Redeeming the Stepbrother

by Andrew Grey

  She stilled my hand and then took it. “Well.” Perching herself on the stool across from my work desk, she squeezed my fingers. “See, after you conked out that ridiculous brother of yours—and I have no idea why you waited so long. That man is a complete meathead. What I don’t understand is how you and that dipstick could possibly be related. I hear he’s hoping for a promotion, but Jeremy Cinderson has a lot in common with a box of rocks.”

  I smiled. “Hattie….”

  She waved her other hand. “Sorry, I got off track. Well, it seems that Dante was very pleased with Beau’s purchase, and everyone was talking about you. In a good way. I bet you get a bunch of sales because everyone was admiring the painting.”

  “They didn’t….” I swallowed hard.

  “Sweetheart, that work went for almost ten grand. There were three people fighting over it. Gladys Potter was manning the auction table, and she said that they were placing bids and glaring at each other. Beau apparently swept in and overbid everyone. But they all wanted the work. Everybody thought it stunning, according to Gladys. She was all aflutter about it.” Hattie practically squealed. “Heck, I think I want one.” She winked and then let go of my hand, fanning herself dramatically.

  “Hattie, geez….” I smiled and felt myself blushing.

  She smacked me on the shoulder playfully. “Sweetheart, if I had your eye, I’d paint gorgeous men at every opportunity.” She laughed warmly, and some of my jangled nerves relaxed. “Those paintings are amazing. The figures are all painted with such care and heart.” Her eyes sparkled. “I went on the internet yesterday to look at the others, and I ended up staring for a long time. See, if I didn’t know you, I’d swear you were painting lovers, but I know you’re alone, so all those images come from your heart. All that love is sitting there, just waiting to come out.” She patted my hand and stood.

  I rocked slowly from side to side, then forced myself to stop. “What did Beau and Dante do after I left? I mean, my brother wasn’t going to be sorry for what he did.” In fact, I was waiting for some kind of retribution.

  “I don’t know. Someone said your mother and Jeremy were escorted out, while others said they left after she got Jeremy on his feet again. Apparently your brother had been drinking too much, so most people figured whatever happened, he deserved a fist in the face.” She turned to leave. “You have nothing to worry about.” Hattie tapped the desk a few times with her hand and then left me alone once again.

  I sighed and tried to force myself to get to work, but I kept thinking about Dieter. I knew I shouldn’t have let myself get so damned carried away about him. I’d let him sweep me off my feet. I had never thought I was an easy mark, but obviously I had been. I was lonely, and I’d spent all those years building up what love would look like in my head. Then Dieter came along, and he was the whole package—sophisticated, handsome, fun to be around, a great heart. At least I’d thought so. Dieter had danced away with my heart, and I had done nothing to stop him.

  Wiping my eyes, I pushed away the sadness as best I could and dipped my brush in the colors I wanted. I pulled up the pictures of the stork I’d drawn and laid one out on the vase before coloring it in one brushstroke at a time.

  I SPENT much of the morning finishing the stork. The vase turned out beautifully, and I set it aside to dry. Then I could scan it to use as a basis for drawings that would lay out the pattern for the ninety-nine or so other pieces that would have the same design. Later they could be painted in, and the design would have a great deal of consistency while still being hand-painted. If it was a success, the pattern would be in production for three years or so, then retired, and the images and patterns would help me going forward.

  My stomach rumbled. Though I didn’t particularly feel like eating, I left the studio to go into town.

  “Hi, Betty,” I said when I entered the café and took a seat in the back, away from the windows.

  “Chicken salad?” she asked.

  “Yes, please.” I wished I’d brought something to read, anything to occupy my attention for a little while. Betty brought over a newspaper and set it on the table, and I thanked her. She was an incredible server, and I must have looked pathetically lonely. At least I could hide behind the paper.

  “Florian.” A hand tipped down the paper, and I lowered it. Dieter stood before me.

