by Cindy Wilder
I got out of bed and took a deep breath. My eyes felt sore. Had I cried and not even realized it? Pull it together, I thought to myself. I hurried to the bathroom so I could brush my teeth and run a brush through my hair. It wasn't Jen's fault I was irritated. She was so excited to have her kids home and had worked really hard on dinner. I couldn't let her suffer over my argument with my dad.
When I got downstairs, my dad wasn't in the kitchen. She walked over and pulled me into a hug.
“Sometimes it's hard to watch our kids grow up and not need us anymore. Just give him some time. You're all he's had for so long, and he doesn't know how to feel about you having another man in your life. He was the one you always leaned on. I think he's having a hard time with the thought of you needing someone else. That day he called you, he was happy you weren't alone. At the same time, I think he felt like you didn't need him anymore. Someone else was in his place.”
“I wanted him to come to school, but I know he has to be able to have his own life too. I can't let it always revolve around me. I'm happy you're with him. I hope you don't think I'm not. I was just trying to compare both situations. He never told me until we were driving to your house. Most kids would flip out over that. I stayed calm for him. Of course I was pissed that he left me out of it. When it's his turn, he freaks out. My thing wasn't nearly as bad as what he did,” I said. “I'm sorry about earlier. I should have let it go. If I had, then he would keep talking that way. I can't listen to him talk about my friend like that. I still shouldn't have done that in front of you and Brad.”
“Bray,” she said.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing,” she said. “I misheard you. Can you help me carry these bowls to the table?”
“Of course,” I said, as I pulled out of her arms. “Thanks for understanding.”
I grabbed a few of the dishes and walked them into the dining room. My dad was already sitting down at the end of the table. When I finished helping Jen with the food and drinks, I sat down next to him. He looked over and took my hand in his.
“I'm sorry about earlier,” he said. “I'm just having a hard time with you growing up and not needing me.”
“I'm sorry too,” I said. “I'll always need you. It's not easy for me that you've got someone else in your life either.”
Jen walked in and sat on the opposite side of the table. She leaned back over her chair facing the hallway.
“Dinner's on the table, son,” she yelled. “Get your ass in here.”
“I'm coming,” Brad yelled.
He walked into the dining room and sat down next to me.
“How was work last night?” my dad asked, looking at Brad.
“It was good. We were really busy, and it was pretty hot,” Brad answered.
How did my dad know he worked yesterday, I wondered? Wait, how did my dad know who he was? Maybe they met while I was upstairs pissed at my dad. Brad sounded a little off. I wondered if he was getting sick.
“Are you okay?” I asked Brad, not thinking that I didn't want my dad to know that I knew him.
“Yeah, why wouldn't I be?” he asked in a cocky tone.
Just as I went to cover up what I said, I heard a voice form the front door.
“I'm home. Did you miss me?”
My body shivered and I rubbed my arm to calm the goosebumps. I felt the tension leave my body. Jen got up and took off for the front door. I could hear laughing and commotion flying through the air.
“I see you've met Bray,” my dad said.
“What?” I asked.
“Brayden,” my dad said. “I didn't realize you had already met him.”
I looked over at the man sitting next to me. He had a giant smart-ass smile on his face.
“She sure did,” he said. “I met her last night on her way to the bathroom.”
My chest felt tight, and I felt like I couldn't breathe. What the fuck was going on, I wondered? My dad stood up and walked around the corner. I could hear talking, but I had no idea what they were saying. It felt like I was in the middle of a crazy nightmare. I put my head against my hand and closed my eyes. Breathe, I told myself over and over.
“Are you okay?” the man next to me, Brayden my dad called him, asked.
I could hear the humor in his voice.
“What the fuck,” I said under my breath.
All of the things he said to me the night before passed through my mind. Just as I took a huge breath, Jen rounded the bend.
“I want you to meet someone,” she said, with her voice full of excitement. “This is Tara. She's Tim's daughter.”
I looked up from my hand to see Brad with his eyes wider than I had ever seen them before. At the same time, I felt a hand squeeze my knee under the table and heard Brayden snicker under his breath beside me.
One Step at a Time #3
I looked from one to the other and back again without a word. The most horrible feeling sat deep in my belly, and I had no idea what I was going to do. It took all I had not to get up and run from the table.
“Tara,” Jen said, snapping me from my thoughts. “This is my son Bradley. I was able to talk to him for a few minutes last night about you and your dad.”
“At least you didn't wait until he was sitting in the driveway to tell him,” I mumbled.
“T,” my father snapped.
I looked over and saw the warning on his face.
“Welcome home, bro,” Brayden said, smirking at Brad.
Brad looked at his brother in disgust and shook his head.
“What?” Brayden asked. “Aren't you happy to see me?”
“Don't start,” Brad snapped at his brother.
What the hell was going on between them, I wondered? They didn't seem happy to see each other at all. Brad told me his brothers were lazy, but he never mentioned that they didn't get along. He also didn't mention they fucking looked identical either. What else had he left out?
