The Silent Partner (Mature themed)

Unexpected Visitor

After work, I climb into my car and drive to the house. When I pull into the driveway I see my brother's car in the driveway.

I pull in behind his car and step out. I lock my car and walk over to his. I knock on the window. Benson rolls down his window. "How was work?"

"Fine," I mumble. "Do you want to come in?"

He steps out of the car and follows me into the house. He moves into the lounge room and looks at the pictures I hung up in the room of my daughter. "You looked so happy here, sis."

I was happy. I wish she didn't die. The doctors did a post mortem and I found out she had a heart defect. I kept wondering why they didn't pick it up on the ultrasounds.

"Yeah, giving birth to her was the best and worst thing to happen to me." I open a drawer and pull out the photo I have of Colter and our daughter. I show the picture to Benson.

Benson takes the picture from me. "I forgot how he used to be happy all the time. I wish he would get his head out of his arse long enough to tell you how he truly feels."

I shrug. "It's over between us and I'm fine with that."

He shakes his head. "No, you're not. The only person you're trying to fool is yourself. You should hang this photo up. This was his home too." Benson hangs the picture up for me.

There's a knock on the door and I answer it. Standing on the other side of the door is the last person I ever expected.

What's he doing here?

He crosses his arms and stares at me. "Are you going to invite me in?"

I shake my head. "No, what are you doing here?"

He pushes a strand of hair away from my face. "I wanted to know if you moved into the house I kept for you."

I slap his hand away. "Now, you know that I live in the house. Could you kindly leave now?"

"Who's at the door?" Benson yells.

When I don't reply he walks over. "Hey, Colter. You should come in. She's done an amazing job to this place."

Colter enters the house and walks into the lounge room. He stops at the picture of him and Peta. "You kept this?"

I shake my head. "Mom gave it to me with other pictures."

Tears well up in his eyes. "Can I have that picture?"

I open the top drawer of the cabinet and give him a copy of that picture. "You can have this one. If you don't mind I want you to leave."

He runs his hand through his hair. "Did you get rid of her stuff?"

"No, I couldn't do that. I'm keeping the stuff for the next time I have a baby." I look away from him.

Colter whispers. "I don't want you to have another baby with anyone else." He walks out of the house.

Did I just hear him say 'I don't want you to have a baby with anyone else?' Why would he say something like that?

I hear his car start up I move over to the lounge and put my face in my hands.

Benson sits next to me. "What did he say to you? Your face paled when he finished that sentence."

I move my hands and look at my brother. "He doesn't want me to have a baby with anyone else." I look away from my brother and add. "He still owns my heart and I hate him the more for it."

Benson and I remain quiet for a while until his phone rings. Benson excuses himself and walks into the kitchen to answer the call.

I pick up the phone and order a pizza.

Benson hangs up the phone and walks over to me. "Mom wants you to come over tomorrow for dinner."

I don't want to have dinner with my family.

I shake my head. "I don't want to go over there for dinner."

Benson smiles. "So, we'll just have dinner here and the family can see the pictures of Juliet. They deserve to know a little about your daughter and why you left LA."

"Fine," I walk over to a draw and pull out the spare key for the house. "Give this to Mom. I won't be home until six."

He takes the key from me and places it in his pocket. "I should head home."

I shake my head. "Don't go home. I just ordered a pizza. I can't eat a box to myself."

The doorbell rings.

Benson heads towards the door. "I've got it."

I enter the kitchen and pour a glass of soft drink for myself. I pull out a beer for Benson. He sets the box on the table and I give him his beer. I pick up a place of pizza and pick off the pineapple.

Benson shakes his head. "I thought you grow out of picking the pineapple off the pizza."

I shake my head. "I don't like cooked pineapple. I prefer it from the tin or cold."

After dinner, Benson throws the garbage in the bin. He looks at the time. "I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow night for dinner." I follow Benson to the door.

I need to move my car.

I pick up my keys from the table and head towards my car. I climb inside and reverse it out of the driveway. My brother pulls out of the drive and beeps the horn. I wave at him and pull my car into the driveway. I lock my car and head toward the house.

As I shut the door I see a car pull into my driveway.

Whose car is that?

Someone steps out of the car and walks up the footpath. "Lexi?" Maddison climbs the stairs. "I wanted to drop off the blueprints for our new store. I'm heading back to Sydney on Boxing Day and I didn't want to forget about leaving you with the important things.

I take it from her. "Thanks."

Maddie looks at me. "Are you sure you want to stay here? You have the Aussie guy that was interested in you before we left."

I know. But, it's time for me to stop running and stay in the place I always wanted to make a home.

"Can you tell him if he ever finds himself in LA to give me a call? I'd love to show him around."

She winks. "I bet you want to do more than that with the Aussie surfer. I'll give him your message when I see him. I better go home before Mom starts to worry about me."

I hug her. "Bye," I watch her climb into the car. I open my phone and send a text to my Aunt.

I don't want her to worry about Maddie.