Ungrateful Act.

by Divine A

  He leaned over and kissed Michelle on the cheek. Natalie glanced over at him, fascinated by how kind and sensitive he was.

  Michelle and Brian's house was more like a museum than a home. She had expensive modern furniture and art that Natalie did not understand spread across her walls. The paint was all solid bright colors that made Natalie think of a train station more than a house.

  "It's nice," she said quietly and swallowed thickly. She wondered if she would be able to avoid breaking things. Brian sensed her discomfort and leaned close to her, whispering in her ear.

  "Michelle has excellent taste,” he said proudly. “But don't worry, most things just look expensive,” he laughed.

  Natalie smiled with relief. The more she got to know Brian, the more she really enjoyed his company.

  Brian offered to help her bring her boxes up the stairs and into her new room. Natalie shrugged and nodded, offering not much of a preference either way. It was a hot Florida day, and the beating of the sun was enough to make him pull his shirt off. Natalie watched from her window as the muscles of his back and arms flexed when he picked up a box. She had never seen any boy at school with a body like that, and she could not help it, she thought he was beautiful. When he dropped the box on the floor in her room, she was still staring. He was busy pushing the box to the side, she didn't think it could do any harm. She got so lost in the sheen of sweat across his chest that she didn't notice when he looked up at her. He caught her eyes, caught her staring. His blue gaze locked to hers, and a flush rose to his cheeks that was not from exertion. He held her eyes for a long moment, and then without a word he turned and walked out of the room. Natalie looked back out the window and watched him as he returned to the truck. She ducked out of the way when he turned to look up at the window. It was strange for her to be attracted to her sister's husband, she knew that. It was wrong. But it was impossible to deny. When he dropped the next few boxes off in her room, she noticed he had put his shirt back on. She was more than a little disappointed, but kept herself busy unpacking her things. She did not intend to stay long, just through the end of high school then she would be off to college. It seemed impossible to her to move on with her life, without her parents there to share in it, but she knew time would just keep moving forward.

  That night at dinner, things were tense and awkward. Natalie knew it had to be hard for them to fit another person into their lives. Michelle tried to cover the tension by chattering away.

  “So my baby shower is coming up, how are you doing with it Brian?” she asked. Brian smirked as he leaned his elbows on the table.

  “I am trying to decide between diamond shaped roses, and a fountain that spouts real gold.”

  “I'd rather have chocolate,” Michelle laughed.

  “I don't think husbands are supposed to throw it,” Natalie pointed out.

  “But I am too busy with work, how will I ever get to have a shower if he doesn't do it?” she asked morosely.

  “I'll do it,” Natalie offered. She thought it would be a good way to show Michelle how grateful she was for everything that she had done for her.

  “Are you sure?” Michelle looked a little concerned.

  “Don't worry, I can do it,” Natalie insisted. It would take her mind off things, and hopefully also off of Brian.

  “Thanks Nat,” Michelle smiled, glad that it was settled. “I'll give you a list of things I want, and instructions,” she added. Natalie was a little surprised by that, but she knew her sister was all about organizing.

  “Whatever you want,” Natalie agreed.

  “But, but, I wanted to build a diaper cake!” Brian complained and followed his words with a deep laugh. It was clear from the gleam in his eyes that he would do anything for Michelle.

  Michelle rolled her eyes and grinned at her husband. “You'll have plenty of diapers to change soon enough,” then she turned back to Natalie.

  “I have to work tomorrow,” Michelle explained. “But Brian works from home, he's a writer, he's going to be famous, right honey?” she smirked and he sighed. “So he'll be here if you need him, and then Monday we will get you set up at school.” Natalie fell silent as she realized she would be expected to be a normal person again. Go to school, act like she had not died along with her parents in that accident. She was not so sure that she would be able to pull it off.

  The next morning Natalie woke up to the sound of a beeping horn beneath her window. She stood up and walked to the window, still bleary eyed. In the driver's seat of a candy red convertible, Brian looked as handsome as ever. He lifted his sunglasses from his eyes and smiled up at her window. Natalie threw on some clothes and ran down to the driveway.