I felt Brayden run his hand up my leg and quickly stepped on his foot as I cleared my throat. There was no way I wanted anyone to know what was going on. At least not until I had a minute to think. Brayden obviously came into my room the night before as some twisted revenge or sick joke. It had nothing to do with me as a person but everything to do with his brother. How did I not know the difference, I wondered? It was dark and I was half asleep when everything happened. Slowly, things came to mind from that night. He was more aggressive, and I remembered feeling like something was off. His emotions weren't there like they usually were. Of course they weren't. It fucking wasn't him. Certain things he said started making sense. I felt guilt and aggravation fill my body. How could I let that happen? I should have known. What was I going to do? There was no way I was losing the man I cared about over some prick that wanted to get back at his brother for whatever reason.
“Twins,” I heard myself whisper.
Pull it together, I thought to myself. I needed to somehow get through dinner and get back to my room. Keep yourself from freaking out for just a little while, I thought before looking up to see Jen watching me nervously.
“You have twins. That's very interesting. I had no idea. Am I going to find out that your third son looks just like these two?” I asked with a smile I had to force on my face.
“No,” Jen laughed. “Billy's a couple of years older than these two. There's no way I could have had another one at the same time. I would have gone crazy. Sit down, Brad. The food's going to get cold. Brad stayed at school for exams, or he would have been home yesterday as well. I can't wait to spend time with all of you. It's going to be a great summer with the three of you here with us.”
I let out a huge breath and smiled, as I felt Brad looking over at me. When I looked up from the table, I saw a look of concern on his face.
“So,” Brayden began, as he filled his plate. “How was school? Did you get laid? Did you leave any broken hearts behind?”
“Shut the hell up,” Brad snapped. “I just got home. Don't ride my ass right
now. I'm tired, and I need some sleep.”
“Me too,” he said. “I was up late last night. We can't all get lucky. I'll get enough for the both of us.”
Brad stared straight at his brother. There was no mistaking the thick tension between the two of them. It was off the charts.
“I came in late from work last night and was pleasantly surprised when I walked out of the bathroom and found this lovely lady standing in the hallway. We're going to be one big, happy family,” Brayden said, before looking over and smiling at me. “Right, sis?”
I quickly filled my plate without looking up at any of them.
“You should have been here earlier, bro,” Brayden started, and pointed between me and my father. “These two got into a pretty heated argument about some douchebag at school. They reminded me of how it used to be around here. I think it's going to be a great summer. I can't wait to see how it all plays out.”
I noticed Brad's body stiffen from across the table. When I looked up, I saw his hand in a fist on the table and noticed his eye twitch.
“Enough, Brayden,” Jen said. “It was nothing like it used to be around here. They just had a debate about her and a boy at school.”
After a few moments, I saw Brad looking at me. What was that about, I wondered? His body slowly relaxed, as I watched him.
“He didn't knock her on her ass or anything like that,” Brayden continued. “I just meant they argued.”
“It was nothing,” I said, hoping Brayden would shut the hell up. “I said something about getting an apartment and my dad got upset and jumped to conclusions. I would rather not talk about it anymore. I had a lot thrown at me all at once and lost my temper for a moment.”
“You were right,” my dad said.
I turned my head quickly to look at him.
“What?” I asked.
“You were right,” he said again. “I asked you to do something for me. You did it without a single negative word or thought. When you said something to me, I began to judge the situation without even talking or thinking about it. I shouldn't have done that.”
“You know what I think?” Brayden asked.
“I don't think any of us want to know,” I said.
I heard Brad try not to laugh and could see his chest shaking.
“I think he's a very lucky guy,” Brayden said.
“Why is that?” my dad asked.
“It's not that easy to find a good woman. Most of them are sluts and will sleep with whoever climbs into bed with them. It's pretty rare to find a woman that will defend you when someone says something shitty. When you said negative crap about the guy, she put you in your place. She even said that she didn't deserve him and that he was too good for her. She's a very loyal and committed woman. I have a feeling she would do whatever it took to protect and keep her man. Whoever he is, he better hang onto her before someone else comes in and sees just how amazing she is.”
What an asshole, I thought. Did he think I was stupid? I picked up on every rotten thing he was saying about me. Of course, I was the only one that got his passive-aggressive, shitty comments. I was a good woman, and I cared very much for Brad. There was something between those two guys, and I had to figure out what it was.
“I care about the guy. There's nothing wrong with that. What sucks is anyone trying to stand in the way of it. I will not let someone judge him when they've never even met him. I wasn't talking about moving in with a guy anyway. I was thinking of trying to find some girls to get an apartment with. At this point, I don't really care where I live. Can we please not bring it up again?”
“Anything for you, sis,” Brayden said, as he reached over and squeezed my arm.
I rubbed his hand off my arm and looked over at Jen.
“Dinner's amazing,” I said. “Do you always make such fancy meals?”
