By Summer's End (Christian Fiction) (2 page)

“Uh, yes, we’re going,” Holly said with
a yawn.  “I’m sorry.  I must have dozed off.”

Brianna gave her a bored look.  “I’m
hungry.”

“Okay, then.  Give me a minute and I’ll
freshen up.”

Brianna rolled her eyes.  “Hurry.”

 ***

Holly reached for a slice of pizza and
took a big bite.  The combination pizza was delicious and made her realize the homemade
varieties she cooked at home were definitely an inferior version of the real
thing.

She glanced at her younger sister.  The
girl seemed equally enthralled with the pizza.  Holly couldn’t help smiling her
way.  She had given Brianna the choice of any restaurant in town and Brianna
had selected the pizza place, noting she’d clipped a coupon from the paper
while Holly had been sleeping.  It was a thoughtful gesture and gave Holly some
measure of hope that she and Brianna might someday find common ground.  If Brianna
recognized Holly was doing the best she could with the limited resources at her
disposal, then she was showing a maturity beyond her years.

“This is delicious,” Holly enthused of
the pizza slice.  “I could eat the whole pie.”

“It is good,” Brianna conceded.  “I
haven’t had pizza in a while.  Dad used to…”  Her words trailed off and Holly
noted she veiled her eyes by looking down at the table.

“He used to what?” Holly said
cheerfully, hoping to engage her in conversation.

“Nothing,” she murmured.  “Nothing.”

Holly reached across the table and
patted her hand.  “You can talk to me, Brianna.  I’m always here if you need
me.”

The girl’s eyes flashed angrily.  “Oh,
that’s a joke!” she cried.  “You never cared about me before!”

Holly was taken aback, but resisted the
urge to snap back.  She was twenty-eight, the adult of the two, and her sister only
knew what her parents had told her.  She had to wonder what that was.  She took
a deep breath.  “Brianna, what did your parents tell you about me?”

“It doesn’t matter,” she murmured,
failing to make eye contact.

“Please.  I’d like to know.”

She hesitated, but finally spoke, “Mom
said Dad wanted to see you, but that you wouldn’t come to our house.  She said
your mom hated us and had poisoned you against us.  Dad said you were jealous
of me and even if you’d wanted to see me, he was afraid you might hurt me.”

Holly’s eyes widened with shock.  She
felt the bile rise up in her throat. 
Hurt her!

Holly swallowed over the lump in her
throat.  She tamped down the anger that threatened.  She uttered a silent
prayer, asking God for patience.  She felt a peace settle over her and sat
silently, weighing her words.  What should she tell her sister, who had been so
diabolically misinformed?  Brianna knew only what her parents had told her, and
although they had lied to her, did she really want to tell the girl the truth
and thereby cause her to both question and doubt her parents?  She was
distraught enough after losing them.  Finding out they had lied to her might
destroy her.

“Brianna, there are two sides to every
story,” she said calmly. 

“That’s all you’re going to say?  You’re
not even going to deny it?”  She gave a brittle laugh.  “You’d be lying if you
tried to tell me you cared about me—or my dad.”

Holly watched her sister, her heart
breaking.  It had to have hurt her, knowing she had a big sister and being told
that sister wanted nothing to do with her.  She was twelve years older than Brianna,
and from the girl’s point of view, old enough to see her if she’d wanted to.

The truth was, she had contacted her
father multiple times each year, begging for the opportunity to know her
sister.  He had systematically rejected each request, citing every manner of excuse
as to why they couldn’t get together.  Finally, in frustration, Holly had told
him that when Brianna was eighteen, she fully intended to track her down and
offer her the opportunity to know her.

She wondered now why her folks hadn’t
made any provisions for Brianna in the event of their deaths.  Her dad, an
electrical engineer for a local power company, should have earned an ample
income.  Yet, he’d left nothing for his daughter.  He and his wife had rented
an executive home in a gated community and had driven luxury models vehicles.  Brianna
had been enrolled in a private school.  As far as any bank accounts or life
insurance policies, the girl had been left destitute.  Her father and his wife
hadn’t even drawn up a will, citing who should care for Brianna should they
pass away.  She suspected her father and his wife would be rolling over in
their graves if they knew Alex’s oldest child had assumed responsibility for
his youngest.

Finally, Holly spoke, choosing her words
carefully.  “Brianna, I’ve always wanted to know you—to be a part of your
life.”

“Well, you have a funny way of showing
it,” the girl said angrily.  “You really do.”

The
following day, Holly rose early.  She hadn’t slept well.  It had broken her
heart the evening before when Brianna had accused her of not caring about her. 
However, she feared doing irreparable damage to Brianna if she told her the
truth about her parents—that they had shut Holly out of Brianna’s life—that they
had denied Alex’s firstborn a father’s love.

