Country Mile

I ALWAYS WANTED A BROTHER

After realizing that there were more cows than people in the area in which she was expected to live, Genna and Adam finally pulled onto a long dirt road in the middle of no where. As they turned the bend, she was taken aback by the quaint two story house she saw before her. From the tire swing on the front yard tree, to the wrap around porch, it was as though a Better Homes and Garden magazine took a shit and voila: her new home.

"Home sweet home," Adam said with a crooked smile as he put the truck in park.

Just as she was about to comment on how overly sweet the place looked, a blonde girl who looked her age stepped out the front door and stood with her arms crossed leaning against one of the porch posts.

"Who's that?" Genevieve asked.

"That would be Delilah. She's.. well, she's your half sister. Her mama passed due to complications at child birth, so it's been just me and her here. And now you of course."

"Of course," she murmured under her breath. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out Adam knocked up his rebound chick after her mom left. What a douchebag, she thought.

They stepped out of the truck and Adam smiled while calling out to Delilah.

"Lilah, don't be rude now. Come on down here and say hello to your sister."

"She's not my sister," both girls said simultaneously.

"Well," Genevieve said while smiling at Delilah, "At least we can agree on the important things."

The two stared at each other for a long moment. Tense energy filling the space between them. It wasn't until Delilah's eyes flicked to her father and then down to the ground did Genna look over at Adam whose face was now stern with disapproval. His gruff voice soon broke the awkward silence.

"Delilah, I won't ask you again."

Something in his voice made her move instantly. She stomped down the steps and over to Genna. She stopped a foot away and simply held out her hand. Genna looked her up and down. She was thin, yet muscular. Similar to her build. Her height, but not nearly as pretty. I could take her, Genna thought.

Genna accepted Delilah's handshake. "My name is Genevieve, but I go by Genna."

Delilah smiled while she roughly squeezed Genna's hand, as if she understood exactly what thoughts had just run through her mind.

"Genevieve, huh? Sounds like the name of a snob."

"Delilah Katherine!" Adam warned as he started making his way around the truck.

Genna squeezed her hand even harder and returned Delilah's smile with one of her own. "Wasn't Delilah the name of a whore?" she asked sweetly.

"Alright, that's enough!" Adam yelled.

"EXCUSE ME?!" Delilah screamed, getting in Genna's face.

"Get the fuck outta here," Genna scoffed while shoving her away.

"HEY!" Adam boomed.

Delilah balled up her fists and was about to swing on Genna when Adam snagged her by the arm and pulled her away.

"ENOUGH!"

Delilah's face was scarlet from anger and embarrassment. Adam eyed the two girls briefly before turning to Delilah.

"Go on inside and wait for me in the den. We'll finish this discussion in private," Adam growled.

She choked out a mumbled "yessir" and took off running into the house.

Adam took off his hat and ran his fingers through his dirty blonde hair. He and Genna stared at each other for a long, uncomfortable moment. He took a deep breath and replaced his hat with a sigh.

"Look, I know this is one hell of an adjustment for you, but you gotta remember that your life ain't the only one changin'. We gotta help each other the best we can. It's the only way we'll make it through," he said.

Genna bit her bottom lip, his words making her feel smaller than she felt when she first stepped off the plane. Though she'd never admit that out loud.

"Alright," Adam sighed. "Let's go on in."

Adam grabbed Genna's bags and she silently followed him into the house. He gave her a brief tour, showed her to her room on the second floor, and then proceeded to head downstairs to finish his discussion with Delilah.

Genevieve didn't want to know what the hell was going to go on down there so she climbed out her bedroom window and sat on the roof to text her best friend, Amy.

She began to tell her all about her boring flight in, her horrible father, and her psychotic half sister.

"Fml. I wish Ashton Kutcher would jump out n tell me I'm being Punk'd bc this Little House On The 21st Century Prairie shit is lame AF," she texted.

A reply of I love you's and advice to sleep with a knife beneath her pillow induced just the kind of laugh Genna needed.

She let out a sigh as they texted their good nights to one another. The brief conversation with one of the few links to her old life caused another piece of her strength to break. She watched the milky haze of a summer sunset splash across the sky. She closed her eyes as a tear slid down her cheek, letting the warm breeze blow her chipped pieces of strength away.

After allowing herself to break down some, she made quick work of regaining her composure. She took a deep breath and stood, staring out across the open fields of horses, cattle, and hay bales.

"What in the actual fuck," she said to the chirping crickets as she wiped her face. "Ugh, get it together, Genna."

She pulled out a pack of smokes and lit up. With each puff, the nicotine calmed her nerves and after a little while she began to feel more relaxed. She snuffed her cigarette out and flicked the butt into some tall grass down below. She took one last deep breath and climbed back in the window.

She looked around at her room, but didn't feel like arranging any of her stuff just yet. She needed a shower. And a stiff drink. And a nap. Preferably, in that order. She grabbed her pjs and bag of toiletries and headed off to take a shower.

She opened her door and just as she stepped out, Delilah was walking by to go to her room. They both stopped and locked eyes. Delilah's were red and puffy, it was apparent she had been crying. Genevieve's were dancing with pure amusement.

"The hell are you lookin' at bitch?" Delilah spat.

"Oh, that language!" Genna gasped in faux appalment. She walked to the bathroom and turned to face Delilah once she was beyond the threshold. "I'm not looking at anything. I'm just so glad."

"Glad about what?" Delilah asked darkly.

Genna gestured to her, "That you're here of course!"

"What are you talkin' about?" Her face screwed up in confusion.

"It's just..." Genna began to close the door, "When thinking about having a younger sibling, you're exactly the ugly little fucker I had hoped for."

Delilah's eyes narrowed into slits and she began to stalk towards her, but Genna slammed and locked the door just in time to hear a growl akin to that of a rabid animal on the other side.

"Screw you!" Delilah said as she kicked the door.

"You're like a gift from above," Genna goaded. "I always wanted a brother!"