Live-In Position

by V. S. Tice

  Pulling up the website, I found the questionnaire mentioned in the folder. I took a few moments to complete it. Once it was all done, I sat back with a feeling of victory.

  Weeks flew by with Ilene by my side. Her presence had become a fixture in my everyday life. I tried to make the best of the time we spent together, realizing she had not only lost a daughter over the past year but also the closeness of all of her children. The gap had not been completely mended.

  Though I really didn’t mind spending time with Ilene, there were times I missed being by myself and doing what I liked to do. As we stood discussing Thanksgiving dinner, I devised a plan to push this family to mend its wounds. Yes, it was definitely a selfish act, but damn if I hadn’t been forgiving and compromising with all of them. They could at least do this.

  “I’m going to reach out to Max and Larissa as well as Allison for dinner.” I didn’t look up from the catering menus Ilene insisted on looking over, in lieu of cooking.

  “Y-you are?” Ilene never stumbled over her words.

  “Actually, I think I’ll invite them over to help cook dinner, instead of catering.” I smiled slyly and went for the phone.

  Ilene snorted. “Good luck getting Allison to cook anything.” She picked a menu back up. “I think this place would be the best.”

  I dialed Larissa first. When I glanced at Ilene, she looked at me expectantly. I shook my head.

  “I’d rather cook my—”

  “Hello?” Larissa’s charming voice filtered through the receiver next to my ear.

  “Hi, Larissa, it’s Sophia. How are you?”

  “Oh, Sophia,” her tone was surprisingly pleasant and kind, “it’s good to hear from you. I’m fine. How are things there?”

  “Not too bad. In fact I’m in the middle of planning Thanksgiving dinner.” I paused for a moment and then thought, screw it. “I was hoping you, Max, and the kids would come?”

  “Of course, we would love to come.” She sounded relieved. “To be honest, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen this year with…well, with everything.”

  “I’m sure,” I laughed lightly. “I’ll start cooking early in the morning, probably around six, so you can stop by at any time.”

  “You’re going to cook dinner?”

  “Yes, Ilene had the same reaction.” I laughed a little louder.

  “Are you sure you want to go through all of the trouble? I mean, we are a large family, and—”

  “I’m completely sure. It won’t be bad at all.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep, I’ll start the pies on Tuesday and then dinner on Thursday.”

  “I don’t really know how to cook, but if I can help…” she faded off. “You shouldn’t do this alone. Let me know what time to come over and help.”

  “Thank you, Larissa. That would be great. I’ll let you know for sure on Monday. Is that alright?” My lips broke into a large smile. This was going perfectly.

  “Yes, I’ll talk to you then.” We said our goodbyes and hung up. I turned around and found Ilene gaping at me.

  “Larissa is going to come over and help. Now I have to face Allison.” I unintentionally cringed.

  “When she finds out I’ll be here, I’m sure she won’t come.” Ilene began collecting the menus and walked out of the kitchen. I sighed in frustration.

  I picked up the phone for the second time and dialed Allison’s cell. Luckily, I got voicemail so I left her a message about dinner as well as Larissa coming over to help cook. Who knows, maybe having Larissa here would encourage her to come.

  Victoria and I spent the first Monday morning of Victoria’s Thanksgiving break going through the kitchen to see what we would need for pies and dinner. She was in the pantry yelling out things we needed to buy, including Pop Tarts, even though they had nothing to do with Thanksgiving. I was leaning up against the marble counter writing a list on a small notepad, Shep curled at my feet. The spice cabinet opened up in front of me. As I wrote, the smell of cinnamon, ginger, and garlic swirled around my head. It didn’t usually bother me, but at that moment it made me gag. I closed the cabinet.

  “Is there anything else?”

  While waiting for her response, arms wrapped around my waist and warm lips pressed to the side of my neck. I didn’t jump anymore. My body had become accustomed to his unexpected appearances.

  “Hey there,” I smiled and looked up at him. He kissed me.

  “I don’t think there’s anything else we need to get.” Victoria skipped out of the pantry and then giggled when she saw us kissing.

  I pulled back.

  “What are you two doing?” Collin asked, resting his chin on my shoulder.

  “We are making a shopping list for Thanksgiving.” Victoria squatted to the floor, pulling her puppy into her lap. “We’re going to make pies.” Her eyes danced with excitement.

  “You aren’t getting a caterer?” Straightening his posture, he turned me in his arms.

  “I don’t need one, I can cook. Besides, Larissa is coming over to help.” I shrugged and kissed his chin before stepping around him to check the refrigerator once more.

  “Larissa?” His confused eyes followed me. I nodded.

  “I also invited Allison but haven’t heard back from her.” I straightened up. “Have you talked to your father or Juliet?” He shook his head. “Maybe you should call to check-in and invite them too.”

  “Won’t my mother be here?” His brow rose.

  “Yeah, but that doesn’t make your father unwelcome.”

  Is this really how they function? People can’t be in the same place at the same time without an eruption?

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  My frustration got the best of me.

