Family Problems

Chapter 8

Yelling awaits you two as you stride through the front door. After working through the rest of the school day, you drove your sister home in your car.

Millie had two clases less today and has already arrived by bus. The argument you and Megan witness takes place between Millie and your stepmother.

"But mom..." Millie flew as you enter the living room.

"No more arguments young Lady. That is my final word. And if you keep giving back words, the holiday home is cancelled for you. Did you hear that?“ Your mother is really angry. You have never seen her so harsh since the day when you thought it would be a good idea to show your siblings your crafting skills and, with your self-made soapbox car, went head first right into of the family car.

Millie is close to tears. She sees you and Megan standing in the doorway and looks straight into your soul with pain filled eyes.

"Have you understood that?" your mum asks again.

"I hate you," Millie whispers. Next to you, Megan takes a deep breath and your mother is shocked too.

"What..."

"I hate you!" Millie calls loudly and turns on the heel to storm up the stairs to her room. You three are speechless at first and when the door slams like a thunderclap you turn to each other.

"What's going on here?" Megan asks amazed.

"Everything okay?" you ask Mum.

"Does that look like this?" You get your answer while your sister is denied hers.

"Uh... no. But I still ask. What is the matter?” Your mother resignedly throws her hands over her head.

"I caught her packing her things for the holidays."

"So what? That's not a crime, isn't it?” Megan replies, amazed and maybe a little angry. Yes, her behavior has actually changed since the experience your other sister had. She would never hit on her mother like that before. Megan likes to prick, but doesn't hurt.

"And during that I found this!" Your mother accusingly holds something up in the air that looks suspiciously like...

"No?!" you gasp in surprise. "Sexy underwear?!" Your mum holds up a red slip and a matching bra in the air. ,That's all'? you don’t ask.

"That’s all?" Megan asks. "So you had a fight because of that?" Your mother looks at her reproachfully.

"After everything that happened to her, that's a clear sign! She thinks she has to dress like this in front of a boy to get noticed.”

"Mum, that's underwear. You don’t see it.”

"Even worse! No boy comes along. She probably wants to go fishing in the city like...” Stunned, she sits on the sofa with the underwear next to her. Megan rolls her eyes and turns to the stairs to go upstairs as well. She announces she still has to pack.

"Hopefully I don't forget my sex toys and all the bondage stuff" she flutes and turns to go. Your mom wants to react angrily, but you hold her back.

"You have no idea about Bondage Megan", you call after her to defuse the situation. At least I think so... Then you turn to your mother.

"Mum, don't you think you're overreacting?"

"No not at all" comes the almost defiant answer. You have to smile involuntarily. Shouldn't that be Dad's job?

"Mum, Millie is nineteen. So it's normal to be interested in something like that."

"Yes, but with her last boyfriend..."

"Yes that was bad. No question. But I think her behavior is more of an indication that she is overcoming it all. The facts speak for themselves.”

"Finn, she said she was looking forward to sleeping at your side in your room." The words from your stepmother don't sound reproachful, which makes you breathe easy. But here she explains something that made her almost exclude Millie from the party.

"Oh..." So that's the problem.

"And with these clothes."

“She's been sleeping in pajamas for years. Things aren't necessarily related.” When your mother looks at you doubtfully, you remember your thoughts about Megan. If you want to protect Millie, you may need to get more involved and not always be so selfless. After all, you would kill for the chance to put her body in this bra and panties… No! Fight... please... You take a deep breath.

"Sexy underwear doesn't have to lead to... sex... mum. A woman can simply feel sexy when she puts on these things. That doesn't have to mean that your daughter is going to be a… you know... She probably just wants to experiment."

"But that she wants to sleep by you..."

"I've already spoken to Megan about that." A lie, but only as long as you don't make it true. In fact, you plan to make the following suggestion to Megan. “There are too few rooms in the house for all of us anyway. So we have to share a room with some people. I wanted to suggest Megan to share a room with me and Millie is staying with her friends. That will help her. And when we're outside you can trust me. I'll never ever let a boy come near Millie anymore if she doesn't want that.” Your lecture seems to calm your mum down. "I suspect Millie will be so exhausted that she will fall into bed every night and never get the idea to wake up. And if so does...” Your mum interrupts you by putting a hand on your arm.

"If she's really feeling bad, let her stay with you. I know you're good for her. I... I'm just worried that she might think you are a replacement for a real boyfriend. Or worse if..." She breaks the sentence and you have a knot in your throat.

"Mum, I understand. Do not worry. If she's feeling bad, I'll take care of her. But I'm sure it won't go that far."

"Actually, I wanted to discuss this with your father, but you seem to be coming after him." She hugs you and you return the gesture, pressing yourself against her to show her closeness and trust. "I'm proud of you Finn. I couldn't ask for a better son. And if you promise to keep an eye on the girls, I'll let Millie go.” You promise your mom and ask who can tell Millie the good news. "You do that. I like to play the house dragon if that means we create an environment that helps Millie." You smile at her.

"Mum, one more question. If Millie is okay with that, I would like to allow her to come to me tonight directly. So that she calms down a bit and Megan gets her sleep.“ You are not so sure on the inside, but you seem to have convinced your mother so well that after a few seconds she agrees. You thank her and go upstairs to talk to your sisters.

• A victory for you. made possible by your continuous reading... and the likes you gave me. What? You didn't give this chapter a like? Easy fixing.