Time had definitely changed him. Being away from everyone had done something to him. In the end, maybe it was just Serenity's hormones messing with her mood, but she reached out and touched the young man's hand.
"Lucius… I think what happened back then shouldn't be a reason for us not to try again. I'm not saying we have to be the closest siblings ever, but at least we can try talking… and let time do the rest."
"Are you sure about that? Did you really forget that I raised my hand against you so easily?" Lucius asked, ashamed, trying to pull his hand away.
"Lucius, we're children of the same father… We can't stay angry or distant forever.
"The truth is, the ones who caused all this… they're not even around anymore—or at least that's what I think. And here we are, still distant. I think, for the sake of getting along with our siblings, it's best we smooth things over," Serenity said calmly and sincerely.
"You think your husband's gonna accept me?" Lucius asked, clear doubt in his voice.
"I know it won't be easy. Honestly, I came to see you without telling him. I didn't want him insisting on coming along or, like you with Laura, influencing my decision.
"In the end, I think our parents lived a pretty strange and complicated life before we were even in the picture, and I don't see why we should carry the weight of what they did. We already have enough on our plate with Paul."
"You know about that?" Lucius asked, surprised.
"Yeah… Laura told me. She was feeling a bit anxious and called to let me know what was going on," Serenity said, looking at the young man in front of her. "Lucius, look at me, please…" she added, trying to get him to lift his gaze.
"What?" he said, raising his eyes to meet hers.
"See? That wasn't so hard," Serenity said with a smile.
"You women… always finding unusual ways to get to us," Lucius said, thinking about the real reason he made the effort to have this conversation with his sister.
"Why do you say that?" Serenity asked, curious.
"I have a girlfriend!" Lucius blurted out.
"Aha! And?"
"Amanda made me patch things up with you…" Lucius said, a little embarrassed.
It was strange. As soon as their eyes met, a familiar feeling came over him. It felt like talking to Laura.
"Her name's Amanda?" Serenity asked, intrigued.
"Yeah, Amanda Hayward… and she's a total whirlwind of emotions."
"I'm guessing she throws you off balance," Serenity said with a little laugh.
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"Laura!" Serenity said with a sly grin.
"That's it, I'm not telling her anything else. You women come with some built-in chip or something. She swore she wouldn't tell anyone…"
"I'm not just anyone, I'm your sister too," Serenity said more casually now.
"Hey… Are you okay? What's going on?" Lucius asked, slightly worried.
"We've only been talking for like thirty minutes, and I see you shifting around, adjusting your seat, rubbing your stomach a lot."
“Which hospital are you going to?” Lucius asked, visibly scared.
“The bodyguard knows, just tell him to take me there, get me to the hospital, I need to go as soon as possible… Call my mom, call Alden…”
Lucius quickly pulled out some cash and left it on the table. Seeing that his sister could barely walk, he picked her up and carried her to the truck.
Serenity's bodyguard came over and she called out, “Brayton! I need you to take us to the hospital!”
“What's going on?”
“I think the baby's coming, please tell the whole family…” Serenity said as Lucius helped her into the back seat.
Serenity watched the young man walking away, but her voice rang out.
“Where do you think you're going?” she snapped.
“I'm getting my car, I'll meet you at the hospital…” Alden said, confused.
Serenity stared at him like he'd grown a second head.
“Get in the truck and come with me! Oh my God! I think they're getting closer together… Come on, get in already, I need to call Alden, my parents, I didn't bring any baby clothes, I haven't bought anything, God! I'm a terrible soon-to-be mom…”
“No, you're not, don't start freaking out now, let's just get to the hospital. Did you already call your mom?”
Lucius was holding his sister's hand tightly — the sister he'd just made peace with. The whole situation felt overwhelming, but also kind of amazing.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)
Just finish the book. Gr8 story so no need to go round in circles...