The Secret Sister by M. DeLuca (leveled readers txt) 📗

They acted like Guy and I had been dating for years, but fake familiarity wasn’t new to me. I was raised on it. The shallow type of interest that flares briefly in people you’ve just met, then quickly fades when reality sets in. When you realize you have absolutely nothing in common and you actually dislike the things you do know about each other. Would this be the case with Guy’s family?

I hadn’t felt that kind of boredom or insecurity with Guy. I like to think the way he cared for me was solid and real. That he appreciated me for who I was, or who I wanted him to believe I was. But he’d never know the real me. I’d make sure of that. The real me was private – strictly off-limits. Only Birdie knew me inside and out and I still had to try and find my way back to her.

She was the only person in the world who could see through all my pretense, who could know what I was thinking just from the expression on my face or the tone of my voice. Who could stop my breath with just a look or a word.

So, being the chameleon I was, I went along with Gord and Nancy and smiled in a modest and daughterly way. “Actually, I think your son enchanted me.” I latched onto Guy’s arm. “It was the most romantic holiday. Thank you both so much for your generosity.”

Nancy clasped her hands together. Tears pooled in her eyes as she tilted her head and let out a long sigh. “So sweet. But you must allow us to have a little celebration this weekend. Just a few close friends and relatives to mark the occasion.”

A sudden gust of air conditioning chilled my skin and somewhere in a far corridor a muffled voice announced final call for a flight to London. I briefly imagined dropping everything and running until I found that departure lounge and stormed my way onto the plane. Instead, I leaned in closer to Guy, resting my face against him.

“We’d be delighted, Mom. Wouldn’t we, Anna?” He nudged my shoulder.

“Absolutely,” I said, already dreading the thought of a day in the Franzen family spotlight. “We’d really appreciate it,” was all I could muster.

All I wanted was a nap in the back seat of the car but Nancy chatted nonstop the entire journey home about wedding cakes, canapés and champagne.

“I must come with you to buy a dress, Anna. We’ll find something white, floaty and exquisite – I mean, not a formal wedding dress, but maybe a little retro number with a pillbox hat and veil – or perhaps you’d prefer a circlet of flowers and something long and lacy. A touch of Pre-Raphaelite romance.”

I supposed if it meant another shopping trip, I’d accommodate her. “Late closing on Thursday. We’ll do it then,” I said, reaching for Guy’s hand.

“Perfect,” Nancy said, turning to look at Gord and stroke the side of his face. “I can’t wait.”

“Of course, sweetheart,” he said, “go out and buy the most beautiful dress for our new daughter-in-law. No expense spared.”

“That’s too generous,” I protested.

“Money no object for family,” he said, glancing into the rearview mirror, and as the sudden glare of streetlights illuminated his face, the knot of dread in my stomach twisted tighter.

15

When school started up again, all the female teachers clucked around me like predatory hens. At lunchtime, Sabrina grabbed my hand and studied the ring. It blazed like a sparkler in the bright lights of the staffroom.

“You conniving little bitch. I’ve never known such a smooth operator. You go out with this gorgeous guy maybe two, three times, then he’s begging you to move in. He showers you with expensive clothes, whisks you off on holiday and boom you’re a fricking item. The two of you. Mr. and Mrs. Franzen. How did you do it? I mean, you could sell your secret to all of us lonely, aging singles knocking ourselves silly trying to get a date.”

I tucked my hand into my jeans pocket. “I didn’t do anything.” Which was technically true. Though the events of that drunken night in Vegas still weren’t exactly clear in my mind. As far as I was concerned, I’d let events unfold and allowed myself to be carried along on the Franzen family juggernaut.

“Wish I could believe that. You must be giving some fantastic blowjobs or something. You realize you’ve landed the motherload here. You’re now entitled to half of all he owns and that will eventually include Daddy’s empire.” She leaned forward and grasped my hand, her eyes wide. “You didn’t sign a prenup, Anna. Tell me you didn’t do anything stupid like that?”

I shook my head. “You want to come to our wedding celebration?” Her eyes lit up. “It’s at my in-laws. I don’t have anyone else to ask.”

“You have just made my week, babe,” she said, enveloping me in a minty hug. “I’ll be your unofficial maid of honor. Hey, maybe there’s a rich relative or family friend who’s into mature women. Maybe I can strike gold too and we can have our mani-pedis and spa days together.”

Though the prospect of lounging with her in a tanning booth or nail salon was possibly the most sickening idea ever, I was relieved there’d be someone there to talk to among all those Franzen relatives and friends. “You can borrow one of my dresses,” I said and her eyes went all misty and wide.

I drove home that day thinking Sabrina was a poor substitute for Birdie. Birdie should’ve been my maid of honor like we’d always promised each other. As kids we’d linked pinkies, nicked our palms, swapped blood and vowed there’d be no one else in the wedding party. Even though we never talked about what it might be like to be married, because in our world marriage was a fleeting experience. Something chaotic, painful and potentially fatal.

That