Steve came up the stairs with Anna, following her to her room after the kids had gone to bed a couple of hours earlier. She closed the bedroom door behind him as he walked toward the bed.
"When did you get this?" he asked surprised, pointing at the new queen size bed.
She smiled devilishly as she walked past him. "Do you like it?"
"It looks comfortable."
"It is, but that's not the best part." She went past him and stood on top of the mattresses. She began jumping up and down like it was a trampoline. "Notice anything different?" she whispered loudly to him as she landed on her butt.
"Yes. Your breasts are even more spectacular when you jump and down." He crawled up to her with a broad grin as she lay back with him, giggling over his remark, playfully smacking his arm.
"You are so bad."
He leaned down close to her face. "And you are so good for getting this new, extremely quiet bed." He kissed her once. "I'm going to reward you for your good deed."
She put her arms around his shoulders as her foot massaged the back of his leg. "What kind of reward?"
She felt his hand slide up her thigh and under her skirt. "Multiple rewards."
"Oh my," she sighed reaching her mouth up and kissing him.
He relaxed on top of her not feeling any of the apprehensions that he thought he would by staying the night for the first time with the kids in the house. He belonged here. He felt just as comfortable here as if he were in his own room.
Anna slid her hands inside his shirt, caressing his bare back, thrilled to have him in her bed. It was a new chapter in this relationship that seemed to have no boundaries and no end in sight. "I want you so bad," she whispered to him, which was an understatement to what she was actually feeling. "Make love to me, Steve."
He never knew such a simple request could ignite a fire in him so quickly, but it wasn't the words so much as they way they were spoken. It made him want her just as much. He admired the beautiful face as her hands caressed over his back in the most pleasing way, wishing he could speak his mind, but he was never one that could express himself in a way that would be considered romantic, not having the vocabulary for it, afraid he would stumble and ruin it. But he knew what he was feeling at the moment and anything he would have come up with wouldn't have done it justice anyhow.
The only words that came to mind were simple and straightforward, but they came from the heart.
"I love you, Anna." It felt good, it felt right but more than anything else it was satisfying. He followed it with a kiss.
She felt as if she were floating off the bed. Her heart surrendering to the kiss that expressed so much of the words he'd just spoken she thought she'd died and gone to heaven. It was by far the most romantic moment of her life.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Steve lay on his stomach with his body partly draped over Anna as she lay on her back next to him. His rested on her shoulder as she glided her fingernails delicately up and down his back. He moaned softly over the feel of it. "You've got about a hundred years to stop that," he sighed.
She smiled, increasing the area up to his neck and down the back of his arm that was over her waist.
"You know what I was thinking?" Steve said, his voice mirroring the relaxing state that he felt.
"That I'm the best sex you've ever had and you can't get enough of me?"
He smiled, "Well ya, that's common knowledge." He sat up on his elbow looking at her. "But I was thinking we should take a trip to Disneyland."
Anna leaned her head back into the pillow, completely surprised by that suggestion. "Really?"
He nodded, "Jenny was talking about it tonight at dinner. She watches all those Disney movies and she was so little the last time she was there, and Eric would be old enough now to go on the big rides. I just think it would be fun. Plus, I've never been. I'd like to see what all the hype is about."
Anna's looked at him queerly. "You've never been to Disneyland?"
"Nope."
"It's the happiest place on earth," she smiled, quoting the Disney motto.
Steve laid his head back down on her, "I find that hard to believe. You should sell tickets to this spot right here." He wiggled his shoulders, telling her to continue his back rub. "The magic kingdom is nothing compared to your hands."
She smiled over that, indulging his request. "I think Disneyland would be a great idea. When were you thinking we should go?"
"Maybe around Christmas, or on Christmas." He sat up again on his elbow looking at her. "I know how it was for me that first Christmas after I lost my mom. I thought maybe if we took the kids someplace like that it might be a little easier for them. I'm hoping at least."
His worry over their well-being was touching. She knew that he loved her and also knew that if they did marry that he was well aware that Jenny and Eric were apart of the equation. She never questioned his loyalty to them as well, knowing it was there, but this was the first time that he actually spoke his mind when it came to what he thought was best for them, never before interfering in their lives without her asking him first. It just showed her how much he loved them too.
"I think you're right. That's a great idea." She agreed with him wholeheartedly, but even if she didn't, she wouldn't have shot down his idea. He was speaking like a father and to her it was the most important conversation they had so far.
He'd been hesitant, not sure where his boundaries lay with them, but she was clearly opening that door and inviting his opinions into their lives and better yet, accepting them. "Ok then," he smiled, "a Disney Christmas."
"We can go on one condition," Anna said.
He sat up again, "Oh yea, what's that?"
A teasing grin spread across her face. "You have to wear a pair of Mickey ears."
They both burst out laughing, not only over the joke of it, but just picturing it.
"Ok," he agreed, still chuckling, "but can they be camouflage Mickey ears? And can the name on the back be Commander?"
Anna laughed even harder, wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes, "Yes," she said trying to compose herself. "Anything my little musketeer wants."
He moved over on top of her. "I'll even wear them while we have sex. Would you like that?"
Anna lost it, as they both laughed uncontrollably, covering each other's mouths to keep the noise down. Tears streamed from the corner of her eyes as she looked up at him, picturing the ears and the little elastic strap under his chin.
They both heard a soft knock on the bedroom door and froze, hearing Jenny's voice calling for Anna.
"Oh shit," Steve said as reality took priority over the joking. He rolled off of her, reaching for his underwear and then slipping his dress pants from dinner back on as Anna grabbed her robe.
"Just a second honey," she called out, looking over at him as he zipped up and nodded, pointing toward the door that he was good.
They stood next to each other as she opened it, seeing the little girl standing there in her pink Cinderella nightgown with her hand over her stomach.
Jenny looked up at both of them, only slightly surprised to see Steve but not giving it a second thought. He was there most of the time before she went to bed anyway. "I don't feel so good," she said, looking it as well.
Anna squatted down so they were eye level, putting a hand on her forehead. "What doesn't feel well?"
"My tummy," she whimpered as her face contorted and she suddenly bent over. Her little body shuddered and then all at once she vomited on Anna's legs and feet.
"Oh my god!" Anna gasped as Steve reached down and picked up Jenny, carrying her into the bathroom as she started to cry.
"It's ok sweetie," he consoled, setting her down in front of the toilet just in time as she bent over and threw up again.
He reached over for a towel as Anna came in.
"Is she all right?!"
He looked over at her and then at her legs that were covered with vomit. "I got her, why don't you jump in the shower."
She put a hand on Jenny's back as the sick child bent over, holding the side of the toilet. "Do you feel better or is there more coming?"
Jenny leaned over against Steve, as he put an arm around her. "I think it's all gone," she whimpered.
