The Sisters' Secrets: Reen

by Katlyn Duncan

  Reen already knew this was going to be a strange day. The air smelled different, especially when they arrived at the Whinding House. The water was closer than it was at Rose’s place. That familiar itch crept under her skin, and this time, it was harder to pull her gaze away. She had nothing against swimming itself, but it brought back too many horrible memories: Dad’s death, Mom’s deep depression, then losing her scholarship, and finally, leaving. Through those years away from home, she’d wondered if she dove into the ocean, would everything have come crashing over her once more?

  ‘If you don’t want to go inside, I’ll make it a quick visit,’ Rose said.

  Reen snapped back to reality and walked over to her sister. ‘No, I’m coming.’

  Rose chewed on her lip, probably keeping some comment Reen wouldn’t like to herself.

  Shoving her feelings about the water and her family drama surrounding it aside, she headed inside, forcing Rose to catch up.

  #

  As they pushed through the doors into the locked-down unit, Rose said, ‘They’re usually finishing breakfast around now.’

  Reen committed the code to memory, even though she didn’t plan to go there on her own anytime soon. Rose was a buffer for her. If one of the nurses or doctors wanted to speak with someone in charge of Mom, Rose would be there to answer their questions. Reen didn’t want to be in the same position as she had at Chrissy’s where she didn’t know anything.

  Tension constricted her throat at the thought of Mom dying. Every time she pictured Mom, she saw her young, and in love with Dad; splashing through the surf and laughing with Reen with her long hair blowing in the wind. The Burrow had moved on while she dwelled in her memories, no matter how much distance she put between herself and this place.

  Reen drew in a breath before walking into Mom’s room.

  The curtain no longer hid Mom. She lay on her bed, staring at the opposite wall, either not caring or not noticing her daughters had entered the room.

  As if Rose was getting ready to walk on stage, she pushed her hair off her shoulders and plastered a smile to her face. Reen could never do that. Even though she knew her sister wasn’t malicious, there was nothing in the room to smile about.

  ‘Good morning, Pearl,’ Rose said, standing next to the bed.

  ‘I thought they were having breakfast,’ Reen said in a faint voice.

  Rose shrugged. ‘They might not have gotten to her yet. Lately, she takes breakfast in bed, instead of with the others. It takes some time to feed her so maybe they’re coming in a little bit.’

  Reen wasn’t sure she wanted to watch Mom struggle to eat. She knew enough about life that once people stopped eating or taking care of themselves, it was close to the end.

  ‘It’s a beautiful day outside,’ Rose said to Mom.

  Mom blinked and shook her head once.

  Reen’s muscles tensed. She gripped her hands behind her back, willing away the sensation to flee.

  Rose dropped her hands to the bed, lightly brushing the metal railing. Reen couldn’t imagine what Mom must feel like. Trapped in the bed and her mind.

  They stared at each other for a moment. Rose, frozen in her spot, her eyes widening by the second. Mom reached up and placed her hand on Rose’s, shaking her head.

  ‘Rose,’ she croaked.

  Rose shook her head once, her jaw slackening. ‘Mom.’

  Mom smiled, and for the first time in forever, Reen saw an echo of her past. Mom’s smile brightened her face and threw her back to a time when life was less complicated. ‘I wasn’t expecting you today.’

  ‘You weren’t?’ Rose asked, still shaking her head. ‘I come every day.’

  Mom nodded. ‘That’s right. I’m sorry. My memory isn’t what it used to be.’

  Rose opened and closed her mouth a few times. Mom speaking to her must have been out of the ordinary.

  ‘Hi, Mom,’ Reen said. She’d read about moments of clarity, and she wasn’t going to waste this one.

  Mom turned, the movement making her wince. But when their eyes met, Reen’s legs wobbled.

  ‘Reen,’ Mom said. ‘You’re back.’

  ‘I am.’ Reen forced the words out. The muscles around her jaw tightened, the way they always did before she cried. She wasn’t going to do that now. ‘For a little while. Rose said you weren’t doing so well.’ Though from the looks of it, Mom seemed fine. Had the doctor made a mistake?

  Mom sighed. ‘I feel fine.’ Then she glanced at her daughters. ‘Please, sit. Stay awhile.’

  Rose bumped into the side of the bed on the way across the room. She grabbed two folding chairs from next to the dresser and knocked into one of the picture frames with her elbow.

  ‘Calm down,’ Reen hissed.

  Rose handed a chair to Reen. ‘This isn’t normal. I don’t know what’s happening. She hasn’t been this clear in a long time.’

