Two Sisters

by Leen Elle

  "Then what's going on?" Jennifer asked. I bit my lip.

  "Do you still live in Willmar?" I asked.

  "Yeah, I've been living here for about twelve forsaken years." She replied in disdain.

  "Good, I live in the next town over; I'll meet you there." I said.

  * * *

  I sat nervously in the coffee shop we agreed to meet. It was getting late and I wondered if she was going to be late. It almost felt like a dream; why haven't I even called her? Mom gave me her number, but I never worked up the nerve to call her. It wasn't until today that I spoke to her since our goodbyes all those years ago.

  I tugged at my green sundress and wondered how she looked; did she change at all? I don't know, she could have changed her appearance. I sighed and looked up in time to see a flow of red hair from outside through the coffee shop window. My heart gave a leap as she entered, her sharp eyes scanning the area. She spotted me and ignored the waitress as she made her way towards me.

  There are two ways people could tell us apart; what we wear and our personalities. I like simple stuff, not to much exposure to anything, but Jennifer dresses like she was going to a club every time. She was better at working her sensuality better than me, then again, I didn't care about grabbing the attention of men.

  She sat in front of me, and I could have been looking in the mirror; so she hadn't changed her appearance. She had the same hair, same eye color, same pale skin, and everything else for that matter. Her eyes were cold and suspicious, but they always lit up whenever she saw me, like they did now.

  "Jasmine!" She cried happily as she reached across the table and wrapped her arms around me. The strong sweet scent of lavender hit me hard; it gave me the solid proof that convinced me that she was really there. My eyes welled up with tears.

  "Jennifer, oh, I've missed you!" I cried. Jennifer released me and I wiped my tears. She brushed the hair from my eyes and gave me a genuine smile.

  "You haven't changed." She said.

  I waved at her attire. "Neither have you."

  She laughed. "If I can still pass for twenty-two, I'll keep the look." She said.

  We spent most of our time talking about what had happened over the years we have been separated. She told me about her career in journalism and I talked about my years in studying to be a veterinarian. We laughed as we caught up on all the missed years; seeing Jennifer again reassured me somehow.

  "So, you have a kid?" She asked, sipping her coffee.

  "Yes, Jade, she's ten. I got pregnant at sixteen, had her at seventeen." I replied. "She's special, a little rebellious sometimes, but special."

  "I have a brat, Jaime, he's six." She replied disdainfully. I frowned; I didn't like how Jennifer took that tone when she spoke about her son.

  "Jaime?" I asked.

  "Yeah, he was an accident, I never wanted him. When I married James, I only did it so I could have money to make it through college; I was planning to leave James after that. I mean, I might ask for a divorce soon, I'll let him keep the kid." She said, not really caring.

  "Jennifer!" I cried in horror; I know she was this cold, but never as heartless as to throw aside a family.

  "What? Oh come on, you want to divorce too right? I mean by what you have told me, Aaron is a complete ass. Just take the girl and go." She said.

  "I can't do that! He'll be on me before I can set foot out of the county line!" I said in exasperation. "He'll take Jade from me an leave me with nothing; he'll fight for everything, Jennifer, everything!"

  "Don't get worked up, there has to be something we can do. He can't always get his way." She said.

  "With his money, Aaron can get anything he wants. He watches me like a hawk, any false move and I'll be kicked out; in fact, I have a month before I have to leave the house." I sighed. I placed my face in my hands, tears threatening to come again. I sniffed and looked up.

  Jennifer was staring at me with a fiery expression in her eyes. "You and I look exactly alike." She said. I blinked.

  "Well, we are twins." I said, a little confused.

  "Well, we can't stop the inevitable, but I can help you fight him off until the last day. If you want, I can make his life hell and think of a way to take Jade and run." She said, getting excited by the idea.

  "How on earth are we going to do that? I mean what are you planning?" I asked uncertainly. She leaned forward, her eyes flashed mischievously.

  "Switch places, let me take your place and pretend to be you. Besides, Aaron won't suspect anything, he probably still thinks we lost touch or something." She said.

  "Actually, he doesn't know about you; I haven't told him I have a twin." I said shamefully. I thought she was going to be hurt, maybe angry, but instead she clapped her hands together.

  "Perfect! This could work!" She exclaimed.

  "Hold it, we are not going to switch places, what are you crazy?" I asked.

  "Why the hell not? Obviously this guy needs to learn a lesson, I'm going to enjoy messing with him." She said.

  "Where am I going to go? How about you, you can't just leave your life behind." I told her.

  "I'm not, because you're taking my place." She said certain of herself.

  "What?!" I cried so loud that a few people turned their heads.

  Jennifer shushed me. "Calm down, it's foolproof. We won't have to leave our jobs, we live close enough to get around. All I'm asking is for us to switch places, no one has to know anything; also, our husbands stopped caring about us a long time ago, it will be fine." She said reassuringly.