“It is pretty fancy,” Brad chimed in.
I looked over and saw the smile on his face, and it made me laugh. He always knew exactly when I needed the mood lightened. I don't know how he did it.
“I just wanted you two to have a good meal. You mentioned all the microwave meals you had been eating when we talked yesterday,” Jen said. “This wasn't fancy.”
“Oh, you don't think so?” I asked. “It is delicious. I can help you cook while I'm here.”
I looked over at Brad with a smirk. Yep, buddy, I thought. You still owe me a fancy meal. I knew he was thinking the same thing.
“That's nice of you, Tara,” she said. “I might take you up on the offer. There are a couple of nights each week that I'm not home until late. I work back to back jobs on those days. It would be awesome if you cooked. I really don't want you kids eating takeout while you're home on break.”
“What about me?” Brayden asked. “I'm here all the time, and you don't care if I get takeout?”
“That's because you're an ass,” Brad said.
“Don't start,” Jen said. “I don't know what's gotten into the two of you the last two years. You have a kitchen here when you get home at night, Brayden. Brad and Tara don't have that luxury at school. They have microwaves and cafeteria food.”
We were all pretty much done eating. I helped Jen clear the plates and put the food away. When we walked back into the dining room, I looked at the three guys sitting at the table talking.
"Who does the dishes?” I asked.
All three of them looked up at me.
“Brad helps when he's home. If he's not here, I do them,” Jen said.
I shot a look over at my dad, and he gave me his sad look.
“Really?” I asked him. “That's not going to work. On the nights I make dinner, anyone that sticks a fork or spoonful of that food in their mouth will do the dishes. I haven't been gone that long, dad. I know you help Jen with dishes. I must have heard her wrong.”
“You expect me to do dishes after working?” Brayden asked in a manly tone.
“If you can't wash your dishes after you eat the food I cook, then you can make your own food,” I said.
“I'm a hardworking man,” he said. “I shouldn't have to do things like that.”
“Really?” I asked. “It doesn't matter to me if you do or not. It's your choice. If you want to slap together a sandwich every night for yourself, be my guest. Nowhere does it state that my job is to take care of your asses. Your mom has two jobs. She works just like you. It wouldn't hurt you to help her out. I'm getting a job too.”
Brad's eyes shot up to look at me.
“I'm not living in a dorm next year. I want to get an apartment. I'll live with ten guys if I want to,” I said, as I looked over at my dad.
He rolled his eyes and laughed.
“I'm starting to feel sorry for this guy from school. Maybe he is better than you,” Brayden said. “I wouldn't deal with a woman telling me what I need to do.”
“Cut it out, Brayden,” Brad snapped. “Leave her alone.”
“Sandwiches it is,” I said, before turning to my dad. “I'm going to my room. Can I use your car in a bit?”
“You don't have to ask, T,” my dad said.
“Do you work in the morning?” I asked.
“No,” he said. “Why?”
“I need to know if you need the car tomorrow,” she said.
“No,” he said. “I'll be here all day. I have some stuff outside to do. Are you not coming home tonight?”
“I'm not sure,” I answered. “I might not.”
“Come spend some time with me, Brad,” Jen said. “I want to talk to you.”
Brad looked over at me and smiled, as he stood to go with his mom. I gave him the best smile I could. When I pushed my chair back, my dad grabbed my hand.
“Be careful,” he said. “Text me if you're not coming back. I love you, baby girl.”
I leaned down and kissed my dad on the forehead before walking up to my room. As soon as I shut the door, my phone buzzed.
Brad: Are you okay? I guess this is what you were going to tell me. I should have made time to t
alk about it last night. I'm sorry about that.
Me: It's fine. I know you were tired and had finals and work. This is crazy. I'm not sure I can do it. So much has happened in the last day. I feel like it's some kind of joke.
Brad: At least we get to see each other every day. That's good, right?
Me: That's the only good thing about it. I can't believe I didn't know you had a twin.
Brad: As you can tell, we don't really get along.
Me: What's that all about?
Brad: Something that happened between us in high school. It was my fault, but he wasn't honest with me. It's a long story.
Me: What else don't I know?
Brad: It's not like that. My mom wants to talk to me about her and your dad.
Me: Hold onto your chair.
I heard my door open and turned to see Brayden walk through it. Oh shit! Could the night get any better, I wondered?
“Have you ever heard of knocking?” I asked.
“I just came to make sure you were okay,” he said, as the cocky smirk spread across his face.
I have never wanted to smack the shit out of someone as much as I wanted to in that moment.
“Bullshit,” I snapped. “How could you do that? He's your brother. I never did anything to you. You're fucking twins. I was half asleep. How was I supposed to know?”
“Are you telling me that he didn't tell you about his equally gorgeous brother while you two were getting it on?”
“Nope,” I snapped. “He left that part out. I can see why now. You knew damn well who I thought you were. I said his name multiple times.”
“Was that before or after your five orgasms?”