I tilted my head in the direction of the garden. She scrunched her nose at me, but with a kiss for Sonnet, left.
Then I went to find my sister.
Gemma was in her wing, on her balcony. Muffled voices trailed out, as though she were in a conversation.
“Are you talking to someone?” I asked.
She gasped, spinning. “Fuck. Creepy motherfucker. How long have you been standing there?” She shut the double French doors that led to her balcony, coming inside. “Why are you here?” Gemma tilted her head at Sonnet sleeping in my arms. “I am not babysitting.”
I looked over her shoulder. The balcony appeared empty.
“I wanted to say…” I dragged my free hand through my hair.
Fuck, why was this so fucking hard?
I could destroy my grandfather, but I couldn’t apologize to
my fucking sister.
“Sorry,” I mumbled.
She frowned. “Are you concussed?”
I shrugged my shoulder. “I’ve been a shitty brother.”
She looked me up and down, then spun around. She threw pillows off her bed, dumped makeup brushes off her vanity.
“What are you doing?”
She peered into a glass. “Where are the cameras?”
“This isn’t a fucking prank. I’m sorry. And now that grandfather is out, I’ve called off your wedding to Horace.”
Gemma choked on her spit. “Wait, what? You did what? What the fuck?”
“I thought you’d be happy. You’ve complained about your engagement to Horace for as long as I can remember. It’s fucking barbaric.”
“Get him back. Reinstate the engagement.”
What the fuck is happening? “It’s too late.”
“This is what I get for doing something nice? You just fucked me. Royally.”
She left, stomping out of her room.
STORY
The changes inside Crowne Hall were subtler at first.
Like how the air seemed lighter, less ghostly, as if more shadows had given way to light. It was almost like a curse had been lifted from the Crowne family. They were still the uniquely dysfunctional family I’d known for decades. Still spoiled and out-of-touch, but the dark and oppressive energy was lifting.
I think everyone here just wanted to be free to love, even as a family.
I wasn’t sure what was waiting for me in the garden. It seemed empty, then I heard laughter, and I followed it to the servants.
“You didn’t get a memorial,” Jane said.
“And we never said we’re sorry,” they all said.