He put the towel up to her mouth and wiped it off. "We'll just sit here for a minute just incase, ok?"
She nodded as he pulled her down on his lap while he sat back on his heels, holding her as she laid her head on his chest. Anna reached in and turned the shower on, seeing he had it under control.
He wiped the sweat off her face with another towel, "Are you feeling better?"
"It doesn't hurt anymore." Her voice stressed the weariness of the aftermath of not only being sick, but also haven been woken up so late.
He held onto her and stood up, going into the bedroom. He sat down on the bed, leaning back against the headboard with her on his lap again, his arm holding her securely in place.
"Don't go home," she said in a tiny voice.
"I'm won't," he replied, kissing her forehead.
Her sleepy eyes slowly opened and closed as she lay comfortably on him. "My daddy sang me the ducky song when I would go to sleep. Do you know the ducky song?" she asked him.
"No honey I don't." His hand gently caressed her little arm up and down. "How does it go?"
She sniffed, rubbing the palm of her hand over her eyes and started to sing barely above a whisper. "Little ducky sitting in the water…little ducky doing what he outta, off he jumps from the lily pad, splash, splash, splash."
Her little voice sang the words exactly the way he imagined a five year old would, but he could also clearly hear the sadness behind the tone, knowing she was missing her dad. She looked up at him with her blue eyes and he knew what she wanted. It was such a simple request and knowing how vulnerable she was at that second being five, sick and without her father for comfort he didn't hesitate.
"Little ducky sitting in the water…" he started forgetting the next line as she helped him along.
"Little ducky doing what he outta."
"Doing what he outta," he repeated.
She finished the last verse staring up at him.
"Ok, I think I got it," he smiled down at her. "Little ducky sitting in the water. Little ducky doing what he outta, off he jumps from the lily
pad, splash, splash, splash."
Jenny smiled sleepily and bent her head, resting against him "Again," she requested.
Anna stood at the door of the bathroom watching them together; her heart going out to both of them, but for different reasons. She felt a terrible ache for Jenny, knowing she was missing her father and probably her mother too at that moment. But for Steve her heart felt overjoyed at his willingness to put his awkwardness behind that she sure he felt all for the sake of a five year old. It was the second time that night he had shown his nurturing ability. She didn't think she could love him more than she did at that moment.
He started a fourth round as his voice quieted to a whisper and then silent, feeling Jenny's body fall into him, knowing she was asleep. He looked up as Anna approached the bed. He mistook her smile as being pleased that Jenny was asleep until she leaned over and kissed him.
"You are a wonderful man, do you know that?"
He shook his head at her and went to say something when she put her fingers over his mouth.
"Stop, don't try and cover it up by saying something clever and making light of this moment. What you do here for Jenny and Eric, it's selfless and in their eyes and mine, it's one of your top heroic moments in life." She removed her hand and continued to stare at him as he looked back at her, soaking in the words.
He didn't feel that way because it was them that gave him so much more in return. "I'll take care of you Anna," he whispered squeezing Jenny a little tighter, "all of you. Honestly, sometimes it scares me knowing how close I came to never having this in my life. If it wasn't for you and these kids, it could have passed me by. I don't want to go back to that life. I want this one."
She was wrong, a few minutes earlier she didn't think she could love him any more. She wondered if there was an end to it, hoping not.
She came around the other side of the bed and slid up next to him, putting an arm around Jenny and resting her head on his shoulder. "I think we'll do right by them."
"It'll get us ready for when we have one of our own," he blurted out, his honesty catching her completely of guard. It even surprised him a little when the thought first entered his mind, but the biggest shock was that he wasn't afraid, he did want it.
She looked up at him feeling the excitement and anticipation over that comment. "My, my Commander. You better be careful with that kind of talk. I might just fall in love with you."
He smiled over that, recalling how beautiful she looked at dinner and how proud he was to walk beside her, beside all of them. It brought his memory back to Alyssa and the uneasy feeling returned. "Speaking of family," he said, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb Jenny, "can I ask you a question?"
She snuggled up closer to him. "Of course."
"What do you think the reason is for your sister's visit?"
"To see me, Jenny and Eric."
"Do you think that's it?"
She sat up, looking at him. "Yes. Why?"
He didn't want to cause waves and potentially do the same thing that Alyssa was doing, putting unwanted thoughts into Anna's head, but he wanted to know if she had sensed anything like he had. "No reason, I was just wondering if you thought there was an ulterior motive to her being here."
Anna chuckled, laying her head back down on him. "Alyssa always has an ulterior motive. For everything."
That told him a lot but it also made him nervous that Anna was so used to Alyssa's trickery that she wouldn't see it if something was coming whatever it was, until it was too late; if there was anything at all. He could go round and round with this subject he thought and still come out empty handed, but something told him it wasn't going to end well. "Did she say how long she's staying?"
"No, but I can't imagine it's too much longer. She mentioned another movie or project or something she's starting pretty soon. Plus she'll want to get back to being pampered." Anna huffed, "She hates her new assistant. But I'm sure the girl that replaced me is just fine. I just knew Alyssa's wants and needs because I knew Alyssa. She'll catch on. I told her to be nice to her and she said she'd double my pay if I went back." She huffed again. "Fat chance."
"Do you miss LA? Do you miss all that excitement and glamour and…" he paused, knowing it must have been so much more exciting than doing laundry. "I don't know, meeting and being around famous people?"
She looked up at him with a firm expression, "No. Absolutely not."
"I heard Alyssa say at dinner that Hemsworth, not sure which one, I know there's two, but one of them was asking about you." He made a questionable face. "You have to be flattered by that."
She sat up again and turned her body towards him, looking down to see that Jenny was sound asleep, softly snoring. "Oh please," she rolled her eyes, "Hemsworth, shmemsworth," she put her arms around his neck. "I've got a real life Navy Seal. All that stuff that silly actors try to imitate in the movies, my man is the one that all those scripts are written about. The fact that you're sitting on my bed, now that's flattering."
She swore she saw his face blush as he smiled and bent his head. He looked back up at her, still grinning. "So this is your life now, here in Hawaii? You want to stay here?"
"What are you getting at Steve?" she asked, imitating his inpatients. "Spill it."
"You're starting to sound like me."
"I take that as a compliment."
I just want to know that this is where you want to be. If there's a chance that you may want to go back to LA, then I want to know. I'm not against it, but I want to know now, so its something I can prepare for when and if it happens."
"Would you go with me?"
He hesitated only for a second, not wanting to make that move, but if it meant her or LA, he'd take her, in LA, in a heartbeat. "You know I would."
She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "I love you for saying that, but let me put your mind at ease. This is my home now. I love it here. I want to live here and raise Jenny and Eric here like my brother wanted. There is nothing in LA for me anymore. Everything is here."
