Serene (Shattered, # 3)

Serene (Prologue + Chapter 1)

PROLOGUE

2 years ago

"Emery Ryan, you are one hell of a sister. You know that, right?"

She laughed. "Love you too, Ivy. But this dress does make you look fat."

"What on earth is wrong with you today?" I stared at my sister, not sure if her spitefulness was caused by the baby growing in her belly, or because of our grandma's genes; the woman never missed her chance to show just how much of a pain in the neck she was, and Emery just had to be so much like her.

"Get pregnant and you will know the answer. Do you think it's easy to be swollen, hungry day and night, cry over every stupid thing, feel like you want to have a nap right after you wake up, and, which is the worst of the worst, stay sober for nine freaking months?"

"Said a mother of two, expecting her third child."

"I love my kids, but I swear, right after I see this sweet baby," she caressed her belly gently, "I'm gonna throw a slumber party and drink all the Sambuca in the house. Speaking of which, I should probably text Mr. Ryan to stock the bar." She took her phone and started typing a new text message to her husband, mumbling, "Only two more months to wait. I can do that, right?

I chuckled. "I still can't believe Mike agreed to take your name. What the hell did you do to make him change his name?"

She puffed. "Me? Nothing. But he's the best man in the world, right?"

I rolled my eyes and took off the dress that according to my sister, made me look too fat. Not that I agreed with her, but considering her state, arguing with her was a lost cause. Nothing that I was going to say was safe. Everything could and would be taken the wrong way. I had seen my sister pregnant, twice, and I knew exactly what it was like for everyone to be around her. She got easily offended by everything, and I mean everything, even if people were not talking to her directly. She just thought it was her duty to tell them off, and then start crying over her spilled juice or Cinderella losing her shoe in a cartoon.

"You would make the devil kiss the ground you walk," I said. "But unlike Mike's dad, who looked like his son just confessed he was a unicorn, I was not even a bit surprised when he said he was going to change his name."

"Do you really believe I was going to say 'yes' to becoming Mrs. Dickmaster?"

"But his mother once did."

"Poor woman. I can't even begin to imagine what she must have felt when the priest asked her about the name she was going to take after the wedding."

Giggling, I put on another dress and turned to Emery to hear what she thought about it.

- Jeez, Ivy, just put on jeans and a shirt and be done with it. You are going to a farm, not a prom.

- So what? I don't want Kean's parents to think I don't respect them. Showing up in jeans to a pre-wedding dinner, even if it's taking place on a farm, isn't very classy.

- Whatever. Really. I'm giving you ten more minutes to decide about the outfit. And I, meantime, better go make myself a sandwich. The baby and I are starving. Do you have cheese in the fridge?

- Have no idea.

- Do you even know where the kitchen is?

- I do, but I don't remember the last time I went there. You know how little time I spend at home.

I was working as a graphic designer for one of Washington PR companies. I always loved drawing and never let a pencil out of my hand. Whenever a new idea popped into my head, I put it on paper and gave it life. So, when the time to choose my future came, I didn't hesitate even for a second. Graphics became my life.