Tasha returned home late afternoon after a long day of running errands and grocery shopping in the scorching heat of summer on Monday. She didn’t go to the campus, deciding to take a break from writing for a few days.
She could feel the beads of sweat clinging to her skin as she unlocked her front door and stepped inside her cozy apartment. She carried the grocery bags into the kitchen, and kicked off her flip-flops, sighing in relief, and grateful to be back in her cool, air-conditioned home.
She was sorting out her purchases into their designated spaces when Maggie walked in.
“Hi, Miss. Tasha,” the younger lady greeted as she walked into the kitchen. “How was your outing?”
“Fine,” Tasha smiled and closed up the refrigerator door. “I only went grocery shopping and ran some errands.”
“Yeah.” Maggie perched on the high stool. “I can see.”
“You look worried,” Tasha covered up the flour canister, which she just emptied a new batch of flour into. “Is everything alright?”
“I dunno.” she chewed her bottom lip. “Miss. Tasha, is it wrong to be in love with your stepbrother?”
“Your stepbrother?” Tasha heaved a sigh. “You have feelings for Kevin, don’t you?”
“Yes,” she whispered and looked away shyly.
She looked so innocent Tasha would have pulled her into her arms if she were to be standing beside her.
“How long has this been happening?”
“It’s been…,” she shrugged. “Over a year now.”
Tasha said nothing. She opened the top cupboard and placed some fresh packs of paper towel there.
“My mom is going to freak out if she gets to know.” She muttered almost to herself. “I think our parents are going to kill us. Or what do you think?”
“But it’s a two-way thing,” the older lady shut the cupboard and looked at Maggie. “What does Kevin feel about your parents finding out?”
“Wait, wait, you are not even surprised about what I just told you?” Maggie picked up a carrot from the ones Tasha had rinsed. “The two people I told earlier were so surprised.”
“Well,” Tasha sat on the vacant stool beside Maggie. “Let’s say I have seen how both of you relate and I must say I’m not surprised now that you are telling me that something is going on between the two of you.” She chewed a little from her carrot.
Maggie froze, her stick of carrot halfway to her mouth. “You did?”
“Yes,” Tasha nodded. “It’s not so obvious, but anyone that is observant would know that your relationship goes beyond that of brother and sister.”
Kevin and Maggie were step siblings.
Kevin’s parents; Todd and Annie were never married. They were just very close friends who made the mistake of sleeping together in a moment of weakness for both of them, and that act produced Kevin. They both tried to make it work, but they got miserable doing that. So they faced the reality of their situation and agreed to just be friends and co-parents.
Todd met Tina, Maggie’s mom, two years later. Tina was a young widow with a daughter, Maggie, and new in town then. Todd fell in love with her and they had three kids together. Though Kevin lived with his mom and stepdad, he was always visiting his biological dad and he and his step and half siblings had always been very close.
“Is it bad to be in love with your stepbrother?”
“You haven’t answered my question,” Tasha looked perceptively into Maggie’s eyes. “I ask what Kevin thinks about it. Does he feel it is nothing, or he’s jittery like you?”
“He’s sort of okay with it,” she shrugged. “But-”
“Maggie,” Carl, her half-brother, walked in, stopping her mid sentence. “You are here? Aren’t you coming with us to the cinema again? We are about to leave.”
“Are you guys ready?” She shoved the rest of the carrot into her mouth.
“Yes, everybody is ready,” Carl replied.
Maggie turned to Tasha, standing up. “Miss. Tasha, I will come over at night.”
“It’s no problem,” Tasha stood up, too. “You can come anytime.”
“Bye,” the two siblings chorused as they rushed out of the kitchen.
******
“Did you know Jake was going to put in his resignation letter today?” Blake asked, dropping his cutlery and picking up the napkin. “They just finished dinner.
“No, not at all,” Stacy made all efforts to modulate her tone. “Why do you think we would tell before he drops his letter?”
“Sure you both are close,” he cleaned his mouth with the napkin. “I mean, the two of you work closely together.”
“Well, he didn’t tell me, not until after he had sent it in.”
“I wonder why he’s leaving.” Blake dropped the napkin on the table. “It’s so sudden, and he’s just giving a month’s notice.”
“He’s been in the company for over eleven years.” Becky sipped the last of her fresh orange juice. “I think he needs a change of environment.”
“It’s fine,” Blake folded his hands on his chest and smiled slowly at his wife. “At least, it will give you the chance to become the VP marketing.” His smile turned to admiration. “I’ve always been waiting for the day you would become one.”
“A VP,” she took her gaze away from him. “I’m not sure my dad will agree with you on that.” She leaned back in her seat. “I’m not the only one entitled to that shoe. Remember, Annie and Fredrick are senior officers who could fit in as well.”
“Come off it,” he reached out and took her hand. “You are as good as any of the two, if not better. You deserve it, my dear.”
“You are such a good man, Blake.” She thought to herself. “It’s a pity you are never the one for me.”
“I’m sure my dad will think otherwise,” she said to him. “Let’s just wait and see.”
“Don’t worry,” he squeezed her hand. “I’ll talk to your brother tomorrow and both of us are going to make sure you become the next VP marketing.”
“Thank you,” she crocked, feeling pity for him. She just made an appointment to see a divorce lawyer on Wednesday afternoon. “De…dear.”
“You are welcome,” he stood up. “I think I will retire early today. I feel a bit tired. I will just make a phone call and go to sleep.”
“Sure.” she said in a voice a little lower than a whisper. She was so riddled with guilt.