  “What's this?” she asked with surprise. The car was beautiful.

  “A gift,” Brian grinned. “For you,” he added and held out the keys to her. “For me?” she gasped and her head spun. She had never dreamed of owning anything so fancy.

  “Yes,” he stepped out of the car and held the door open for her. “Since you're starting school, and you may want to visit your old friends, I just thought you would need a way to get around.”

  “But, this is so expensive,” she hesitated, the keys dangling in her hands. “Don't worry about that,” Brian grinned. “Any sister-in-law of mine deserves the very best,” he gestured to the driver's seat. “Hop in, take her for a spin,” he smiled. Natalie swallowed nervously. She had never been one to accept gifts easily, but one as lavish of this was even harder to accept.

  “Does Michelle know about this?” she asked.

  “Don't worry, she'll be fine with it,” he assured her. “Michelle really cares for you, and so do I.”

  Natalie met his eyes briefly. Hearing those words made her want to throw her arms around him, but not because of the car. She was finding herself more and more attracted to Brian. She knew it was wrong, but she didn't know how to stop it.

  “Thanks Brian,” she said in a whisper as she brushed past him to sit in the driver's seat. She felt his body tense as hers glided along his. She did not look up, she did not have to. She could hear his sharp breath. She knew, she was not the only one who was feeling something.

  Michelle had arranged for Natalie to go to the best school in the area. She was hoping a good boost of education would help Natalie to heal and move forward from her loss. She had planned to take her shopping for an entirely new wardrobe, but by the time she arrived home, she was exhausted.

  “I'm sorry Natalie, I just can't go,” she sighed.

  “That's alright,” Natalie assured her. “I have clothes.”

  Michelle winced, as she had been the one to pack her clothes, and she knew they would make Natalie stand out like a sore thumb in her new school.

  “No, you have to have new clothes,” she insisted. Brian had sat down on the couch beside her and pulled Michelle's feet up into his lap. He was rubbing her feet. “I wish you would take some time off,” he sighed as he looked up at her. He hated to see her suffer, and he knew that being pregnant it had to be even worse.

  “Nonsense, I love my job,” she smiled. “I don't love my body right now,” she growled. “But I do love my job,” she grabbed her purse and pulled out some cash. “Brian, I love your foot rub, but it would relax me more if you would take Natalie shopping.” Brian tried not to cringe. He was not a fan of shopping for clothes. But he knew if he didn't go, Michelle would force herself to.

  “I could go by myself,” Natalie suggested, not sure if she should be alone with Brian. “No you might get lost,” Michelle pouted, and batted her long dark lashes at her husband. “Please?”

  “Anything for you,” he replied and lifted her big toe to her lips to give it a light kiss. “Oh ew,” Michelle squealed. “Natalie doesn't need to see that,” she laughed. Natalie had glanced away when she saw Brian's lips pucker into a kissing shape. It made her heart beat faster.

  At the mall, Brian was uncomfortable as he sat in the latest teen fad store. He didn't know what to look at, considering most the
mannequins were half naked. He decided to look down at the floor instead. Natalie had picked out a few outfits and was trying them on.

  “What do you think Brian?” she asked as she stepped out of the dressing room. Brian looked up slowly, and discovered that Natalie was just as beautiful as her sister. Her body had the same shape, her eyes the same shimmer, her lips just as plump and soft. His heart was racing as he stared at her in the short black dress. He didn't know what to say.

  “It's fine,” he said quietly, his throat growing dry.

  “Are you sure?” she asked and turned slowly so that he could see it from all angles. “I was thinking it was a little too, you know, short,” she grasped the hem of the skirt playfully. Brian blushed and looked sharply away.

  Natalie knew that she was walking a thin line, but she didn't care. She wanted to know if he was interested, if he would even consider being with her. Just finding out, was harmless, wasn't it? It made her feel very powerful and seductive that he was so easily flustered by seeing her in the dress.