  I took a few seconds trying to process what she was asking for.

  "You're demented, that's it, you're insane." I told her. She sighed.

  "Look, if Aaron sees how you, in this case me, are able to take care of yourself, he might think of you worthy enough to keep being a part of Jade's life. Think about it, think of Jade, we can make this work; all I'm asking you is to take my place for a month while I do all the work. What do you say? For Jade?" She asked.

  I wasn't sure, not after Jennifer mentioned Jade. I rubbed my eyes. Then again, Aaron has been treating me exceptionally unfair over the past two years. I looked up at Jennifer; she was a fighter, I wasn't. All I had to do was to take her spot for the next month. I bit my lip, but then I gave in.

  "Okay, as crazy as it sounds, let's do it."

  Chapter 4: The Plan

  Jennifer

  By the time my sister I and had departed, I was already formulating a plan in my head. Just thinking about it got me excited. The things I would do to Aaron for making my sister's life miserable. I would make him pay, make him pay for all of his stupidities, for all of his abuse; nobody messes with my sister. Nobody messes with my only family. I going to fight back for Jasmine, fight back with everything I have. Oh, he'll know me, he'll know me well. I'll sweep everything from under his feet, take everything from him and make his life a living hell. Payback is going to be very, very sweet.

  How would I do it, just what exactly should I do to Aaron for the things he ever did? What will justify my actions? What would be cruel? What's his weakness? What's his flaw? I'll have to find out, only then will I be able to bring him down, take away his funny. I will enjoy spending it all, rich as he is. Maybe I should give him a bad name, ruin his reputation. Oh, that gives me a delicious idea…

  I quickly drove home and I was already late for work and I had to get my things before leaving again. I saw James' car.

  "Damn it, he's going to give me hell for leaving Jaime alone." I sighed. "Just go in there and get your stuff, Jennifer." I got out of my car, went through the front door, and went to my bedroom before he could stop me. As I was coming back down the stairs, however, he was blocking my way.

  "Move." I snapped.

  He didn't budge, he crossed his arms and glared at me. "Just where the hell were you Jennifer? I come home and I see Jaime all alone in his room! What the hell were you thinking?!"

  "What? The brat didn't do anything! He didn't even go outside, the
brat stayed up in his room like I told him to! Get off my back, will you!" I shouted.

  "He's six years old, Jennifer! Six! You can't just leave him here alone! I can't believe it, just when I think you can't do anything more drastic, I come home and I find out that you leave my son here all alone!" He yelled angrily.

  "Why don't you take you shit and shove it! I don't give a damn, I'm off to work!"

  "You're a lunatic, Jennifer!" He cried.

  I shut the door.

  * * *

  The next few days weren't so bad. I would meet up with my sister every now and then and we would talk about all the things we needed to do before we switched places. She made a list of all the things I had to do, and most of it had to do with her daughter Jane, Jill, whatever her name was. She started to explain all the things Aaron liked and disliked. Like for instance, how I should behave around him, how I should treat him well, how to do this and that, blah, blah, blah. What was she trying to do? Show me how to please the bastard? I told her I was going to make his life a living hell.

  "Jasmine, you do know I'm going to bring Aaron down, not serve him. Don't give me all of this crap that is going to make him happy, I'm not going to make him happy."

  Jasmine sighed. "Yes, I know, but I can't help being so scared of him. All my life I've been bullied by this man. Even when he pretended to love me, he had this control over me."

  "Well, that's why I'm here, to help you, to help you break free from this tyrant. Don't be afraid anymore, sis. He's going to be so broken up, he won't even know how to get back up again." I said in a low voice.

  Jasmine shivered. Good, I wanted Aaron to feel that same tension. She shook her head. "Here, let me show you a map of the house." She said taking out a sheet of paper.

  I took it, crumbled it up, and threw it behind me.

  "Why did you do that for?" She cried.

  "I'm not going to need a map of your house, because I'm going there myself." I said in a matter of fact tone.

  "What?!" She cried out. People turned and stared.

  "Calm down, I'm not going to go around with my nose buried in a map. I'm taking you to take a look at my place too." I told her.

  "No, it's too risky-!"

  "Listen! Just listen! We have to make this work. Just say the day and time and I'll be there. I need to know where I'm going to sleep and all that good stuff."

  Jasmine was reluctant, but then gave in. "Fine, tomorrow, Jade will be at school and Aaron at work. Just please try to make it quick." She pleaded.

  I rolled my eyes. "I'm not going to blow up your house."

  She lived in a place called Pecan Grove, and it was a small neighborhood with huge houses; scratch that, huge mansions. I was staring all around me in awe; this couldn't be where my sister has been living and declare it a hell hole. She's miserable? In a place like this?

  "Jasmine, this place is extraordinary, you hate it here?" I asked in disbelief. I stared at a huge house and I could clearly see the large pool in the back.

  "Yes, very much." She said as she drove the car.

