Devlin's Secret

A Change

Rebecca - Present Day

I opened my eyes. 

It was still relatively dark in Hugo's room, but I could tell I had slept well into the day. Bright sunlight forcing its way through the gaps around the edge of the blind hit the space in a weird way, casting grey shadows across the walls. A spider was crawling across the ceiling towards a gap in the woodwork of the door frame. 

My brother had given up his bed and slept on the floor last night, saying that it was only fair since we were both using the room. He'd ignored my objections, even going as far as bedding down early to make sure I'd be forced to sleep on the comfort of a mattress. My muscles ached from the change and I groaned as I turned over.

I sat up, feeling the weight of my hair shift from where it had been splayed in a dark mass across the pillow. Absently, I pulled it into a loose ponytail at my right side. My body felt simultaneously as though I had slept for days and like I hadn't slept at all. In the mirror opposite, I could just make out the smudging of my eyeliner and mascara from yesterday. 

I leaned over and pulled at the cord for the blind. Light cut directly across my eyes and I grimaced against it while I pulled the blind fully open. 

With a sigh, I pushed myself out of bed and made my way across the landing to the bathroom, passing my brother on the way.

"You look a delight," he grinned.

I scowled. "What time is it?"

"It's about half two."

"Cool."

I went into the bathroom and shut the door. It was all steamy inside, indicating that somebody had recently showered. I decided that was a good idea and started the water running to heat up. Crouching down, I opened the cabinet under the sink to get my shower gel and hair products. 

The water was a little too hot when I stepped in, but it soothed my aches so I left it like that. I tilted my head back and let it run over my face. As I was shampooing my hair, I noticed something strange stuck to the wall. I pulled it off to discover that it was a long strand of dead straight rust-coloured hair. I smirked as it was washed down the drain. Nobody in the family was a redhead. 

After my shower, I dressed in some grey shorts and a purple cropped t-shirt. Hugo handed me a cup of tea as I sat down at the kitchen table and offered me some toast, which I accepted, keeping and entertained smile on my face while he was making it. He put my plate in front on me with a raised eyebrow.

"What?"

I took a bite of my breakfast. "I was just wondering something."

"What?" He repeated, a little agitated. 

"I was just wondering," I paused to take a sip of coffee. "When you're going to introduce us to your girlfriend."

A look of shock momentarily passed across his features. "I don't have a girlfriend."

"You're a really bad liar. Your face gives you away every time."

"Damn." He took a slice of my toast and chewed it thoughtfully. "How did you know?"

"She left her hair in the shower," I told him, shrugging. 

He sighed. "Well don't tell Mama, I want it to be a surprise. She'll be back in a few minutes."

I grinned and took my plate to the sink. 

Hugo was clearly trying to impress. The smell of his cologne lingered around him and he was wearing a nice, clean shirt. His hair, as usual, was tousled and in need of cutting. He avoided my gaze, pretending I wasn't surveying his appearance. 

After a few minutes, there was a knock on the door. Hugo excused himself to answer it, but not before I caught a blush creeping onto his cheeks. Their voices travelled down the corridor; Hugo's deep and earthy, and his girlfriend's chirpy and melodic. In fact, it had a strangely recognisable rhythm to it. And when a joke of my brother's was answered with chiming laughter, I knew exactly who he would be welcoming into the kitchen. 

Siobhan's face lit up when she saw me and she immediately threw her arms around my neck in a tight hug. It had been a few years since we'd last spoken. She'd started her first year of sixth form as I completed my second and moved into my third. 

Hugo stood there, astounded, while we fussed over each other.

She was very pretty. Petite with sharp facial features and big, dark eyes, and her hair falling to her waist in a fine, rust-coloured mist. A smattering of freckles splashed over her nose and cheeks. She'd grown a little taller since I last saw her, now standing a couple of inches above my height. 

Hugo cleared his throat. "So I imagine you've met already." 

"Yes!" chimed Siobhan. "Becky is the one who helped me out when I first started - remember, I told you? But I didn't know she was your sister!"

I was glad it had turned out like this. She was wonderful to be around, vibrant and full of youth. A perfect match for my brother, whose cheerful nature started and ended with childhood. 

Her excitement lasted the rest of the afternoon and quite a way into the evening. She even chatted wih Kay about me and Hugo, ignoring my aunt's obvious disinterest. 

Hugo announced with an eyeroll that dinner would be cooked by he and his girlfriend that evening. They served us big bowls of chicken fried rice and gave us wine to drink. 

And, for the first time since the funeral, we had an all-round good day.