Destined

Twenty Seven

Evelyn

Dad wants us all downstairs at the door by six pm on the dot. Mom says we're going somewhere but didn't tell me where which is annoying but I guess she's still upset with me for not bringing Daniel up earlier. Not like the relationship was any of her business anyways but I get where she's coming from. I think to hear about Alexander's mom along with all of my drama including my own mother made the whole drive just feel like it was taking ages before reaching our destination. Even waiting for the front door of a home most likely made last century to open felt like I had become an old woman with four grandchildren. When the door opened, I mentally sighed, thanking God the wait was over.
"Andrew, Jolene, happy to have you." The majorly tall man spoke while letting us pile in his home.
"Thank you for letting us drop by on such short notice. This is my daughter, Evelyn." Daddy tells the man as Alexander closes the door behind us.
"I've only seen photos but may I just say," he takes my hands in his, "you are such a sight to see." The man tells me. Alexander's hand presses against my back, taking me by surprise but I made sure I didn't show my shock on my sleeve. I lean into his touch gently hoping no one surrounding us noticed the action.
"Oh, thank you." He smiles at my confused response. "So, how do you know my dad?" His vision shifted from me to Alexander standing terribly close behind me then back to me, releasing my hands.
"I'm Alex's older brother, Tyler's the name." My eyes bulge out of my head in embarrassment but my focus changes, allowing my eyes to fix themselves when I immediately feel an absence where Alexander's hand was.
"It's lovely to meet you, I wasn't aware Alexander had a brother."
"The pleasure's all mine." Tyler's attention shifted up to his brother again. "Yes, my dear brother does like to keep secrets."
"Oh hush, you're hardly a secret. More like a pain in my ass really." Alexander states. Tyler places a hand on his shoulder, squeezing firmly but not affecting him. I'm in the middle of them as if I was the ice cream in the sandwich.
"How long have you been home?"
"Just less than two months."
"Alex... Why haven't you stopped by? Becka has been talking about you, almost as if she knew you were back. Should've known you'd be at the Harris home, only makes sense, it's the only place you've ever gone. Surprised they still allow you over after all you've put them through."
"How is Becka?" Mom and dad go to sit down on the couch, waiting for them to finish but I can only assume they know it won't be for a while.
"You can't avoid my question forever little brother."
"I can try. How is Becka?" Alexander asks again.
"She is as happy as she can be."
"Still no luck then?"
"Sadly no." What are they talking about? No luck with what? So I ask.
"No luck with what?" Hopefully, I'm not stepping over the line but I'm literally in an Anderson brother sandwich so it should be no problem.
"Evelyn..." Alexander starts behind me, voice low as if I shouldn't have asked.
"Becka is incapable of having kids. We've done everything we could think of to increase our chances of having a baby but no progress has been made." Tyler openly tells me. What a basic fuck you to Alexander for trying to shush me. How about, if you didn't want me to know then don't talk about it in front of me. Super simple fix. At that, Alexander walks over to sit with my parents, leaving his brother and I to speak.
"I'm so sorry to hear that. Have you thought of adoption or fostering?"
"Thank you. She's waiting to go over that option until she knows for sure there's absolutely nothing else."
"I hope it works out for the two of you. I know I'd be devastated if I couldn't have kids and would do the exact same thing. Every option is worth a shot. It seems you two are doing very well handling it."
"I like the way you think. We've been struggling for a long time, you adapt and learn patience. Oddly, it's brought us closer together when in most cases it would only tear people apart."
"Well, thank you. You two are very strong."
"You, little miss, are a keeper."
"I'd hope so, they couldn't get rid of me even if they wanted to."
"Has Alex tried yet?"
"No, he likes to get on my nerves."
"Is that so?"
"We don't get along very often."
"But when you do?"
"It's good." He hums to my words. What do you mean 'hmmm'? What is that supposed to mean?
Many moments pass before I choose to sit with my parents as well. Tyler requests Alexander to speak privately over by the window, wonderful contouring for Alexander's face with the light coming in behind him. Even with my decision to give the brothers time alone together, I couldn't keep my eyes off of the two. I was trying to figure out their relationship harder than I was trying to figure out math when they decide to add in letters. Why the fuck did they feel the need to add letters to math by the way? It's irrelevant. Didn't need to happen, not cool. It was too intriguing to watch them in their own little world. Tyler either had both hands behind his back or one placed on Alexander's shoulder at all times. How he gives Alexander a look of sorrow and caution all in one. Tyler appears to me as if he treats and views Alexander as his scared little brother who's been through too much trauma and can't come back from it. But within that, there's no comfort for him. His hand placements are for him to see if Alexander is actually there. At least, that's how I would take it with what dad told me earlier today. Alexander doesn't come across scared to me, he shows himself as resilient, sure he ran all those times and I can only wonder why but I don't think he's the type of guy to run in fright.