All characters are at least 18 years old and over.
JADE
The frigid morning air seeps through my night gown as I reluctantly rise from bed. Who willingly wakes early on a Sunday? But we've been summoned for a family meeting, undoubtedly concerning yesterday's events. I slide into a chair beside Jack, who sits hunched, eyes fixed on the table, guilt etched across his face. Opposite us, Mom and Robert exchange worried glances, their brows furrowed with concern.
"We need to talk about what happened yesterday," Mom begins. "Your grandmother is beside herself."
"Nothing happened," Jack pleads.
"Yeah," I mutter. "We were just messing around. That's what boredom will do." I roll my eyes, hoping my dramatic touch will lend some credibility to our argument. Their faces don't seem to agree.
"We understand," Robert bellows. "But people have a way of misconstruing situations like that. Especially Grandma. We know because we're speaking from experience." What in the hell is he talking about? Mom adjusts her glasses and clears her throat.
"Twelve years ago, when you and Jack were only eight years old... something happened."
"It all started with me getting into trouble at school," Robert reflects, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "And just like the two of you, I got suspended."
"What did you do to get suspended," I inquire curiously.
"It doesn't matter," Mom chides me. "We're not telling you this to condone your bad behavior."
"I'd still like to know what he did," I add, Jack's nodding head concurs. Robert looks at Mom and they both sigh.
"I had some trouble with this guy at school. He bullied me for a while until one day I socked him in the face pretty good. He left me alone for a while, until one day, he... I think he planned the whole thing to be honest. He said some things about Mom to get a rise out of me, maybe hoping I'd get expelled or something like that."
"Did you smash his face in," Jack delights in Robert's tale. My older brother nods solemnly, as though he regrets his actions. I don't understand why he would feel guilty about something like that. If I had his strength, I would have done the exact same thing for anyone in this family.
"Mom got called into the school. Mrs. Grainger was looking for any excuse to punish me. She hated my guts and I got expelled."
"You were both at Disney world with your father," Mom continues. "I took the time to teach your brother how to drive. Then I decided to put him to work in my office."
"I loved it," Robert beams at Mom as she takes his arm and cuddles into his chest.
"Anyway, it his punishment turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Robert was a natural with data entry. I soon found that I couldn't carry the workload without his help. He became indispensable to me." Her proud eyes bathe him in her love as she nuzzles deeper into him. God, they're weird.
"Wait a minute," Jack explodes. "You got to leave school so you were allowed to start working in Mom's business? That's not fair." My brother hit the nail on the head with that one.
"Not right away," Robert reminds us. "I tried a couple of other schools about a month later, but... yes, that's what I did eventually. If either of you decides to leave school, that will be entirely your choice." His face is concerned and his eyes bear a kind sparkle. "I screwed up a lot when I was your age and it didn't leave me a lot of options. You've both almost finished. Why quit now when you're almost there?" Jack and I exchange glances, out brains jumping around with all the cool things we could do if we didn't have to go to school anymore.
"Anyway," Mom jolts us out of our daydreams. "Late one evening, your brother and I returned home after a crazy day at work. I was going to make pasta, you know much he loves alfredo? But I just didn't have the energy and Robert can't even boil an egg." The whole table laughs, even Robert. "I sat on the sofa and my feet were killing me. He noticed my pain and offered to give me a foot rub."
"What?" Jack and I both say in unison. "How is this relevant?" I add, my mind racing with growing questions.
"That's kind of how all the trouble started in the first place," Mom shakes her head with a dreamy look in her brilliant eyes. "About a week later, we were at work, stressed up to the eyeballs. The Wolinski account was in utter turmoil and we'd been troubleshooting ways to fix the problem all day. One of my employees, do you remember Charles Dwight? It doesn't matter. He screwed up their order and we were about to lose the whole account that made up half of our profits. I was completely drained at that point. If it wasn't for all of Robert's help, we never would have gotten through it and I might not have the company right now. Once everything was settled and in order I fell into my chair, deflated and exhausted. I remembered Robert's foot rub and how much better I felt after it. I asked him if he could do the same thing for my aching back. So, he massaged my back for a while and it helped a lot. But it wasn't enough. Now, please don't misunderstand what I'm about to say..."
I glance over at Jack. His eyes are about to pop out of his head. I feel the way he looks.
"I unbuttoned my shirt," she continues, "so he could rub the muscles properly. Imagine how it would look if someone walked in to see a woman with my proportions a lacy white her bra with her son rubbing her back... that's exactly what happened. Your Grandmother decided to surprise me at the office that day and when she walked in, she got an eyeful. We weren't doing anything wrong. She thought there was something weird going on between me and Robert. Can you imagine that? With my own son? How she could think that is beyond me. The problem is people see what they want to see. After that, we went home, had dinner and went to sleep in our separate beds."
I'm stunned beyond belief. I don't believe half of what she's saying. I know that she's hiding something. Even the way they're sitting together with Robert playing with her hair while she talks and huddles into his stomach like a lover.
Please, Jack, say something because I don't know where to begin.
"Okay then," is the best he can come up with. "I'm going to bed." I don't blame him. What else is there to say?
"Me too," is all I can manage after hearing that ridiculous story.
JACK
"Jack, can I come in?" Jade steps into my room, wearing a short white singlet and pink panties. This isn't out of the ordinary for us. We're a weird family I suppose, maybe it has something to do with us being twins. We're certainly closer than your average brother and sister. We never really fight or anything like that. We share the same hobbies, like the same music and movies. We're pretty much the same people. We've never been shy around each other, apart from the other day in Grandma's garage. That was different for me. I motion for her to enter. She should know better than that. I always have time to talk to her.
"What's up?" I inquire.
"It's about Mom and Robert." Oh boy. "Don't you think they're a bit strange? Have you ever seen a mother and son like them?"
I ponder her question for a moment. She appears impatient for a response, but honestly, I'm not sure what to say.
"They're always touching each other," she spares me. They do everything together. They're practically a couple. You don't think that's strange?" There's no way she's going to let me escape this one, I have to say something.
"We always hang out together. You're my best friend. Can you think of any siblings as close as we are?" I lie back, smugly satisfied with my response.