  "Do you have a pool?" I asked.

  "Yes, we have a large pool outside, I hardly ever use it; Aaron does, however, when he invites friends." She explained. Perfect, summer was just around the corner.

  "Jasmine, this is paradise! I can't believe this place." I gave a small laugh.

  "No, I despise it here. I don't have any real friends, there's only people who bask in their own fake glory. I may be the wife of Aaron Hale, but gossip travels like wildfire; I had barely stepped foot in the house for the first time and people already knew my story. I'm not old money, Jennifer, I'm new money and rich people even discriminate among themselves. I'm a poor ranch girl who married the son of a rich business man." She said, scanning each house with distaste.

  "Do you want me to deal with them, too?" I asked casually.

  "No! Look, let's just get the tour over with." She sighed.

  We stopped before a huge gate. Jasmine leaned out the car window, typed a code on the small keypad, and the iron gates opened slowly. She pulled up into a huge driveway, the mansion loomed over us. Impressive.

  "I could get used to this." I said with glee as she led me inside. The first thing I saw was the two elegant staircases leading to the second floor. A large chandelier decorated the roof of the hall way. I spotted many glass doors leading to all the parts of the house-like mansion. I stared down at the floor, cool white marble.

  "Welcome to my pathetic home." Jasmine mumbled. Pathetic?!

  The place was enormous inside as it was outside. I lost count of how many bathrooms she had. I know most of the bedrooms are on the west side of the house. The kitchen was also impeccable, nice and spacious. The living room was what topped it off. Leather couches and the mere size of it was big enough to fit my whole house. I'm going to enjoy those couches.

  "Come on, let me show you the master bedroom. Well, it's not mine anymore since Aaron kicked me out of it, I sleep down the hall from him." She explained.

  I couldn't believe my ears. "He kicked you out of your room?!" I cried out in anger.

  "Shhh! Try to be quiet, what if some of the cleaners hear you?" She asked softly as she led me upstairs.

  "You have maids?" I asked.

  "No, I do most of the cleaning and cooking here, I don't like paying people for labors I can easily do. Anna comes every now and then, but I call some cleaners whenever I have too much stuff to do, like switching places with my sister for example." She told me. When we were safely alone in the hallway that led to the master bedroom, I spoke up.

  "Well, I'm going to hire maids and cooks, because I have too many important things to do than just go around doing jobs like that. I don't clean my house, I enjoy it." I made myself clear. Jasmine rolled her eyes.

  "Yes, that is so you." She opened the door to Aaron's bedroom.

  "He had the nerve to kick you out of here?" I asked as I jumped on the massive bed. I felt myself sink. "Wow, have you ever had sex on this?"

  Jasmine flushed. "Not for two years, why don't you ask the other women he goes out with?"

  "He's having an affair?" I asked.

  "He has many affairs, not that I really care. He can do whatever he wants, I just want out of this life and be left alone with Jade." She said. I tried to see if she was hiding something, but she really didn't seem all that affected by it.

  "James hasn't had an affair, yet. I think he's trying to be respectful and whatnot." I rolled my eyes.

  "What an honest husband." Jasmine said as she opened the doors to the bathroom. My eyes immediately fell on the Jacuzzi.

  "How can a mere orthodontist afford all of this?" I asked.

  "Well, most of the money Aaron receives is from his father. Maximillius Hale is president of a huge company that produces many times of plastics that can be used in home business and other things. Aaron had always wanted to take over his father's company, and is currently working on it. He says I'm the reason why he hasn't been able to become a successful businessman, I took away most of his life." She rolled her eyes.

  We didn't say anything for a while. Suddenly I stood up and led her out the bedroom.

  "Come, let's take you to my house, you have to get to know it." I told her. I already made up my mind that this master bedroom was going to be all mine.

  * * *

  It was my sister's turn to be impressed.

  "Look, Jennifer! A small park for the children to play in!" Jasmine cried. She then proceeded to wave happily toward an elderly couple across the street, I ducked my head.

  "Get inside, you can't let them know we're twins! Everyone knows each other here!" I hissed. I pulled her into the little house I'm forced to call home.

  "This neighborhood is so friendly!" She exclaimed. She went into the living room and ran towards the big window, opened up the curtains, and sat down on the couch. "Your house is perfect, Jennifer!"

  "No, it's so dull and boring. There's nothing great about it."

  "Ar
e you serious? It's so cozy, so warm, I feel safe here." She said. I went on to show her around the house, not that there was much to see.

  "Not to offend you, but, this house is a little dirty and unorganized." She said, wiping off dust from a coffee table.

  "James doesn't want to hire a housemaid, I already told him I wasn't going to do it." I pointed out. We reached my room.

  "You husband sleeps here? Where do you sleep, in that room?" She asked, pointing across the hall. I hesitated then answered.

  "Er…this is where I sleep. Jaime has that room. The guest room is used to store junk, I still share a bed with James…" I told her softly.