JAMES

Lacy.

My previously lost, little sister Lacy.

Although, to be far, she wasn't actually lost. My family knew exactly where the youngest Rhodes was for her entire life.

We just didn't know who she was living with.

If we did, we wouldn't have left her to live with the Clarks for as long as we did. We would've brought her home sooner.

That mistake is unfortunately very present in how my darling sister treats us. She only talks to us when necessary and avoids us like the plague.

There's no one to blame but ourselves, but it still hurts that my only sister is no better than a stranger to me. It pains me, knowing I've failed her.

But now that she's here, I'll make sure she knows how much she means to us. How precious she is to this family.

When she suggested— or, practically demanded— a DNA test, I was absolutely elated. This will be the closure she needs, the push to get her over the edge of trust.

I walk up the staircase, and knock on her door. The door opens, and a small head peaks out. Lacy's only three years younger than me, but she's a whole foot shorter.

Her mother was only five foot tall, however, so her genes and my father's six foot five genes must've balanced out to make Lacy— all five foot three feet of her.

She cranes her head to look up at me. "What do you want, James?" She asks. She arches an eyebrow and looks up and down the hallway.

"Let's go outside again," I smile, "maybe we can swim?"

Lacy immediately begins to withdraw into her bedroom. I don't try to lodge my foot between the door, nor do I want to force her out with me.

I just really want a relationship with my sister.

I smile. "Or we don't have to go out. Or swim. Or do anything. Perhaps you just watch a film in the cinema? I can prepare some tea and biscuits for us."

Lacy hesitates, but eventually sighs and steps out of the room. I grin even wider. "What film should we watch? What films have you seen?"

"I've seen all of those fairytale movies— Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty— my sister really enjoyed them and introduced me to them."

My jaw clenches ever so slightly at the mention of her family before us. The people who got to watch my sister grow up without deserving to.

Lacy and I walk side by side to the kitchen. "Maybe you'd want to join us for tea this evening, too?" I offer, drawing out the question in a light tone.

Maybe, just once, she'll agree?

Maybe, just once, she'll spend an evening with us?

And maybe, just maybe, she'll accept us.

We'll be able to play family board games on Saturdays. We'll be able to swim in the sea on spring breaks. We'll be able to have sleepovers and pillow fights.

If only my father hadn't sent her off.

No matter. Soon enough, I'll be worthy of my sister's affection. My father always told my brothers and me that good things come to those who wait.

If only he took his own advice.

Looking at my sister, I'm reminded of my father's betrayal. I'm reminded of my father's refusal to just wait out the storm brewing ahead.

Instead, he rushed in. And so, he drowned.

Lacy doesn't respond to my suggestion. My lips tilt into a slight frown too quickly before I can fix it, and I move them back upwards.

"We can watch absolutely anything," I say as I lead her into the home cinema. "Just say it, and I'll turn it on." I grin at her. "I like everything. I'm not fussy."

Lacy glances at the large television, and the selection of film DVDs. "I haven't seen one in a while," She sighs, "I don't know what's popular now."

My eyebrows furrow. The family she lived with was well-to-do, living in London's Mayfair. The man she called father brought in plenty more quid than the family needed.

Why hasn't she gone to the cinema?

Lacy peers up at my expression— my scrunched up face, my tilted head. "My dad never cared much for films and the cinema," She added all too smoothly.

"Not your dad, technically," I sing-song despite the growing urge in my nerves to clench my hands so they can find a wall to collide into.

She nods. "Right."

I pick up a random film from the shelf. The Secret Garden. I smile, remembering long ago before a storm was even in the sky.

When life was blissful fields of wildflowers, growing under a bright yellow sky, and we didn't have to worry about insignificant people.

"CeCe," I call, "if I couldn't walk, would you take me to a pretty garden too?"

My little sister, dressed in her mother's favorite dress, giggles. "No!"

I gasp a feigned gasp. "How could you! My own little sister!" I place a hand over my heart, frowning down at the small shrimp-like thing.

She's really short, like a garden gnome.

Lacy grins. "I'd go to the garden by myself and tell you all about it!"

"How could my innocent little sister be so cruel?" I sniffle, and grab one of my father's handkerchiefs from my pocket, dabbing my dry eyes.

"You took Daddy's cloth!" Lacy exclaims, an accusatory tone in her words. "I'm going to tell Daddy when he comes home that you steal!"

I grin. "You won't or else I'll tickle you!"

She laughs. "No!" She turns on her heel and begins running down the hallway. I let the handkerchief drop and chase after her.

"Come back, CeCe!"

I hold the DVD out to her. Lacy steps closer slightly to look at the front, and a small smile graces her lips. "I like that movie," She admits softly.

"Really? It's one of my favorite's too! I'll put this in. And I'll get the pastries. What kind of biscuits do you like? We have all kinds," I ramble.

She almost chuckles, but masks it as a cough. "Anything works. I'm not fussy," She parrots my words back to me.

Her tone is light.

Her smile is strained.

"Alright, then! I'll be right back." I skid out of the cinema and practically run through the house, barreling right into a wall called Thomas.

He grunts. "Why're you running?"

I maneuver past the obstacle. "No time for nonsense!" I yell back. "I'm very busy right now! And on a time crunch!"

He watches me for a few seconds, then turns and walks off.

I prepare absolute every biscuit Lacy might like, and tea. I add three different kettles, and honey, and sugar, and milk, in their own separate containers.

Happy with my selection, I pick up the tray and take it back to the cinema. Lacy sits on one of the plushy chairs, examining the films from a far.

I set the tray down on the table in front of the first row of seats she's in. "Have anything you want. And if you want something else, just say it and you'll have it."

She nods. "Um... thanks, James. This is nice."

I almost do a backflip. But I might knock over the tea so I don't.

Lacy and I sit on opposite sides of the sofa. As the movie goes on, she slowly loses her stiff posture and sits relaxed into the sofa.

Like old times.

Old times that can happen again.

I watch my sister, from a far.

Please come back to us, CeCe.

———

Hi, loves!

What did you think of this chapter? Are you getting to know the brothers better?

What do you think of them? Positive or negative.

Do you think they could try harder to interact with Lacy or are they perhaps trying too hard and need to step back?

Please vote and comment!

Au revoir,

Eva