“Yuna’s here, too?”
“Yup. She spent the night.”
Makes sense. Yuna’s tight with Ivy. “I’ll be down there with…” I look back at the bed and note it’s empty. I place a hand on Jo’s side and feel none of her warmth, just the cool sheets. Disappointment mixes with mild resentment. “I need to shower, but I’ll be down soon.”
“Okay. I’ll tell the chef to make extra for you. French toast good?”
“Yeah.” I hang up and search around in the sheets, under the pillows and on the other nightstand, looking for a note. Nothing. Not even an It was fun, bye!
However, I do find her shoes. One heel is sticking out from under the bed and behind a pillow that got knocked off sometime during the night. She must’ve been a hurry to leave. Does she think I turn into an ogre during the day? I’m always the same Edgar: responsible, dependable and controlled. Surely, that’s a cause for at least some attraction.
Annoyance starts to simmer. I can’t quite decide yet if I’m upset with her or myself. The emotion doesn’t sit right, but I do my best to put a lid on my feelings and get into the shower. The hot spray hits me instantly, and I run through a quick full-body scrub. I don’t bother to shave.
I wish Jo were here to join me for the brunch. She didn’t have to sneak out like she did something wrong. We’re both consenting adults. I made sure to protect both of us, and all those empty condom packets are proof.
At the same time, I accept that I’m being perverse. Normally I don’t care for women lingering afterward, wanting me to make promises or lavish them with affection and undying devotion. So I should be relieved that Jo left on her own.
But what I should feel and what I am feeling are two very different things. There’s nothing I can do about it, except be irritated.
I put on a button-down shirt and pair of dark slacks I keep at Tony’s place and make my way down the stairs toward the airy breakfast room. One wall is made of solid glass that shows the impeccably maintained garden. Sunlight is pouring in, and the round table has a couple of pitchers—one with grapefruit juice and the other with mineral water. I also note a silver thermos pot, which hopefully contains coffee.
But before I walk in, I stop and study everyone. Tony’s in a T-shirt and shorts, while Ivy’s in a loose dress, her strawberry-blonde hair pulled up into a topknot. He hands her the juice. Yuna’s dressed like… Well. Yuna. Some fancy designer dress, a wide-brimmed hat and double chains of platinum around her neck.
So what does that say about them…? Tony appears casual, even though he’s really not. Ivy’s…obviously pregnant. Yuna is… She looks like she’s rich and enjoys designer items.
Okay, never mind. This is pointless. And why am I trying to do what Jo does, anyway? So I can tell her the next time I see her? Is there even going to be a next time, given how our night ended?
I school my face to appear calm and in control. After all, I’m supposed to be constant. “Good morning,” I say, and walk in.
“Hey.” Tony smiles, gesturing at one of empty seats. Looking at him can be startling at times because he takes after Mom so much. Not the hair color, because he got that from Dad, but the shape of his eyes, the high, thin bridge of his nose and so much more. “I hope you don’t mind that we started without you.”
“Not at all. I got up late.” I smile back, then pour myself a huge mugful of coffee and start sipping. My head begins to feel better.
“How are you, Edgar?” Ivy asks.
“Fine. How’re my nephews doing? Or nieces?”
“Ooh, you haven’t told him yet?” Yuna is practically bouncing.
Ivy laughs. “Not yet.” She turns to me, one hand on her bump. She’s carrying twins, although her belly doesn’t seem big enough for one baby, much less two. She’s too delicate a woman. But looks can be deceiving. She survived so much, and there’s strength in her that most people never catch. “One of each.”
“Well, well, listen to that. You always were an overachiever. Congratulations,” I say, genuinely pleased for her and Tony. If anybody deserves a fairytale ending, it’s my brother and his wife. They fought so hard to be together, almost died for the happiness they share now.
But guilt soon follows. Dad is seeing Mom again. She did terrible things trying to keep Tony and Ivy apart, and even if our legal system says she didn’t do anything wrong, I still find her actions grotesque. I should tell Tony about it because he deserves to know. On the other hand, I don’t know how to bring it up without ruining the joy radiating from him and Ivy.
The best course of action is for me to take care of the matter with Dad. It’s the least I owe Tony, because I didn’t protect him like I should have when we were younger. I’m the oldest, and it was my responsibility.
“Everything okay at home?” Ivy asks, because she knows, as well as I do, that Tony won’t.
“Of course,” I lie. But from the glance Tony gives me, I can tell I didn’t fool him, even though Ivy and Yuna look relieved.
After the breakfast is over and Yuna and Ivy go off together to play some duet on the Bösendorfer Imperial concert grand piano, Tony stays behind and has another cup of coffee with me.
“Edgar…you sure everything’s okay back home?”
“Blackwood Energy’s doing fine.” Not telling him the entire truth isn’t the most honest move on my part, but it’s better. Or so I try to convince myself.
He nods slowly. “Okay. You know, if you need anything…”