SirianaSims

Long Story Short

“I’m sorry for your loss. Your mother was a great woman.”

“Thank you for coming.”

My heart ached for Samuel as he stoically received their condolences. The room slowly emptied.

Samuel’s father stood mutely by the casket, grief lining his face. Hailey was talking to him in soothing tones.

Our big girl. I still couldn’t quite believe that one of my babies went to high school. And Ivy would join her soon.

At least Julia and the twins would still be little for a while. I glanced down at Julia. She always kept close to us when we were out.

Much unlike Kieran and Liam who were probably tearing something apart somewhere. Ivy had taken them outside during the service because they kept trying to eat the flowers.

The last people had finally left and Samuel looked exhausted. I went to him.

“You’re doing great, honey.”

“Thank you.” He kissed me as a sharp voice sounded behind us.

“Samuel, my boy, that was a very nice eulogy.”

He sighed deeply and let go of me.

“Thank you, aunt Jana.”

I only knew a little about Jana Ward. She was Kailani’s twin sister and lived in the enormous Ward mansion in Del Sol Valley, not far from my mother and Conrad. She and Kailani hadn’t been on speaking terms for decades. I suspected the mansion had something to do with it.

“I see that your brother never showed up. Typical. He never had any respect for his elders.”

The tension radiated from Samuel’s body.

“Charlie is still missing.”

“Oh? Surely he must be dead then. No one would be impolite enough to miss their own mother’s funeral. Even you and your entire brood showed up.”

I could see Samuel’s jaw working and felt Julia anxiously moving closer to me.

I desperately looked around for my father.

He was already walking towards us.

“Dad, could you…”

“I know, monkey. My grandpa sense was tingling. Julia, could you help me find your brothers, please?”

He picked her up and carried her towards the door.

I immediately moved in on Samuel and his horrible aunt.

“Say, Mrs. Ward, I believe you know my mother?”

I knew very well that she didn’t, my mother had always avoided her at all cost, and despite Jana’s pretentiousness, the fact was that she was nowhere near famous enough to move in the same circles as Conrad. Jana turned to me, finally acknowledging my existence.

“Your mother, dearie?”

“Katherine Richards? She and my stepfather Conrad live near you?”

“Ah, no, I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting them properly. Quite silly, really, we are practically neighbours…”

“Oh, then you must allow me to introduce you!”

I led her away from Samuel and towards Conrad and my mother, sending them an apologetic smile.

Conrad simply waited politely, a mischievous glint in his eyes as always. Jana wouldn’t know what hit her.

---

Conrad’s warm voice filled my father’s kitchen.

“… and then I told her that her face was fine, but I’d need her to put a bag over that personality.”

Cecilia laughed. “Kailani would have loved to see it.”

“Oh, Cecilia, he was glorious, Jana was fuming! She called him a talentless hack and stalked out.”

Conrad laughed and put an arm around my mother.

“I’ve been called worse things by better women.”

I continued into the living room, looking for Samuel.

He was talking quietly to my father.

“So take it from me, Samuel,” my father said, gently. “You’re allowed to be upset about not knowing what happened to your brother, no matter what your relationship was like.”

“I’m sorry, Eric, I completely forgot.”

“That’s alright. Sometimes I forget about Daniel too. And then I suddenly remember and the pain floods back in. I wonder if anyone will ever hear from Sixam again.”

The old floor creaked under my feet and they both turned around.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. The furious five are all asleep now.”

Samuel smiled and reached for his glass.

“We should head to bed as well. The twins wake up at dawn and we have a long trip home tomorrow. Goodnight, Eric. And thanks.”

---

I smiled at the old photo of me and Samuel that had been strategically placed by the guest bed. My father clearly hadn’t lost his sense of humour.

“Freya, honey? What are you thinking about?”

I looked at my husband as he undressed in what had once been my room. It felt like a lifetime ago.

“I just remembered that time you tried to kiss me in here.”

Samuel grinned into his beard as he undid his belt.

“If I try it now, are you gonna push me away again?”

“You could find out.”

“Is that how you want to spend the last few minutes of our tenth anniversary?”

“That is up to you… sir.”

“Woman, you are angling for trouble.”

“And what are you going to do about it, sir?”

“I guess I’ll have to show you. Very quietly.”

He kissed me, his hand firm and familiar on my waist, his eyes reflecting my love.

“Samuel? Thank you for being my first and second husband.”

“My pleasure. Although I’ll admit, it’s been more of a pleasure the second time.”