  “What do you want?” I snapped. “And where is Clarice?” The hurt flared up inside and I couldn’t keep from sniping at him.

  “I tried to tell you before you left the other night that—”

  I folded the paper, set it aside, and placed my hands on the table. I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear any excuses. Things had looked pretty cozy to me with the way she’d held on to Dieter like she owned him. “What exactly did you try to tell me? That you and I had fun, but now you have to marry Clarice because you need to have an heir so you can make a bunch of little counts and countesses? But that, if I’m good, I can be your side-piece trick or something?” I picked up the paper again.

  “I’d never do that, and Clarice and I are not engaged. We never were because I never asked her,” Dieter hissed, and I lowered the paper.

  “Then why was she there saying you are?” The prissiness slipped from my voice, and even I heard the hurt I couldn’t keep out of it. I wanted to smack myself for sounding so pathetic.

  “Is everything all right?” Betty asked, giving me a smile and then turning to glare at Dieter. Apparently the grapevine had been working overtime, and Dieter, it seemed, was none too popular at the moment. That was a pleasant surprise. “I can ask him to leave if you want me to.”

  “It’s okay, Betty. Thanks. Bring him a cup of coffee. He can stay and say what he has to.” I didn’t want to get my hopes up. I had little reason to at this point.

  Betty nodded slowly, and Dieter took the chair across from me.

  He reached for my hand, but I pulled it back. I wasn’t ready for anything like that right now. He cleared his throat. “My father and Clarice’s arranged for the two of us to get married about eight years ago. They were thrilled. Their children were getting married and they could merge the two pieces of family property into one larger estate that would go to our heir. It was supposed to be what was best for both families, but the problem was, they never discussed it with me.” Dieter sat back in his seat. “When I heard about it, I put an end to it and told my father I wouldn’t be marrying anyone.”

  “I bet he was furious. Is that when you told him you were gay?” I asked.

  “Yeah. I told him everything, and his reaction was that things were perfect. Clarice would be my wife, and I could have guys on the side if that was what I wanted, as long as I produced an heir.” Dieter paused when Betty brought his coffee.

  “Why would your dad try to arrange your marriage?” I asked.

  “It’s how he met Mom. They were arranged. There’s a long history of it in noble families. It sucks, if you ask me. He threatened to change his will, but passed away before he could do it. Clarice and her father are delusional enough to think that my father’s arrangement is an actual betrothal. In this day and age.” Dieter rolled his eyes before sipping some of his coffee.

  “So she showed up at the party?” I asked. “Why?”

  Dieter set his cup down and wrapped his hands around it. “She called my office back in Munich, and they told her where I was. She was in New York, so she came down to see me and cause trouble. I put her back on the train yesterday morning with the message that I was never going to marry her and that she and her father should get some help for their delusions.” He smiled. “What I don’t understand at all is why she is so set on marrying me. She knows that I’m gay and have no interest in her.”

  I cleared my throat. “Have you seen yourself in a mirror? Clarice took one glance at you and decided that you’d look amazing standing next to her at parties, and she imagined that if she could marry you, what beautiful babies you’d have together.” I stopped talking as Betty set down my plate. “Thank you.�
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  “Sure, honey.” She smiled and patted my shoulder, then refilled our coffee cups before leaving once again.

  “I don’t think she’d marry me just for my looks.”

  And here I’d thought Dieter was smart. “Men have been marrying women for how they look since the beginning of time. Don’t you think women can do the same thing?” I took a bite of the chicken salad and swallowed before I continued. “Maybe her father is as big a dick as he seems for wanting to marry his daughter off, so she wants to get away from him.”

  Dieter blew air from between his lips. “Her father is a real piece of work.”

  “Is he still alive?” I asked.

  Dieter swallowed and nodded, then shook his head. “He’s a selfish old prig, and I hate my father for trying to make any arrangements with him. But I never agreed to marry her… or anyone else. I would never have done that and then started dating you. Two-timing anyone is not who I am.” Dieter sat up straighter. “And it hurt that you thought I was capable of that.”