  “Yes, it's good, you should get it,” he muttered and refused to look up again. Natalie grinned and ducked back into the dressing room. She closed the door behind her and sighed as she leaned against it. She was sure he wanted her. Now it was just a matter of getting him to see that Michelle wasn't the only woman in the world.

  When she arrived at school on Monday, she discovered her sister was right. It was an elite school, and the students looked down on her the moment she walked through the doors. Natalie sighed when all of the girls snubbed her, and the guys refused to even look at her. She gritted her teeth and reminded herself that it would only be for a few months, she could handle it. Each day when she got home from school, Brian was there. He was usually working on his computer, but sometimes he would have a snack waiting for her. Natalie was very comfortable with him, and they would discuss what was happening at school. She soon found they had a lot in common, from the types of books they read, to the movies they liked, and even their opinions about life. Natalie felt herself growing more and more attached to him. On the days she came home from school and he was not there, she was so disappointed it seemed to physically hurt. As time passed, Michelle was home less and less. She said she had to get her business ready for when she would take time off after the baby was born. Natalie was so distracted with her infatuation with Brian that she almost forgot about the baby shower. She started focusing on it, but she was more interested in devising ways to seduce Brian. Natalie had picked out some games, set up decorations, and sent out all the invitations on time. When Michelle arrived, Natalie could see that she was disappointed by the party. Michelle's best friend Emily was with her, and cast her gaze critically over the dress that Natalie had chosen to wear. It was the short black dress that Brian had liked so much. Michelle smiled politely at the people she had invited, most of which she knew very well. She went through the motions of opening gifts and playing games, but the entire time she had this irritated look and was whispering to her friend Emily. When the party was over, Emily stayed to help clean up. She glanced over Natalie and in spoke in a rather harsh tone.

  “Nice dress.”

  Natalie smirked right back at her. “Thanks, Brian picked it out,” she batted her eyes innocently. Michelle stormed over with her irritation boiling over into anger. "I told you I wanted good food, not junk," she said right off the bat. "I asked you for lilac, and you did purple, why?"

  Natalie cringed and drew back from her sister.

  "I'm sorry if you didn't like it," Natalie said quietly, pretending to pout. She knew exactly why Michelle didn't like the party. Michelle had given her a list, and Natalie had barely looked at it.

  "I gave you instructions," Michelle pointed out. "It's supposed to be about me Natalie, what I want."

  “I said I was sorry,” Natalie started to turn on the tears. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please don't be mad at me,” she gasped out, as if Michelle had been screaming at her the entire time. "What's going on?" Brian asked when he walked in the door after the last of the guests had pulled away from the house. He could easily see that Michelle was not happy. "I have done everything for you, haven't I?" she asked harshly. "I asked you to do this one thing for me," she growled with frustration. “Natalie, I just don't understand why you couldn't make an effort.”

  “I'm sorry,” Natalie's tears spilled faster, and she glanced with sad eyes at Brian. “I've never thrown a party before and I-”

  “Then you should not have offered,” Michelle snapped. She stuck her face right in front of her sister's. “You don't get a pass forever Natalie, just because your parents are dead. Mine are too, in case you forgot!”

  “Michelle,” Brian said in a warning tone. “You need to calm down.”

  “I said I was sorry,” Natalie covered her face with her hands. “I messed up, I ruined everything, it's all my fault.”

  When Brian saw the tears he cursed under his breath. “Michelle, just go lay down,” he insisted. “It's been a busy day, and with the baby-”

  “I'm fine,” Michelle huffed and tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I never should have trusted her to do this.”

  Brian parted his lips to chastise her for her attitude, but he knew better. Michelle's emotions had been out of control lately, and he didn't want to make them any worse. Instead he grabbed Natalie by the arm.

  “Come on, let's take a walk,” he offered. Anything to separate the two of them. As soon as they were out of the house, Brian pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He smirked at Natalie.

  “Michelle thinks I quit, so our secret, okay?”