If not for her stepfather, Don, who had
no children of his own, Holly could only imagine how heartbroken she would have
been.  As it was, her stepdad had spoken to her often, assuring her he loved
her like his own and that her father’s abandonment had nothing to do with her,
and everything to do with his own character.  Don had been a godsend and a
blessing and she would forever be grateful for the love and stability he’d
provided until his untimely death.  She missed him every day.  Someday she
hoped to find a man as wonderful as him and often prayed to God to send someone
like him to her when the time was right.

Holly sighed.  If only her parents were
still with her, but then, God had called them home and only He knew his
reasons.  She took comfort in the knowledge that someday she would be reunited
with them. 

When Brianna stepped out of her bedroom,
dressed in all-black, her blue eyes lined with thick black pencil, she nearly
cringed.  It was nearly summer, sunny outside and the ensemble was a stark
contrast to the sunlight streaming into the apartment through a small window in
the kitchen.

Holly opted to ignore the girl’s makeup
and attire and asked, “Are you hungry?”

Brianna wrapped her arms around her
middle and shook her head.  “No.”

“You really need to eat something. 
There’s yogurt in the fridge.”

“I’m old enough to know when and what I
want to eat.”

“Okay,” Holly said crisply, trying
desperately to keep the frustration from her voice.  She breathed deeply. 
“Listen, Brianna, you and I have some things to talk about.  I’d intended to
talk to you last night but…”

“Whatever,” the girl interrupted, and
then checked her cell phone.  “I don’t have much time.  I have things to do.”

Holly was taken aback.  “What … do you
have to do today?”

“You mean…” she enunciated carefully. 
“What could
you
possibly have to do?  You’re new to this town.  You have
no
friends
…”

“No, I mean…”  Holly suddenly felt like
crying.  Trying to talk to Brianna typically left her bone-weary and feeling
sad.  This conversation was no exception.  It was such a shame. 

“I’m going,” Brianna said stiffly.

“No, actually, you’re not.  I do have to
talk to you about something.”

The girl gave a dismissive wave.  “Who
are you kidding?  I’m sure whatever you think is important has nothing to do
with me.  Besides, you don’t care what I think anyway.”

“I do care,” Holly asserted.

“If you cared, you would have let me
live with my friend.  Her parents didn’t care if…”

“That’s the problem” Holly cut in.  “Her
parents didn’t care!  Brianna, I saw how they lived!”

“You’re judging them!  You don’t know
them.”

“You’re … right.  I shouldn’t judge
them.  I’m sorry.  I don’t know them, but I know what I saw.  What I didn’t see
were parents at the home.  I did see many, many people who likely didn’t belong
there, but who stayed for reasons I can certainly speculate about.”

“Whatever,” Brianna said, her voice
filled with contempt.  “You ruined my life by bringing me here.”

Holly took a deep breath and counted to
ten.  “I’m sorry you feel that way.  I hope that someday you’ll feel
differently.”  She gestured toward the kitchen.  “Have a seat at the table,”
she said firmly.  “And you are eating something.  I’m your guardian and it’s my
responsibility to take care of you.  And … you will do me the courtesy of
showing me some measure of respect.”

The girl made a face but walked into the
kitchen.  She pulled a yogurt from the fridge and dropped into the chair with a
thud.  “What?” she demanded.

As much as Holly wanted to address her
sister’s tone, she decided to choose her battles.  “Listen,” she began, “it
seems…  Well, you’re probably not going to believe this…”  She paused.  “I, uh,
got the shock of my life yesterday, when…”

Brianna watched her through narrowed
lids.  “Huh?” she said. 

Holly laughed.  “Sorry.  I guess I’m
still having trouble believing what happened yesterday.  It’s like a …
miracle.”

To Holly’s surprise, she seemed to have
her sister’s attention then.  The girl, formerly slumped in the chair, rose up
taller in the seat.  Her eyes widened and were full of question.

“Did you ever hear about our Uncle
Benjamin?” Holly asked.

Brianna furrowed her brow.  “I … think
so.  He’s Dad’s uncle, right?  Our great uncle.”

“That’s right.  Do you remember ever
meeting him?”

Brianna shook her head.  “No.  I think
he called Dad once, but Dad wasn’t interested in talking to him.  Dad said he
was kind of strange.”

Holly remembered her short visit with
her great uncle at the family reunion.  He hadn’t struck her as strange. 
Quiet.  Kind.  Decent.  Certainly not strange.

“Anyway, what about him?” Brianna
prompted.

Holly caught her gaze, surprised the
girl suddenly seemed animated and engaged.  “Well, it seems Uncle Benjamin has left
me a house.  Us,” she amended.

Brianna’s mouth dropped open.  “What do
you mean he left you a house?  Do you even know him?”

“I’ve met him once,” she said. 

“When?”

“I was young—maybe twelve or thirteen.”

Brianna digested the information. 
“What…?  I mean…” 

Holly smiled.  “I know.  It’s hard to
take it in.  I don’t know anything at this point, other than Uncle Benjamin
sent me a key and said I’d be hearing from his executor.  As yet, I haven’t,
but I suppose I may soon.”  She shrugged. 

“Where is this house?  Around here?” Brianna
asked.