  I leaned forward. “What was I supposed to think? She was hanging on you, telling everyone you were engaged.” I took another bite, forcing the food down because I needed something in my stomach if I was going to make it through the rest of the day. “She walked right up to you, grabbed your arm like she belonged there, and you did nothing about it.” Anger bloomed inside me, and at least I understood where to aim it. “You didn’t pull away or wrench yourself free from Miss Grabby Hands. You let her stand there and make me feel and look like a fool.” That wasn’t all his fault. My brother had played his part in piling on the humiliation with his little announcement. But Dieter was right here in front of me, so he got the full brunt of it.

  To his credit, he sat still and let me fire squarely at him. “I know. I had already told her to leave, and when she didn’t, I was going to try to explain things to you without making a scene.”

  I rolled my eyes, leaning over the table once again. “I’ll give you a piece of free advice. If someone ever walks up to you at a party introducing themselves as your fake fiancée and you happen to be with someone you care for… for God’s sake, make a fucking scene.” I ground out the words between my teeth, making a commotion in the café and not giving a damn in the least. “Because that bitch is going to hurt the person you’re with.” I sat back, crossing my arms over my chest. “You hurt me,” I said softly.

  Dieter sat still, blinking. “I never meant to do that.”

  “Well, you did, and that masquerade party was both the happiest and worst night of my life, and you had a hand in both.” I turned my gaze to my food because I had to look somewhere other than at Dieter at that moment. I checked my watch and ate faster because I was going to need to get back to work.

  “I suppose I did.” Dieter touched my hand, and this time I didn’t pull away, but I didn’t take his hand in return either. “I’m sorry for that. Clarice is gone. And I had a talk with her father and told him that if he or Clarice tried anything like this again, my lawyers would be involved. I made things very clear to them that I will not be bound by some talk between two old men who had no business planning my future for me.”

  I stared at him, looking for the truth and maybe letting him squirm a little. He’d hurt me, and I wanted to forgive him but didn’t know if I was ready to quite yet.

  “I mean it, Florian. I didn’t mean to hurt you and I was only trying to avoid a scene. I promise.”

  “Good.”

  Dieter squeezed my hand. “I saw what you did to your brother. I would never have expected you to hit anyone like that.”

  “There’s a long history between the two of us, and I think all of it came to the surface in that moment.” I drank the last of my coffee and set the mug back down. “He had no right to do what he did, and hopefully now he’ll know I’m not going to take his crap anymore.” I grew angry again just thinking about it.

  I finished the last of my lunch and got ready to go. I signaled Betty, and she brought the check. Dieter tried to pay, but I shook my head and handed her the cash.

  “I’ll see you later, Betty, and thank you.” I said goodbye to Dieter and left the café, heading back to work. Maybe it was best if I simply let go and got back to my life. Dieter was leaving soon, and thinking anything more would come of things probably was asking for trouble.

  “DUDE,” TREY said as I passed his work area on my way to my own. He was another of my work colleagues and usually kept his distance.

  “What’s up?” I asked as I stepped into his space. A huge vase of flowers sat on his side table.

  Trey picked up the bouquet and handed it to me. “These came for you while you were out.”

  I took them and thanked Trey before returning to my worktable and reading the card. Thinking of you, and I’m so not engaged! The card was handwritten and signed by Dieter. I wondered how he got them here so fast, and then it made me smile. I sat down, looking at the flowers for a little while before getting back to work. At least now I wasn’t going to be tempted to try to decorate one of the pieces in various shades of black.

  I had a very productive afternoon, laying out a second stork vase and getting a good part of it colored. I also worked with Hattie. She loved the design, so after getting permission, she started on one as well, and just like that, my design was in production. It was always a good feeling.

  I finished up for the day and carried my flowers to my car before driving home. A lot of the clouds that had hung over me for the last two days had dissipated, and I found myself smiling as I smelled the carnations, roses, lilies, and daisies, all in red and white, before going inside.

