The Storm

Chapter 15

Sierra

I can hear Atlas open the door shortly after someone knocked. And then I can hear as Cody walks inside, greeting his nieces like he hasn't seen them in years.

He must have brought presents because I can hear when Allie and Vienna thank him for some gift they've gotten. They must be running off to check out their gift because then I can hear him speak to Atlas.

"What's so important, it couldn't wait until tomorrow?" he asks. I don't hear what Atlas responds, but I think he tells him he should go upstairs.

It's time I tell Cody about our mother. It's time he finds out the truth. He is still visiting her grave. He still brings her flowers and waters the tiny plant on her grave. He still gets it cleaned and cared for. We are paying for services for the grave still.

It's time this part of our daily routine ends.

I'm in Atlas and my bedroom, waiting for Cody to make his way inside.

Perhaps I should have chosen a different room, but anywhere else, Allie and Vienna would be marching inside without asking. It's not like they'd knock and ask for permission to come in here, but you know, as of now, they're downstairs.

They're probably watching TV with Atlas, watching Encanto for the tenth time this week. I just bet Atlas is getting sick of the movie, but neither of us has any other choice. If the girls want to watch Encanto, there is no way we're not watching Encanto.

A knock appears on the bedroom door shortly before Cody walks inside. I'm sitting on the bed, holding something in my hands that's not for Cody, but I didn't have enough brain cells to put it away before he got here.

"You okay, Sierella?" he asks, taking a seat next to me. I always hated when he called me that.

Sierella. I used to be so obsessed with Cinderella, he eventually started calling me something close to it. I do have to say, we had a lot of similarities growing up. Good old Cindy and I, I mean.

I was the unwanted one. At least to Drew. I cleaned the whole house cause I had nothing else to do. Thank god Drew didn't make me clean. At least he was decent enough unlike Cinderella's step-mother.

It doesn't even matter.

"How's Reece?" I ask. Reece is Cody's other son. He was born just a couple of months ago. Hunter is now the proudest big-brother anyone could ever imagine. He hates the age difference, but he can live with it. I think?

"Crying a lot." Yeah, babies suck. They're the cutest little creatures, but the crying, the sleepless nights...no thank you. "What'chu got there?"

I sigh, shaking my head. "It's nothing. Not for you anyway." I smile at my brother, then open my nightstand drawer and drop the pregnancy test inside.

"Why am I here, Sierrella?" He smiles, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes. "I doubt I'm here for siblingly reunion. I also doubt you're currently fighting with Atlas, and even if you were, I don't think you'd tell me."

I chuckle. "Atlas would though." I know he would. Atlas talks to Cody about almost to everything. Of course, after he talked to me first. It's like, Cody and I are his sources to gossip to.

"True." Cody shrugs. "Wait, before you say anything, I need to know...are you pregnant, Sierra?" Why is he the second person to ask me that today? "I'm not stupid. I know you just hid a pregnancy test. And you know me, I'm nosy. I need to know."

"I didn't check what it said. I want Atlas to know first." That's not true. I know what it says...

"Can I check. I won't say anything. I just want to know."