Chapter 15: Chapter 15
Vicki rolls her eyes to heaven and back again. “Mom is going to have a fit when she finds out I ditched rehab.”
“Victoria,” Dad cautions her. She knows that airing the laundry out is forbidden. Even if I was the only one to witness it, it would still be a bad idea.
“It’s a joke, Daddy. We all know I was with grandma.” Vicki walks over to the couch and plops herself down, putting her dirty Doc Martens on our mother’s antique Queen Anne. “I just wanted to come home.”
Dad laughs stiffly as he looks Vicki up and down. He’s thinking the same thing I am as the tension in the room rises. My mother is going to shit a wall. No, a whole fucking building. That exclusive rehab cost more than a private college. Too bad they don’t hand out degrees for being sober.
“Troy, maybe you and Natalie can visit with Vicki.” Dad nods toward the hallway leading to his office. “I ... have some things to finish.” He smiles brightly at Vicki. “I’ll be right back.”
Dad leaves the room and goes straight to his office, shutting the door with a bang. Vicki stretches out, long and lean, on the couch, her lips curling into a smile as she watches me and Natalie sit down stiffly.
“Who do you think he’s going to call first?” Vicki smirks. “Mom or rehab?”
I sigh heavily. “I’m glad to see you, Vicki, but you should have called.”
“So they could tell me to stay put?” Vicki’s gaze lands on Natalie. “Is she your new girlfriend?”
Unexpectedly, Natalie laughs, throwing back her head as if it’s ridiculous. My jaw is tight as I stare at her reaction. I look at Vicki, and she’s laughing too.
“I guess not,” smiles Vicki. “Are you losing your touch, big brother?”
“Victoria,” my voice is sharp, “Calm the fuck down. You just got home.”
“Troy, relax.” Natalie wipes her eyes. “I’m Natalie and I go to Montlake. Your brother and I hated each other before Christmas, and now, we’re friends.”
“Sounds like a miracle,” replies Vicki. “Once Troy hates someone, it’s forever. My brother carries a grudge tightly. He’ll grip it until his knuckles turn white. He’s worse than our mother. Have you had the pleasure of meeting her?”
Natalie nods and says nothing, but her strained grimace and averted eyes speak loudly.
Vicki chuckles at her silent answer. “I’m surprised you came back.”
“You came back,” replies Natalie.
“Ouch,” laughs Vicki. “Turn that back on me.”
Slowly, the atmosphere relaxes as we banter back and forth about nothing. I don’t want to talk about Vicki’s past in front of Natalie. And I suspect that she may already know part of the story. I check the time on my phone. I didn’t realize that we’d been talking for almost an hour.
“So, I hate to end this, Natalie,” I stand up, heading for the closet. “But you’ll thank me when you’re gone before our mother arrives.”
Natalie jumps up so fast that we all laugh. “Sorry,” she giggles, “But your mother will never drink enough wine to be happy to see me.”
Vicki sits up, taking her feet off the table. “Agreed. You don’t want to be in the line of fire when she comes through the door.”
I help Natalie into her coat. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
“Nice meeting you, Natalie.” Vicki holds out her hand, and Natalie shakes it.
“Nice meeting you. Maybe we’ll hang out together?”
Vicki smiles her first genuine smile since arriving home. “That sounds cool.” Vicki looks at me. “I’m going to go upstairs, big bro, and pretend I’m asleep.”
“Good call,” I reply. “Go on up, and I’ll come up as soon as I see Natalie off.”
“He’s good like that,” Vicki winks and hurries upstairs. I roll my eyes, but Natalie takes it in stride as we walk outside.
“Thanks for being kind to my sister.”
She gawks at me. “It wasn’t to be nice. Your sister seems sweet. A little lost, but sweet.”
I sigh. “Vicki’s been through a lot. She’s playing it off, but it’s there. The hurt goes deep, and I’m not sure the little sister I remember is still there.”
“I went through a lot too,” Natalie says softly. It has started snowing again, a light dusting, and a few flakes land on her lashes. I can’t help but stare into her eyes.
“Yeah, I’m sorry,” I mutter, looking at the pavement.
Natalie starts again. “I meant my parents’ passing. It was unbelievable at first, but I’ve made peace with my grief, so I can function. Now, I want to succeed in life.”
She tilts her chin up as I look down into her earnest eyes. Natalie takes my hand and holds it. I feel her tight grip on my fingers, and I hold my breath.
“Arielle will never accept me as the queen of Montlake, but that’s what I want now, so I can take it away from her. The same way that she took Lucas. Is it bad to compete for selfish reasons?”
“No,” I shake my head and wrap my fingers gently around hers. With my free hand, I open her car door. “It’s not bad. Not for us. You have to practice, take small victories. It’s how I learned. It’s how you’ll learn.”
Natalie smiles tenderly, and I stop myself from pulling her against me and kissing her. I take my own advice. Small victories. I have to learn how to be trusted again.