She was a marvel undiscovered, steeped in wonder and wanderlust, without a place to truly call home. Her nomadic lifestyle was a choice that helped her evade any true ambitions. She was gorgeous and motivated and probably the most depressed person in the room. Yet, her picture was in the dictionary for high-functioning. She flew under the radar but knew when and how to slip into her mask, the perfect lure. She was a siren, and she called to death. She tightened her hold on the garrote. This was her biggest accomplishment yet: removing her brother from the trust. Now, all she had to do was blend in and survive family dinner tonight.
Quietly, she wiped away the evidence of her presence from the weapon. The wire zipped neatly into her compact makeup case. She stopped to ensure no blood had been tossed onto her face or Givenchy lavender crystal-studded gown. The corner of her lips glided upward in a soft smirk. She had really outdone herself tonight. First, this dress was sure to turn all the right heads. Second, she was about to be thousands of dollars richer.
Meanwhile…
Marco couldn’t decide. Tori stood before him, seething after the revelation. Ruben sat clustered into the corner of the forest-green microsuede couch, stunned into silence, anxiety in human form. Marco knew this could happen and had been preparing for this moment, but the moment just came too fast. Now he was responsible for hurting his two favorite people.
“Okay, I was planning to talk to you both. Separately. Not together, obviously. To avoid this exact situation,” Marco said, as he chose the couch corner opposite of Ruben.
“Well, obviously. It would be so awkward for me to catch the guy I’ve been seeing kiss someone else!” Tori was a hothead, and Marco loved this about her. But, being on the receiving end of the wrath wasn’t on his bingo card. He and Tori had been casually dating for about three months, no titles or expectations, and he hadn’t seen a reason to say anything about Ruben.
“Let’s all just talk this out, okay? I promise I don’t want any problems. You can have him, honestly,” Ruben piped up then. Ruben and Marco reconnected about six months ago. Their relationship evolved from friendship to more during a horror movie night. Ruben had been frightened, and they’d given each other those I-need-comfort-with-your-lips eyes. The rest is still being written.
“Look. I have enjoyed getting to know each of you for various reasons. Tori, we are always laughing, and I’ll never tire of people-watching with you. Ruben, you are my calm when my world won’t quiet. I would appreciate having you both in my life, but I’ve never been in a poly situation. I just had my bi awakening like six months ago with you, Ruben! So, yeah. I think I would like all of us to stay together. But, I totally understand if you both want to leave and never come back because I lied and it’s unfair to ask you to stay,” Marco rambled on while watching their expressions.
Tori’s initial scowl remained until she heard his panicking. Now, she stood with her arms crossed and a more neutral facial expression. Marco couldn’t read how she felt. Ruben, forever an empath, inched infinitesimally closer on the couch, wanting to comfort Marco but still apprehensive.
“Where do we go from here?”
Meanwhile…
“When does Daddy come home, Mommy?” Coral had colored through every coloring book Bea had given her each month. Between school and crafts at home, Bea hoped these would offer a distraction for Coral. Bea sighed softly while stirring the taco filling.
“Soon, baby. He wouldn’t want you to worry about this,” Bea said nicely, attempting to soothe herself, too. Bea glanced up to gauge Coral’s reaction, but her head was buried in her coloring book. Good, maybe the conversation was over.
“Well, I hope he’s not scary like he was before,” Coral whispered, yet made sure Bea could still hear it. This was the first time in six months that Coral had mentioned any feelings she’d had regarding her father. Bea couldn’t keep her head buried in the sand any longer. Her daughter likely felt inconceivable emotions and needed help processing. She had seen Bea and Daryl argue, scream, throw things, and verbally maul each other. Coral had withdrawn into herself, until now. Bea was still processing it all herself, but she owed it to her daughter to show up emotionally.
Bea moved to the modest kitchen table littered with bills stamped in red writing. The staggering amounts only added to Bea’s concerns. Coral didn’t need to worry about that, either. Bea wanted her to enjoy her childhood, give her the joy Bea was robbed of during her own childhood.
“Coral, let’s stop coloring now, okay, sweetie?” Coral set her colored pencil down, eyes wide and anticipatory. “I know we haven’t talked a lot about Daddy since he was taken away. And Mommy’s sorry about that. Mommy has been sad and mad and many other feelings. I’m sure you’re sad and have so many questions. I’m ready for us to talk now.”
Coral wrung her hands together in her lap, a nervous habit from toddlerhood. Bea gave a small smile and fully allowed herself to open up to urge Coral to do the same. Coral smiled softly back, hazel eyes looking identical to her father’s. Bea hoped to quell any part of her that Daryl might have tainted.
Luci Strong is a budding writer, hailing from Mississippi. Her Southern experiences and upbringing shape her writing. She loves to read romances, thrillers, and fantasy novels. When she is not reading, writing, or working in healthcare, she enjoys baking, hanging out with family and friends, and binging various TV shows (current binge: Real Housewives of Atlanta).
Featured image by Victor on Unsplash.
