The Gemini: Emancipation

41 - Thunder

June 9, 2007

Broccoli. It's the liveliest thing at this table. Kelly-green with just enough snap after the steam. A modest pop that sounds loudly against the dead silence of this dining room.

Awkward.

Three seated, one empty chair. Brie lingers, eyeing the space where her father would be if he were here. For the first time ever in all of his leaves, she isn't certain if his absence is a good thing or not.

Crunch goes another stalk of broccoli, her teeth chomping off the floret as her stare swipes toward mother and brother's way. It's been four hours since they've been home. Not once in that time has Brie seen them look at one another.

Suspicious.

Obvious.

But Brie knows that Miles isn't present enough to realize what's right in front of his face. His murderous act isn't a secret anymore. Duane told Jody and, unbeknownst to her, Brie overheard it all. A fact that she felt should've been obvious, because surely her eyes are still puffy from the tears.

She ran to her room after hearing the devastating news; breaking into frightened tears even before entering the door. Stuck at that peak of panic, it took a long while for her to come to grips. As best as she could anyway. The main thing keeping Brie solid now is her knowing that it's what Miles needs. Stability. The opposite of what their mother's offering. In young hazels, it appears that the woman doesn't give one single ounce of a damn.

But what else should I expect from a criminal?

Her mind's changed. She does wish her father were here.

"I'm not hungry," says a somber voice from a solemn face.

Veggie chewing, Brie observes Miles's untouched plate. Not one piece of food had changed place. Throughout the time they've sat here, he did nothing but stare at it; concentrating as if it were telling him the darkest secret.

It's in this same way that he focused on the cupholder during the ride home. A concerning aloofness that dissipated Brie's annoyance. An intense irritation at being dragged from the party and another planned sleepover. She protested so much that Duane almost threw her over his shoulder for a forceful lug out. Once in the car, she fastly figured something big was amiss given Miles's demeanor and Duane's refusal to explain their sudden leave. Still she would've never guessed something so life damning.

Leaving without permission, Miles pushes back from the table. The chairs feet scuff a rough sound in the process. His own socked feet are quiet in their unhurried travels to the second floor.

Watching Jody scoop another spoon of orzo, Brie cant hold her tongue any longer.

"You're just letting him go?"

"I'll wrap it up. It'll be there later. You can leave too if you want."

Huffing in disbelief, "That's it? Like, that's all?"

Finally looking at the girl, Jody's brows hike on an otherwise nonchalant face. "What else do you want me to say?"

"Forget it." Standing, Brie brushes off with a mumble that she meant to be heard, "I miss Dad." Her intent was to walk out on that but her mother came back.

"And what would he do different than me?"

"Care! Why aren't you saying anything to Miles after what he did? You're just sitting there like everything is normal, Dad wouldn't do that!" Eyeing her, she doesn't even see a reaction to that leaked secret. "OMG, it's like you're dead or something!"

Jody's spoon goes scooping again. "Your father would do the exact thing I'm doing right now."

"About a murder?" Brie exclaims. "My dad would never."