A Sibling's Love

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

          Laura slipped into her bedroom to get dressed for the revelry. She didn’t particularly want to go downstairs and socialize with all the people that came for the Holiday festivities. She was also afraid of the mistletoe that hung somewhere. The stupid holiday tradition.

          As Laura slipped into her dress she thought of the way that Jake had kissed her; well her forehead. It had radiated through her whole body making her feel warm and utterly safe.

          “Best forget it,” she mumbled, “he did it to keep the creep off you.”

          Suddenly there was a loud knock on her door, causing her jump in fright.

          “Hello,” she heard Melody call from the other side of the door, “Can I come in baby girl?”

          “Yeah,” Laura breathed in relief as her mother stepped in.

          “You look breathtaking,” Melody beamed at her little girl, who wasn’t so little anymore. Suddenly, swamped with mixed emotions Melody began to cry.

          “Mamma?” Laura asked concerned, “Are you all right? What is wrong Mamma?”

          “Oh,” Melody sniffled and dabbed at her eyes with a delicate, lacey hankie, “my baby girl isn’t so little. You aren’t a girl. You are a woman now.”

          “Mamma,” Laura’s cheeks turned a rosy pink, “I may not be little, but I will always be your baby girl.”

          “Let me fix my makeup and then you will make your grand entrance using the winding staircase that leads to the ball room,” Melody laughed.

          “But-“ Laura argued but it was no use.

          “Uh-uh,” Melody smiled, “You are going to attract everyman’s attention in that room and all the other women’s envy. Then you are to wallow in it and have a good time dancing and drinking.”

          “I’m still only twenty,” Laura reminded her mother.

          “I won’t tell,” Melody smiled sweetly and left her daughter alone for a few moments.

          Maybe her mother was right. Maybe she needed to talk to other men to forget the one that devastated her, but who could she trust enough to do that? With a sigh Laura made her way towards the stairwell.

          “What’s up Jake,” a man, close to his own age, touched Jake’s shoulder.

          Hurriedly, Jake turned to look at the man. He was several inches shorter than he, had vibrant red hair, and the deepest blue eyes that a person could possess. He also had a familiar lop-sided grin that took up the majority of his face. Jake looked closer and noticed a scar right above the man’s left eyebrow. Suddenly, a moment of recollection clicked for Jake.

          “Tommy!” He exclaimed and gave him the typical man-hug, “Still trying to find a woman that won’t run away from your butt ugliness?”

          Tommy snorted, “Look who’s talking. Man. I haven’t been to one of these snazzy parties since your dad married that one woman. What’s her name? Maria?”

          “Melody,” Jake corrected.

          “And she has daughter right?” Tommy checked.

          “Laura,” Jake added him information.

          “I heard that you have a pretty hot sister,” Tommy teased as he poked Jake in the ribcage.