Chapter 7 contains mentions of sex/abuse.

  CHRISTINA.

  What should I wear? Oh my God! His door creaked. My heart is pounding. I hate myself for this. I chose a dress with blue and white vertical stripes. I’m looking in the mirror. This makes me look a little taller. Exactly what is needed. It’s funny that I try so hard for him even though I have no chance. Shoes… Let there be sandals with a small thick heel. Hairstyle… Two loose tails flowing over the shoulders. And also makeup. Although I’m not strong at this, I make it light in brown tones. I look in the mirror again, and it reflects a quite pretty girl who really looks like she’s nineteen. I need to go down.

  I open the door and go down to the dining room. Everything is already assembled. Only John is missing.

  “Marie, can I help you carry it?” I ask.

  “No, honey, I don’t need anything. We’re almost done.”

  A couple of minutes ter he appears. He isn’t alone. Next to him is a sultry brunette in trousers and an emerald-colored top. She is skinny. There is something tough but attractive about her features. She reeks of authority. And she’s tall. I feel so helpless. I want to run away and cry in my room. After all, I’m trying completely in vain. But I try to hold on, because they immediately head in my direction.

  “Who is this here with us?” She asks arrogantly, and I’m ready to fall through the ground as if I’ve done something bad.

  “Meet me,” he says to me, “this is Linda, my…”

  “Yes, I’m his girlfriend!” She looks at me with a destroying look.

  “And this is Christina, my sister,” he continues more loudly. Everyone turns in our direction.

  I want to object, but he discreetly shakes my hand lightly and looks at me. I quickly look away. But what did I see in that short moment when our eyes met? Was it support? I guess it was just my imagination.

  ***

  “My kitty, I have something for you,” Jack turns to Ae.

  She looks at him questioningly.

  “Chris, give it to me, please.”

  “Take it,” I hand him a small box upholstered in velvet. Since they are sitting next to each other, he asks her to stand up.

  “You know, my love,” Jack begins, and Ae begins to feel shy. Freckles are dancing on her cheeks.

  “When I first met you, it was a difficult time for me and my family. But you illuminated my life with your radiant smile, and the pain of loss receded. You always supported me and my children, even if sometimes it made you uncomfortable. And you always took care of my mother, until her st breath, and tolerated her whims. You took care of me while I didn’t give much in return. Now it’s time to change everything, and it’s time for me to show how I can answer you. Ae Scott, will you marry me?”

  The heroine of the occasion covers her mouth with her hand, then ughs nervously, then almost cries. Jack hugs her reassuringly.

  “You don’t have to give an answer now if you don’t want to.”

  “No, I agree! I was just worried.”

  She extends her hand to him, and he pces a ring with a small but very elegant emerald on her finger.

  “It will suit you perfectly.”

  With these words they freeze in a short, tender kiss. Everyone is making noise with delight. And then we continue drinking and having fun. All this time, only Linda is staring at me, but I try not to pay attention.

  ***

  After a noisy feast, everyone, tired and happy, goes about their business. I run upstairs to change clothes and go out to get some fresh air.

  I’m wearing regur skinny jeans and a denim jacket. October is already coming to an end. Almost all the leaves have fallen. And this is just in tune with my mood. It would seem that nothing could spoil it. However, Linda comes out behind me almost immediately.

  “Wait, girl, what’s your name?” She shouts after me.

  “He never had such a brazen girlfriend before. Let’s see what she says,” I say to myself.

  I turn around and wait for her.

  “I am Christina, and I am listening to you carefully…”

  Yes, yes, listen very carefully. I’m sure you’re not brother and sister, you don’t even look alike. I don’t know why John calls you that, or why his father calls you daughter. After all, you don’t look like him either. Or did your mother conceive you on the side?!”

  Everything is boiling inside me. She seems to be provoking.

  “How dare you say that about me and my parents? My mother died, do you understand?! Now leave me alone!” I’m about to leave, but she grabs my sleeve.

  “Keep in mind, if you hang around my boyfriend, I will destroy you with the snap of a finger. You are dressed up like a cheap slut. You’re so pathetic.”

  “Are you finished?” I ask coldly, but there is a fire inside me of anger and resentment, “John is my brother, that’s true. But his personal life has nothing to do with me. Now go home to him and fuck him to death. I think that’s what you want to hear from me. Besides, I’m not alone. But I’m not yet ready to introduce my Glenn to my dad, unlike John, who brings his “girls” almost every time. And I will dress as I see fit.”

  “I see how you look at him!..” she shouts after me.

  But I mentally send her to hell and quickly walk forward. I don’t understand why she treats me this way. She doesn’t know me at all. Or maybe John told her something… It doesn’t matter what happened, she’s too aggressive and it’s not fair. In addition, she is very quick-witted.

  “And why did John call me sister again when everyone already knows everything?”

  It’s good that I have my phone with me.

  “Hello, Peter? Are you in the city? What a coincidence, me too! Can we meet? I want to take a walk around the city in the evening... Okay, let’s go there. How soon will you be able to?.. Yes, see you!”

