AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Casey was a fiery redhead. And like her hair, her spirit was as wild and untamable. Out of the three of her parent’s children, she was the hardest to manage and the one they saw the most. Since Casey returned home and settled for part-time jobs so that she could save up for her next adventure whenever she was not exploring the world. Currently, she is saving for a Mediterranean cruise, then a hike around Europe.
“Well, just hang in there,” Alina said. “Miracles do happen.”
Casey laughed, the slapping of her chest sounding through the receiver. “Oh, you’re funny as ever, sis,” she said when she could finally speak again. “But Mom and Dad will never change. The only person who seems immune to their dictatorship is Jean.”
Jean was Alina’s youngest sister and the highlight of her parent’s life.
“How is my little sister, by the way?” Alina asked, making her way to the small kitchen area with groceries in bags on the countertop. The light that hung overhead emitted a hue of yellow, which Alina hated but hadn’t bothered to change.
She poured herself a glass of water but did not attempt to drink it.
“Great actually,” Casey said sarcastically. “In fact, so great that she changed her major again.”
“But it’s the middle of the school year,” Alina blurted out, shaking her head and making a circle around the island in her kitchen. “What did Mom have to say about this?”
Casey made a small chuckle. “Nothing. Jean has them fawning over her. They are completely oblivious to any of her wrongdoings. Whereas me and you, we could do nothing right.”
Alina sighed. “Well, they’re the ones paying for it. I guess they have the money to spare.”
“As if?” Casey chuckled. “I asked them for money to help me get my car out of the garage and they said they didn’t have anything.” Her words were laden with scorn and resentment. “It’s because I didn’t finish law school like they wanted.”
Alina picked up her glass and held it to her lips. “I know what you mean. The moment I told them that I wanted to be an artist instead of a doctor, I became the black sheep of the family.”
Casey suddenly perked up. “Why do you think that they’re letting Jean do whatever she wants?”
Alina thought for a while, finally drinking from the glass before she said, “Because she’s not us.” Then she passed the wooden dining set with velvet cushions lining the seats and went over to the couch in her sitting area, pushing the pile of clothes aside. Alina dropped her body down before hoisting her feet on the coffee table.
Alina’s apartment wasn’t particularly small. It was sufficient for one person, but her housekeeping skills were not the best and the clutter significantly reduced the workable size of the apartment. Several times she hired housekeepers but found it difficult to find her stuff when they were packed away by someone else.
Soon enough she would be finished with the paintings for her exhibition and then Alina would have all the time in the world to reorganize her apartment. Until then, a little clutter wouldn’t kill her.
“Hey,” Alina threw herself backward. “I met the most obnoxious man at dinner last night. Taylor wanted me to take her to a second birthday dinner after the debacle we had at the wine tasting the other night. I now know why they call itwine tastinginstead of a wine-drinking party now.”
Casey burst out laughing as her sister described the antics that took place that night.
“He was just obnoxious,” Alina told Casey.
Casey snickered under her breath, but when Alina asked her to repeat, she simply said, “I bet he was.”
“Was he handsome?” Casey went into a high-pitched tone.
Alina batted her eyelashes. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“A lot, actually,” Casey countered. “I have never heard you so rattled by a man before. So, I was just wondering if by chance…” She felt the need to repeat her words. “Just by chance that you may be attracted to him. You know, like the bully who picks on the girl he likes.”
“That’s nonsense,” Alina shot up from the couch and began to pace. “I could never be attracted to a man like that.”
“Okay, okay,” Casey tried to calm her sister. “I was merely making a suggestion. You don’t have to penalize me for it.”
Alina went to her closet and began pulling out clothes. She tossed out several outfits on hangers before settling for the lilac romper with purple lacing. Her eyes landed on black wedge sandals and she literally kicked them out of the closet.
“Anyway,” Alina started. “My friend Bailey is in the same situation as you. Her car is down and I have to drive her to the hospital for her checkup.”
“How is she doing?” Casey expressed her concern for her sister’s friend.
“Much better now. But the doctor is still monitoring her.”
“I’m relieved,” the younger woman let out a breath. “Tell her she is in my prayers.”
