"That's why Alice started giving you food," Cecilia continued. "It wasn't kindness, it was Otis's order and dad didn't even know. I found out later. Alice was told to feed you… to make sure you were looked after, but only on the outside. Not out of kindness out of obligation. So if she's now in your school, that means she must have a hidden motive behind her sudden appearance and fake apologies"
"Hmm…", I had to ease some of the tension, but this was just too hard to believe…could anyone have so many sides like a chameleon and change skins based on someone's orders? I didn'tthink it was possible, at least not with the Alice I knew. "I understand what you're trying to say and I really appreciate it", I paused, silently looking for the best way to phrase this without further agitating. "But I think we are just being prejudicial about Alice. B-besides she's not gonna be nice to me just because someone asked her to" I really hoped that it would help them understand a little.
Fun fact: They didn't.
"BUT YOU SEE HOW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUR FATHER AND OTIS DESTROYED OUR FAMILY!" My mother snapped, smashing her frail fists on the table. The small vase rattled, but I stayed stubborn.
"But try to listen to what I'm trying to say we don't have to hate their entire family just because Otis is a pain in the ass to deal with." I sighed as I scanned their sad faces. Maybe I shouldn't have said that… Catherine's eyes were glossy, like she was holding back tears, and mother started at me, her eyes speaking volumes without words.
I dropped my head in shame, staring at the floor like it held the answers I wanted. "So what should we do?" A voice dripping with resignation muttered. It was Catherine's. I looked up to see her looking up at me, tired and looking withdrawn.
"I think we should give everyone a chance even though they hurt us ...you taught me that didn't you, mom?"
I said wiping the tears off her eyes with my hands, my voice full of determination. "I will be careful, but I won't treat Alice with disdain..." To me, Alice deserved better, and I needed more proof before I could judge her like everyone else.
"Hahaha.... hahaha" my sister choked a bitter laugh through her tears " cough, cough"
"Are u ok sis? here take some water" I held out a glass of water to her, watching closely as she took it and drank slowly.
"I'm fine, Harry, it's just that…", she paused and took a deep breath. "You're too naive. I hope your kindness is rewarded." She gave a weak smile, leaning forward slightly to pat my head. "Good people like you are rare to find." I couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic or not.
"Well, if that's what you want to do Harry, then I can't stop you, can I? " My mom mumbled, picking the unfinished glass of water that Cecelia had placed on the table and shrugged in defeat.
"No , mom you can't stop me from being a good person", I said facing her with a smile. I could finally feel the tension ease out a bit, replaced by something heavy and upsetting.
"Just be careful... mother's instincts" she said while laughing, and gave me a playful hand chop on my hair
"Ouch" I whined as we laughed on the table
"Well, Cecilia how was your day? How's your skill acquisition program going?" i asked playfully only to see my sister give me an embarrassed look
"Well I've been able to learn how to knit a sweater. It's kinda easy but getting a bobcut hair style is kinda hard", she said as she smiled shyly.
"Oh really? Tell me about it. How do you knit a sweater?" I asked in amusement looking at my sister who seemed excited
Cecilia's eyes sparkled as she jumped up from her seat and hurried into her bedroom, emerging with an incomplete sweater, some yarn and needles. She sat down in her previous seat, bouncing with barely contained excitement. "It's actually pretty simple, Harry," she said, launching into an explanation as she began to knit.
"First, you choose the right yarn. I used a wool silk blend for this one." She held up the sweater, showcasing the soft fabric. "Then, you cast on the stitches, making sure to get the tension just right."
As she spoke, Cecilia demonstrated the motion of knitting, her needles clicking rhythmically. Harry watched, fascinated, and their mother, sipping her juice, couldn't help but join in.
"Let me try, Cecilia," their mother said, taking the needles from Cecilia. Cecilia guided her hands, laughing as the yarn tangled.
"Not like that, Mom," Cecilia chuckled, untangling the yarn. "Like this." She took the needles back, showing Harry and their mother the gentle rhythm of knitting.
