Let tomorrow come

Chapter 6.

A few days later, when the holidays were almost over, John and I were sitting and drinking tea. I can't say that our relations have improved much. But he began to show himself a little more tolerant of me, and I was pleased with such changes in him, because as a child I experienced a lot of humiliation and neglect from him. But we were still family and we needed to get along. Therefore, I tried not to mention anything, although, of course, I was unable to forget. My brother and I never talked about anything serious. And it wasn't a matter of age gap at all. I just preferred to live in the present, but I couldn't look into his head and understand his attitude towards me. And this time we were laconic, sometimes exchanging meaningless phrases. Before we had time to finish our tea, Eila told John that his grandmother was calling him. John put down his cup, rolled his eyes and walked out, leaving me in splendid isolation. I approached our cook and asked him for another tartlet with cream. Marco's culinary skills had no equal. The cream instantly melted in my mouth, so delicious it was. To my happy exclamations, the cook grinned into his mustache. After that, taking a glass of lemonade with me, I was going to go up to my room and read something (lately I've been too busy with studying and painting). Walking past grandma's door, I heard John's dissatisfied voice:

"But I don't love her!"

This made me stop. Actually, I've never eavesdropped, but this phrase intrigued me. I couldn't explain to myself why I did it, but I moved closer and tried to hear more.

"Is she a bad girl? People do not always marry for love."

"I'm nineteen, grandma, only nineteen. I want to at least finish my studies."

"Agnia and I have known each other for a long time. And Mabel, you saw her. She is very sophisticated, and what manners! The child of such ladies cannot be a bad match for my grandson," the grandmother continued, not paying attention to my brother's attack.

"What if I love another girl?!"

"For the sake of your family, you have to do this. Everyone will be better off. And you too. I married the man my father gave me away as. And I didn't regret it. Your grandfather Nicholas was a wonderful person, it's just a pity that he died early..."

"Get me out of this!"

"I believe that you and Amber will be an ideal couple, and love will come with time. Besides, you have known each other for a long time."

I froze and was afraid to move. My heart thudded against the walls. I knew that eavesdropping was bad, they told me this since childhood, but I couldn't tear myself away. Something important was happening behind the door, namely, the grandmother wanted to bring Amber into this house. It's not that I felt hatred. Of course not! But I remember her as a capricious girl who talks people into doing pranks, and then hides behind someone else's back and smiles, happy that everything was a success. And now she was about to appear again. Of course, we wouldn't have to see each other often, but I still didn't want to.

The door opened and John quickly walked out of the house. Along the way, he cursed irritably, without mincing words. He didn't notice me. I exhaled and was about to leave as quietly as possible, but then I heard a loud voice above my head:

"Who do we have here?! Christina!"

She unceremoniously grabbed my ear. I tried not to show that I was in pain, but she began to twist my ear, and then tears flowed from my eyes. But I still tried to hold on and tried not to spill the lemonade, and tried to wriggle out, keeping the glass in balance.

"You decided to eavesdrop. Didn't I teach you that it's so bad? You don't listen to anything at all!!!"

Aela came running at the noise.

"What's going on, Mrs. Winnes?" she asked scared.

Grandma let go of my ear and pushed me. I sank to my knees. Aela managed to catch me in time, the glass still fell on the parquet and splashed.

"You are a slob!" Grandmother said disgustedly, "Take this obnoxious girl, and no dinner today. Let her think about her behavior!" She turned to Aela.

With these words, she slowly turned around and left, closing the door to her room as if nothing had happened. Aela shook her head sadly and helped me up.

"Go to your room, I'll ask Marie to clean up here. And I'll bring you new lemonade."

I nodded to her and, without saying anything, ran upstairs to the room, fell on the bed, and cried for about 20 minutes, burying my face in the pillow, until Eila came with a new glass of lemonade.

"What did I do to her?" I asked her through tears.

She stroked my head:

"Of course, you did wrong by listening to someone else's conversation, but she was also wrong to do this to you. I don't know why she does this, baby, but you need to rest now," she said.

"Do you want me to bring you a blanket? Cover yourself and it will immediately become more comfortable and easier. I'll call your brother. I don't understand where he went."

I pulled her sleeve:

"Wait, it seems his grandmother wants to marry him to one of our mutual friends."

Aela stopped.

"And how did he react?"

"He doesn't want to follow it."

" Is she good?"

"I'm not sure," I answered.

"But you said you know each other?" Aela arched an eyebrow.

"Yes, but we weren't friends a few years ago. I don't know if she has changed now. I only know that they were friends with my brother. Do not think about it. I'm also surprised."

"John has matured a little, and may have changed his mind about this girl." Aela stroked my head again, "This happens. But I'll still call him."

"Don't tell him anything," I folded my hands pleadingly, "we're still not on the best terms, he'll be angry if he finds out."

"Of course honey." She winked at me and left.

When I calmed down a little, carefully covered with a blanket, I decided to sit down at the table and think about what I heard. I never had to get used to my brother's temper. But for some reason I really didn't want to upset him even more. Amber was sometimes an insufferable mess, but I always remembered them together. Еhey even set my dress on fire together. Why doesn't he want to date her now? They would make a good match, both of them a little nasty by nature.

"You can't say that, even to yourself," I thought, and playfully hit myself on the lips twice. But for some reason I felt happy. I curled up under the blanket and didn't notice how I fell asleep.

***

The next day, when I woke up and, stretching, left the room, I saw that the door to John's room was open. Rubbing my eyes, I came closer and saw Aela. She was packing the suitcase that my brother arrived with.

"Good morning. Is he leaving?" I asked, nodding towards the suitcase.

"Yes. Your grandmother doesn't know yet. I think she will be unhappy."

"I agree..." I came closer, "...but she is always unhappy," I said almost in a whisper, although she could not hear me from her room on the first floor.

Aela ruffled my disheveled braids.

"I'll wash up, then I'll come for breakfast. Do you know what Marco is doing today?"

"Does it matter?" Eila arched her eyebrow, smiling ironically. "You already eat everything he offers."

"Perhaps you're right."

I went to the bathroom at the end of the corridor, opened the door and was about to go in, but I covered my mouth with my hands so as not to scream. John was shaving, but he was only in pajama pants, and his shirt was lost somewhere. He turned around and looked at me questioningly.

"The door needs to be closed," I squeaked, "I'll wait outside," and jumped out.

I inhaled and exhaled several times to calm myself. My heart was beating faster again.

"Probably out of fear," I thought.