  Reen glanced at her mother. If this wasn’t normal, she had to take advantage. They set up the chairs on either side of the bed.

  ‘My girls,’ Mom said in a faraway voice. ‘Reen, tell me what you’ve been up to.’

  Reen looked at her sister. But Rose only stared at their mother as if she were looking at a ghost.

  ‘I’ve traveled a lot since I left,’ Reen said, unsure where to start.

  ‘Your hair looks lovely,’ Mom said, stroking her own. ‘You’ve grown up so much.’

  ‘How do you feel?’ Rose asked.

  Mom had asked Reen a question, but she wondered if it woulld upset Rose if she took all the attention.

  ‘I already told you,’ Mom said. ‘I feel fine.’

  ‘The doctor said you were sick,’ Reen said, tossing a look at her sister.

  Mom pressed her hand against her stomach and then her chest. ‘I’m a little achy. But nothing I won’t be able to get over.’

  Rose licked her lips. ‘Mom, I want to talk about Syrene.’

  Mom blinked and looked at Reen. ‘You can ask her.’

  ‘No,’ Rose said. ‘The other Syrene.’

  Hearing her name used to refer to someone else filled Reen’s mouth with a sour taste.

  Mom’s eyes widened, but she said nothing.

  The long hesitation brought back so many memories of Mom evading her past. Reen didn’t believe she was going to talk about mermaids, but if Mom could tell Rose that her family was somewhere else – and human – then they wouldn’t have to see their cousin.

  ‘It’s okay,’ Reen said.

  ‘You know what,’ Mom said. ‘I am feeling a little parched.’

  Rose jumped from her chair, nearly knocking it over. She grabbed the strap of her handbag as if it were a lifeline. ‘Let me get you some water.’ She rushed from the room, leaving Reen and Pearl together at least.

  Mom cleared her throat. ‘Reen.’ Mom slurred the word out, feeling around the edges as if it were a different language.

  ‘Mom, I’m sorry I haven’t been around,’ Reen said.

  Mom’s eyes closed and for a moment, Reen thought she was going to cry.

  ‘It’s okay,’ Reen said, reaching for Mom’s arm. The moment her fingers brushed against her wrinkly, and slightly rough skin, Mom’s eyes snapped open. She tilted her head to the side and narrowed her eyes. ‘Mom?’

  Mom moaned, and her eyes widened, as big as she’d ever seen them. She looked at Reen as if she were a stranger.

  ‘No, Mom. It’s me, Reen. We were talking a few minutes ago.’

  ‘Reen?’ Rose squeaked from the doorway. Another woman stood behind her, and Rose held two cups of water in her hands.

  Reen whipped around and shook her head. ‘She’s not herself anymore.’ Slowly, turning back to her mother, Reen placed her hands in her lap while the nurse came over, holding a tray of food.

  Mom let out another moan, enough to scare Reen out of her chair. She stood, her heart racing. ‘I think we should go,’ she said.

  ‘You can stay if you’d like,’ the nurse offered.

  As Mom faced the n
urse, Reen felt an invisible door between them closing and locking her out for good. Whatever just happened was nothing short of a miracle, and somehow, Reen felt as if it ending was her fault.

  ‘We have an appointment,’ Rose said. ‘Can you have the doctor call me later, Katrina?’

  ‘Sure thing, Rose,’ Katrina said.

  Rose took Reen by the arm and walked out into the hallway.

  ‘Reen, I haven’t seen her that clear in a long time,’ Rose said in a faint voice. ‘Something must have changed.’

  ‘If you say magic, I’m out of here.’

  Rose drew in a slow breath as if she were trying to figure it out too. ‘I don’t know what it was, but I think the link is her past. You saw how she evaded the question.’

  ‘We could wait until another time to ask. Instead of us visiting a family who disowned Dad.’

  ‘I don’t know how much time we have,’ Rose said softly.

  Reen wasn’t about to discuss the mortality of their mother. ‘Fine. Let’s talk to them.’

  CHAPTER NINE

  The ride to Rhode Island was a quiet one. Experiencing Mom like that was more than Reen could handle. Rose’s surprise about it all made Reen silently thankful she’d stuck around. If Mom was on the mend from whatever illness the doctor told Rose about, maybe she could leave The Burrow without any worry or the heavy anchor of this place in her thoughts.

  They already knew Dad’s side of the family had money. So, it didn’t surprise Reen when the GPS navigated them to a gravel driveway through a tall wrought-iron fence. The house was impressive, three stories, and looked like it could have been on a Southern plantation.

