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Lauren and I exchange a look, but when I don’t offer an explanation, my sister shrugs and releases a long sigh.
“It was a few years back,” she says. “Bethany was working for our dad, just like Parker and I, and…well…she was caught embezzling from the company. She stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from our dad.”
Chloe’s eyes widen, and her mouth drops partially open. If her reaction was about anything else, I’d find it funny. “What? But why?”
“No one knows,” I chime in, my voice huskier than I anticipated. Perhaps due to the whiskey, or maybe because I was about to be around Bethany after so long. “She never explained herself.”
“You’d think she would’ve confessed when she was caught,” Lauren says, and there’s a hint of bitterness in her tone.
“Nope.” I shake my head, memories floating back like pieces of a broken glass. “She simply packed her bags and left, leaving us all behind to clean up her mess. She nearly ruined the company. We all had to work our asses off to stabilize things again.”
Chloe looks shocked as she sips her whiskey mechanically, probably wishing it could wash away the uncomfortable knowledge she’s just acquired.
“Interesting family reunion this is going to be,” she declares finally.
“You have no idea,” Lauren and I say in unison before bursting into laughter, though it’s humorless and filled with underlying tension.
Just then, the doorbell rings, bringing an abrupt end to our laughter. It’s as if someone has flipped a switch, and the house comes alive; the atmosphere buzzes with a strange mixture of dread and anticipation.
I’m not sure why, but I blurt out, “I’ll get it.”
Before anyone can object, I make my way to the front door and hesitate a moment before yanking it open.
Bethany stares up at me, her eyes wide, which are hazel like mine. Her dark hair, again like mine, except hers falls in long waves around her shoulders, is impeccably styled. She’s a head shorter than me, but looking at her now feels like looking in a strange sort of mirror. There’s too much of my face in hers.
“Parker,” she breathes, clearly stunned to see me. “Hey…”
“I don’t know what you think you’re doing here,” I growl, “but don’t bother trying to play nice with me. Whatever you’ve done to convince Mom and Dad that you aren’t the same selfish, spoiled brat you always were won’t work on me.”
Her face falls a fraction, but she quickly recovers, lifting her chin defensively.
“I didn’t come here for you,” she says in an icy tone. I can see the challenge in her hazel eyes. She’s different somehow. Not the weepy, emotionally unstable girl who fled from home years ago. She’s hardened now, a shell around her like an unforgiving armor.
“That’s good because I don’t want you here,” I retort while crossing my arms over my chest, my whiskey glass dangling from my fingers.
“Well, it's not your decision to make.” Her gaze shifts behind me, and a hint of warmth flashes through her eyes as they land on Lauren, who’s standing behind me in the hallway. Bethany pushes past me, rolling her suitcase inside.
“Lauren!” she exclaims, enveloping our sister in a hug that seems genuine. There’s love there. Family love that’s been absent for so long that it feels foreign now. Lauren appears stunned at first, but then, she slowly returns the embrace.
I feel a flood of emotions, then, pangs of…something. Anger? Jealousy? It makes my hand tighten around the glass in my hand until veins pop against the skin of my knuckles.
I retreat back to the liquor cabinet and pour another glass of whiskey, downing it in one go as noise fills the house again. This time, it’s louder, more animated.
Behind me, Mom and Dad come out of the kitchen, and Bethany throws herself at them with dramatic flourish, her tears and laughter mingling with their happy exclamations.
I watch from afar with a hard look in my eyes.
As if sensing my gaze on them, Bethany turns to look at me over Mom’s shoulder. Her gaze is challenging, yet holds a silent plea that I have no interest in responding to.
“Hey,” Chloe says softly, suddenly appearing beside me. “You okay?”
“No,” I answer honestly.
She reaches up and puts a hand on my arm, but before she can say anything else, my mom turns toward us.
“Parker, come join us. Chloe! Do you remember Bethany?”
I don’t move, but Chloe gives me a lingering look before crossing the room to join the rest of my family.
