Secret Sister Signs

1928: Terrible Trouble

 "Where were you, doll?" Siretta called over her newspaper as her little sister hurried up the pathway teeming with flora. Despite how dense the messy grove was, from the porch where Siretta sat in her rocking chair she could see the sandy beach and the gray-green ocean.

Thea flopped down in one of the other rockers. "I uh...was with a guy," she admitted slowly, she knew there wasn't reason to lie to her sisters about what happened...but there was no way in a red hell she was about to tell them who the guy was.

Siretta nodded and took a sip from her coffee mug. "Ben?"

"Uhhh...no. This fella was just like, passin' through, I guess. It was a late night at work..." She trailed off, then shook her head as she plucked the cigarette from her sister's fingers. "He sure the hell was handsome," she blew the smoke into the salty air as she slowly rocked back and forth. "But I'm pretty sure he ain't stayin' in town." And she hoped he wasn't. There was something dark and sinister about him, it unsettled her. It left a coldness within her that crawled under her skin and made her shiver just at the thought of his ice blue eyes on her. "Sorry I didn't call y'all...I hope ya weren't worried."

Siretta smiled and looked at her. "Doll face, as long as you had a good -" Her tone changed when she noticed Thea's bruises. "What the hell?"

Thea smiled a bit as she stood up. "Fun, fun, fun, like ya said. I best be gettin' some sleep, al'ight?"

Siretta eyed her bruises for a moment more then slowly shook her head. "If you're sure, doll..." She frowned faintly then returning to her newspaper, but when she noticed Thea hadn't gone inside, she looked up again in surprise. "Doll face? What's wrong? You're lookin' at me funny."

"Am I?" She quickly blinked, forcing another light-hearted smile before she slowly knelt beside Siretta's rocker. Her sister put her paper down. "You're so pretty, Siretta," she said softly, her sister laughed with disbelief. "I mean it, and smart and brave. God, I wish I had your guts..."

"Doll face, what are you talking about?" She cocked her head as she studied her with keen green eyes.

"I've just...never thanked ya for everythin' you've done for me," she lovingly brushed Siretta's wild red curly hair out of her eyes and kept her hand against her smooth cheek. "Little do you know, but you've taught me things, good things I mean," she explained. "You've shown me how to be...thoughtful, self-aware, and...and most of all, you demonstrated strength despite fear that I can only wish one day I'll have. You taught me about sacrifices, Siretta. I owe you so much."

"Doll..." She smiled faintly with amazement. "Are you sure you're okay, baby?"

"I'm fine," she bowed her head, resting her forehead on her sister's arm. "I'm fine, just...thank you for being my sister, if you hadn't been," she looked up again to meet her eyes. "I wouldn't be who I am now, 'n that's a scary thought, honey."

"Well of fuckin' course, Thea," she rolled her eyes with a light laugh. "You're my kid sis, doll face," she cupped her chin and pressed a quick kiss to her forehead. "I'd commit murder for you. Now go get some sleep, you have an early shift tonight at the club, right?"

"Right," she grinned and kissed her cheek before standing up and wiped at her eyes.

Siretta hadn't noticed, she had already returned to her newspaper. "Want Meril to wake you in time for dinner?"

"No, no, I'm fine," she squeezed her sister's shoulders before hurrying inside.

***

Thea was wearing a short glittering dark scarlet red dress with a drop-waistline and had red gossamer over her arms that formed a collar encrusted with glass rubies around her throat. Her berry red lips were tipped down in a frown as she hurried up the stairs of the Cicada speakeasy. Was Rubio already waiting for her inside? God, she hoped not. "Ben," she smiled at the young bartender as she strolled over. "How's business tonight?" She looked around as he filled a tray full of shot-glass for her.