Chapter 13: Sister, Sister

Abigail woke early for breakfast the next morning and managed to join her father for breakfast, on time, in the right room.

Neither Olivia nor Charlotte were present, and Abigail frowned.

“This was why I asked you to be punctual,” Adam smiled at his daughter. “Neither of them are capable of showing up on time, and I thought it would be nice to have a few moments alone with you.”

Abigail beamed and sat down next to her father.

Their few minutes turned out to be half an hour. And they spent the entire thirty minutes talking. Abigail and Adam spoke over each other at times, trying to get the other to get to know them. They spoke excitedly, animatedly, over anything and everything. One topic overlapped with another, and they barely ate their breakfast.

Adam asked about her studies and her future plans. If she would be going back to work on Monday to the flower shop. Adam also told her he needed to speak with her again, to sort out some of the admin work of her staying there with him.

Abigail wasn’t sure what that entailed, but if it meant more time with him, she was happy, and she readily agreed.

After half an hour like this, Charlotte appeared, sneered at the two of them speaking, started to throw a fit, before one of her servants surreptitiously informed her of something, and she had to rush out.

Adam and Abigail then had another fifteen minutes before Olivia showed up, and then they lapsed into quiet eating and polite conversation.

Adam excused himself not long after, to go to work, and Abigail felt happy. Even if she didn’t see her father again for the rest of the day, the breakfast had been amazing.

“So,” Olivia said after they were alone together. “What are your plans for today?”

At first, Abigail was utterly stunned. Did Olivia really think she could just talk to her like absolutely nothing had happened? That they could just continue being best friends after the way Olivia had insulted her just yesterday? Or the stunt she’d pulled with their father and making her miss both supper and breakfast with him?

“Nothing really,” Abigail said nonchalantly and continued staring at her salmon and bagel like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

“Oh,” Oliva said softly, then brightened. “Do you want to see the grounds today?”

Abigail didn’t answer for a full minute, taking a bite of her bagel painstakingly slow.

“Saw it,” Abigail answered, around a bite of her bagel.

“The maze, too?” Olivia pressed.

Abigail was impressed by her relentlessness, at the very least. This girl absolutely refused to give up. She was difficult to dissuade, no matter how absolutely uninterested Abigail was.

Abigail didn’t answer her.

“I’m sorry,” Olivia says eventually, after a long pause. “I’m sorry for the way I’ve been acting. I know that it’s not right, it’s just,” Olivia sighed. “I’ve always wanted a sister, or a brother, just someone to have with me. And even though I’ve always wanted one, I have no idea how to behave. But I do know that what I’ve done is wrong and utterly inexcusable.”

Olivia drew in a deep breath, and all Abigail could think, was that for everything this girl was so terrible at, she was one hell of a good actress.

“So all I can say,” Olivia continued. “Is that I’m sorry, and I promise to do better if you’d just give me another chance.”

Abigail heard and understood where Olivia was coming from. But she had been in this exact place with Olivia before. When they were alone, she was friendly and behaved like they were the closest sisters. But as soon as she had the chance, she destroyed Abigail’s relationship or chances of one, with anyone else.

And a part of it may be jealousy, that Olivia didn’t want Abigail to have a relationship with anyone but her. But even if it was just that, that was toxic in and of itself. So Abigail knew better than to forgive her sister and knew her well enough to know not to trust her on face value again.

But Abigail also understood that nothing would come of simply ignoring her. So, though she was incapable of even giving Olivia the benefit of the doubt, Abigail was able to pretend. And keep a careful watch of her sister’s actions, and prepare herself for the worst at all times.

“Alright,” Abigail said, her voice softer. “I suppose I can understand that, and we have only known each other for a few days, after all.”

Olivia squealed in happiness and jumped on top of Abigail. “Thank you, thank you! I promise you; I’ll change your life here!”

Abigail had her reservations about that, but she didn’t allow it to show.

“Okay, okay,” Abigail hugged her back, and then pushed her slightly away, allowing her some room to breathe.

Olivia then took Abigail back to Abigail’s room and showed Abigail how to order room service. Apparently, the landline her room had come equipped with was plugged into every necessity in the house. Along with a list of numbers on the side for who to call.

There were numbers for housekeeping, laundry, the driver, every service the house possibly had people for, there were numbers to call.

“And if one of us is busy with someone, they divert it immediately to someone who is free,” Olivia explained. “So you never have to wait for anything.”

Olivia dialed the kitchen from her room and ordered lunch for them to be brought to the room. But Olivia first dialed their father, on speaker, asking if he was available for lunch. At least Olivia knew Abigail wouldn’t trust her as easily again without proof.

Olivia sat with Abigail on her bed for a bit, explaining what life had been like in the huge mansion growing up. And Abigail had started to feel for her sister just a little, and understood her a bit better.

It had been lonely, if nothing worse than that, being alone in this house. With a mother always absent, and when present, uninterested in her daughter further than how pretty she looked each day.

With a father that only spoke to her about his company, and when she studied his company so she could have a proper conversation with him, was completely appalled at her methods of business.

But while it made Abigail understand her sister better, and feel for her pain, it also made her very wary of Olivia. There was no way that a person raised like that, would suddenly become selfless, forgiving, and understanding.

It was possible, after a long time, that Olivia would learn to love the way she had never been shown, but it was impossible in three days. And it reminded Abigail to keep her guard up around her sister.

After a while, Olivia declared that she needed to leave, and Abigail stood up to walk her to the door.

“Oh,” Olivia said, turning back to Abigail. “There’s a party in a few weeks, I’m sure dad will send you the invite closer to the time, so you’ll know it’s the truth, but I thought I would tell you in advance. So you can choose some dresses to wear.”

“Will I have to attend?” Abigail asked, not sure if she wanted to go to something like that.

“It will insult him if you don’t,” Olivia told her seriously, and Abigail could hear the sincerity in those words like she couldn’t hear in Olivia’s apology. “He’s claimed you, publicly. You should return the favor. And so no one treats you like a blemish on his name.”

That, too, Abigail understood. And she glanced to her closet.

“Can you show me what I’m supposed to wear?” Abigail asked, deciding that a party dress would be something that Olivia would know better about. And it looked like her choices were between Olivia and Charlotte and only one of them had threatened her so far. “Just the general style I should wear.”

“Sure,” Olivia danced over to Abigail’s closet and disappeared inside for a few moments.

Abigail, very aware that her sister could still lock her in the closet, decided to wait for her outside.

Olivia appeared after a few minutes of searching, empty-handed.

“So,” Olivia told her, after looking through Abigail’s closet. “There aren’t any party dresses in here. But don’t worry,” she turned to Abigail smiling. “I have plenty, even ones I haven’t worn yet, so you won’t look like you’re recycling any of my old ones. And I’ll send some to you long before the party, that way you can see what you like, and if you don’t then we can go and get some new ones no problem.”

“Oh thank you so much,” Abigail told her sister sincerely. “I’d really appreciate it.”

And she would especially appreciate it if Olivia sent them over so long in advance, so Abigail could make the final judgment herself.

“Of course!” Olivia beamed, though her smile didn’t quite stretch her lips. Smile lines were just a fancy term for wrinkles, Olivia had said to her over lunch. “I’m sure I have some that will show off your best features.”