full blown sobs. He heard the bedroom door quietly close and decided that his baby sister had, indeed, grown up.
“Becki, honey, please stop crying. I’m trying to understand what is going on here, and we’ll talk more about that in a minute. But first, I need to know if I hurt you?” He fought an internal battle. He wanted to wrap her in his arms, but judging from her recent reactions, he didn’t know whether he should or not. “You’re killing me, sweetheart. I want to hold you. Can I do that, please?” he waited stiffly for her reply.
Becki finally nodded her permission. His arms slid around her body, cradling her to him. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, Becki. I’m sorry.”
Becki took a hitching breath, and then blurted it out, “You didn’t hurt me, not today. But you hurt me so much yesterday. I saw you holding her hand and kissing her, laughing with her like you laughed with me earlier that morning. I’m not good at relationships, Royce. I don’t share well. I don’t trust easily either, but I had started to trust you.”
Whatever reaction she had expected from him, it certainly wasn’t the reaction she received. She felt his body begin to shake with…laughter?
He was laughing at her! She was cocooned in his arms, spilling her heart out to him with his girlfriend in the next room, and he had the audacity to laugh at her? It was too much-- it was just too much! She tried to roll away from him, but he tightened his arms like steel bands and bellowed, “Jo, get in here.”
Becki’s eyes grew wide and round as she wondered what kind of kink he had in mind. She wasn’t into sharing, and she certainly wasn’t into group sex. She tensed as she heard the door open. Suddenly the “other woman” was staring down at Becki. She looked even more gorgeous than she had yesterday. She was wearing a bikini which revealed not one ounce of flab anywhere on her body. Becki hated her even more, if that was possible.
“What do you want, Royce?” she snapped. “I’m trying to get ready to leave. Remember, we have to be at the dock in an hour.”
“Becki,” Royce said warmly, “I want you to meet Joanna… my baby sister.”
“Oh God, shoot me now,” she pleaded. Becki closed her eyes and prayed for the world to end.
“It’s nice to meet you, Becki. I’m sorry about last night. How does your head feel this morning?” Joanna asked with a friendly smile.
Royce had loosed his death grip which allowed Becki to turn and look at Royce. “Can I get up now, please?” she asked sweetly, too sweetly.
“Do you promise not to hurt me?” he asked with a grin.
“No,” Becki answered as she pushed him out of the way and swung her legs off the bed. Ignoring Royce completely, she asked Joanna, “Did you say something about coffee?”
“Sure did. Follow me,” Joanna said, leading the way to salvation.
Royce watched them walk out of his room with a grin on his face. He wasted little time in the shower. It wasn’t hard to imagine the kind of stories Becki would drag out of a more-than-eager-to-embarrass-herbrother Joanna. He grabbed a cup from the cabinet and kissed the top of Becki’s head as he passed by.
“Where’s Sean?” he asked Joanna.
“He is downstairs waiting for me. We’re going to drive separately, so you can drop Becki at her house. I’ve already arranged to have her car delivered by the time you get there. I need to go now.” She breezed out, and then moved back into the room with surprising speed. She handed something to Royce with a whisper and disappeared again.
As he looked at the stone necklace in his hand, he heard Joanna’s whisper echo in his ear, “Make sure she wears it…red jasper for protection.”
“Thanks, Jo,” He said long after the front door slammed. She would still hear him. He knew she might have grown up, but she was still his bossy sister. She would wait around just long enough to make sure he followed her instructions.
Becki stood at the window taking in the breathtaking view of the gardens.
Royce slid his arms around her and pulled her to lean into his chest.
“You can trust me, Becki. I would never knowingly do anything to hurt you.”
Turning in the circle of his arms to face him, she said, “I know that in my heart, my head is just a little thicker. I’m sorry for