Haven

Chapter 5

Bill

The sweet aroma of food filled my nostrils as I walked into my house. I passed the kitchen and could hear Laura, my maid and cook, singing to herself as she slaved away. I went straight to my bedroom, freed myself of my work clothes and went to my bathroom.

I turned on the shower, waited for the water to get hot before I stepped in. I closed my eyes as my body relaxed at the feeling of the hot water cascading down it. I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed. I could feel the stresses of the day disappearing for a moment.

I was out of the shower after twenty minutes, then dressed myself in more comfortable clothes. I gathered my work clothes and took them to the laundry room before heading over to the dinning room.

My sister was already seated at the table being served by Laura. I let out a breath before joining in. I sat at the opposite end of the table. Laura served me the pasta dish she prepared alongside some red wine. I started eating, while doing my best to ignore my sister's presence.

"Bill," she eventually spoke.

I squeezed my fork before looking up at her. "What?"

She sighed, "I know you don't want me here."

"That's an understatement," I mumbled.

She frowned. Interestingly, when she frowned, that's when she resembled me the most.

"How about instead of complaining about me being here, we have a conversation about it like two adults?"

Marian, my sister, was three years younger than me. We were close when we were kids but the moment we hit our teenage years, things changed, to say the least. She became my father's prized possession and I, was cast aside. To say the least.

"Alright. What the fuck are you doing here?" I spat.

She sighed. "I missed you,"

"Bullshit,"

She sighed again.

I left the city five years ago, not daring to look back. I was 25, ambitious and sick of my father and my sister. I asked for my inheritance, bought some land and part of the lake and decided to open a hotel. I picked this town because it had no ties to anyone in my family. I was new in town, didn't know anybody and had no connections or experience in the hotel industry. But I knew business, it was in my blood. Every action I took seemed irrational, but I did it anyways. I got to know the people, I built my business and I built my life. Everything was going perfectly fine. Then a week ago, she shows up.

"I know you've always hated me for some reason. But I want to mend our relationship, go back to how close we were when we were kids. You remember, right? All the made up games we used to play while dad was busy working,"

I rolled my eyes. "You need to stop living in the past, dear sister."

"The past seems to be the only place we have good memories,"

"Speak for yourself,"

I took a sip of my wine, my eyes glued on her. She looked down at her food, moving it around with her fork. Her drink was untouched, her face displayed no emotion. Us Edens had a talent for hiding our emotions, a tactic our father taught us and apparently his father taught him.

"Did Samuel send you?" I asked.

She looked up. "No, dad did not send me here. I told you I missed you, that's why I'm here."

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

"Not all the time," she said then drank from her glass.

I glared at her.

"Bill, unlike you, I don't believe in just shutting out my own flesh and blood. You're my brother, whether you like it or not. And I want to have a relationship with my brother,"

I could feel the anger rising to my chest. I could feel my blood boiling.

"Where was all this before I left?!" I yelled, startling her. She got a tight grip of the table as she stared at me with wide eyes.

"Huh?! Not shutting me out, wanting a relato,ionship with me. Where was all that during all the years I was in the city with you? You are so full of shit."

"Bill, I -,"

"I don't want to hear any more of your crap. Pack your things and in the morning, I want you out of my house."

I got up and left the room, my appetite completely gone. I went up the stairs, taking the route to my office. I opened the door, got in and locked it behind me. I leaned on to the door for a few minutes, giving myself a moment to calm down.

I was no longer interested in trying to get my family's love and attention. And for Marian to come here with her lies, it felt like an insult.

I moved from the door and went to my desk. A bottle of bourbon laid waiting for me. I opened it and drank directly from it, ignoring the glass right next to it. The alcohol burned my throat, but eased my mind.