"What about Alyssa?"
"What about her?"
"She's your family too."
"And she can come and visit me anytime she wants." She bit her bottom lip over that remark. "Well, not anytime, but she can visit." She looked at him queerly. "Why all the questions? Did she say something to you?"
"No." he shook his head. "I just have this little voice in my head that pops up every once in a while when it senses a threat ,and I've been hearing that voice every time your sister is around."
"Is that voice right all the time?"
"No."
She felt just a slight bit of irritation over his statement of Alyssa, but knew he was on guard with her being around, how could he not, his only knowledge of her was negative. She guessed that little voice was just trying to look out for her. "I think she's really trying to over come what happened between she and I and Daryl. I know she feels bad about it. She's mentioned to me several times that she hopes we can put it behind us."
"Can you do you that?"
"She my sister. I love her. To be honest I'm not sure the forgiveness would have happened so quickly if it weren't for you. I mean that, but I also mean when I say that I do forgive her and I forgive Daryl. Please don't judge her on her past. If you can, just wipe the slate clean like I have and let's start over when it comes to Alyssa. Can you do that for me?"
Her request seemed so simple, especially since none of the things Alyssa had done had been directed toward him, except for that 'afraid of marriage' idea that she'd thrown out there, but even that ended up turning out to be a good thing between he and Anna. Maybe Alyssa was just looking out for her the same as he was. If she could forgive and forget then he'd put that voice to sleep and start clean. "I can do that. She did seem to be trying tonight at dinner to be extra nice."
"I know." Anna rolled her eyes, "sometimes she comes on too strong but she was sincere tonight, I know that."
He decided that maybe he had read into that look she'd given him at dinner just a little too much. "You know her better than I do." He leaned over and kissed her. "I'll be nice."
She smiled and laid her head back on his shoulder, putting her hand on Jenny's head and gently stroked her hair. "Thank you."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alyssa dipped the paintbrush into the can and reached up stroking the wall with the pink paint. She was going to score so many bonus points with Jenny over this. She felt a hint of jealousy knowing they loved Anna more, only because she kept them here, away from her in LA. But they would remember her as the fun one. She already had Eric in her back pocket after that trip to his school. She smiled to herself recalling how it was a huge success and how the kids huddled around him, giving him fist bumps over her presence. Maybe she could use Jenny and Eric as leverage to get Anna back to LA. Nothing beats toys to a kid, and she would give them anything they wanted.
She stood on the ladder by Jenny's window and looked down, seeing Steve come from around the corner of his house pushing a lawn mower. He bent over checking the gas level and then stood up grabbing ahold of the cord and pulling it out. She focused on his muscles that strained as he did it again and again in the sleeveless t-shirt he had on. To her dismay the machine finally started and the show was over, but she continued to watch him as he made his way around the yard. She pictured him the night before in his suit and felt her mouth water over the memory of it. He was every bit as handsome as any man she'd bedded in Hollywood, but what was most entertaining about him was the challenge. She felt she'd made a good impression the night before, laying the groundwork toward a seduction that she felt comfortable not only pursuing but also completing.
She watched as he took the last turn on the front yard and knew this would be a perfect opportunity as her head began to spin out a plan. Anna was at the doctor with Jenny and Eric was at school. She'd left Daryl back at the hotel for obvious reasons, needing a break from him anyway.
She came off the ladder and opened the bedroom window.
"Hey!" she yelled down to him. "Steve!"
He heard his name and looked over toward Anna's house and then saw her up in Jenny's room. He put a hand up, waving to her.
"Do you think I could get your opinion on something please?" she yelled down to him.
"What?" he yelled up, both hands still on the mower as he paused from going around to the backyard.
"Paint color. Not sure if this room is too pink or not."
"I don't think I'm the person to ask about a girls room color." He yelled up. "My decorating skills are worse than my sewing skills." he smiled.
Alyssa laughed. "That's what makes you so perfect for this; a first impression from someone with no opinion." Her voice changed to one that he would hear Jenny use when she really wanted something from him. "Pleeeasssse. I just don't want to mess this up."
He recalled Anna's words the night before telling him to wipe the slate clean for her sake, which was the same as asking him to try and build a relationship with her sister. He decided this would be a good place to start. "All right," he gave in, walking toward the house.
She started down the ladder pleased over his acceptance and then stopped, scanning the area around her and recalling a scene she had once seen in a movie, getting a brilliant idea in her head. She went back up the ladder, dipping her finger in the paint and splashing a few spots on her face knowing it would look cute and then positioned herself just so, hearing him come up the stairs.
He came in the room and saw her on the ladder in a pair of cut offs that he recognized from Anna's wardrobe. It was one of his favorite pairs that she wore only because they were extra short and the fray that hung off of them looked sexy as hell on her long legs. He didn't feel the same thrill with Alyssa and turned his eyes away to the room walls for which his purpose had been summoned.
"Well, what do you think?" she asked, toying with the paintbrush in her hand.
"It's pink," he declared with a little chuckle. "Defiantly pink."
"Is it too pink?" she asked, shifting her body on the ladder trying to get his attention on her now. She lifted one foot up on a higher step knowing the short shorts would ride up her thigh even more.
He shrugged, "I don't think so. I think Jenny will like it."
'What is he blind,' she thought irritably as she climbed up the ladder joining her other foot, showing off her backside that she had been told was one of her greatest features. "I'm trying hard not to get any on the ceiling," she said, reaching up with the paintbrush, "but it's really hard. Do you think I should do the ceiling too, or would that be too much?" She glanced over her shoulder at him.
He looked up at her and then at the ceiling where she was currently working. "Maybe. I think I have some ceiling paint in my garage if you need to touch it up."
"Ok," she felt she was getting nowhere with him, knowing her time in this situation was running out quickly. She needed a distraction that would make her seem vulnerable, wondering how she could fall off the ladder and make it look like an accident until another thought crossed her mind in that split second that was brilliant in her opinion.
She went to reach up again and shook the ladder just a bit, steading herself knowing he would reach out for it as well, which to her delight he did.
"Whoa," he laughed grabbing one of the legs as the paintbrush in her hand fell at his feet.
"Oh geez," Alyssa chuckled as if laughing at her carelessness, pointing down. "Steve, would you please hand that to me?"
As he bent over she shrieked once again and shook the ladder, purposely tipping the half full can of paint over as it poured out exactly where she had planned.
He heard the shriek as he squatted down to get the brush and then felt the cool, thick liquid hit his head and then slide down his back.
"Oh my god!" Alyssa yelled out as if she were mortified over the accident. "Steve! I'm so sorry! I slipped!"
She came down the ladder as he went to his knees, afraid to move and get it everywhere.
