My Sister's Husband by Marsh Nicola

Author:Marsh, Nicola [Marsh, Nicola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Suspense
ISBN: 9781800190139
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2020-10-26T13:00:00+00:00

Forty-One

Alice

THEN

Freya keeps her promise to me for six years.

She doesn’t hurt Brooke and she doesn’t touch her sister’s belongings again. Brooke is generous with her sister, offering to lend her clothes and make-up, and I see Freya come alive under her sister’s attention. I’m relieved, because the closer the girls are, the less likelihood Freya will revert to the all-consuming jealousy of that awful day when she destroyed Brooke’s favorite possession. Brooke includes Freya in her busy social life too and they’re closer than I could’ve hoped for. Maybe Freya has her sibling envy under control?

Then Brooke brings Eli home.

I’m cooking dinner, the kitchen warm from the oven and filled with the tantalizing aromas of roasted tomatoes, onions and garlic from the homemade pizzas that the girls love, when the back door opens.

“Hey, Aunt Alice, I’d like you to meet someone.” Brooke steps inside, holding hands with a striking young man she’s already told me about. “This is Eli.”

I like that Eli looks me straight in the eye; I can’t abide kids who appear shifty. And his smile is instant, warm, genuine, whereas some young men can be awkward meeting their girlfriend’s parents.

“Pleased to meet you, Eli.” I dust flour off my hands and hold one out.

“Likewise, Miss Shomack.” He shakes my hand with a firm grip I respect. “Brooke talks about you a lot.”

“Please, call me Alice. You’re staying for dinner?”

“I’d love to, thanks,” he says, his impeccable manners as impressive as the rest of him.

He’s tall, about six feet, with dark curly hair and chocolate-brown eyes. Brooke showed me a photo of him on her cell but he’s more remarkable in person. More than his looks and his manners, it’s his open expression I admire, like he’s got nothing to hide. For someone living with secrets every day of my life, that’s a quality I’m envious of. I’m happy for Brooke. He’s the first boy she’s ever brought home and he’s lovely. They make a stunning couple.

“Why don’t you two lay the table while I finish off this last pizza?” I point at the toppings laid out on individual plates. “Are you happy with all these, Eli, or do you have allergies?”

“No allergies, but I’d prefer no peppers on mine, please.”

“Sure,” I say, pushing that plate aside. “One pepperoni, tomato, mushroom, onion and garlic combo coming up.”

I snap my fingers and Brooke groans. “Please ignore my aunt, she’s putting on a show for you.”

He laughs, revealing straight white teeth that are as perfect as the rest of him. Freya enters the kitchen at that moment and the atmosphere instantly changes. It’s like a cloud has passed over the sun and my skin pebbles.

“Oh, it’s you two,” Freya says, as she crosses the kitchen toward me. “Need a hand, Aunt Alice?”

Her dismissive greeting of Eli and Brooke and her sour expression captures my attention. Usually she’s better at hiding her jealousy of her sister, and while Brooke rarely notices Freya’s subtle animosity, that greeting seems overt even for her.

“No, I’m good.

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