9. Twist of Fate 4

 The Paschal Miller Family House

Exhausted and disgruntled, Jane returned home with a long face. Seeking to nurse her wounds in solitude, she made for her room but was intercepted by her twelve-year-old brother, Sean.

“Welcome back, Big sister,” he greeted. “We are starving.”

Jane, equally hungry, fixed him with a glare and continued walking. Sean was acutely aware of his father’s hatred for him, yet he loved the man profoundly and felt a pang of hurt whenever he was neglected. The impact of Valerie's absence weighed on them and they deeply felt it - there was nothing prepared for his father to eat.

“Big sister,” he persisted, walking after her, “Father has not eaten anything at all.”

She halted instantly and turned her ire upon him. “How is that supposed to be my business?” she barked.

"Huh!"

“You don't even care if I have anything to eat. What of Mom?”

“Mom is not back yet,” he informed her.

She would rather starve than cook, for her every attempt in the kitchen ended in disaster. To mask her incompetence and avoid appearing foolish in front of her brother, she shrouded herself in exaggerated anger. After subjecting him to a critical glance, she issued a command.

“As you can see, I am exhausted and I need to rest. You are not to disturb me,” she stated, her tone permitting no argument.

“But what about ...?”

Before he could complete his question, she disappeared into her room and slammed the door.

 Sean rubbed his head and grumbled in despair, “Valerie, where are you?” before returning to the boys’ quarters, which served as his father’s chamber.

He looked at the old man’s frail form and assured him, “Hold on, Father. I will get something for you.”

His father ignored the offer and scowled. Undeterred, Sean went to the kitchen, where every pot and pan seemed strange and intimidating. He opened the refrigerator and was relieved to find the remnants of the food Valerie had prepared the previous night. Although the portion was meager, he warmed it and brought it to his father.

“Get up and eat, Father,” he requested gently.

Unbeknownst to Sean, his starving father could now only recognize people by their voice, and the sound of anyone other than Valerie’s filled him with disgust. The old man attempted to rise but could not. Valerie would have known to help him without being asked.

“Do you need help, Father?” Sean asked with concern and he received no answer.

Moving to the bedside, Sean slid his hands beneath his father’s shoulders and strained to lift him. Once he had managed to prop him upright, he drew the center table closer and pleaded, “Please, eat.”

His father made no move to appreciate the gesture. Instead, he looked at the food with pure disdain and demanded, “Where is Valerie? Is she still at the hospital?”

“She returned and went out with Jane," he answered and urged him, "Eat your food.” 

He looked at the food again with total contempt and inquired, “Who prepared it?”

Sean understood where he was going and feared that he might reject the food. He lifted the plate of porridge and scooped it. 

Then, he moved it closer to his mouth and pleaded, “Stop asking questions, Father, and eat.”

“Who prepared the food?” He insisted with an unfriendly tone. 

To quell his inquisitive mind, he explained, “It was the leftover of what Valerie prepared yesterday. I only heated it in the microwave.” 

With his weak eyes, he looked into Sean's eyes in search of honesty. At that moment, he feared that his mother had sent him to kill him and turned down his gesture curtly.

“You can keep your food. Just leave,” he declared and attempted to lie down. 

Sean felt scorned and his eyes were wet at once. He dropped the plate on the table, supported his jaws with his two hands, and stared vacantly. In the past, Sean had worked hard to be part of his father's life but he kept him at bay.

“Ouch,” he agonized while trying to lie down and Sean jolted out of his reverie, stood up, and helped him.

Incidentally, he cooperated with him and lay back on the bed.

“Sorry for the pain, Father,” he comforted him when he saw the excruciating pain on his face. 

He ignored him and looked at the plain ceiling with his sunken eyes.

“What will you eat before your medication, Father? You need to take your medication.”

“Just leave. I will eat when Valerie returns,” he ordered bitterly. 

Sean swallowed hard and left but returned with a pail of water and a towel. At that moment, he met him weeping profusely and could not conceal it. 

Instantly, he was infected and he sobbed, "Stop crying, Father. Everything will work out for the best.” 

“Go away. I say, go away,” he cried out, bitterness etched in every word but Sean was not discouraged. 

Without waiting for his consent, he cleaned him up. Unfortunately, he was too weak to resist him and was calm all through. Thereafter, he changed his father's wears. Although he was not happy with him the cleaning gave him some soothing. He felt good and slid into sleep.

Sean covered him up with the duvet and took the pail and towel away. He returned to the room later and began to wait for him. Nevertheless, he was more worried about his father and forgot that he was starving as well. Even at that, he was worried that there would be no food for them if Valerie did not return before lunch.

“Valerie, where are you?” He asked himself in dejection.

At Brian's House 

When Valerie cried out, he was attracted and got up at once. To his perturbation, her voice woke his manhood and it stood like a pike.

He cursed under his breath, adjusting himself. "She'll think I'm a complete pervert," he muttered, striving for a semblance of composure. "Get yourself together," he instructed his penis firmly.

Once satisfied, he walked into the bedroom. Though Valerie had been asleep, the memory of what she’d seen in his private gym was vivid. His entrance now only intensified her turmoil. Her eyes were drawn to the attractive curve of his lips, and a traitorous heat flushed through her, making her nipples peak and a sudden dampness gather between her legs.

When their eyes met, she was mesmerized. She made a flustered attempt to sit up, but he merely offered a warm, disarming smile and sat beside her on the bed. The proximity was overwhelming.

"I hope you slept well?" he asked.

"Yes," she managed to answer, her voice softer than intended. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

A heavy silence descended, thick with unspoken desire. They locked eyes with the same thoughts in their minds, but from different perspectives: While Valerie wished that he was not her boss but Prince Charming, he wrestled with the impossible wish for a path that wouldn't betray his position.

Breaking the quiet, his voice was low and tentative. "Valerie ... what if I could offer you something better than a job?"