"Ah shit." He felt a towel on the back of his neck as she tried to wipe it off. He looked up at her shocked face as she smiled, biting her bottom lip. Streams of it had run down his head to his face.
She chuckled as she tried to speak, scanning his face and body, "You look pretty in pink," she joked.
The situation was so comical that he couldn't help but laugh, holding out his hands that were covered after trying to prevent it from getting in his eyes. "Now I think the room is too pink."
Alyssa busted up and knelt down next to him, wiping his face off. "I'm so glad you have a good sense of humor."
"Could be worse," he smiled. "It could have been full."
"Good point," she smiled back. She sat back on her knees and stared at him. "You have got to get in the shower."
She stood up and took his arm as he carefully rose to his feet. He slipped his shoes off that had been standing in the remaining puddle of paint on the plastic tarp. "Careful," she said, guiding him out of the room and down the hall to Anna's bathroom. "Don't touch anything."
"I'm trying not too," he laughed. "I can't see."
"Just follow me. I'll take care of you." She guided him into the bathroom and reached in, turning the shower on. "Here, take this off." She pulled up on the bottom of his shirt, carefully lifting it over his head, staring at the broad chest and shoulders in front of her, wanting to rub her hands over the firm body that looked even better than she had imagined. "Do I have paint on me too?" she asked innocently, knowing her face was covered only because she had purposely made it happen.
Steve smiled and reached up using his finger, not touching but pointing to her blemishes. "You have it all over you too."
"Shit," she moaned, "this is a mess. I'm so sorry." She guided him inside the warm shower, grabbing the washcloth off the counter and walking in after him.
He tilted his head back under the water, letting it rinse his hair, feeling it run down over his shorts. "It was an accident. It'll wash out." He felt the washcloth on his chest and looked down, seeing Alyssa with a bar of soap in one hand and the other gliding up and down his body, cleaning off the paint.
For just a split second he was reminded of Anna when they had first met, with her long blond hair that he used to love running his fingers through. The vision before him and the feel of her hand as she glided the soapy rag up and down his body made him miss her, wishing it were she who was standing there with him and not Alyssa.
He was caught up in the moment of the other twin when he realized the innocent motive had begun to become a little too uncomfortable for him. He reached up and gently took her hand that held the rag. "I got it. Thanks, but I got it."
"Oh," she pretended to be embarrassed and shy over her intentional attempt to seduce him, bending her head. "Sorry." She looked at his wet shorts getting a clear visual of what was beneath them as they clung to his body. He was too good of a specimen to be wasted on her innocent sister, she thought, knowing Anna probably never took advantage of what this man could offer sexually if given the chance with the right woman.
She saw a scar on his lower abdomen as his shorts hung below his waist and pointed at it. "How did you get that?"
Steve looked down wondering why in the hell she was still in the shower with him, trying to find a way politely but firmly to tell her to get the hell out. "I got it in basic training," he replied dryly. "Um, I think maybe you should go get in the other shower." He laughed nervously over the odd situation. "I can handle this."
Alyssa rolled her eyes, "Oh god. I'm just making a fool of myself left and right aren't I?" she stepped out on the rug that just outside the shower. "I guess you're not five are you?" She stood there just a couple of seconds longer letting the mist from the shower cover her face and body, knowing her shirt was becoming just as clingy as his shorts and without a bra her nipples were also becoming apparent.
Steve reached over and slid the shower door closed. "No worries, but we better get that mess in the bedroom mopped up before Anna gets home or she'll have both our asses. She already has one sick kid on her hands and doesn't need anymore stress."
Alyssa rolled her eyes sarcastically this time and shook her head over his mention of Anna. She didn't reply but just walked out of the bathroom closing the door a little too abruptly as she did. "Anna!" she mumbled angrily. "What a waste of his time." She came down the hall and back into Jenny's room. The paint was on the tarp so the mess would be minimal. She looked back over her shoulder at the direction of his shower and growled. She couldn't believe she had failed, although she did see him at one point looking at her in a way that could have been construed as seductive. She wondered then if it was because they were in Anna's house. He might consider it dangerous, knowing she'd be home at any minute. "That must be it," she decided, knowing it couldn't be that he just simply didn't want her. That never happened. In the end, they always wanted her.
She heard the SUV and looked out the window seeing it pull in the driveway. She could still hear Steve in the shower and quickly folded up the tarp, hiding the mess and then ran into the other bathroom. She turned the water on in the sink and quickly scrubbed off the visible paint on her face and shuffled out of her clothes, using Eric's bathrobe on the back of the door to cover up her naked body. She heard Anna and Jenny come in the house as she wrapped a towel around her dry hair, giving the image she had just got out of the shower. She came down the steps as Anna came walking down from the kitchen.
"Oh hi!" Alyssa said as if surprised to see her. "Where's Jenny?"
Anna pointed over her shoulder, "In the kitchen. She's feeling better. The doctor thinks it was just a 24hour bug."
"I can't believe you're back so soon," Alyssa said trying to pretend as if she were nervous in an innocent way. "I thought it took at least a couple of hours for a doctor visit."
"No," Anna shook her head. "We got in and out pretty quick." She looked up just then and pointed, hearing the shower turn off. "Is someone in the shower upstairs?" assuming it was Daryl.
"Oh," Alyssa smiled, "um, yea. Steve is." The confused look on her twins face was exactly what she was hoping for. She pulled out all her acting skills and started to laugh nervously. "You aren't going to believe what happened." She tied the robe again as if reminding her she was wearing one and naked underneath. "I was painting and he was helping me on the ladder and the paint," she laughed, "the whole thing fell on top of him. It was everywhere. He had to take a shower. We both did." She tilted her head and smiled, shrugging. "It was really funny."
Anna stared at her as if that was the most insane explanation she had ever heard, wondering why Steve would be up there in the first place, knowing she wasn't home. Plus her sister's odd behavior was sending her mixed signals left and right. She felt her heart sink to her stomach having played out this scene once before, not with this exact situation, but the ending was beginning to sound very familiar. She ignored any reply and went past her taking the stairs.
She went past Jenny's room and glanced inside, not seeing a mess like had been described to her. Her head began to feel dizzy and she felt sick to her stomach but knew it wasn't anything that she had caught from Jenny.
She came in her room just as Steve came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and drying his hair off with another one.
"Hey," he smiled, glad to see her. "How's Jenny?" was his first and foremost concern before the explanation of why he was in her shower.
"She's fine." She was finding it difficult to breathe, "What happened here?"
Steve laughed as he came toward her. "I had about a half gallon of paint dropped on my head." He leaned in and kissed her. "You missed the show. It would have been a good picture." He didn't notice her still unresponsive behavior as he pointed toward her shower. "I tried to clean up as much as I could in there. Would you mind running over to my house and getting me some clothes? Mine are done for."
