When We Fall

Chapter 14

                                                                              O c t o b e r 

Fall blew into Michigan, and with it, chilly winds and crisp leaves. The ground became crowded with golden and red, as well as the sky became a permanent and unexpurgated grey. The children began to bundle up in scarves and gloves on their walks to school, and once inside the school would warm their wind-whipped cheeks and cold hands by the hearth. 

School had picked up it's intensity, and now the children had tests to study for. Kitty spent most of her time in her room studying or with her friends from finishing school. 

Leigh stacked up her drawings and used pencils like oxygen. She became noticeably more secluded from Kitty and Henry as they continued their normal regime. She no longer walked with them to school, and would always find reasons sot leave earlier or later than them. Leigh knew in the back of her head that her distance from them might give them more bonding time, but she still had a feeling their relationship would not carry on. One way or another, one of them would break. And hopefully, it wouldn't be Kitty. 

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On a blistery Sunday the Marlows' had just finished church. Ida was chatting with some other mothers, some of which were still giving her those worn down pity speeches about her husband. Leigh could hear them as they sat at a cleared out pew, looking down at her sketchbook. The wound of her father's death was still fresh, but every time someone apologized like it was new just seemed to rub salt in it. Regardless of how upset she still was at her mother, she couldn't help but feel bad for her getting all these apologies. 

"Leigh," Kitty said from above her, materializing next to the pew. Leigh looked up and acknowledged her, then saw her gesture to take a seat beside her. After she scooted over on the bench Kitty sat and folded her dainty hands over her lap. There was a lull of silence between them as people talked loudly in the church house. "What are you drawing?" she suddenly asked. Leigh tilted her sketchbook toward to reveal an accurate portrait of their pastor. Kitty giggled, "Is that Mr. Townes?" 

"Yeah," Leigh replied merrily. "It was hard to get his crooked old nose right." Instead of correcting her on such comments as she usually did, Kitty chuckled quietly and traced the photo with her fingers. This was a delightful surprise to Leigh, and she felt a warm blanket over her heart at the bonding moment. 

There was more cheerful silence, until Kitty added, 

"Leigh, I want to be friends again." Leigh stared up at her quizzically, her eyebrows knitting together as she tried to read Kit's freckled face. 

"But... we're already friends?" she said, though more questioned. 

"I think recently we've been more of sisters, rather than friends like we usually are." Kitty sighed, looking off into the distance for a second only to regain consciousness and connect her eyes with Leigh again. "I know you don't like Henry, and you think it won't work out. I understand that. But despite our difference in opinion or viewpoint, I think we should love each other anyway. I'm tired of fighting with you, but I'm not tired of you," Leigh could only watch her silently as the words sunk into her ears, so Kitty took a deep breath and continued. "We've lost father. It's just us sisters and mom now, and mom seems too distracted to help us out. So what I'm saying is we need to be there for each other. I'm not getting married for a while, and even though Henry is around a lot, it's truly just you I rely on. You're the one I want to go to when I feel turmoiled or sad, but since we've been arguing I haven't. So..." she paused, then at once a nature of desperation washed over her and she turned to Leigh, grasping her hands with her own. "so we should be friends now and always be there for one another, no matter how angry we are with each other. Because I love you, and I know you love me too even when you don't say it." 

Leigh was shocked. Not because she said things that she had never known, but because she said exactly what was on her mind too. She missed being able to tell Kitty anything and everything, she regretted never being able to hug her after dad died. The whole situation had torn them apart but she wanted it to finally be mended. 

"I do love you," she said eventually. "and I don't want to fight anymore either." 

Kitty smiled from ear to ear as she stared down at her little sister. Her heart was filled with relief so intense she couldn't restrain herself from wrapping Leigh in the tightest hug she'd ever given. 

"Oh, thank you!" She squealed, muffled into Leigh's neck. "Thank you for being born and being my sister!" 

Though Leigh hated hugs, she gave into squeezing her back a little. "You're welcome." She said softly. Then, after the hug had lasted a little too long for her, she mumbled; "but I still detest Henry." 

Kitty didn't even mind her snarky remark as she pulled out of their hug. She grabbed Leigh's upper arm and grinned largely. 

"We should go to town and buy some candy at the grocery store to celebrate!" she said. 

"Really?!" Leigh rejoiced, her ears perking up. A realization quickly hit her, though, as she glanced over at her mother still busy with talking. "I don't think we can afford such a luxury right now, sister." Kitty scoffed, and very slowly pulled a small pocket purse from her coat that jingled as she moved it around. 

"You don't think I've been saving up for such occasions? Seriously, how dumb do you think I am?" 

"Kitty, where did you get all that money?" Leigh asked in astonishment. She couldn't have stolen it, right? That wasn't like Kitty, but she doesn't have a job.

"I've been collecting loose change, and a while back Henry gave me some of his money from work for a new hat, but I never used it." Kitty explained, opening the purse to show her the collection of shiny coins. It had to have been at least three dollars in there. 

"You're really going to use his money like that?" Leigh said. She never thought Kitty would do such a mischievous thing like this. Honestly, it was quite pleasing to see. 

"It's fine, he gave it to me. He won't mind." Kitty assured her. She got to her feet and grabbed Leigh's hand. "Come on, let's hurry before all the chocolate gets sold out." Leigh was hesitant for a second as she noticed Henry in the back of the chapel, near the door, with his dad. 

"Wait..." she paused, looking back up at Kitty. "...is he coming?" Kitty's eyes flashed with something unreadable while she glanced up at Henry, then back at her sister. Whatever is was, it was gone in a split second and replaced with a prideful little wink. 

"Nah, just us." 

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Lol hey im back after a year. time to finally finish this

-meg