Twenty
Davit
“Sit down,or I’m going to tape you to the couch,” I said.
She laughed.
“You wouldn’t dare,” she countered.
“Try me,” I said.
She was right, I wouldn’t dare, but she needed to calm down, and pacing back and forth was not calming down.
She complied, and then looked at me, her expression stricken.
“What if he hates me?”
“He won’t hate you,” I said.
“What if he does?”
“He won’t, but he’ll get over it if he does. And besides, you’re family.”
“That doesn’t mean he can’t hate me,” she responded.
“No, but it means that he can’t do anything about it. And he’s not going to hate you,” I said.
I laughed, something I realized I had done a lot more of over the past few months.
But then, I had reason to. For the first time in my life.
Amethyst had brought me happiness, a peace that I hadn’t realized I was missing. And the baby, a person who I loved more than anything even though I had never seen him, brought me even more.
This was it.
The feeling that I had always longed for, the family I’d barely allowed myself to dream of.
I had it within my grasp, and I would keep it.
I’d been confident with Amethyst when I’d told her that Elias would love her.
But I was perhaps a little overconfident.
My brother was a wild card, but ultimately, it didn’t matter.
Amethyst was one of us, and no matter what my brother thought, that wouldn’t change.
“You need a new security system,” my brother said as he opened the door without preamble.
“It’s on order, as are new doors and windows,” I said.
“You shouldn’t be living here until it arrives,” he said.
“Elias, stop being an asshole and come say hello to Amethyst,” I said.
I watched her as she watched him walk in.
“Ms. James, I am pleased to meet you,” he said.