She stood there and stared at him as he sat down on the bed. Her eyes instantly scanned the sheets and covers behind him, trying to decipher if it was in the same condition as they had left it that morning or if it was changed.
"Anna?" he said, as she stood there saying nothing. "What's wrong?"
She turned without speaking and went into the bathroom, seeing his shorts, shirt and underwear lying on the floor of the shower. She picked up the shirt and examined it, wringing it out and seeing a stream of pink color run down the drain. She wet her dry lips and turned, running right into him.
He stared down at her now, knowing exactly what she was thinking. He knew he should have been angry at her for not trusting him and having to search out the evidence, but they had both been deceived once before and both had been shocked over it, not expecting the blow. He took a second and had to put himself in the same scenario if the tables were turned and he walked in on she and Daryl. It changed his attitude in a heartbeat.
"Look at me," he said calmly.
She slowly looked up at him, feeling slightly ashamed yet still scared that he might say something that would shatter her heart into a million pieces.
He put a hand around her waist and one under her chin so he could speak to her as if wanting her to hear every word he said. "I was outside mowing and she yelled down that she wanted me to see if Jenny's room was too pink. I came up, we talked for a minute about the color. The ladder shifted and she dropped the paintbrush, when I bent over to get it the paint tipped over on me. I took a shower and cleaned up." He looked her right in the eye. "End of story."
Anna hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath. She let it out slowly seeing the truth behind not only his calm explanation but in the way he delivered it. She dropped her forehead down on his chest, knowing she'd been wrong for thinking the worse. "Steve," she began regretfully when he lifted her by the chin again so she was facing him.
He interrupted her apology, with a kiss; his way of telling her to drop it. Once again he was more concerned with the important things. "What did the doctor say about Jenny?" he asked again.
She smiled up at him. "He said she's fine. He thinks it was just a 24hour bug."
"Good," he grinned. "Now will you please run over to my house and get me some clothes, or I might be forced to wear one of your sundresses home."
Anna giggled, reaching up with her mouth and kissing him. "That might be more entertaining to see than the pink paint." She felt foolish now for even considering him capable of the infidelity.
He playfully smacked her on the butt. "Move it. I've still got my yard and your yard to mow."
She shrieked and kissed him once more before going out the door, closing it behind her.
He stretched out on the bed, waiting for her return.
Anna came down the stairs feeling the complete opposite of what she felt when she had gone up.
"Everything ok," Alyssa said, coming out of Jenny's door and standing at the top of the stairs. She put on some clothes of Anna's from the laundry room.
"Yes," Anna replied happily. "Why?"
Alyssa shrugged, "I don't know, you just seemed a little…weird about the whole thing."
Anna sighed, "I was just worried about the carpet is all. No big deal. I'm going to run over and get Steve some clothes. Keep an eye on Jenny for me, will ya?" She went the rest of the way down the stairs and out the front door, not waiting for a reply.
Alyssa looked over in the direction of Anna's room staring at the closed door. She'd heard only a brief part of what they were saying to each other, the rest were hush tones, but whatever it was there certainly wasn't any doubt in Anna's mind that what had transpired was exactly what had transpired. She gritted her teeth and let out a low growl. "I need to turn it up," she thought, being reminded of a certain Director that had rejected her for a part. It took some doing and a little extra effort on her side, but in the end even he caved, not only giving her the part, but he also gave her a new Lexus for the best orgasm he'd ever had.
Steve will cave too she thought, assured of her abilities. She just needed to turn up the heat.
Anna entered in Steve's room and went straight up to his dresser. She opened the top drawer and took out a pair of boxer briefs and then closed and opened the next drawer down, taking out the first t-shirt on top of the pile. His shorts were in the next drawer and she selected a pair of black basketball ones that she particular enjoyed the way they fit on him. She went in his closet next and surfed through his shoes on the floor, picking a pair of Nikes that he wore often.
She stood up and stopped before going out seeing his Navy uniform hanging on a special hook on the wall. She recalled seeing it for the first time when she and Eric had followed him up here at Danny's encouragement. She shook her head amazed at how long ago that seemed, but in reality it was really only a few months. They had come so far since then.
She unzipped the bag it was in and ran her hand over the medals, admiring each one again. They were inspiring to say the least. She recalled him walking toward her at the funeral for John wearing this and how impressive he looked. He wore it better than any man she'd ever seen in uniform before. He was tall, dark and handsome, but he was also brave, strong, but above all honest, realizing then that that's how he always lived his life inside or outside the uniform.
She zipped it back up and stood staring at it, feeling guilty once again for even thinking that he would do anything devious or conniving with Alyssa. She couldn't believe those thoughts even entered her mine. 'Why,' she thought. 'How could you even think that way about him?'
Her body froze as the conversation with Alyssa came back to her.
It was her, she realized. Alyssa put those thoughts in her head before she even went upstairs. The robe. The way she explained the situation, acting as if she were hiding something. "Acting," she said bitterly. "More like overacting." Alyssa wanted her to think something had happened between she and Steve. She knew her twin too well to ignore the signs any longer. It was the same as her first day there when she warned her that he wouldn't want to marry her, putting more unwanted thoughts in her head, knowing it would cause havoc, but she failed, the same as she did this day.
'But why,' she thought, 'what would be the purpose?' She shook her head, not wanting to believe that her sister would want to sabotage another relationship she was in, especially one where she knew good and well she was happy. She wondered then if she wanted him, or if she just couldn't stand that she was happy. Alyssa always had to have the upper hand, always.
She came out of the closet, feeling saddened, but more than anything else, angry.
Anna came back in her house and straight up the stairs, going past Jenny's room, seeing Alyssa, Jenny and Eric inside. He still had his backpack on his shoulders from school.
"Hi," she said to him, glaring at her sister.
"Aunt Alyssa said we could come spend the night again at her hotel," he announced excitedly.
"No," Anna replied flatly.
"Why not?!" he and Alyssa both said simultaneously.
"Because I said so."
"That's no reason," Eric argued.
Anna walked down the hall to her room carrying Steve's clothes. "I got a call from your teacher after the last visit, you fell asleep in class. There's my reason." She slammed the door closed to her bedroom.
Steve sat up on the bed with the towel still wrapped around his waist. "What was that all about?"
She dropped his clothes on the bed, standing before him. "You know what? You keep right on with that little voice in your head." She leaned over and kissed him. "I love that you have a sixth sense about my sister that I seem to be in denial over." She didn't wait for a reply from him and turned around going back out the door. "Eric!" she yelled out as she went down the stairs. "I want you to help Steve in the yard and then I want you to start your homework. Dinner will be ready in about an hour."
"What did I do?" he asked sarcastically, standing at his bedroom door.
