A wife for my brother

-I’ll accept your proposal, but on one condition – Deanna told him as they walked through the park.

Leonard got excited.

– Really!!! –

– Yes… But I don’t want a manager running around with young girls… –

– Oh, Deanna! Don’t do this to me… –

– That’s all I ask, otherwise I’ll go back and finish the semester and get a job –

The relationship between the two was not yet that of father and daughter, but it had grown closer as the days went by and with Leonard’s insistence. A few weeks ago, he had been nothing more than a stranger chasing her down to corner her, and now he had become a support to her. Without Harry, without her friends from college, she was alone with Philippa and her grandmother, and although her mother came to see her all the time, she had nothing left.

– If this doesn’t work I’ll have to get a job… a place to live, I can’t stay in a hotel… or I’ll have to go home –

– It’ll work out, don’t worry. If this producer doesn’t appreciate your talent, Marcus will make you stay at the Ambassador. You can always come home with me… it’s too big and empty… –

– I don’t want to live with you –

– You’re mean –

– You know, it’s still strange to see you every day and be attentive to me after all you’ve done –

– Don’t remind me… I feel strange too… –

He sighed and looked into her eyes.

– Look, I’m going to be honest with you. I’ve been alone for the last 25 years, aimless… I felt like I was wasting my life until I met you… I could feel the connection with you without being able to understand why… Well, I took it for something it wasn’t and you know… This is a kind of revenge for me, life finally giving me a chance. You are my chance to do something right and even though I know I must continue to disgust you, I want you to know that I will help you in any way I can and I will be there for you whenever you need me… –

– You don’t disgust me. I just barely know you and I don’t know if I should trust you, but you are my father… Aaaah! You’re so weird –

Leonard smiled at her and she smiled back. Really, everything was strange, weird and confusing. And it had happened so quickly, but he was slowly taking his place at her side. The fact that she didn’t reject him right away and still opened the door for him was quite an achievement for a man like him who was used to having everything in his path cleared with a word.

Daniel wasn’t as lucky as Deanna to have someone to help him get rid of his demons. After seeing her with Reed, his attitude had changed overnight, suddenly he was back to the old Daniel with a few sharp, harsh words. He wouldn’t even let Susan try to rein him in.

His relationship with Harry had completely disappeared. Charles had to intervene to keep him from being kicked out of the company, but that was all he got because Daniel would never forgive his brother for what he had done. No matter how much he insisted ad nauseam that he hadn’t done it, no one believed him. The computer didn’t lie, and no one else could have done it, since his credentials remained locked in the safe in his office.

And Daniel would have to see him every day because Laura wouldn’t leave town. Deanna was out of the family and Harry would be back to normal, why stay away, why take Emma away from her whole family? They were still staying with Camilla, but not for long, eventually they would have to find their own place.

The worst part was being carried by Jonathan, he missed her terribly and was still very angry with his father for driving her away. He completely ignored him when he was in the house or picking them up from school. Daniel could talk to him, but the boy would just look out the window or lock himself in his room to play. Ethan and Naomi also wanted to see her again, but perhaps being older they understood the situation better. The little girl felt sorry for her father, and whenever she could, she would hug him and kiss him on the cheek, which he would reciprocate, easing his heart a little.

But Ethan couldn’t stand to see his little brother like that, every time he wanted to ask his father about Deanna, he either didn’t answer or avoided any reference to her. She was gone and with another man; his children had nothing to do with Deanna anymore. Still, he felt he had to do something for the little boy.

-Aunt, have you heard from Deanna? –

– No, Ethan – Susan didn’t want to tell him, yes, she knew where she was and with whom.

– Jonathan misses her a lot, he’s always sad… do you think she wants to see him? –

– I don’t know… Deanna must still be in a lot of pain too, I’m not sure it would be good for her to see him either –

– Dad doesn’t tell me anything about her… –

– You miss her, I know, sweetheart. Understand that your father must miss her terribly, too, and he must feel guilty… it’s not easy for him. Asking him about Deanna will only make him feel worse. Give him time… –

Susan couldn’t help it, she had to do something for her nephews and niece. They weren’t to blame for the adults’ problems. She just hoped that Deanna would want to see them again.

She asked for them at the front desk of the hotel and they called her to let her know.

-You can go upstairs, room 1001,” the desk clerk told her.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

And she went up to the suite. She knocked on the door, but the one who opened it was not Deanna, but Leonard.

– YOU! What are you doing here?- she asked in surprise.

– Hi Susan, how are you?

– I want to see Deanna.

– What for? –

– It’s none of your business.

– Of course it’s my business. Deanna’s not here, she’s out. – That was a lie.

– I don’t believe you, Leonard.

– Come on, honey, let me walk you to the elevator –

He walked out, closing the door behind him. But Susan didn’t want to move. It was true, everything that had been said was true.

– Doesn’t she want to see me? –

– She’s not here, Susan.

– Why are you here with her? –

– I’m helping her with that stupid thing your brother did… why did you come here? Why don’t you go and tell that asshole to leave her alone? –

– I didn’t come for Daniel…

– Well, whatever it is, you’d better go before she comes back. She left him, she doesn’t want to come back, leave her alone –

– But…

– Please, Susan…

There was no point in insisting any longer.

-Tell her that the children miss her, that Jonathan misses her terribly… If she could at least talk to them… They can’t communicate, they don’t know how she is… At least tell her that, will you? –

– I’ll tell him –

Susan knew she was listening on the other side of the door. When they called to let her know that Miss Susan Crusher was there to see her, Deanna went into another state of distress. Last time, she had begged her to go back to her brother; she wasn’t sure of herself and was afraid to give in again. Leonard made her go upstairs so he could reject her himself. It was easier that way, she would see him there and eventually convince herself that continuing to look for her would have no effect.

She leaned her forehead against the door and sighed in anguish. She remembered the little boy’s face, his fingers squeezing her hand and his silent smile, and her heart broke. She adored the little grasshopper, and in all that time she never thought about how she had left the house without even saying goodbye to the children.