The Bride Wore My Nightmares Chapter 09
When I got home, Ethan was, of course, still under “house arrest.”
I pushed the door open and walked in.
“Maddie? Sit down, come talk to me for a bit.” Ethan was unusually attentive.
Someone had prepped him, no doubt.
I gave a soundless, cold smile and sat down the way I used to, all obedience.
Ethan’s eyes reddened. Genuine tears rolled down.
“Maddie, I know you’ve been through so much these last few years. But I really can’t let her go. On one side is my sister, on the other is the woman I love — how am I supposed to cut either one off? Maddie, I’ve always been good to you. This once, this one time, could you look out for my happiness? Bear with it? I promise, we’ll move out the day we’re married. We won’t put ourselves in your face and drive you crazy. I’m begging you, Maddie. Talk to Mom and Dad. Let them accept us.”
“Ethan…” He was gaunt, exhausted, disheveled. Even as angry as I was, I couldn’t bear seeing my once-strong, once-solid brother wrecked into this by some terrible woman.
“Maddie, I’ve never asked you for anything my entire life. Just this once. Please.”
Ethan’s voice was hoarse. His bloodshot eyes were fixed on me, pleading.
Something inside me churned like an overturned spice rack.
After a long silence, I nodded, without a word.
Ethan lit up like he’d gone mad with joy, jumped up, and threw his arms around me.
“Maddie, I knew I didn’t pamper you all these years for nothing! Ha ha ha!”
Mom and Dad came in at the sound and, from the scene in front of them, understood at once. They let out a heavy sigh.
“Dad, Mom, tomorrow I’m going to bring Vanessa over. You have to sit down and talk to her properly this time!”
By noon the next day, Vanessa walked into our house again.
I had done a full one-eighty on my attitude.
She still had that perfectly-groomed, well-mannered, meticulously-rehearsed look about her.
I swallowed the nausea churning in my stomach and pulled a polite little smile at her.
Mom and Dad sat on the couch in stony silence.
“Mr. Callahan, Mrs. Callahan, my dad just got a lovely tin of Earl Grey yesterday. I brought some over for you to try.”
I nearly laughed inside — which “dad” exactly had given her this, I wondered.
But the show had to go on.
I stepped forward, took the cup she’d been handed, and said, “I’ll pour the water.”
Once I turned around and slipped out of sight, I doubled back — right into the bathroom.
“Here.” I held the cup out to Vanessa.
Even knowing full well I hadn’t done a thing in good faith, she couldn’t refuse. “Thank you, Maddie.”
Ethan beamed. “Maddie’s really grown up.”
“So why isn’t she drinking it?” I asked, all innocent confusion, turning to Ethan. “Doesn’t she like water I poured?”
Vanessa had no reply. She pulled at the corners of her mouth awkwardly, then forced herself to take a couple of sips.
Well. That toilet-flavored water was probably a fitting match for someone like her.