She stopped and looked back up the stairs. "Nothing," she paused, taking a breath, not wanting to take her frustration on her sister out on him, "its not fair that Steve has to mow our lawn when you are perfectly capable."
Steve came walking by his door carrying his shoes, "C'mon," he said, "I bet you a buck you can't start the mower on the first pull."
"Five!" Eric said, wiggling out of his backpack letting it fall on the ground, following Steve down the stairs. He gave an Anna an unpleasant look as he went by.
Alyssa appeared at the top of the stairs. "I think I'll finish this tomorrow. I have to get back to the hotel. I have some calls to make."
Anna stared at her as she ascended the stairs. "How long are you staying?"
Alyssa stood on the last step looking down at her twin. "I said I'm leaving."
"I mean on the island." She didn't try to hide her bitterness, hoping it was noticeable.
Alyssa tilted her head, narrowing her eyes at her sister. "It sounds like you are trying to get rid of me. I can't believe you would be so rude."
Anna stood her ground, searching her twin's eyes for the deception. "Steve and I were talking about coming to California for Christmas so it's not like you won't see the kids again soon. It's just become…disruptive. We had a nice routine and things are getting out of control."
Alyssa took a step down so they were face to face. "Is it me that's making things out of control Anna, or is it you that's losing control?"
She refused to take the bait and start a confrontation with Jenny just upstairs. "Your keys and purse are on the table by the door," Anna replied coolly.
"Ok…I'm leaving." A smile slowly spread across Alyssa's face. "Make sure you give everyone a good night kiss for me." She turned and very leisurely walked to her purse and keys, gathered them up and walked out the door.
Anna let out a deep breath, wetting her dry lips. It was the first time she could remember ever standing down Alyssa. It felt pretty good.
Alyssa got in her car and angrily tossed her purse across the seat. "That little bitch," she mumbled. "Who does she think she is talking to me like that!"
She backed up looking over toward the house as she pulled away. No one could hear her yet she still screamed out of frustration. "No one tells me what to do! You hear me Anna! No one!"
She stepped on the gas and tore off down the street, squealing her tires and barely making the yellow light onto the main road, not slowing down for it and not caring if she ran it. She was livid. She had failed. She knew then that there was no way Anna was coming home to LA with her. Not that she wanted her too anymore. She'd grown quite the attitude over the past year and needed to be put in her place.
Alyssa smiled devilishly. If Anna wanted her gone then fine, but she decided to leave the island with a bang. If her sister was going to treat her like that then she deserved what was coming.
Eric pulled out on the handle of the mower and groaned when it wouldn't start. "Damn it!" he growled.
"Hey!" Steve scolded him. "What kind of talk is that?"
"It's not a bad word really."
"Who says?"
"My Aunt Alyssa said it's not a bad word anymore. It used to be but now words like shit and fuck are bad words."
Steve leaned over bracing his hands on his knees, looking him in the face. "Are you kidding me with that? You say another cuss word and not only are you not going on that camping trip but you'll be grounded and doing chores instead. You got me?!"
Eric stared at him, not recalling ever being disciplined like that before by him. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen him that angry.
"Answer me!"
Eric nodded. "Ok."
"Ok what?"
"Ok, I won't talk like that anymore," his voice barely audible.
Steve stood back up staring down at him. He wanted to give him one his playful smacks in the head and tell him to get the mower moving, but knew if he made light of the situation then that's exactly what Eric would do. He had to stand firm and show him meant it. "Talking like that doesn't make you a man. Acting like a gentleman makes you a man."
Eric tried to decipher those words and put them to meaning when Steve reached over and started the mower. "Maybe you better let me do the man's work."
Eric held firmly onto the handle of the mower. "I can do it." He looked up at him not wanting to disappoint him of all people. "I'm sorry I said that. I can do it."
Steve let go stepping back. "Ok, don't forget to empty the bag every once in a while."
"I won't." He grinned sheepishly as he began pushing the mower across the yard.
Steve crossed his arms and watched as he struggled to push the heavy mower but didn't back down, as if he were determined to do the job even more so now, maybe as proof that he was a man. Just then he turned and glanced back over at him. Steve knew that he was looking for recognition. He smiled and gave him a thumbs up, giving him what he deserved. He realized just then that they had an altercation that probably every father and son had at least one time in their life. He felt positive that he and Eric both had learned something from it. Eric wasn't his son so to speak, but he was just as proud of him if he had been.
Eric gripped the handle even tighter and pushed on. The thumbs up told him that Steve wasn't mad at him anymore. He was determined to show him that he wasn't a bad mouth kid. He was a man. He wanted to show him and prove to him that they were equal. He wanted to be just like him.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Steve stretched his arm out and dug down deep into the water. He pushed himself harder and harder trying to get his frustrations out over the orders to report for duty that had come in an email that morning from his CO, a heads up to the certified letter that he knew would be arriving next. It was the first time he could remember not wanting to report for duty and considered revoking his Reserve Duty obligation in the future. It would mean his Navy life would come to an end.
He stopped swimming and treaded water, looking out at the vast ocean as the morning sun sparkled off the waves, partly blinding him.
He wasn't sure he was ready to give up the Navy just yet, but he also wasn't ready to leave Anna and the kids for three weeks either. He used to enjoy these breaks from the everyday life and looked forward to getting on a ship and putting his uniform back on, but now things had changed. His life wasn't just his anymore. He had a responsibility to others. But he also had a responsibity to his country and without that then there wouldn't be the other.
He laid down in the water again and began the final stretch towards home, counting his blessings that he was only going for three weeks and would only be a couple hundred miles off shore, safe and sound on an aircraft carrier, whereas many of his comrades were fighting in the Middle East for months at a time, away from their wives and children. He decided then that three weeks didn't sound so bad after all. He'd remind Anna of that too when he told her.
As he swam toward shore he saw her standing in the grass wearing a blue sundress that was one of his favorites. His heart began to race but for a different reason other than the mile and a half swim. She had that ability. As he came out of the water she stood her ground just smiling at him.
"Hi," he said scooping up his towel. "If I would have know there was a beautiful woman standing in my yard, I would have come back sooner."
She took a step back towards the house for every one he took towards her, never wavering from the smile that eased into a seductive grin.
He chuckled at her demeanor pretending to run at her and then stopped a few feet away as she put her hands up and then her finger to her mouth, as if telling him to be quiet.
"Are you being cautious or mysterious," he grinned, enjoying this game she had going.
She refused to speak and motioned with her finger to follow him as she went up the steps and into his house through the backdoor.
He looked over not seeing the kids, assuming they were still back at the house. It was Saturday, maybe they were still asleep. They all had been when he snuck out earlier to go for a swim.
