Page 47 of Mated in the Stars

“I’m not siding with anyone. There is a system in place to settle these arguments. That’s how we keep from killing each other,” I said, opening the double-glass side doors and stepping into the past.

Lotus was everywhere in this house. Somewhere in the past the kids were still running round and playing together. Old man Cromwell and me were probably arguing out the best course for Lotus’s treatment in my office while she pretended we weren’t fighting at all.

“It can wait, Dad,” Sequin said. “If you need time. We know this is a lot for you. Being back here.”

“Yeah,” Daliah nodded a second later.

“No, let’s get this over with. I’ve missed you guys and want to have a nice visit without you two jumping down each other’s throats,” I said, leading the way to the office.

An ancient pack of half smoked cigarettes still sat on my desk next to a marble ashtray. I left the latter alone and tossed the first into the trash. It would be too easy to pick that habit back up and I didn’t want Minter to see me smoking and think it was a good thing to do. He copied us so much already.

“What are you two really fighting over?” I asked, once we were all seated around my old desk.

“She’s let that pink nightmare take over the house!” Sequin said.

“She has not taken over! It’s her home too!”

“She decorated my living room and reorganized my kitchen. She goes into my sewing room like it’s hers and she uses my shampoo! I did not take her to raise. I did not marry her or hire her to redecorate my life into some pussy-pink mad house.”

I noted pussy pink mad house down mentally to share with someone who would appreciate the line later.

“You sexist little worm!” Daliah growled.

“Nope!” I slapped the desk. “Nope. Not today. Not right now. Not in the house. Not on this property while your baby siblings are here.”

“Did you hear what he said?” Daliah narrowed her eyes on me.

“It wasn’t nice but, Dal, do you understand where he’s coming from?” I asked her. “He’s not wrong to not want the house taken over without having any input in it. What did you think was going to happen?”

“It makes her happy,” Daliah sighed. “I like when she’s happy.”

“Which is why you each have your own house.”

“But I don’t want to move,” she sighed and sank lower in her seat. “I mean, the decorating is already done. Wouldn’t it be easier for him to move.”

“He doesn’t have to move out of his own house. Dal, I tried to explain this when you two were deciding where to live. You wanted to live together which is fine but I warned you both then that if you fought over the house, it goes to whoever it was meant for in the first place.”

“I’m a grown up! I have hatchlings!” She said drawing out each word as if I didn’t understand her the first time. “It’s just him who would have to move if we traded!”

“He doesn’t have to trade, Dal. I don’t know what’s gotten into you!”

“Well, maybe that’s because you ran off to outer space as soon as you woke up! I get it! You have to be off on adventures!”

“I’m sorry that I didn’t think to ask my daughter’s permission before doing something.” It was my turn to narrow my eyes on her.

“For all we knew, you’d never get back here,” she said, gripping the chair arms.

“Well, I’m back. Did you think my being gone meant you could do what you wanted with the properties? Clarence would’ve enforced the same deeds if it became a big enough fight to draw that sort of attention,” I told her. “Seriously, Dal. I’ve missed you but I don’t know what’s wrong if you don’t tell me. If you’re mad at me, don’t take it out on your brother. If you’re being territorial over Rosemary, stop it. Sequin doesn’t want her. He just wants her to stop taking over his house.”

“Maybe I like the pussy pink,” she crossed her arms, looking more like her mama with each passing second.

“Well, you can have your house any shade of pink you like,” Sequin crossed his arms. “The kids can stay. You and Rosemary have to go.”

“That doesn’t even make sense, you stingy git!” Daliah growled.

I rubbed the bridge of my nose. This is why we handled things the way we did. This is why everything was sorted out from the moment they all moved onto the property. We didn’t want fights like this breaking out.

“Okay, my turn to vent. I literally just got back to Earthside. I’m sitting in a house where my wife – your mother – lived, loved, and died. Now, my adult children are fighting tooth and nail over something that isn’t even a fight. Daliah, if you like the décor, I will ensure it’s replicated at your house. I’ll hire whoever you want to help you and Rosemary do it but I think it’s best for everyone if you two have your own space.”

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