Twinsequences (Twisted Twin #1)(54)
Author: Jennifer Foor

Stosh finally went back to work for his father. He could do everything from his new home office. Since he was in sales, it wasn’t necessary for him to go into the office. All of his coworkers knew his situation and were fine with him working from our house.

We decided that I wasn’t going to work until after the baby was born. Stosh made enough to afford the mortgage and our other bills, so we weren’t stretched on money.

Once we’d moved in, everything finally settled down. Mine and Stosh’s parents insisted on buying us new furniture for our house. They didn’t want anything from the past reminding us of what we’d been through. I didn’t mind it. I think it made us appreciate each other more.

Normally, Stosh would work from nine to five. Of course, he had plenty of down time to spend with me. We got hooked on soap operas and spent his lunch break in bed or on the couch.

I ate more than ever before and gained double the amount of weight I should have. We were just so happy and so in love. The anticipation of the new baby coming brought on all sorts of late night cravings. Stosh had the delivery places on his speed dial and I was pretty sure they were on a first name basis.

His love for me was so apparent, and the time that we’d been apart, soon was a lost memory. Each day was better than the one before it and I was so grateful for the way things had turned out.

Ivy’s trial didn’t happen until three months after she’d been arrested. She started in the local county corrections center. My parents had come to us the week before the trial begging me to go see my sister. They said she needed to talk to me before she was sentenced. My now showing belly would reveal my pregnancy. Even though I’d told her I was expecting on that horrible night she’d tried to kill us, I don’t think it really sank in as being real.

Stosh and I talked for a long time about me going to see my sister. We owed her nothing, and the last thing I wanted to do was hear her bullshit lies. As the days went by, I started to reconsider. There were things that I’d been dying to say to her. There were things she deserved to hear out of my mouth.

Stosh argued with me over it, saying things were better left unsaid. He said I’d just be stirring the pot and that he didn’t feel like giving her another second of our time.

Without his blessing, I found myself sitting outside the gates to the prison. It was visiting day and the last day to see her before the trial. I’d asked my parents to wait until my visit was over to come see her. This was between me and my sister.

The visitation room was a lot like they portray them on television. Large cafeteria type tables were in rows. The prisoner sits on one side while the visitor sits on the other. I showed my I.D. and waited for them to bring her out to see me.

It was weird when she came out from behind the door without makeup. I don’t remember seeing my sister like that. Even before bed she would apply some makeup. She used to say that it was just in case the house caught fire. She didn’t want a cute fireman seeing her without her face on.

None of that mattered anymore. She couldn’t primp around and pick up the new makeup when it came out at the stores. Her excitement was over. Now she’d be trading day old fish sticks for cigarettes. It almost made me want to smile.

The look on her face was unlike one I was used to. She seemed both shocked and amused that I had showed up. I folded my hands on the table as she walked up. My belly was well hidden and I was saving that surprise for the very end of our visit.

She sat down right in front of me. “I didn’t think you’d come.”

“I wasn’t going to.” I raised one eyebrow and waited for her to respond. I was ready for anything.

She played with her hands. “I thought a lot about what I wanted to say to you.”

“So spill. I don’t have all day. Stosh is taking me out to our favorite restaurant and I promised him I wouldn’t be late.” I loved rubbing it in that we were together. It was almost as good as leaning over the table and gouging both of her eyes out.

“It must be nice.”

“Oh, it is. Everything turned out perfectly. I’ve never been so happy.”

She placed her hands flat on the table. “How’s he doing without legs?”

“Screw you!” I stood up. “This was a mistake. You aren’t worth the time.”

She stared at me, but not my face. I could see the tears forming in her eyes.

“What’s wrong, Ivy? Cat got your tongue?”

She put her hands over her mouth and shook her head. “I didn’t believe it. I thought you were lying.”

“We kept it from you the whole time, Ivy. How does it feel to be lied to? How does it feel to know that I have everything you’ve ever wanted?”

She shook her head and continued to sob. “Stop it!”

I sat back down and got close to her, so nobody else could hear me. “How does it feel to know you will never have my life? You will never feel what it’s like to have someone love you and you will never, ever, know what having your own child is like. You reap what you sow, sis.” I tapped on the table. “This is where you belong.”

I went to stand up and walk away, but she grabbed my hand. “Will, wait!”

I pulled away. “What do you want? Did you think I was going to come here and just forgive you? You’re insane! You took everything from me and then tried to end the lives of everyone that ever gave a damn about you. I hope you rot in Hell.”

“I’m sorry.”

I pointed at her. “You’re so lucky the charges against me and Stosh were dropped.” The day after she was arrested my father made sure that Stosh and I were out of trouble for what we’d done.

“I said I was sorry,” she repeated.

I was so pissed off. “You’re not sorry, Ivy. You did it all on purpose. Apologies are for something you didn’t mean to happen. You planned all of this. Are you happy with yourself? How does it make you feel to know that Stosh and I bought a house together? We wake up in our bed and make love whenever we want. You think just because he can’t walk that we can’t make love? My name is the only one he says when he sleeps. It’s our baby’s room that he’s helping decorate. I hope you like your little ten-‐by-‐ten cell. Was that in your plan too?”

She shook her head and hid her face from me. I had gotten to her in the worst way, without guilt.

“I loved you more than anyone for our whole lives. I would have done anything for you. It’s a shame you didn’t feel that way about me. We could have been a family. You could have been an aunt to my children. I really do hope you’re happy with yourself.”