The Sometime Sister by Katherine Nichols (ebook reader for comics .txt) 📕

the knowledge I would soon see the last photographs ever taken of my beautiful sister brought me crashing head-on into reality.

He wrapped his arms around me, and we stood together for a moment before he spoke. “Harry won’t be back until late. Why don’t I make dinner? Then we can get some rest and look at the pictures in the morning.”

I watched as he scrambled eggs and fried bacon. The image of Adelmo’s burning eyes turning cold when he promised to find out what happened to my sister came to me. Stella’s lover was another example of the dual nature of this beautiful but dangerous country.

“Hey,” Justin said as he placed my plate in front of me. “You seem a million miles away.”

“I’m just tired.” I dragged my fork through the eggs, then put it down.

“I’ve heard doing hard time is exhausting.” He rested his fingertips on mine. “You’ll feel better if you eat,” he urged.

I choked down a few bites before giving up. “It’s good, but I guess I’m not as hungry as I thought. I think I’ll go to bed.” I stood and picked up my plate.

“I’ll get that.” Justin eased it from my hand. “You rest. Tomorrow could be rough.” He kissed the top of my head.

If it disappointed him I didn’t invite him to join me, he didn’t show it.

I showered, changed into pajamas, and fell onto the bed. Thoughts of the tiny blonde surfer at lunch reminded me of the last time Stella and I had gone to the Gulf, the summer she was almost fourteen and I was a few weeks from my nineteenth birthday. I told her I was too busy for a family vacation, but she begged and I gave in.

Always precocious and moody, at thirteen Stella seemed to be fighting a war with herself. One minute, she was childlike and charming. The next, paralyzed with sophistication. But when it was just my sister and me, she was still Stella Star. Our last night at the beach, we sat on the sand with the tide coming in. We dug our toes in and squealed as the warm water eroded the solid ground around them. She turned to me and said she wished we never had to leave. I was surprised at how sad she sounded and tried to comfort her by saying we’d be back next year and the year after. But she stood and shook her head.

“We won’t, you know.” Her words returned to me as clearly as if she were standing beside me now. “This is our last beautiful summer.”

Then she ran into the surf, away from the light of the shore. For a few seconds, I hadn’t been able to see her and had called out to her in fear. Instead of coming back to me, she dashed straight into our small cottage without saying another word. And for the usual reasons—busy schedules, conflicting interests—Stella had been right. It was our last beautiful summer.

.     .     .     .     .

The smell of coffee woke me. I joined Justin in the kitchen.

“I think it was after two when Harry got in, so I thought we could just let him sleep.”

Sitting with him at the table, like an actual couple, I had forgotten about Harry and the photos. Now I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples. I was no closer to understanding why my sister was dead than when we started. I was certain Ben was responsible; but even though I knew his kind of abuse could escalate, I still had trouble imagining him going that far. And there had been easier ways to cover it up than faking a boating accident.

“Hello.” Justin was holding the pot over my cup. “More coffee?”

“Sorry. I just keep thinking about Stella.” I nodded and watched as he poured, remembering how strong, but gentle he had been.

“Yesterday was fantastic,” he began, taking my hand and tracing his finger across my palm.

Alarms sounded in my head. His next words would be something along the lines of how we had to put all that sex stuff behind us and go back to a businesslike relationship.

“It was great,” I echoed, cutting him off. “But I got caught up in the moment. I don’t regret anything about last night, but we shouldn’t get distracted like that again.”

“So, it was a distraction for you?” Justin asked and released my hand.

“Not just a distraction. I mean it was terrific and all, but nothing serious.”

“I get it. Don’t worry. You’re right. We need to stay on track.” He stood abruptly, walked to his room, and shut the door.

Well, that was a record for me: screwing up what might have developed into a relationship in less than twenty-four hours. Of course, I was lying about it only being a distraction. The good news was Justin could hardly avoid me since we were staying together, so I should have a chance to make things better. The bad news was I would probably find a way to make them worse.

I considered following him, but it wasn’t the time to get into a long discussion about our non-relationship, not with the missing pictures hanging over my head.

I borrowed Harry’s laptop and checked my email. Nothing from Mom, but Mike had sent a quick message telling me Lesroy dropped by with Scarlett, and the dog had stopped growling at my cousin. He also let me know my mother was eating more and missed me. I told him about talking to Eva and not getting much in the way of information. I avoided telling him the local authorities had tossed me into the pokey.

My stomach rumbled, so I headed to the kitchen where Harry stood at the counter making coffee.

“I never sleep this late,” he said, pouring a cup for me. “Guess I’m not as spry as I used to be.”

I felt terrible about misleading Justin, but at least Harry hadn’t been part of the deception. I heard the door to Justin’s room open and tried to