BROOKE POV
Ellen and Gary thanked everyone when they came home an hour ago. Now everyone is relaxed and enjoying themselves. I have met numerous family members and friends and they are all lovely but I am exhausted. I go into the living room where I see Ellen, “Brooke, sweetheart come here” I walk over and she’s sitting with a woman around the same age as her. She has a short brown bob and striking features, from her piercing blue eyes to her sharp cheekbones. “Brooke, this is Eva, my very best friend, she just lives next door.” I shake the woman’s hand as she gives me a warm smile “hi Brooke, it’s lovely to meet you I’ve heard so many wonderful things from Ellen about you.” I return her smile “its nice to meet you too.”
We chat for a while before Mia joins us, taking off her heels before she throws herself into the empty single chair. “mom, my inheritance best be good because I am exhausted.” Ellen rolls her eyes and smiles sarcastically at her daughter, “sorry dear, your father and I are leaving all our money to yours, your brothers and sisters better halfs when you all have one. You know, sort of like compensation for us providing faulty goods.” I hold back a laugh as Chloe and Grace also join us.
“hey Grace, mom thinks all her children are basically faulty equipment.” Chloe laughs as Grace shrugs “she’s not wrong.” Eva’s eyes light up as soon as she sees Grace “there she is, how are you gorgeous girl” Grace gives her a smile, “I’m fine, thank you Eva.” “oh I’m glad, Hunter misses you, he said he sent you a gift for Christmas.”. Ellen speaks before Grace can respond, “oh he got her a collection of first addition books from some author she likes, so thoughtful that boy.” Mia sniggers at that, “Mom, he used to take all her toys off her when they were little, then cut her hair during an English class, and a lot of other stuff.” She says in amusement before realising something, “wait so Hunter is who got you those books? I didn’t realise you still spoke to each other” Grace goes beetroot red, “we don’t” Chloe and I look confused before she speaks. “wait, I’m lost who is Hunter” Mia answers “Hunter is Eva’s son, he always played pranks on Grace, he goes away to school now, he left last year. But apparently not without sending my baby sister gifts” she waggles her eyebrows at Grace.
We eat some cake and talk some more and I’m trying to concentrate but the sharp pain in my stomach is getting more intense. Eva and Ellen are talking about all the things their children got up to when they were younger, and everyone is laughing and that stories. I’m trying to concentrate but it feels like someone is digging a knife into my stomach. My body feels hot and I can feel the beads of sweat forming on my forehead. Everything starts blurring and I can hear someone ask me if I’m okay but it sounds a million miles away. Before I can answer everything goes black.
YOU ARE READING
The Secrets That Bind Us
Cerita Pendek* Book number 2 in the Anderson series * * Can be read as a stand-alone story * Joey Anderson, one of the twins of the Anderson family, fun, carefree, hopeless romantic unlike his brothers and also a big kid at heart. What happens when the girl who...