He followed her willingly, eager to see what she was up to. As he came in the house she was leaning against the counter with the bottom of the dress gathered in one hand, high enough to show him that she had nothing on under it. The other hand stroking the inside of her thigh, all the while her eyes scanning his body in a way that expressed how badly she wanted him.
Now he knew what she was up to. He went to her and she bent her head as if shy over her antics. He loved that she could be so enticing and so timid at the same time. It was a major turn on and one of the characteristics about her that he loved the most.
He was aching for her by this point but still needed the verbal green light. "Where are the kids?' he asked quietly, praying his assumption was correct.
"Safe," she whispered.
It was what he wanted to hear. He braced both hands on the counter on either side of her body and bent down just slightly, searching out those perfect lips and kissed her.
She raised her head, taking part in it as he leaned his body into her. Her hands followed the path up his chest, feeling the muscles contract knowing he was enjoying her as she cupped the back of his neck, pulling him in deeper.
The kiss was more aggressive than usual but he was too caught up in the feel of her to notice the real difference, or the slight variance in the hair color. Other than that she looked and felt just like Anna.
Alyssa was elated at not only the game in which she was exceeding at, but also the kiss that he was exceeding at. It was far better than she had imagined. The game shifted and she wanted him now more for herself, rather than to teach her bitchy twin a lesson. She felt his body push into her as she opened her leg for him, feeling his hand slide up her thigh and under the dress around to her backside as he cupped her buttock, lifting her ever so slightly. She let out a soft moan wanting him to walk away from this aching for her not Anna.
He broke from the kiss and moved down to her neck, wanting her so bad by this point he could hardly contain himself. Her little seduction that she was playing worked like a charm. He slid the strap of her dress down over her shoulder, kissing the bare skin as his hand glided over her breast. He wondered how he was going to leave this behind for three weeks without going completely mad. She had him wrapped around her little finger in this relationship and he couldn't have been happier.
His kisses moved back up to her lips, his voice husky through the whispering of words just before he kissed her again. "I want you so bad, Anna."
Alyssa moaned over that heartfelt expression, knowing she had him now. He was all hers to do what she pleased. Her aggression increased as her want for him went through the roof. She loved being in control. She broke from the kiss but continued to cover him with them as she slid down his body, coming to rest on her knees before him. By the time she was done with him he'd be screaming her name. She'd make sure he'd never look at Anna again the same way.
Steve braced both hands on the counter again as she slid down before him. He felt light headed over the anticipation of what she was about to do as her hands worked on the string of his shorts. She teased him ever so slightly by stopping just short of pulling them down and kissed his belly, her caresses roaming up and over his chest. He put his hand over one of hers, moving with her until he grasped it and bent just enough to bring it to his lips and kissed the back of it.
He turned it over to touch the spot on her wrist that he knew she liked, looking at the delicate area as he brought it up to his mouth. Just before he closed his eyes to kiss the spot she liked he froze, staring at the flawless area just below her palm.
He bent it back just slightly to get a better view, confused, knowing of the scar on her left hand from when she cut her herself as a child, but it wasn't there. He looked down at the woman at his feet and all at once it hit him.
He grabbed the back of her hair that was the same style but the color he noticed now was off. He tilted her head back, looking down at her face. Her eyes. The color and the shape were the same, but he knew immediately that it wasn't Anna looking up at him.
She knew in that second by the rough behavior that he had figured it out.
She smiled up at him. "If you like it rough. I can play that game too."
She went to pull down on his shorts when he stepped back away from her; his face still in shock over the realization that it wasn't Anna. "Alyssa," he said barely audible.
She rose to her feet slowly coming toward him, letting her voice set the tone. "Look at me Steve. It's ok. It'll be our little secret. You know you want me and I can make you feel so good that you won't even have the ability to think about her." She began to slide the dress off her shoulders. "You can do anything you want with me."
Her suggestion sickened him, or maybe it was the guilt that he had let her manipulate him this far without knowing it was his Anna. If he hadn't seen the missing scar, he thought, feeling revolted over the idea of knowing he was that close to having sex with her. His anger over that tripled. He reached out and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her toward the front door.
She struggled against the tight grip that hurt. "Let go of me!"
He wiped her around and held her by both arms, pulling her up close to his face, never in his life had he wanted to hit a woman, but he wanted to knock her across the room. "Who the fuck do you think you are?" he said between gritted teeth, shaking her. "You think you can just take whatever you want? You think you're something special?" he shook her again. "Let me tell you something Alyssa, you're nothing! You're nothing but a piece of fucking trash." He grabbed her face with his hand, holding her steady as he stared angrily down at her. "If you do anything to hurt Anna or those kids, I swear to god on my life, I'll kill you!" he shoved her toward the door, not caring that she slammed into it. "Get the fuck out of my house!"
She pulled up on the strap of her dress, glaring back at him. "You just made a huge mistake," she warned him.
He lunged at her, wanting to scare her. "Get out!"
She heard the anger in his voice but it was his expression that frightened her the most. She turned and opened the door, slamming it closed behind her. 'He'll pay for that,' she thought furiously as she stomped across the yard. 'He has no idea how bad he'll pay for that.'
He stood in the middle of the room wiping his hands up and down his face, trying to recall what had just happened. How could he have not known it wasn't Anna? The guilt and humiliation from that was staggering. What if he'd gone through with it? It would have been the end of their relationship, there would be no way she would have forgiven him. He wouldn't have blamed her, even if he had been tricked. He saw the signs he just ignored them. The kiss wasn't Anna's. He knew that, yet he let himself be controlled by her.
He looked toward the door Alyssa just vacated through, trying to decide if he should tell Anna or not. He felt like it was a lie keeping it from her, but it also scared him that she'd partly blame him for not recognizing it wasn't her. He'd kissed and touched Alyssa in places that he vowed to himself he'd never touch another woman again, other than Anna. He was torn over the dishonesty of keeping it to himself, and the thought of losing her if he did tell, especially what had happened the day before. Would she believe him a second time?
Alyssa stormed across the yard toward her car, rubbing the red marks on her arms where he had grabbed her. "That bastard!" she grumbled. "I'm going to fucking ruin him!" She was almost to her car when she stopped, glancing over at Anna's house, smiling wickedly.
Anna came running down the hall from the kitchen when she heard Alyssa screaming for her. She met her half way and was stunned over the hair that was identical to hers, but more concerned by the frantic look on her sister's face as if she'd seen a ghost.
"What's wrong?!
"Oh Anna," she sobbed, wrapping her arms around her and holding on tightly. "Oh god Anna, it was awful! Awful!" she pretended to be on the verge of hysteria.
"Alyssa!" She grabbed her by the arms trying to get her under control, pulling back so she could see her face.
"Ouch!" she cried out over the grip on her arms. "That's where he grabbed me," she cried. "It still hurts."
