I haven’t gotten around to getting dressed yet. Patrick cried whenever I laid him down, and then I just wanted to take a nap. I’m sorry.”

  “You don’t have to be sorry for taking care of yourself.”

  Elise got up and stretched a little. Then she noticed the time. “I’m sorry. Your supper. I’ll make you something to eat.”

  She went into the kitchen and pulled out a frying pan. Then she opened the refrigerator. It was practically empty. They hadn’t gone shopping over the holidays, and she hadn’t gotten around to it today.

  Her jaw dropped. He would spank her now.

  Derrick had followed Elise into the kitchen. “I was thinking I could use my gift certificate this evening. I’d love a juicy burger. Go take a shower, and I’ll change Patrick and get him dressed. You can feed him, and then we’re off. I’m looking forward to this.”

  Elise exhaled, relieved. She went off to the bathroom to shower.

  Derrick read her thoughts so easily. She’d feared he would spank her for not shopping and cooking. He needed to get her to love him again. He feared that she didn’t anymore.

  Derrick held the door to the diner open for her. Elise pushed the baby carriage into the diner and looked around for an empty table.

  Derrick stepped in behind her, proud to be seen with her. He felt they were an especially nice and good-looking family. They slipped into a booth and looked at the menu.

  “You look so beautiful tonight, Elise.” He smiled at her, thinking he should take her out more often.

  Elise tilted her head a little to the side and looked back at him. Was she expected to return the compliment?

  “I did that wrong, didn’t I? I should have said you look beautiful again this evening. Bear with me. I’m still learning how to talk to a beautiful woman.”

  “Didn’t you learn how at school?”

  “No, I went to an all boys’ school. At college I was too tongue-tied. Besides, I didn’t want to waste the money.”

  “What money?” Elise asked, nicely.

  Derrick felt a heavyweight being lifted from his shoulders. They were finally talking normally again. “The money I saved up to pay for college.”

  “I had wanted to be able to pay my way through college too,” Elise confessed.

  “Really?” Derrick had always wondered why she hadn’t gone directly to college after high school.

  “Yes, I had wanted to study business. I thought if I had practical experience the things I learned at school would make more sense. Besides, if I worked for my father for a year, it would have felt like I had earned my tuition. I didn’t want to live off of him. I haven’t done anything to earn my keep since I was born.”

  Derrick was struck by hoe completely Ashton and Elise were. Ashton would never feel guilty about not earning her keep. “Elise, that train didn’t leave the station. You can still go to school. You can take night classes. I’ll take care of Patrick, so you can go and study. I think it would be important for your self-esteem.”

  “My self-esteem?” Elise asked.

  “Yes, you need to see yourself in a positive light.”

  “I thought you wanted me to feel bad about what I did to you for the rest of my life?” She certainly did.

  “I forgave you for that already. In fact, I think you’re the smarter one of us. You knew right away we were meant to be together. Men are slow that way.” He gave her a brilliant smile, filled with love.

  “Do you mean that?” Elise asked, hoping that he wasn’t lying.

  “With my whole heart. I love you, Elise.” He looked her deep in the eyes, so she could see the truth for herself.

  Elise blushed. Slowly, a smile spread across her face. “I love you, too.”

  Derrick was pleased to see that Patrick was still sleeping. They had gone shopping and bought enough food to keep them fed for a couple of weeks in case Patty-cake needed his mommy’s complete attention.

  “He’s sleeping,” Derrick told Elise.

  Elise nodded at him.

  “We can go to bed now.”

  “Good night, Derrick.” Elise went to the sofa and picked up her pillow and gave it a shake to get it back into shape.

  “I was thinking you could go to bed with me.” Derrick had to grin at the doe-eyed look he received. She was the sweetest thing in the world. “I believe my wife said she loved me at the restaurant. So she should sleep next to her beloved husband.”

  Elise blushed a little. She’d forgotten that married couples usually slept together. Force of habit had moved her feet to the sofa.

  Derrick held his hand out to her. “Come with me.”

  Elise shyly took his hand.

  Derrick started to kiss her before they reached the bedroom. His hands wanted to touch her everywhere at once. “I missed you so much,” he said between kisses.

  His mouth covered hers for a deep fierce kiss that made her weak in the knees.

  Derrick walked her into the bedroom and closed the door, so Patty couldn’t hear them. He removed his clothes and helped her remove hers too, because she wasn’t going fast enough. “I need you, Elise.”

  Elise grinned as she peeled away her things. “You’re really eager for this, aren’t you?” she teased him.

  “Hell yes.” He lifted her up in her arms and stared down at her breasts. “Those have gotten a lot bigger than the last time I saw you naked.”

  “Patrick needs more milk,” she explained.

  “I’m glad you’re seeing that he gets it.” His eyes were fixed on her breasts as he admired them. He laid her down on the bed and lay down next to her. He was rock hard for her.

  Elise was glad they weren’t fighting anymore. She felt silly for worrying that he didn’t love her. His body obviously loved her.

  Both of his hands went to her breasts. He gently glided over them and lifted them to feel their weight. “If I were Patty, I would want to cuddle up with these all day too. Patty is a bright little boy.”


  “You’re being so silly.”

  “I guess I’m just happy that my lovely wife likes me again.”

  “I love you so much. It hurts me when I have to doubt if you really like me,” Elise confessed.

  “You never have to doubt have I feel for you.” He kissed her lips tenderly.

  Derrick reached between her legs and cupped her in his hand. “My hand fits perfectly over you.”

  “Like we were made for each other.”

  “Exactly.” He thrust his middle finger into her and rhythmically moved it in and out.

  Derrick was getting close. Her soft body, the sight of her breasts bouncing directly under his eyes, and the slick wetness surrounding his penis, were all telling him that he was more than welcome to be inside of her. She was driving him wild.

  It was impossible to believe that he’d thought of Ashton as being the more desirable sister. Who wanted Ashton when you could have Elise?

  Derrick was coming. He laid his forehead on her shoulder as he came. Her warm full breasts hit against his face as he thrust himself empty into her body. “Oh Ashton, that was great.”

  He pulled out of her and got up.

  A tear ran down Elise’s face as he walked out and went into the hall.

  She rolled to her side and cried. He didn’t love her. He only wanted her, so she could pretend to be Ashton for him.

  Patrick started to cry before Derrick came back. Elise slipped into her robe and went to him.

  Derrick heard that and shook his head. It would be good if Elise could finally sleep through the night. He felt like she was only hanging on by a silk thread.

  Maybe he should ask her father for a week off. He feared Elise would pass out from exhaustion when she was alone with Patty.

  “Did you need help with anything, honey?”

  “No, I’m good.”

  “I have to get up tomorrow, but I’ll take him this weekend, so you can sleep.”