When I got to the kitchen I asked Maria if she had prepared a snack for Connor. She said that Bram told her that he would let Connor choose. I sat on one of the high chairs and dialed Roland’s number. He answered on the first ring.
“I’m sorry I was not able to get back to you,” I told Roland.
“It’s fine, I guess we don’t have to celebrate it,” Roland commented.
“Are you, okay?” I asked Roland as I watched Maria leave the kitchen.
“Alicia left me,” Roland said.
“What do you want to do then?” I asked him.
“Can you come home?” Roland requested, “I just want us to be complete. Just the three of us.”
“Sure, Roland,” I answered and we hung up. I left the chair and went out of the kitchen. I walked towards the elevator and did not bother to glance at the living room.
I opened my cabinet for casual clothes and scanned the shelves for something comfortable. I picked up a yellow shirt and was getting a white shorts when my phone rang.
“Hello?” I answered without looking at the caller ID. I placed the clothes on the bed while I was thinking of footwear.
“Do you want pizza?” Bram asked from the other line.
“Oh, um…” I paused, “Roland called, he wanted to celebrate his birthday at home. With just mom, him and me.”
“You mean now?” Bram asked. His tone had a hint of sarcasm.
“Yeah,” I responded and bit my lip. Bram would probably get mad.
There was silence on the line and then Bram spoke again, “What about me?”
I sighed, “I don’t know how I would split my time between you and my brother,” I reasoned with Bram.
“Is he injured?” Bram asked sarcastically.
“That’s not fair,” I commented and momentarily closed my eyes.
“Blood is indeed thicker than water,” Bram said then he hung up.
I sat on the edge of our bed and weighed my options. My brother was probably feeling down right now because Alicia left him. And Bram was injured and he needed me to take care of him. I shook my head because I had no idea what to do. I took a deep breath and scanned my phone for mom’s phone number.
I almost dropped my phone when something hit the door. Bram was standing by the doorframe with his crutches, “You’re not going,” he said, then he moved forward and stopped in front of me.
His gesture made me smile. It probably took a great effort from him to ride the elevator and walk in crutches to get into our room, “How did you do it?” I asked in surprise.
Bram was chasing his breath, “I was fueled by anger and jealousy, that’s how.”
Then he came to the edge of the bed and sat on the clothes that I had placed there earlier. I was shocked by Bram’s honesty. I stood up and sat on his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him on the mouth, “I’m so proud of you! Great job!”
I laughed out loud when I saw Bram’s face. His eyes were so big because of what I did, “Is that what I needed to do to get hugs and kisses from you?” Bram asked playfully.
I giggled and rested my forehead on his chin, “I was so surprised by what you did.”
“It was grueling but I’d do it again any day if it makes you happy,” Bram said with a heavy British accent.
I was thinking what grueling meant when we heard a loud knock from our main door, “I’m waiting here,” Connor yelled.
My jaw dropped, “Did Connor help you?”
“Of course not,” Bram shook his head, “The dumbass just watched me suffer.”
I shook my head at Bram. We all went down when Maria announced that the pizza arrived. I excused myself for a moment and called my mom.
“Is Roland with you?” I asked when mom answered on the second ring.
“He went out with his friends,” mom answered. Then I heard her yawn.
“I see,” I commented. I checked the time on my watch. It said six o’clock, “He said that he wanted us three to be complete today?”
“Really?” Mom sounded confused, “He didn’t mention anything to me.”
“Is Roland okay? He said he missed dad?” I told my mom. I walked slowly towards the direction of the deepest part of the pool.
“He never mentioned anything to me, dear,” mom said on the other line.
I massaged the back of my head, “I was just thinking that maybe he is suffering from depression or something? Maybe he needs help?” I said to my mom then I turned around and walked back towards the house.
“I’m glad you told me, darling.” Then I heard mom release a long breath, “Now I would really keep an eye on everything that he does.”
Mom’s statement made me frown. What did she mean by now? Why only now?
“What are you saying mom?” I asked. My mom sounded detached.
“Emma, don’t judge your dad because of this,” I heard mom say on the other line. I gripped my phone tightly, “Roland is the son of your dad from another woman.”
I almost tripped but I was able to find my balance, “What?” I asked mom. I blinked fast because I felt dizzy all of a sudden.
I heard mom give out a heavy sigh, “I’m just tired of everything, darling. Let’s not discuss this over the phone. I could visit you so you don’t have to leave the house.”
“Um…I think I need to sit, mom. I’ll call you.” Then I hung up the phone. I stared at the water of the pool for a moment.
“Madam?” I turned and saw Maria, “Sir Bram is worried. He asked me to call you,” Maria said then she turned her head to the left like she was reading my facial expression.
I nodded at Maria then we both walked inside the house. Bram and Connor were waiting at the dining area. Two opened boxes of pizza were on the table. I forced a small smile then I sat on Bram’s right side.
“Connor’s going home, babe,” Bram told me with a naughty smile, “Because he needed to meet someone.”
Connor made a face and stood up, “Don’t believe everything that he says, Emma.”
Bram stood up too and Connor immediately moved to his side to give him support, “Don’t worry, my baby is smarter than both of us combined.”
I shook my head with Bram’s exaggerated remark, “Not true,” I said to Connor. Then we all headed to the main door.