Eric sat at the kitchen table, the overhead stove lamp barely giving enough light for him to see what was on his plate. He was worrying again about the hearing the papers said he had to appear at. Cobi told him he would hire a family law attorney to represent him, and he was thankful, but to Eric, none of this was making sense. It felt unreal. Eric did nothing wrong, yet he was still going to be dragged before a judge. All he wanted was to see his little girl.
Eric took a bite of his sandwich, chewed it, and stared blankly at the space before him, when he heard a sound by the kitchen door.
He looked up and saw a figure standing in the dark space fifteen feet in front of him.
It was the woman from the other night. She walked over.
“Remember me?” the woman asked. “Austen,” she said, leaning forward on the table.
“Yeah, I remember,” Eric said, staring at her and offering nothing else.
Austen’s eyes landed on his food. “Sandwich looks good.”
Eric took half of the sandwich, set it on the napkin beside his plate, and slid it to the other side of the table. “Have some.”
“No. I don’t want to take your food. I shouldn’t be eating this late anyway.”
“Sit down. Eat.”
Austen pulled a chair out and sat down in the dimly lit kitchen. She grabbed the half sandwich, took a bite, and smiled as she chewed. “So let me apologize for barging in on you the other night.”
Eric paid the apology no attention.
“If it matters, I think you have a really great body,” Austen said. “I really do.”
“Thanks,” Eric said, showing no emotion.
Austen looked anxious and uncomfortable. She shifted nervously and looked around the room as though waiting for something to happen.
“Don’t worry, we’re not being watched.”
“You sure? Your sister had the nerve to have me followed today. Can you believe that?”
“I can believe that. She’s not very nice.” He wanted to tell Austen that Sissy wasn’t his sister, but what difference would that have made? “Why did she follow you?”
“You tell me. She tells me to buy a car, I buy one. She should be happy I didn’t spend the ninety thousand dollars she allotted. Then she follows me, sees that I’m putting in job applications, and tells me that I can’t do that. ‘Either you stick with the contract, or we’ll put you out on the street.’ Sorry, but I can’t stand her.”
“So are you going to stick with the contract?” Eric asked. He had no idea what this woman was talking about, but he decided to keep fishing for information.
“You know, it’s not like I don’t appreciate you guys making me the offer of marrying your brother.”
“Marry Cobi?” Eric said.
“Yeah.”
“You know he’s gay.”
“Of course, I do. He’s my fiancé, right?”
Eric stared at Austen, wanting to know more but not wanting to sound as though he was interrogating her.
“I just . . .” Austen started to say, then wiped at her eye. Her voice cracked with emotion. “This is hard for me, you know. I’ve lost everything. I’m used to being independent, and the idea of some man controlling me . . . you just don’t know how much I can’t stand that.”
“Cobi’s trying to control you?” Eric said, feeling some compassion for her and remembering how his brother forced him to tell things Eric didn’t want to say.
“No, no, not really. I’ve barely spoken to him. But your sister . . . I just don’t know how I’m going to go through with this.”
Eric kept his eyes on Austen. She wiped at her eyes again, and he handed her the last napkin he had near his plate.
“Thank you,” Austen said, dabbing the corners of her eyes. “You’re much nicer than your sister.”
Eric didn’t respond.
“And your brother. I don’t think he’s mean, but I like you a little better.” Austen smiled, standing from the chair.
Eric stood and offered his hand.
Austen shook her head, then came around the table toward him. “What’s this handshaking business?” Austen said, giving Eric a warm hug. “I’m marrying your brother, right? We’re all going to be family in a minute.”
It had been years since Eric had held a woman in his arms. It felt almost foreign to him. His hands on her tiny waist, her hair brushing against the side of his face, he breathed in her womanly scent, and said regretfully, “Yeah, we’ll be family.”