BEST FRIEND’S BROTHER

It wasn’t even the smell of that guy’s cigarette, although heaven knew they were an acquired taste. No, this had to be the start of morning sickness, and if she needed any further confirmation of her condition, this was it.

A tentative tapping at the door roused her. “Sasha? Sasha, are you all right?” Naturally, it was Tilly. “Is something wrong?”

Everything was wrong, thought Sasha heavily, struggling to pull herself together. But she managed to say, “No, I’m OK, Tilly. I think I must have eaten something that disagreed with me and when I smelled that guy’s cigarette-”

“Oh damn!” Tilly sounded disgusted, “I knew that was it. I hated the smell too”

Sasha opened the door to find Tilly waiting outside, wringing her hands anxiously. “Sorry about that.” Tilly said something Sasha couldn’t understand and then wrapped her arm about her shoulders. “Sorry” she murmured with evident concern. “Are you sure you are going to be alright?”

Sasha nodded. “Yeah I’ll be fine,” she replied, “I just need to go home and rest a little”

Tilly said, “Okay. Just call me if you need anything”

“I will,” Sasha replied.

After Sasha got home and took a quick shower, she still couldn’t settle down. Her thoughts were all over the place and she wriggled on the bed before she finally grabbed her phone and called her mother, “Hi mom,” she said when her mother picked up, “I’m coming over this evening. There’s something I really need to tell you,”

———

Penelope Sullivan was a dark haired woman, although strands of white hair could be seen amongst them. She was nice and cheerful and always had a smile plastered on her face. She had been married to her husband for almost thirty years and they seemed to grow more in love every year.

Sylvester Sullivan was just as nice as his wife, but he was also strict and traditional, especially when it came to his views about discipline and morals, which was one of the reasons why Sasha was terrified of telling them about her pregnancy, but she had to tell someone about it, or she would explode. Also, pregnancy wasn’t something one could hide. Eventually people would find out about it, and knowing the kind of man her father was, she knew he wouldn’t want to hear it as a rumor. That would only make things worse.

Penelope Sullivan sounded very excited when Sasha told her that she was coming to visit, and Sasha wondered if she’d still feel that way when she told her why she was coming. She would be upset, but she’d finally come around… Sasha was sure of that… But her father – he was going to be furious with her.

Her mom appeared in the doorway just as she drove into the driveway that evening, smiling excitedly. Sasha was so happy to see her and almost ran into her arms.

“Hi, mom” Sasha said

“Hey sweetie, you are finally here,” Penelope said and hugged her daughter once more. “How was your journey?”

“It was fine. You don’t know how happy I am to see you, mom” said Sasha, “I’ve missed you.”

“Me too, baby. You are the one who kept postponing your visit. let’s go inside”.

“What about dad?” Sasha asked, “Is he around? Or has he gone on one of his business trips again?”

Her mother chuckled, “He’s fine, and no he didn’t travel. He’s sitting in the bed room. I told him you were coming and he can’t wait to see you.”

Sasha tried to smile back. A part of her had wished she wouldn’t have to face her father at the moment… At least not yet, but it seemed like she wouldn’t have a choice.

Sasha found a spaniel playing with a large fir cone when they got inside. “You and dad have a dog now, mom?” she asked. “You didn’t tell me”

“Oh, that belongs to our new neighbors, but he comes here a lot. I think it’s because your father keeps giving him treats. His name is Freddy” Penelope said.

“Oh” Sasha said. “He is so cute, a good breed, and a fine doggy. Lemme have a look at you” she said.

After a while she set Freddy down and watched the wriggling puppy from all angles, measuring his ears with great deliberation. As she straightened, she looked up to see her father coming down the stairs with a huge smile plastered on his face and in that moment, Sasha briefly forgot her troubles as she smiled back at him.

She rushed forward to hug him, “Hello dad” she said.

“Well, how lovely to see you, sweetheart,” he said, his face beaming with pleasure. “And I’m not really surprised you decided to come today. I always say ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ and so far today has been one big cloud of trouble. So you are here to make everything better.”

Sasha grinned at him. “How are you, dad?”

“I’m fine, thank you honey. You are here finally. Why haven’t you come home for so long?” he asked.

“I’m sorry, dad,” Sasha replied. “But school and work just hasn’t let me.”

“I will set the table for dinner,” Penelope said. “You two should just sit and chat”

Sasha protested, but her mother insisted, so she sat with her father, answering his numerous questions about how her masters degree was going and how her business was progressing. Sasha answered his questions honestly, omitting the very reason why she’d truly come.

Soon dinner was ready and they all ate, after which Sasha was very tired and eventually, she fell asleep on the couch. When she opened her eyes and stared round the room, her father had left. Her mom sat on the couch opposite hers, watching TV.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Sasha lay still, watching her mom, savoring the moment of lazy comfort, not wishing to inform her mom that she was awake. She looked round the room through half closed eyes and saw Freddy, curled up in a corner.

She sighed.

“Oh, you are awake, dear,” her mom said. “You had a nice long sleep didn’t you. I will bring you tea”.

“Thanks mom… But you don’t have to…” Sasha began, but it was useless because her mom was already up.

When Penelope returned she watched Sasha sip her tea for a while, then she said. “Are you okay, Sasha? You seem troubled”.