Harry reached for the needle, and she handed it to him, laughing as he tried to mimic Cecilia's movements. "Like this?" he asked, his stitches uneven.
Cecilia grinned. "Almost. Let me show you." She leaned over, her hands guiding his, and the former tense scene evolved into an impromptu knitting lesson.
"Oh shit", I muttered, clutching my stomach as it grumbled "We haven't touched dinner yet"
"Oh that's right....we were so engrossed in talking that we forgot" my mom said dropping the wool on the table
"I'll go warm up the meal" my sister offered
"Um, are youu sure don't wanna stay with your brother a bit?" my mom asked with surprise
"Chill, mom, I'm just going to the kitchen" she said as she took the plates inside the kitchen as she warmed up the food in a microwave
" So, mom, it's your turn", I said with a smug smile. "How's your mini mart ?"
"Well sales been surprisingly smooth this week we are able to sell over sixty percent of goods this month"
"Wow that's great... I guess you're traveling to a beach this weekend right?" i asked playfully
"We have to save, Harrison, so we can travel out of the country, not spend recklessly", My sister said returning plates of food as we ate " Taking vacations are for the billionaires."
"What's the harm in doing so?" my mom said looking up from her meal
"Mom but..." she tried to speak her mouth full
"nuh uh" she said placing her finger on her lips, a sign for Cecelia to stop talking.
"Don't talk with your mouth full" she said as I giggled like a brat.
"Big sister got shut up", I laughed and pointed at her.
"Damn you...." she mumbled as she swallowed her meal and gave me an a serious look before she faced my mom "But saving for the future is..."
"There is no harm in having a little fun and vacating when we need to " she said pinching her nose playfully
" Besides we haven't gone anywhere before so we might have the chance to meet new people and make friends" I said with a broad smile.
"I love how you guys are all positive and cool, but we shouldn't forget about Otis. He could come after us and...", my sister predicted.
" ENOUGH!!" my mom facial expression darkened as she glared at Cecilia " Stop trying to jinx everything with your mouth especially when we having a good moment like this..." she sighed as the table fell silent " I'm sorry I shouted at you like that...but i just want us to be happy together....we have suffered so much in the hand of James and
"I just want to make up for all the years we lost in suffering back then at Otis town by being a better mother than I was back then..." She said with determination in her eyes as she called Cecilia, who was already looking upset at the outburst.
"Come closer."
"I don't want to" Cecelia said icily, frowning as she looked away.
"Listen to Mama " she said and took a few steps closer, then hugged Cecilia, cuddling her in her bosom.
"You may be 19 but it doesn't change the fact that you're my first child come on to Mama " she said patting my sister's silky soft hair and my sister sobbed holding back her tears.
" You don't have to hold back dear come on, let it all out " Catherine said patting her head.
I couldn't hold back the tears that welled up in my eyes i covered my face.
"Don't just sit there Harry your part of our family too...you can come over here", My mother gestures as I sat closer to her and I and my sister cried bitterly on her bosom.
"Forgive me, Harry... forgive me, Cecilia.... I've never been a good mother to you...all I've done is sit and watch in silence as your father abused you"
"I'm sorry... I'm truly sorry for not fighting back earlier for all the times James molested you, all the times James hit both of you ...its all my fault... I'm sorry... I'm truly sorry i know I can't atone for the sin of watching the evil done to you because I was terrified of James..."
"We all were, in fact, I still am", my sister said, raising her head as tears welled in her eyes. "But I don't blame you, I blame James who committed the evil he did."
"It doesn't still excuse the fact that i watched him do horrible things to you... I'm such a bad person... I'm sorry..." mother said in between sobs as I wiped her tears.
"We forgive you ...not because you apologized, but because we were all victims. We had forgiven you a long time ago " I said, looking up at her.
"It wasn't your fault, so don't feel guilty you we're a victim to him as we both are so let's heal beside each other", my sister chimed in "I'm sorry about what I said earlier, I am just scared.. I'm so scared and focused on what Otis might do that I haven't been able to live for myself", Cecilia said.