  To my surprise the television was silent, and I went upstairs, wondering where everyone was. I pushed open the door to my room to find my mother sitting on the edge of my bed. “What are you doing here?”

  “I wanted to talk with you.”

  I set the flowers on my desk, putting my bag down next to it, and turned to her. “So talk.”

  “I don’t know where to begin. I’ve been so angry for hours and….” She wrung her hands over and over again. “Jeremy didn’t get the promotion at the plant, and I think it’s because of you.”

  I shook my head. “I had nothing to do with anything as far as Jeremy is concerned. But if you want to know who could be at fault….” I opened my closet door, angling the full-length mirror toward her. “Jeremy was the one who made a fool of himself at the party in front of the boss. Jeremy was so drunk at the masquerade party that he could barely stand up or think. Besides, there was a snowball’s chance in hell that he was going to be promoted. All the people he works with hate him. The last thing anyone is going to do is promote someone they hate to an overbearing, controlling supervisor.” I shrugged and began putting my things away.

  “All that’s a lie. You must have said something,” she countered.

  “No, Mom. I didn’t say a word.” I tried to keep my voice level. “I’ve known for a long time that Jeremy is your favorite and that you care for him more than anyone else. But I’ve never lied to you.”

  “Then what about those paintings? Why did you never tell me about them?”

  “Because they’re mine, and because it’s part of my work and it’s something I wanted to keep for myself.” I stepped closer. “I have to lock my door to get any privacy. I don’t rummage through your room or Jeremy’s… or Ella’s for that matter, but he certainly went through mine. I am allowed to have some privacy, considering that it’s my salary that pays for part of the bills.” I breathed heavily, getting angrier by the second. “I should be able to have some consideration.”

  My mother wasn’t going to give an inch—I could tell by the set of her jaw. She felt that whatever happened in this house was her business. “I deserved to know.”

  “No, you didn’t. I have every right to keep some things to myself.” I closed the closet door and faced her. “But that’s okay now. My secret is out. I’ve been painting and selling them on the side for years.” I met her
gaze. “Yes, Mom, selling them. And you know, I think it’s time I moved out.” I’d had about all I could stand. “I’ll find a place to live and be out of here as soon as I can.” I stepped closer to her. “But as soon as I leave, I will no longer pay you any rent or help you with any of the bills. You’re on your own.” I saw the fear rising in her eyes. I paid more than my share of the expenses for the family, and that was going to be gone.

  “You still—” she sputtered, but I shook my head, cutting her off.

  “I owe you nothing at all. You and Jeremy can stew here in this house all you want, in some weird Grey Gardens kind of existence.” I chuckled as I imagined Jeremy as Little Edie. He’d make a great weird old lady surrounded by half a million cats. He and Mother would be wallowing in their own squalor within days. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to start packing.” This was the right decision. I wasn’t happy here and I hadn’t been in a while, so it was time I did what I could to be happy.

  “But we’re your family and I’m your mother.” Her voice was soft, almost pleading.

  “Then you need to act like a mother for all of us. You need to do your share and get out there to find a job. Jeremy can’t support you, and someday he’s going to get married and then you will be all alone. Ella isn’t going to stay, and neither am I.” I’d remained living at home for too long already.

  Mom was definitely afraid. She had an easy life right now, and it was pretty clear to me that she wasn’t going to give that up without some sort of fight.

  I turned away and started getting things together. “So what’s for dinner?” I smiled. “I hope it’s not a casserole.” I didn’t think I could stomach one of those tonight.

  She nodded and stood, but paused in the doorway. “Who sent you flowers?”

  “Count Dieter,” I said softly, unable to keep from smiling.

  She nodded. “I don’t want to be mean, but you know he’ll go home. That he’s only here for a week or two more at the most, and then he’ll be done with whatever he came here for and he’ll go back to his life.” She didn’t say the other half of what she meant. That Dieter would leave me behind. I was already well aware of that.