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“What did you do?” she hisses.
“Do you consider yourself evil?”
Mom’s lips part and I think she tries to narrow her eyes at me, but the plastic surgery and Botox stops any real expression from forming.
“Because I do,” I tell her, watching her, waiting for some sign of recognition, like somehow she sees how despicable we’ve become.
She blinks slowly, sighing lightly as her mouth curves back into a smirk. “I’m not evil child, I’m motivated. I’m doing what any mother would do to secure her daughter’s future.”
I laugh, the sound cold and harsh falling from my lips. “It’s over Mother.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s over, it’s all over,” I say, yanking my arm from her grip and escaping into the crowd of people that are all turning to the stage as my sister and Arlo make their entrance.
Tallulah looks stunning in a deep red gown and Arlo looks as handsome as ever in a classic fitted suit, but it’s the way they’re looking at each other that makes an ache start in my chest. I’m not entirely sure what’s going on between them, I know they’re having sex, but until the other day I honestly thought it was all just an act. Looking at them tonight, it’s obvious it’s not.
Arlo’s arm is around her waist, holding her close like he’s terrified she might leave and he can’t bear to be without her. He keeps looking down at her, like she’s the only thing keeping him sane, and that look is filled with more love than I thought it was possible to give another person. But it’s not all him, she’s smiling too, leaning her back against his chest, knowing that he’s there, that he wouldn’t let her go. There’s a contentment in her expression that I’ve never seen before.
I’ve known for years that my sister was nothing like me, but I’ve never seen it be more evident than it is right now. She’s full of light, her smile is only for him and even though she’s clinging to his jacket she’s not holding him to her or tying him down, she just wants to be close to him because she loves him.
This isn’t an intimate moment, it’s just an innocent touch between two people who are so in love they can’t help but show it to the world. Logically I can recognize the emotion, but it doesn’t make any sense to me, I can’t understand it. Why does she love him? Why does he love her? How do they know?
I don’t think I’m capable of an emotion with as much depth as love, in fact I’m pretty sure I’m not. But if that’s true why am I jealous?
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Mr. Archibald says, calling everyone’s attention as he speaks into a microphone at the front of the stage. “I’m sure you’ll all agree that love is a truly wonderful thing. Tonight, is all about celebrating the love between my son and my beautiful soon to be daughter-in-law. Please raise your glasses and join me in congratulating the future Mr. and Mrs. Arlo and Tallulah Lexington.”
Taking a champagne flute from a passing waiter, I raise my glass and toast my sister and her not-so-fake fiancé, alongside the other couple of hundred people in the room. The envelope folded inside my clutch suddenly feels heavy and weighted, and I know I’ve done the right thing. The first right thing in far too long.
“Carrigan, we have not finished talking about your behavior,” my mother says from behind me, her voice laced with barely restrained anger.
Sighing, I spin around to face her, my glass of champagne held aloft in one hand, my clutch with the envelope held tightly in the other. “I agree, we’re not finished. But I think this is a family matter, so perhaps, you, Dad, Tallulah, Arlo and I should discuss this together.”
Before she has a chance to speak, I down my champagne and deposit the glass on the tray of yet another passing waiter. Reaching for her, I grip her wrist tightly and move, dragging her along with me, my own nails digging into her skin just like she did to me earlier. Weaving in and out of people, I smile politely as I pass, towing my mother behind me until I find my sister, her eyes widening when she spots me.
Arlo’s body language instantly changes from happy and soft, to alert and on guard, his arm circles my sister’s waist, pulling her to his side and slightly behind him. The move makes me smile and his expression becomes quizzical but guarded.
Stopping when I reach them, I smile sweetly to the older man who is congratulating them, waiting quietly as he makes small talk. He leaves a moment later and Tallulah’s gaze turns to me.
“Are you okay?” she asks, not even glancing in our mother’s direction.
“I will be.”
She nods, but doesn’t speak again and we all fall silent.
“Mom, perhaps you could give Dad a call, ask him to come here so we can all have a lovely family chat,” I suggest, releasing my grip on her as I turn to the side, placing myself in the middle with my mother to my left and Tallulah and Arlo to my right
No one speaks as my mom pulls out her cell phone and taps at the screen, lifting it to her ear and asking Dad to come to us.
He appears at her side a moment later. “What’s the meaning of this?” he demands, his voice nothing but condemnation as he sneers at my sister.
Inhaling slowly, I swallow down my rising panic and try to compose myself. This is it. This is the moment it all ends, the first truly good thing I’ve done since that godforsaken will was read.
“Tallulah,” I say, my voice cracking a little as I look at my sister. “I got you guys an engagement present.”
My twin’s lips shake a little and I can see the fear and hope in her eyes. She thinks I can be good, that I’m as much a victim of our parents as she is, but she’s wrong. I’m as guilty as they are.
Opening my clutch I slide the envelope free, unfolding it as I pass it to my sister. She reaches out and takes it from me, her hands shaking a little as she does.