"Who? Who grabbed you?" She assumed it was a crazed fan like the one she had encountered, but knew it couldn't have been the same one. He was going to be locked up for at least two years. She thought of Steve at that moment, hoping he was back from his swim, feeling the fear that her sister was.
"Oh Anna," she bellowed, using all her skills to pull up fake tears.
"I need to get Steve." She moved toward the table by the door where her cell phone was when Alyssa grabbed her hand, pulling her back.
"No!" she shook her head. "Not him!" she wailed. "Please Anna, not him."
"Why? If someone attacked you we need to tell Steve."
She let go of her and sniffed, wiping her hand over her face. "Because…" she gasped as if having a hard time catching her breath. "because it was him that grabbed me."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"I came over to show you my new hair cut and he was out front. At first he thought I was you and then he invited me inside his house. He said you were still in bed." She shook her head as fresh tears welled in her eyes. "Once inside he was like a different person. He kept commenting on how much we looked alike and then the next thing I knew he ran his hand through my hair and said something about the way I looked at him the other day in the shower." She looked up at her twin. "And then he kissed me."
Anna stared at her, trying to take in everything she was saying but too stunned to speak.
"When I pushed him away, he got angry and grabbed me. I think he felt humiliated like he did the other day when I wouldn't…" she paused looking away as if ashamed. "when I wouldn't get in the shower with him after the paint spilled." She looked up at her. "I never led him on Anna. Ever!"
She heard the words coming out of her mouth but she couldn't actually believe what she was hearing. "What happened next?"
Alyssa gulped in air. "He pushed me up against the wall and tried to put his hands up my dress, but I screamed and I think…I think it startled him because he backed away and that's when I ran for the door and got out." She saw in her face exactly what she wanted to see, concern and disbelief.
"You poor thing," Anna consoled her. "I can't believe he would do such a thing."
"I know," Alyssa cried, assured she had her locked in. "I can't either. It was horrible."
"No Alyssa," she said passively. "You know what's horrible about all of this?"
She shook her head, sniffing. "What?"
Anna's look of concern faded as her eyes narrowed in to two angry slits. Her voice mirrored the rage that was welling up inside of her. "I'll tell you what's horrible. It's your lame ass attempt to try and convince me that Steve did any of those things. You really need to brush up on your acting skills and leave the plot lines to the writers, because not only are you full of crap, but you're a shitty actress too."
Alyssa's first reaction showed pain trying to show that it hurt that she didn't believe her, but after a few seconds of looking into the unwavering stare from the person across from her she dropped the whole acting routine. "Fine," she replied, her voice showing no signs of the fear she had portrayed, "You may not believe me," she smiled cunningly, "but others will."
Anna felt her blood run cold over that remark, knowing what she could do to Steve's career and life if she even accused him of it. The media would have a field day with this, and Alyssa knew how to work them to her advantage. They loved her for it.
"And to make matters worse," Alyssa continued, assured she was driving the nail in the casket. "I'm pretty sure I saw some…" she sighed, glaring at her. "How should I say…inappropriate behavior with him around Eric."
That drove the nail in the casket all right, but not in the way that Alyssa had hoped.
Anna lunged forward and grabbed her around the neck with her hand, throwing her back against the wall, holding her there with the tight grip around her throat. The treat was real and she knew without a doubt that her sister would do it and not think twice about the consequences to any of them in the process. She wanted to squeeze the life out of her, but instead she replied with a stern warning.
"If you ever, do anything to harm Eric, Jenny or Steve," she squeezed tighter seeing the disbelief and shock on Alyssa's face. "I'll ruin you. And you know I can. Don't be so naïve to think that the repercussions won't be just as damaging to you. I know about your affairs and all the skeletons you've tried to lock away and hide. By the time I'm done with you, not only will you never see the lights of a camera again, but not one person in Hollywood will want to work with you. The difference between your threat to Steve and mine is that I've got the proof."
Alyssa tried to swallow but just trying to breathe was difficult. She stood frozen, never seeing this side of her twin before. The threat was real, that she could see clearly in her eyes. She wasn't sure what proof Anna had but decided quickly that it wasn't worth risking her career over. She knew what one bad publicity stunt could do, she'd seen it happen.
Anna could clearly see she'd made her point. She let go and stepped back but kept her eyes focused on her subject as she yelled out, "Eric! Jenny! Come down and say goodbye to Aunt Alyssa. She's going home today."
Alyssa rubbed her shaky hand over her throat gasping for air. She slowly slid back away from her down the wall toward the front door never so afraid for her life, convinced her twin had gone completely mad.
Jenny came down the steps past Eric who just stood his ground, staring at Alyssa. He'd heard the whole thing. She looked up at him seeing it all over him as she hugged Jenny goodbye, ignoring the comments from the child about her hair looking like Anna's and how they hadn't finished painting her room yet.
"Eric," Alyssa pleaded with open arms, "Come say goodbye."
He slowly descended the steps, but once at the bottom he walked past her and went and stood at Anna's side. "Bye," he said dryly as Anna put her arm around his shoulder.
She looked from him to Anna seeing the same unemotional stare knowing she wasn't welcome there anymore, or probably ever again. "Ok, I'm leaving."
"Remember what I said Alyssa," Anna warned. "Don't step on your own grave."
Alyssa gasped at her choice of words and turned, nervously fumbling with the doorknob until she got it open. She went out feeling almost relieved to be away from her.
Steve came across the yard as she glanced over at him, feeling the impact of Anna's threat all over again. She turned her head away and quickly made her way to her car. She just wanted to get away from them and back to her life in Hollywood. They were all crazy, she thought.
Steve stopped as she came out of the house and hurried to her car. He looked back at the opened door, almost too frightened to venture inside the house, afraid of what she had told Anna. Just then she appeared in the doorway.
She saw him standing there and smiled, not sure exactly had transpired between them or if Alyssa had made the whole thing up. Either way it didn't matter to her, she knew without a shed of doubt that it was all lies and that the man standing in her yard was not capable of the horrible things that Alyssa had accused him of.
"Hi, she smiled. "Come on in. I was just going to make some breakfast."
"Anna," he said nervously, "we need to talk. Alyssa came over to my house and was standing in the back when I came out of the water," he started to explain when she cut him off.
"Blah, blah, blah," she said sighing. "Didn't we already have this conversation. I'll tell you one thing for sure. If you ever get yourself into another situation where a woman drops paint on your head and then tries to look just like me to get a little som'em som'em from you, then you better not come over and try to plead your innocence," she waved a finger at him, "you better move off the island."
He smiled over her teasing of the situation, feeling the weight on his shoulders slide off. "Yes ma 'am."
"Good, I'm glad we got that straight. Now get in here." She turned and disappeared inside the house, leaving the door open for him.