44

Ixora had just returned from work, standing by the front door, when she overheard Cherry talking inside. It took her a moment to register that Jerald was in the house. She couldn't help herself; she pressed her ears against the door, eager to eavesdrop on their conversation.

Perhaps her twin had finally decided to engage with the man, and hopefully, it might help improve his perpetual bad mood of late.

.

.

.

After Cherry's suggestion, an internal battle raged within her.

"Are you saying it for his benefit or yours?" a part of her asked.

"For his, of course," she answered.

"Liar... liar... Pants on fire," another part of her whispered.

"He misses his twin a lot, it's all over his face," she reasoned with herself.

"It might not be all over your face, but you miss his twin too. A lot. Maybe more than he does," another part of her argued.

"Oh... shut up, self," she dismissed her inner turmoil.

"Cherry!? Are you even listening?" Jerald's voice brought her attention back to the conversatio