Page 18 of Inevitably Yours

For the first time, Gus ended the embrace first. She was too close to the edge, not just about John, but where Jan was concerned to be able to maintain that physical contact and not start blabbing all her transgressions.

“Do you want a sandwich?” Gus returned to her task.

“Um, no. I don’t want cold bread, or cold meat, or condiments. And don’t get me started on cheese. Yuck.”

“Wow, still? I thought you would have outgrown that or Mother would’ve trained it out of you by now. “A proper lady isn’t picky. She can throw it up later if it didn’t appeal to her, but she should be courteous to her hostess.” They both devolved into laughter as Gus adopted their mother’s voice.

“She tried, believe me, she tried. She served me the same plate for seven meals in a row. Said I would eventually get hungry enough to eat it. I was this close to giving in by the second time, but I had a stash of Corn Nuts. I ate like five at a time so I could last for about five days or so, but Dad stepped in and put his foot down. Said I was too skinny and she needed to back off.” Jan casually grabbed an apple from the basket and took a bite like she hadn’t just shared an epic moment in the life of the perfect Thornes.

“Wait, seriously?”

Jan just continued crunching her apple.

“Our father, Timothy Raymond ‘Thunder’ Thorne, stood up to Mother? Took your side over hers?”

“Yep, shocked the shit out of me.” Gus was so stunned, she didn’t bother to scold January for her cursing. She just stood there. For a moment, she was jealous of Jan; Dad had never stood up for Gus. One look at her beautiful baby sister and that jealousy faded fast. Thank you powers that be, at least she had someone finally looking out for her…since I left her alone in that wolves’ den.

“Tell me everything. I want details. What did Mom do? Did she flip out? Why did you never tell me this story before?”

“First, I don’t know the details of that night because Mother cordially ordered me from the room. No raised voice, nothing. She gave me a hundred-dollar bill and asked me to take my bike or the bus and go to dinner and not return until I had eaten my fill. I left. I knew better than to question that level of calm.”

“Wow. What happened when you got back?”

“I walked in, and they were seated in Dad’s office having after-dinner drinks like normal and never mentioned it again. Dad was back under her control, and I had somehow won the battle but lost the war. I went to bed, and it was never spoken of again…that is, until I brought it up, along with a laundry list of other stuff, right before I called you.” January threw away her apple core and grabbed her bags. “I don’t want to talk about our parents, if you don’t mind. Show me to my room?”

Of course, you don’t want to talk about them, duh, I don’t blame you. Gus was able to pull the rest of the story from Jan. It happened the week she had left. Her baby sister was just thirteen, and she went days with just Corn Nuts. What kind of mother force-feeds and starves her thirteen-year-old daughter? Melody Margaret (hurricane force) “Windsong” Thorne, self-appointed dictator of feminine perfection, that’s who.

“Of course, honey, right down here.” Gus started leading Jan through the house. “Do you want me to get you a job at Erika and Tori’s store? I’ve already mentioned it, and you just need to say the word. They would be thrilled to have you. Since they are taking a more corporate role, they are looking for someone with your degree for the day-to-day.” Gus was amused by that thought. Everyone seemed to be growing and changing so much lately—maturing, nurturing relationships, making business deals, and starting families—everyone but her. She was stagnating and as soon as she gave birth, then what? There was no relationship to devote more time to. No business to take a back-seat in. Just her and her ever-changing hair color and alternative therapy.

The thought was depressing, but not as depressing as what Jan was facing, so…time to suck it up, buttercup, and do what you can to help your baby sister with whatever your parents are putting her through. Your pathetic life will still be there later.

“They pay well and, unlike a lot of retail, they offer benefits if you stay on long enough. I’ve given it some thought, and…why does this arrangement have to be temporary? I know you have a great job waiting for you working for Dad, but have you given any thought to, I don’t know, maybe staying around here, around me? I know you have a fiancé now and all, and a shiny new diploma, but maybe he would move here and we could be close and…” Gus was rambling, having second thoughts. She wanted to give her sister an option outside of being under the control of their parents forever.

When the Thornes are displeased, they let it be known far and wide. If Jan was employed by them, what would they do? Fire her, cut off her source of income and independence? No, I can’t let that happen. I must offer her options.

Gus couldn’t offer a cushy office job yet, but with her business degree, Erika and Tori had indicated they would hire her for more than just running a store if she stuck around. She could make a place here. Here,by me. Where I can protect her now the way I should have years ago.

January grabbed Augusta and spun her around, gently. “Gus, I love you, and I don’t blame you for anything. As much as I would love to stay here, with you, I can’t even begin to make a decision like that. I hope you understand. However, I do need this time to find myself and all that bullshit, and who knows, things may change. Miracles happen sometimes, right? Maybe not for Thornes, as a rule, but for others. Maybe I’ll be the first. Besides, I have a job lined up already. One just for fun, but tell your friends thanks all the same.”

January’s laugh was hollow and her words laced with resignation, not hope as they indicated. She had given up. This really was just a last hoorah for her before she accepted her fate. Gus planned to do everything in her power to change that, and if she couldn’t de-program her sister, she was darn sure going to make this a time to remember for Jan.

It’s the least I can do…since it’s my fault in the first place. Just because Jan was resolved to her fate, that didn’t mean Gus had to be. As soon as she got her own ducks in a row, she’d help her baby sis do the same.

The need for answers from Jan almost overwhelmed Gus’ intuition to back off. Luckily, her intuition won because it was obvious that if she pushed her sister, it would be right back home, and that wouldn’t do.

“Sure thing, sis, right this…” Gus was interrupted by a scratching, hissing fur ball barreling down the hall like his ass was on fire…straight into Jan’s room.

“Lemme guess, Rick?”

“Um, yeah, that would be him. Sorry about that, but now that he is in your room, you’ll have to leave the door open so he can get out.”

They entered the room and saw no sign of the whirlwind that just cut them off in the hallway. Jan tossed her bags on the bed and bent down to solve the mystery of where the cat was hiding. “I’ve got good news and bad news, which do you want first?”

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