Relaxing.

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Houses were rarely very grand. Mine held a pitched roof. Bricks were bare on half of the house and the top portion held a type of paint. It was a creamy shade and contrasted the red brick. The garden was small but Adelaide kept it well as she was always at it. Even cleaning or painting the fence at the front. The gate was metal but black paint was almost always drying on it. The green grass covered the front aside from where the path leading to the house was. There paving slabs laid and guided to our oh so perfect house. Always clean and up to the highest standards. The windows being cleaned regularly as they 'should always shine'.

My hands ran across the fence where I paced doing nothing productive. The sky was bright and my skin wasn't particularly well equipped for the bright and damaging rays of UV so the shade that my house had provided was used. Not that it mattered as the words of a fretting woman sounded behind me. Calling me into the house where I lived. My hands pulled from the fence and a smile was given to the nosey and judging neighbours.

"Iona. Get your butt in here." I knew exactly what was about to go down when I heard her voice and my eyes stayed as they always did when that tone was used. Faux cheer flowing off of me as I looked in all of the rooms downstairs. Trying to find where she was speaking to me from. Soon though I located the room and a smile formed as I waited for what I was going to have to do.

"Yes, Adelaide?" Short black hair was seen to be at work as she scrubbed the kitchen from top to bottom as her gloves stuck to her forearm.

"Take the baby." With that, my eyes moved around the room until a child was spotted. Doing a form of army crawl to reach something he shouldn't as Adelaide barely looked at him. I did as I was told as I knew the reproductions of disobeying and so he was grasped.

A soft laugh left as I walked my fingers up a tiny body and then began to tickle. His laugh was blunt but it made me smile. The innocence was heard and as the front door closed I carried on. Like I hadn't even heard it, moving and eventually sitting on the sofa.

"Hello, sweet one." A kiss landed on my head and the baby in my hands was lifted. A large and firm hand was felt on my knee as I watched the kitchen door in deep thought. This was a good home but sometimes life makes you think.

"Hello, Matthew." His hand squeezed my knee as my eyes slowly pulled from the door. Worry was clearly in his eyes as he watched me. Trying to figure out a way of helping calm me.
"She is doing it again. Cleaning over and over. Today I cleaned the windows seven times and I fear what I will do in the holidays." A strong arm wrapped all the way around me until I fell into his side. Calming as this happened.

"Last night she told me that her therapist had a very tough talk with her. This always happens after that. I do believe that in a day or two she will be fine, just hold out for her. She loves you and the baby. She also loves me." My face buried into his side as tears fell and soaked into his jacket. This only made him pull me in even closer and my arms wrapped around his body.

"Matt! How was... What's wrong?" Her voice moved from a happy and joyful tone to a deep and sombre one in a moment but I could still hear a slight smirk in her voice. Her gloves were audibly pulled off and careful steps were heard. The rattling of a baby bouncer sounded as another pair of arms joined in with the hug. After a second though I pulled back and wiped my eyes.

"Lucky the jacket is black," I commented as my eyes stuck to the floor. Avoiding both of the adults in the room. My hand rubbed the back of my neck as I was staring at the floorboards. The wood was finely polished and a freshly set wax was visible as it shone brightly.

My breath was rough and coarse as I looked a little further up. Bland walls were seen as well as pictures and drawings. Baby feet moulds were first to catch my eye as usual but then I closed them and took a deep breath. Trying to calm before opening my eyes and wiping the last of the tears. Turning to the adults in the room.

"Twice in my life have I seen you cry for no reason. Why are you so upset?" Adelaide spoke so softly it was like I would break if she spoke even slightly higher. This was when I looked at her and she sat beside me on the sofa.

"It doesn't matter." I had barely spoken when she interrupted me and the disapproval was heavy in her voice.

"I am your sister. It doesn't matter if it isn't by blood because I know that when you say 'it doesn't matter' you are really saying that you don't matter. Now, that isn't right. I love you and you know that and if it is something I can help then let me do so." My heart warmed and I didn't know what to do or say to that.

"She is worried about you. All you have done today is clean. Frankly, she has a right to be worried but, to be honest, I don't know how to help her." Matthew had oh so 'kindly' spoken at my side as I try not to let any more tears fall again.

"Well then, let me correct this. I will change because I must stink of bleach. After, how about we all watch a movie? I will put the baby to bed or try to and then we can watch your favourite movie. 'The Worst Witch' and if you fall asleep then we will carry you to bed. Just like mum and dad always did." I nodded and followed up the steps, it wasn't actually my favourite movie but Adelaide was so sure that it was that I always acted like she was right. I didn't actually care for any movie in particular.

Family pictures of the both of us followed me as I made my way to my room. The yearly school ones of me and some group ones of Adelaide. Matthew was often in them but most of the pictures held mum and dad with Adelaide.

By the time I had reached my room to change into a pair of pyjamas, I felt tired and wanted to sleep so deeply that I could barely comprehend what was going on around me. Not that it mattered as all I had to do was grab my favourite pair of pyjamas and walk back down the steps.

A black pair of shorts were slipped on and a black strapped top was pulled on. My makeup being wiped off and then I walked down. I was still in my sport socks as I softly walked around the room onto the sofa and to a free spot. The pair of them were cuddling already and so I held the baby close, clearly a reluctant sleeper, I dragged the baby as close to me as possible before feeling him relax. Almost asleep as I was sprawled on the armchair. Leaving the sofa free for the pair.

"Go Matthew," I grunted out and pulled a blanket over me and the baby. A soft moan escaping from his small body as I did this and a smile kept on my face as he sunk back down to sleep some more just as the titles started and then the movie began. It wasn't all that great as the screen crackled and zapped but it was the closest to real-life we could get. It was top of the range.

The movie was playing for a while when it was all of a suddenly paused. Adelaide ran to the toilet and she smiled at me. A kiss on my forehead and her eyes had glanced over the room. Only, she wasn't judging it. She seemed happy with it, despite the mess it had looked compared to the usually calculated display of fabrics.

"Matty?" He was laying down and not doing much as the static seemed to consume the screen due to the long pause. A faint grunt of agreement was heard as he waited for what I had to say.
"Do you ever wish that I didn't live here? I mean do you think that I shouldn't have been here with Adela or get annoyed that I am here?" He didn't move or make a sound for a second before he spoke so softly that I really had to push to listen.

"I wouldn't trade you for the world. To me, you and Adela are one deal and if it wasn't for you I wouldn't get half of the deal I do now. Besides, you two are so inseparable you shouldn't even think about that. I know you felt uncomfortable at first even if you are too stubborn to admit it. You haven't had an easy or nice life. No child in care ever does. So, stop with this thought track. I wouldn't change a thing about you. Well, maybe I would like you to confide in me more but that is what makes you you. Even all of the bad and mischievous things you get up to. You never meant to do it but trouble seemed to find you." My eyes had watched the box until Adela returned and she smiled at me.

"Wow, the tension is rough in here. Tell me, what were you two discussing?" Adela could be heard as she entered the space again. Moving to the leather sofa and laying with her husband again. Climbing under the blanket with a smile.

"Just that I would like Iona to confide in me, or you, more." The topic was dropped and the movie was then allowed to continue. Not that I noticed much as I felt my eyes grow heavy and then slowly but surely my eyes dropped and the darkness filled my mind for the night.

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