“No.  It’s in Washington State.  I’m not
certain where, although he did list the address in his letter.”

“Get the letter,” Brianna said.

Holly gave her a quizzical glance but
retrieved it from the kitchen drawer.  She passed it to her younger sister.  Brianna
pulled out her smart phone—which Holly certainly couldn’t afford—but that Brianna’s
parents had prepaid for the duration of the year.  She typed in the address. 
“He lives in a place called Battle Ground,” she informed.  “I guess it isn’t
far from Portland, Oregon.”

Holly digested the information.  “Wow. 
I’ve never heard of it.”

“It sounds … small,” Brianna said.  “Are
you going to move there?”

Holly stared intently at her sister
before answering.  “The question is, are
we
going to move?”

The girl appeared about to argue, but
seemed to think better of it.  Apparently her curiosity outweighed her desire
to be contrary.  “Is the house in the country?”

“I don’t know anything at this point,” Holly
told her.  “The truth is, I guess it really doesn’t matter.  I doubt I’ll ever
be fortunate enough to be willed a house again, and I suspect any home would be
better than this place—particularly since the apartment is so tiny.  And we’re
not in the best of neighborhoods here.  I’m not thrilled with the school
system, either.  I worry about you walking to the bus stop all alone…”

Brianna let out a disbelieving gasp. 
“You worry about me walking to the bus stop?”

“Yes.  You start school so early, but
since I leave for work before you head for the bus stop, I’m always afraid…”

“Something might happen to me?”

“Yes.”

Holly expected a sarcastic retort in
response, but none was forthcoming.  She was downright surprised.

“When would we leave?” Brianna asked,
seemingly genuinely interested.  “Soon?”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you
about,” Holly told her.  “How do you feel about making a move?  Is it too much
to ask of you, considering you’ve just made a major move?  Are you worried
about starting a different school?  It’s … a lot.”

“You’re asking me if we should move?” Brianna
clarified.

Holly nodded.

“Yeah, right,” Brianna said dubiously. 
“If I don’t want to go, you’re going to drag me there anyway.”

Holly sighed.  “No, that’s not true. 
You have a vote in this.  I suppose we need to travel to Washington whether we
ultimately decide to move there or not.  If we choose to stay here, we will
need to sell the house.”  She brightened.  “After, we might be able to rent a larger
apartment here.  That would be nice.  Or who knows?  Maybe we could afford a
small home of our own, depending on the worth of the Washington home.”

Brianna considered her words.  “You’d
really come back here if I don’t want to move to Washington.”

“Your vote counts,” Holly repeated with
emphasis.  “So, yes.  If you don’t want to move, we won’t.  You’ve been through
a lot and I don’t want you to experience additional stress.  It wouldn’t be
fair to you.”

“If the house is in the country, could I
get a horse?”

Holly was taken aback by the question
and smiled when she saw the hopeful gleam in her sister’s eye.  “Well, I don’t
know.  I don’t know anything about horses, or what’s involved in keeping one,
but…”

“I do!  Mom and Dad gave me a horse when
I was ten.  We kept it at a stable not far from our house.  I used to visit Wind
Song every weekend and most days during the summer.  She was my best…”  Her
words dwindled and the hopeful gleam in her eyes was replaced by a flash of
pain.

“What happened to her?” Holly asked
gently.

“Dad sold her,” she murmured.  “One
Saturday, I got ready to visit her and Dad told me I couldn’t see her anymore. 
He told me he’d sold her because I was too attached…”

“Oh, Brianna, I’m sorry,” Holly said
softly, her heart breaking for her sister.  She could see she had cared deeply
for her horse and had forged a deep bond.  “You know, I’ve always wanted a big
dog.  All my life I had little, tiny ones, and I loved them to death, but I’ve
always like the idea of having a big, protective dog.  I imagine taking him on
walks or even driving in my car with the passenger window rolled down.”

Brianna actually smiled at that.  “I’d
love a dog—any size.  My parents didn’t believe in allowing animals in the
house.  Too, they traveled a lot, so they said it would be too difficult to
make arrangements for pets when they were gone.”  She gave a woeful sigh.  “It
wasn’t always easy making arrangements for me either.”

Holly felt her heart breaking in two. 
She rose and wrapped a gentle arm around her sister’s shoulders.  “Brianna, I’m
so sor—”

Brianna thrust her arm away.  “I’m
fine. 
Fine!
  I didn’t need them and I don’t need you either!”

Holly watched her sister briefly and
returned to her chair.  She felt tears spring to her eyes.  Would her younger sister
ever allow her into her life?  Would she ever forgive her for perceived wrongs?

Brianna was silent for along moment. 
Finally, she lifted a shoulder.  “Fine.  Let’s move.  Washington couldn’t be
any worse than this place.”

Holly was taken aback by her
capitulation.  It was so out of character for her sister.  “Are you … sure? 
It’s a long way from here, and even farther away from your hometown.”

The girl gave an unconcerned shrug. 
“Whatever.”