  “Fine, Collin. You explain to your father and Juliet why they are not invited to dinner. I’ll be at the store. Come on, Victoria.” I kept my voice as monotone as possible, avoiding a fight in front of Victoria. The severity of my irritation with the whole situation surprised me. The look in Victoria’s eyes told me she was aware we were disagreeing. Regardless she hopped down and quickly matched my fast pace for the door.

  “Sophia?” Collin called out for us as we were putting on our coats.

  “I need to get to the store,” I quipped, helping Victoria with her zipper.

  “Please, wait.” He stood before me now.

  “What?” I looked up at him and tried to keep my cool.

  All I want is some space and time to myself. A moment to be angry. A moment for me. Is that too much to ask?

  “I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just that I think it will be—”

  I put my hand up to stop him.

  “I get it, but you can tell him.” I took Victoria’s hand and left, closing the door behind me.

  Out in the cold air, I took a deep cleansing breath.

  In the store Victoria acted as if we had never been there before. She was grabbing the cheap toys hanging off the shelves, candy, soda, chips, cookies and begging me to buy it all for her. I loved her dearly, but my nerves seemed to be so raw I thought I might snap at her. Guilt immediately filled me. I got us through the store and back to the house as quickly as I could.

  Victoria helped me put the groceries away and then went to take care of her puppy. When everything was taken care of, we ordered pizza and sat in the kitchen to play some Go Fish. In the middle of our fourth game the doorbell rang. Grabbing the money for the pizza delivery person, I went to the door, but as soon as I pulled it open I froze in place.

  “Jonathan?”

  Fear and worry filled every limb. The look on his face was terrifying.

  “Where is she?” he barked.

  “Wha—?”

  “Don’t lie for her. Is she here?” He pushed past me and headed for the stairs. “Allison!” he yelled.

  Halfway up the stairs he looked back at me again, fury in his eyes. “Where is she?!”

  I shook my head. “I haven’t seen her.”

 
He snorted and began stomping up the steps.

  “Jonathan!” I shouted. Then my eyes widened in surprise of myself. What the hell was I about to do?

  His entire body jerked around and the terrifying face was glaring at me. I swallowed hard.

  “Why don’t you come and sit down and I will go see if she is—”

  “I can look for myself!” He continued climbing the stairs two at a time.

  Relief passed through my body when Collin appeared at the top of the stairs.

  “What’s going on?” He eyed Jonathan with an icy glare. “John?”

  “I’m here to see that lying little—”

  “Watch it, John, that’s my sister.” Collin stepped in front of him and placed his hand flat against Jonathan’s chest. “What is going on?”

  “Step aside, Collin. I don’t have any issue with you, but your sister is a damn liar and a sneak. We have a great deal to discuss,” he growled and tried to move around Collin.

  “I think you should calm down.” Collin stopped Jonathan.

  “What are you doing here?” Allison appeared behind Collin, her eyes narrowing on Jonathan.

  “How could you?” he barked at her.

  “Jonathan, calm down.” Collin spoke low but firm.

  “She killed my child! How can I be calm about that?”

  Collin’s face went ghostly white. “What are you talking about? The twins are fine.”

  “Not the twins, the baby!” He shoved Collin and moved to Allison.

  I didn’t know what I thought I would do, but I ran up the stairs, two at a time. Reaching the top, Collin grabbed me. Allison took two steps back from Jonathan.

  “How could you kill our child?”

  Oh god, had Allison—?

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” she spat and crossed her arms over her chest.

  “No? You weren’t at a clinic two days ago with a very well-known abortion doctor?” The redness on his face intensified. Allison opened her mouth, but he cut her off. “Don’t lie to me!”

  “I’m not going to lie to you. I was there, so what? It’s none of your business what I do!” she shouted and poked him in the chest.

  “Damn you, it was my child too!”

  “Says who?” Her words were so harsh that for a split second I actually felt bad for Jonathan.

  He sputtered and shook his head. “Y-you…you’re lying again. We were together. That was my child you killed.” He stepped closer to her. She shoved him back.

  “I’m no longer your wife. You have no idea what or who I did, nor is it your concern.” Allison’s fists clenched at her sides and her voice grew louder. “You chose all of those whores instead of us. I’m out of your equation now.”

  She turned to walk away, but Jonathan reached out and grabbed her by the shoulder. Her foot caught on the hall carpet and she stumbled, falling into the wall. Collin moved forward and quickly pinned Jonathan against the wall.

  “You bastard, don’t touch me!” she shrieked.

  My eyes fell to her hands as she cupped her stomach. She hadn’t gotten rid of anything. I moved to her side. Helping her up, I walked her into the suite where she burst into tears. I wrapped an arm around her and sat us both on the couch.

  The minutes felt long as I waited for Collin to enter the room. When he walked in with John at his side, my arm tightened around Allison.

  “What is he doing here?” I hissed. Allison looked up from my shoulder.

  “What do you want?” she cried out. “Just go, leave me.” Her head buried back into my side.

  “Allison, are you…were you pregnant?” Collin questioned.

  “It’s not any of our business.” Even I was shocked as the words left my mouth. Collin’s brow furrowed, but his hard face didn’t scare me anymore. “This is Allison’s life and body. It’s her story to tell…or not. Everyone out.” I returned Collin’s stare with one of my own, daring him to defy me.