  After about forty minutes he finally comes up. Ten o’clock.

  “Hello. How are you? What’s up?”

  “I don’t compin. I just got a little cold while I was waiting for you.”

  “Would you like some coffee? It seems one of the coffee shops is still open.”

  “Sorry, I don’t think that’s a good idea. I didn’t take my wallet with me.”

  “Nonsense. We haven’t seen each other for a hundred years. This time I’m paying, you’ll have to me for the next time. A new reason to meet,” he ughs.”

  “Okay, okay, I give up!” I pyfully raise my hands up.

  The coffee shop is warm and has cozy dim lighting.

  “Good evening. Do you want it to go?” The girl barista smiles at us warmly.

  “No, we’ll be eating here,” Peter answers her.

  “We close in half an hour.”

  “This suits us. Irish coffee and one iced gss, please. And two cheesecakes, chocote and strawberry.”

  “It’s fine. From you eighteen pounds.”

  “So why did you decide to call me so unexpectedly? As far as I know you, you are not that impulsive in your decisions. And if you had pnned, you would have warned me not an hour in advance, but several days in advance.”

  “I guess you’re right,” I answer, sipping my coffee through a straw. Peter looks at me curiously.

  “I just felt uneasy. I wanted to walk alone near home. I don’t have csses next Monday and I don’t have to go back to Gsgow tomorrow.”

  “So you study in Gsgow?”

  “Yes. At the art school.”

  “I’m not surprised. Is your father helping?”

  “Certainly. Although I have a schorship. And I’m also thinking about looking for a job. More precisely, I almost found it. Just… Don’t call him that anymore, please.”

  “Whom? Uncle Jack?” He looks at me in amazement.

  “You do not know, do you? He is not my real dad.”

  “Well, well, well, wait. Is this what you want to talk about? Then how about we go to my parents’ house? They will be gd to see you. Besides, we will have the whole night free to talk.”

  “We should probably call Jack. I won’t be back until the morning… Hi, Jack?”

  “Christina, where are you?”

  “Jack, I’m sorry, I’m probably distracting you.”

  “No, no, everything is OK. We were just about to go to bed. What’s happened? Will you get home by yourself? Take a taxi.”

  “Everything is fine. I met with Peter.”

  “Oh, say hi to him!”

  “Of course, I will.”

  Peter indicated that he wanted to talk to him himself. I shrugged and handed him my phone.

  “Good evening, Uncle Jack! Sorry to bother you so te. Christina forgot her wallet. But don’t worry. I was just inviting her to stay with us for the night. Besides, mom and dad hadn’t seen her for a long time and missed her very much. Tomorrow I will send her home in the afternoon when she wakes up. Do you mind?”...“Good night, Uncle Jack!”

  He gives me the phone back.

  “Uncle Jack doesn’t worry anymore. He only said that I personally put his precious daughter in the taxi.”

  “We’re closing!” the barista girl announces.

  “We’re already leaving. Thank you.”

  “Come again, you are so sweet,” she smiles at us.

  We look at each other and smile too.

  ***

  Peter and I chatted all night. I told him about the fact that I was an adopted daughter, and about my student successes, and about my new friends, and about the rude girl Linda, who offended me in the evening. He listened and did not interrupt me. In the end, I decided to ask him:

  “Are you no longer offended by me?”

  Peter was silent for a moment.

  “I can’t be offended by you. It’s your choice. I really loved you, and at first it was very difficult for me when you said that we would not be together. But then you introduced me to Amber. And whatever she did as a child is in the past. She is a very good girl.”

  “Oh, so are you dating?” My eyes immediately lit up with curiosity.

  “Yes. Of course, it didn’t happen right away, but four months ago we became a couple. And you know, we are very comfortable together. We understand each other.”

  “I’m very gd for you!!!” I cpped my hands.

  “Hush hush. What do you have? Did you find anyone? What’s his name? Glenn, is that so?”

  “No, no, he’s not my boyfriend. I told Linda this out of spite… But I really have loved one person for a very long time. Maybe you will scold me, but I will tell you that this is none other than... John.”

  “Unexpectedly, to be honest,” he said, “Yes, this boy was always there. Does he know?”

  “No. But he shouldn’t either.”

  “I understand. But if you want to get it, you’ll have to work hard. He does not give the impression of a simple and understandable person. His head is probably full of his own cockroaches. And you need to tame these same cockroaches. And be careful, otherwise you may get hurt because of him. And I don’t want you to suffer. You are still very dear to me.”

  With these words, he took my hands in his and looked me straight in the eyes. I felt a little uncomfortable, and again I felt that I was to bme. It seemed like something was still smoldering inside him. But I tried to smile and said deliberately cheerfully:

  “Of course, you know, I am me. And I can handle everything. He will fall at my feet... Just kidding!” I let out a nervous ugh.

  “I know you can,” he answered completely seriously, “just try not to get into trouble.”