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HELEN
Ipulled back into my driveway, readying myself to confront Brenton.
“You can do this. Don’t think about anything he did to you last night. Don’t think about how good it felt. Just ask him point blank what he is hiding from you and don’t let him lie to your face again,” I told myself in probably one of the world’s worst pep talks.
I got out of my car and didn’t even stop to throw my groceries in the house. I walked straight toward Brenton’s property on my newly pedicured feet. I stopped short of the fence, my eyes widening in shock at the scene before me. I saw Brenton first, speed walking toward his back yard, his fists curled and face red. He looked so angry I wouldn’t have been surprised to see smoke shooting from his ears. I followed his red hot stare and nearly fainted.
A preppy blonde who didn’t look nearly her age, with pink pumps and a Louis Vuitton handbag was walking amongst the apple trees. Brenton’s apple trees. She had her usual giant brown sunglasses on that always made her resemble a fly. A pesky, greedy fly that wouldn’t leave you alone no matter how many times you swatted at it.
“What are you doing on my property?!” Brenton screamed at a now shocked and stilled figure. She looked Brenton up and down, and relaxed into her heels. I watched as she plucked an apple hanging from the tree above her and brought it to her mouth.
“Put that down!”
Before Brenton could reach her, she took a big bite, chewing slowly and then dropping the apple to her feet. He stopped a few yards in front of her and she closed the distance with her dainty hand outstretched.
“Hi. I’m—”
“Fiona!” I yelled, stomping over to them in a haste. Now my sister looked me up and down. I was wearing slightly elevated flip flops and skinny jeans. She threw her head back and laughed.
“Sis! Exactly the person I was looking for!”
“Sis?” Brenton asked with wide eyes. His pupils were extremely dilated, no doubt due to his rage. I made a note to add this to the list of things I was going to confront him about. He was so protective over his property and had some serious anger management issues to deal with.
I ignored his question and looked back at Fiona.
“What are you doing here?”
“Just checking out Uncle Dudley’s estate.”
“Well, this isn’t your uncle’s property, I’m afraid. You’re on my land,” Brenton chimed in.
“My bad,” Fiona said with a slight grin. “And you are?”
I watched as she eyed Brenton, flirting with just her expression. I hated how good she was at that. If looks could kill, Fiona would be at the top of America’s Most Wanted list. In just under a minute, Fiona had presented herself with more confidence and finesse than I’d ever exhibited in front of Brenton.
“It doesn’t matter who he is!” My face grew red as they broke their stare down to both look at me. “I mean,” I fumbled, “You’re not here to speak with him, so let’s get off Mr. McLean’s property and go have a sisterly chat.”
Fiona’s eyes lit up at the mention of Brenton’s last name. “McLean, is it? This is a huge property, and so many trees! So many…” She looked down at her feet. “Apples. You must make a lot of money to be able to afford it all.”
Fiona began to stroke Brenton’s chest above his white, extremely see-through t-shirt. He stepped back but she mimicked his movements, never breaking contact. My chest burst into flames.
“That’s it,” I said, grabbing my sister by the arm. “Let’s go.”
I dragged Fiona back toward the front of Dudley’s property. I stopped once we were at the gravel driveway next to my car.
“So this is it, huh? It looks so much…smaller next to Mr. McLean’s place. But I suppose it’ll do.”
“It’ll do for what? You’re never getting your hands on this property. It’s mine, remember?”
“Well, that’s precisely why I came. I wanted to check in on how this new rustic life was treating you. You look,” she paused to eye me again, “Disheveled.”
“Well now I know you’re lying. I literally just got my hair and nails done,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Did you?” She scrunched up her face in a disgusted look.
“Oh my god.”
“Anyway, we all know you’re not suited for life in the woods, Helen. It’s just a matter of time before you sell the property and wouldn’t you rather sell it to family? I’m sure that’s what Dudley would have wanted.”