  “I have a right to know if she took away my child without saying one word.”

  “Oh really? And she had the right to a faithful husband, but you didn’t say anything to her before you decided to screw whomever you pleased, did you?”

  Collin and Jonathan both stiffened at my question. Allison raised her head from my shoulder, but this time she looked at me.

  “Exactly, so get out, both of you,” I ordered.

  “I’m not going anywhere until she tells me the truth.” Jonathan took a wide stance and crossed his arms over his chest.

  I opened my mouth, but Allison spoke first.

  “Fine,” she sobbed, wiping her nose on her hand. She looked directly at Jonathan. “Yes, I went to the clinic.”

  “So you killed my—?”

  “No,” she snapped, “I didn’t.”

  “You mean, you’re still…?”

  She nodded.

  Relief flashed over his entire body. “Oh, Allison, I...” he began to approach her.

  “Stop right there!” she yelled at him. Standing, she pointed one long manicured finger at him. He stopped. “Don’t you dare come near me.” He opened his mouth to say something, but Allison wasn’t hearing it. “We’re no longer married, Jonathan, so don’t you think for one second this reconciles anything.”

  “But we’re having a baby?”

  “No. I’m having a baby.” She took a deep breath with her eyes closed. Opening them, she continued. “You are the father and I’ll let you know about…appointments, health, all of those things, but there is no ‘we’ or ‘us.’ Not anymore.”

  “Allison,” Collin countered, “you can’t possibly want to do this alone without your hus—”

  “He isn’t my husband.” Her face was filled with hurt as she looked at her older brother. She turned back to Jonathan. “He made that choice a long, long time ago.”

  “Allie,” Jonathan began.

  “Don’t,” she warned. “I want you to go. I want to be alone.”

  Jonathan took a step forward but stopped when he saw the fierce look on her face. Defeat hit his eyes and his shoulders fell. Turning with his tail between his legs, he left the room. I began to follow, but Allison grabbed my arm.

  “Please?” Her eyes reflected the sadness and solitude I imagined she felt inside. I nodded and sat back down. Allison leaned into my side and sobbed for twenty minutes before her cries tapered down to sniffling. No words were spoken until forty-five minutes had passed.

  “Should I go back?” she whimpered. I didn’t know what to say at first but decided honesty was the only thing I could offer her.

  “I can’t make that decision for you.”

  “But do you feel the way Collin does? He obviously thinks I need Jonathan to do this.” Her head rose and she looked into my face.

  “No, I don’t agree with Collin. I think you are much stronger than they give you credit for.”

  She smiled. “Why am I always crying and leaning on you? I don’t even like you.”

  I shrugged. “I drew the short straw at the last get-together.”

  She burst into a full belly laugh and then lifted her large sad eyes back to my face. “I don’t understand why you even let me.” Her brow creased.

  “Well,” I sighed, “it’s not in my nature to abandon someone in need.” I looked into my lap. “I don’t particularly like you much either, but I respect how you‘ve stood up to Jonathan and to your mother.”

  “But I thought you were close to Ilene?”

  Our eyes met again. “Hmm…I think she only attached herself to me because she doesn’t have any of you, not like before. I can tell she misses you.”

  “What about the other day in the dining room?” She examined my face thoroughly.

  “What about it?” I shrugged. “You can stand up to Ilene without being cruel. I’m not telling you to get over it. What she did was highly unforgivable. However, it will only hurt you to be angry all the time.”

  Her eyes dropped from my face, apparently thinking over what I said.

>   “I don’t want to be mad anymore. I’m so tired.” Allison fell back into the couch and blew out a puff of breath. “Can I still help with Thanksgiving?”

  She laughed when she saw the shock on my face.

  “Don’t look so surprised. I’m going to try and be…civil.” She sat up. “Thank you.”

  “I’m glad I could help.” I patted her knee before standing up. “Take a nap. If I see Will, I’ll tell him you are sleeping. I think I need to lie down as well.”

  After exiting the suite, I followed the smell of pizza. With all the excitement, I had forgotten about eating. I was starved. When I entered the kitchen, I found an empty pizza box. Furrowing my brow, I went to find Victoria.

  I could hear the water running in her bathroom. Opening the bathroom door, steam engulfed me. Shep scurried out of the heat. I shook my head.

  “Hey, you.” I tapped the curtain and she screamed. Laughter bubbled out of my chest. “You shouldn’t lock the dog in the bathroom like that.”

  Her soapy head peeped around the curtain.

  “You scared me to death,” she giggled.

  “You still look alive to me.” I tapped her nose. “Thank you for showering without me telling you to.”

  “No problem.” She smiled wide and went back behind the mermaid curtain.

  Five minutes later, she stepped out and wrapped herself in the towel I handed to her. She ran to get a nightgown and I sat on the edge of the tub fanning myself. Rushing back in, she looked at me curiously.

  “Are you okay?” She reached for her toothbrush but kept her eyes on me.

  “How hot does your water need to be? Whew.” I pushed the bathroom door open all the way to clear the steam from the mirror over the sink.