  Natalie sniffled and nodded. She liked the idea of sharing a secret with him. After they had walked along the sidewalk for a while, he stopped and lit a cigarette. He took a deep drag of it.

  “Can I try one?” Natalie asked.

  “Nope,” he replied casually and took another drag.

  Natalie frowned. “I'll be eighteen in a month, I'll be able to buy my own,” she pointed out.

  “If I don't stop you,” he replied in a serious tone, and then winked to soften it. “Like you could,” she shook her head dismissively.

  “Hey,” he grabbed her hand loosely. “I know things are still hard sometimes, but never forget Natalie, you're not alone in all of this, okay?”

  “Sure,” Natalie rolled her eyes and started to turn away. He cupped her cheek softly and turned her face back to his.

  “I mean it, I care about you Natalie.”

  His breath was so warm and spiced with the scent of the cigarette he had just smoked. Natalie had never wanted anything more than to feel his lips against hers. There was nothing wrong with it, she told herself, he was a man, she was a woman, and she was falling for him. That did not make her a bad person.

  "Brian," she murmured as he looked down into her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered and leaned upward, brushing her lips across his.

  "Natalie!" he growled and grabbed her shoulders. He pushed her roughly away from him and reached up to touch his lips as if somehow they had betrayed him. "You can not do that," he insisted, his blue eyes wide and shocked.

  Natalie tried not to let him see how much his rejection hurt her. She lowered her eyes and bit into her bottom lip as her hands balled into fists at her sides.

  "Don't you ever do that again," he said sternly as he stood right in front of her. "I am married to your sister, and this is not something that should or will ever happen, understand?"

  Natalie nodded, but she refused to look up at him. She could not bring herself to apologize.

  “Wow,” he sighed and ran his hand back through his closely cropped hair. “I'm sorry, if I confused you,” he said with a frown. “I didn't mean to give you the wrong idea. It's just, I was alone when my parents died, and I don't want you to feel that way,” he tried to smile a little. “It's just a crush Natalie, it's okay, but it's just a crush.”

  Natalie forced a smile on her lips, but she had never felt more alone.

  After that
Brian made it a point of not being around Natalie much. Instead of discussing school or books with her, he would just greet her politely and then find somewhere to hide. She felt terrible for making him so uncomfortable, but it was worse for her. Michelle still had not forgiven her for the baby shower, and the big day was approaching. Natalie knew that when the baby came, things would certainly change. It was supposed to be a boy, and Natalie was looking forward to meeting him. Natalie's eighteenth birthday arrived, it was two weeks before the baby was due. She woke up that morning, ready to be an adult. But she did not feel any different. Michelle was enormous, but she still managed to wish Natalie a happy birthday and kiss her lightly on the cheek. She knew her sister should have a party, but she was just too exhausted to create one for her. Of course, Natalie thought it was because of the baby shower fiasco.

  “Hey girls!” Brian called out cheerfully as he walked in the door. “Sorry I'm late,” he added and set a cake down in the middle of the table.

  “Happy Birthday Natalie,” he smiled warmly at her.

  “Oh perfect Brian, Happy Birthday,” Michelle said with a smile. “I'm sorry we didn't have a party, but with the baby coming, I just couldn't pull one together.” “It's okay,” Natalie smiled as she peered at the cake. “This is plenty,” she was relieved that it had not been forgotten completely. She blew out her candles, and when she looked up, she found Brian staring at her with admiration. Natalie smiled at him, and he looked swiftly away.

  The baby came right on time, and was a beautiful eight pound boy. Natalie eagerly waited in the waiting room, wondering what they would name him. When she had a chance to go back and visit, she found Michelle and Brian smiling at the baby, who was perfect.

  “He's beautiful,” Natalie said sweetly. “What did you name him?”

  “We're still thinking about it,” Michelle said with a frown.

  “It should be Michael,” Brian insisted as he smiled down at his son. “Because he is just as beautiful as his mother,” he glanced up at her, his eyes shining.