A step forward in the family’s development

Closing the door behind him, Max turned towards the family room, his eyes falling on his sisters seated on the sofa, Lea holding a tearful Meadow in her arms, their mother and aunt seated around them on the large davenport, all four faces turned towards him in awe.

“What happened out there?” his mother asked softly.

“Tom and I had a talk,” he said, padding towards the quartet. Stopping before his sisters, he knelt before Meadow and looked up into her mournful face, placing a hand upon her stockinged knee. “He won’t hurt you any more, Sis.”

“But – but,” the blonde hiccupped. “I love him!”

“What you had wasn’t love,” the young man said softly. “He was dominating you, using you for his own purposes, for his self-image and ego.”

“But –” Her jaw trembled.

“Believe me,” Max said gently, “This is for the best. Yes, it will hurt for some time, but you’ll be better down the road. Happier. With – with someone who loves you for who you are, not what they want you to be.”

His aunt’s eyebrows rose. Quietly, she stood up and stepped over to the window, looking out. Her brow furrowed. “Did Tom leave his car?”

Max glanced over at her. “Oh, no. It’s not his anymore. He sold it to me.”

The redhead spun around in shock, her light brown eyes wide. The other women stared down at him.

“Why?” Meadow rasped. “He – he loved that car. More than –” She swallowed, a small light dawning in her blue eyes, a small frown crossing her lips. “I – I find it hard to believe.”

“I made him a deal he couldn’t refuse,” the young man told his sister, impulsively quoting the movie. “I paid him and he gave me the pink slip with his John Hancock.”

Lea’s eyes lit up. “Does this mean we can drive it?”

“I don’t see why not,” Max said agreeably. “Another car would be helpful for all of us to get around. I’ll just need to get insurance and transfer the title first.”

“Really?” Meadow began to brighten. “Tom never let me drive.”

“Really, really,” the young man smiled at his sister.

“Wow,” she smiled back. “Thanks, Max.”

“You’re welcome,” he stood up. Leaning forward, the young man brushed her cheek with his lips. His voice tender, her brother said into her ear, “Love you, Sis.”

A soft blush rose in her cheeks. “Love you, too.”

The young man stepped away, straightening up, and glanced at the clock on the old war-horse Panasonic VCR. Plenty of time until work. Nothing to do until then but head out to the convenience store. Max’s eyes flickered back to his sisters, their blue eyes strangely following him. I – should have a talk with them.

“Hey, Lea,” he said softly, “I know this might not be the best time, but I was thinking the three of us could go out, run a few errands, have some sibling-time.”

The blonde blinked at him, her right arm wrapped around her twin’s shoulders. She glanced at her sister. “What do you think? Would you like to go out?”

“Well…” her sister licked her lips, glancing at their brother. “Yeah. Let’s.”

The young woman rose to her feet, her mother and aunt watching her in surprise.

“Are you sure, honey?” their mother asked, looking up at the blonde, her twin sister rising with her.

“Yeah,” her daughter nodded. “It’ll be good.”