Chapter 35 Chapter Thirty Five
CANDY’S POV-34
Thankfully, whatever God was listening when I made the silent prayer to not have to deal with my family when I got back was merciful enough to answer and I’ve been coasting on the graces of that answered prayer the rest of the weekend. I spent Sunday locked away in the comfort of my room but now it’s Monday morning and I definitely have to sacrifice my peace of mind just so I can get to work.
Dressing up in my favourite black, fitted, wide legged pants that has a way of falling fluid and long to the perfect length against my black, statement, Christian Louboutin heels, I pair it with my crisp, white, long sleeved shirt peeking through the cinched, tailored black vest that Peach gave me for my birthday last year because I have nothing interesting in my closet. Right now, I’m glad she did because it honestly does wonders for the look in general and for my figure too.
I take my time to fix my hair and beat my face to perfection with light touches of make up and looking in the mirror, I sigh in satisfaction because the woman staring back at me looks like she can take on the world and survive standing and that’s the energy I need to face the day I’m about to have.
Picking up my bag, phone and necessary accessories, I leave the sweet comfort of room, heading downstairs to breakfast.
Hopefully, it’s just mum that is up this early, catering to her inconsiderate husband and her blind, pliable daughter. Her bullshit I can handle right now but there’s not even a small part of me that believes I can face either dad or Peach without crumbling at this point.
It’s too much too soon and left for me, I’ll rather pretend Saturday night didn’t happen and life as I know it isn’t descending into utter destructive chaos.
“Good morning.” I hear behind me in Peach’s sunny voice that easily lights up a room as she sashays into the kitchen in her usual own-the-room manner, a small smile involuntarily taking over my face.
Maybe I’m the one over thinking it, hiding from a non-existent confrontation.
“Morning.” I respond, taking a sip of my black coffee that’s out to burn my tongue.
I turn to find her walking airily around the kitchen probably trying to decide on what to have for breakfast and she.......she’s dressed?
My sweet, sweet sister have never in her life been a morning person and it takes the will of the gods to get her out of her bed and her pyjamas any time before noon, every day, so excuse my surprise at the fact that she’s fully dressed and dolled up at....I glance at my screen, ten minutes past seven in the morning.
“Going somewhere?” I asks, not bothering to hide the surprise in my voice.
She pauses from going through the content of the fridge to look at me, her eyes slowly morphing into this perfect blend of sad and accusing that’s impossible to look away from, her back going stiff in classic pissed Peach fashion.
I guess my luck finally ran out and I’m in fact getting the confrontation that’s been coming since I walked out the door on Saturday.
Finally, she answers quietly.
“If you’d stayed for dinner instead of abandoning me when I needed you the most, you’d know I have a date with King today.”
“Peach...”
She half shrugs like she has no idea she’s stirring forbidden waters now.
“It’s that simple Candy. You’re not even the one wearing the shoe yet you’re acting like you’re the one that knows all the places it hurt.”
Her eyes start to shine while she stubbornly crosses her hand under her breast, forcing herself not to cry and watching her feels like having a knife plunged deep into my chest and then twisted every which way.
“You made all of us look like fools that night and dad couldn’t stop apologizing for you. Do you know how it felt having to watch him stoop that low just because you couldn’t spare five fucking minutes? Fuck, I tried so hard to avoid doing this with you but it’s killing me.“
“Peach.....”
My voice sounds strange and foreign even to my ears, so hollow and empty and broken, it basically has nothing to offer besides the stupid tears clouding it.
“Please don’t.” She continues, visibly irritated.
“You’re so selfish, so self absorbed it’s not a surprise dad had to come to me when it really mattered. I didn’t ask you to wear the crown Candy, I only asked you to stick your head out of your ass long enough to be my big sister, hold my fucking hand and promise I’ll be okay.”
I swallow hard, the right words stuck in my throat.
I should agree with her, I should cave in while I still can and grovel and let her do her but my heart and my brain are two different entities that are decidedly always against me because the next thing that comes flying out of my mouth is,
“You shouldn’t have to wear the crown in the first place, you’re not his sacrificial lamb. I love you and maybe that’s why I can’t pretend any of this is okay.”
“You’re so fucking unbelievable.” Peach sneers right before snatching her bag off the kitchen island and storming off, her eyes glistening with both tears and hate for me.
I let out a deep, resigned sigh, fighting back tears. Am I really that despicable for wanting better for her? Is this still about Peach or am I just fighting now because the stakes have changed....am I really the selfish bastard she’s accusing me of? Is my fear because of him and not because I can’t stand to lose my sister to this?
Fuck!
And what will she say if she knows the man she was trying to help me hunt down so I can tell him I got stupid and fell for him even though I promised not to is the same one she’s fighting so hard to get married to now after meeting him for only one night.
Oh God this is fucked up and messy and I have zero idea what to do.
Biting back the tears so it doesn’t ruin my make up and ignoring the ache in my chest that feels like my heart is being crushed, I pick up my bag and leave too, my half eaten toast and half drunk cup of coffee forgotten, my mouth tasting like sawdust.
This day can’t possibly get any worse.