  ‘Where do I park?’ Rose muttered.

  ‘Facing the road,’ Reen said. ‘So, we can make a quick exit.’

  ‘They are family, you know.’

  ‘Family is a loose term for these people. They cut out Dad, remember?’

  Rose had nothing to say to that.

  Once they reached the front doors, Rose knocked on the thick wood.

  Reen rang the doorbell, unable to hide her smirk. ‘It’s a big house. They might not have heard you knocking.’

  Rose shook her head but smiled anyway. She seemed distracted, probably thinking about Mom.

  Before Reen could ask, the door opened, revealing a petite woman. She peered up at them.

  Rose stepped forward, clasping her hands in front of her. ‘We have an appointment with Tristan. I’m Rose, and this is my sister Reen.’

  Wordlessly, the woman waved them in.

  Inside, chandeliers dangled high above them, and vintage wall sconces brightly lit the main foyer. The sparkling floors echoed every step they took inside the place.

  ‘Through here,’ the woman said, leading them to the first room to the right.

  The spacious room appeared homier than the foyer but still dripped with elegance and money. Reen’s stomach turned.

  A man stood at the window, staring at the bright and blooming flowers filling the colorful garden outside. His tailored dark pinstriped suit fit well with the decor of the house. Even without seeing his face Reen knew it probably held an air of smugness.

  ‘Mr. Barros,’ the housekeeper said to him.

  The hairs on Reen’s arms stood on end. Hearing her father’s name directed to another man unnerved her.

  Tristan turned around, his dirty blond hair slick against his head. Those blue eyes were the same as she remembered but shadowed by age. As if he hadn’t been expecting them, a cursory look of annoyance flitted across his face before disappearing into a polite smile. ‘Rose. Reen. How long has it been?’

  The separation between their families wasn’t his fault, just as it wasn’t Rose’s or Reen’s, but she still had the strong urge to roll her eyes.

  ‘Andrea, bring us some water,’ he said to the housekeeper before she shuffled from the room.

  Tristan unbuttoned his jacket and motioned for them to join him. Two leather couches sat in the corner of the room by floor to ceiling windows.

  The leather creaked when Reen sat, so she kept to the edge of the couch.

  ‘Thanks for having us over,’ Rose said. ‘I hope we’re not interrupting you.’

  ‘Not at all,’ he said, checking his watch. ‘I have some time before we leave for the Hamptons. My family is already there, but I had some business to take care of before the weekend.’

  ‘You have kids?’ Reen asked.

  ‘Two,’ he said. ‘Marshall and Isabella.’

  ‘That’s nice,’ Rose said beaming.

  Tristan nodded his head, as if not entirely convinced of how ‘nice’ his situation was.

  ‘You have any children?’ Tristan asked.

  Reen snorted. ‘No.’

  Rose shot her a look. ‘Not yet.’

  He chuckled and leaned back into the couch, crossing his legs. ‘Take your time. They’re a handful.’

  Reen glanced around the room again. The house reminded her of the time she’d house-sat for a wealthy couple in Colorado. They had two kids, but it wasn’t as if either of the parents lifted a finger as caretakers. Two nannies carted the kids around on their trek across the world. In those three months, Reen felt lucky enough to have a ten-thousand-square-foot home to herself.

  Andrea returned with a pitcher filled with ice water and several glasses. As she poured the drinks, the conversation fell into a lull.

  Rose’s eyes widened in Reen’s direction as if she were trying to convey a message through telepathy, but Reen wasn’t going to say another word. This was Rose’s setup. If she wanted answers about mermaids, she was going to have to ask the questions herself.

  Rose thanked Andrea and lifted her glass of water, sipping quickly before placing it on the ornate coaster on the small table next to her. ‘I’d hoped to bridge the gap between our families. It’s about time, right?’

  Reen raised her eyebrows. The lie rolled off her sister’s tongue easier than she imagined.

  Tristan looked down at his glass before taking another sip. ‘Why now? I mean, unless something has happened, and you need help?’

  Reen’s lips pinched together. This guy thought they wanted money.

  ‘No.’ Rose laughed. ‘Watching my mother’s condition worsen has given me perspective on a lot of things.’

  ‘I see,’ Tristan said. ‘Well, as long as this is just about family.’ He gave Reen a pointed look. She wanted to smack it off his face. ‘I’m willing to negotiate.’

  Like this was a goddamn divorce or something equally formal. Reen clenched her hands, trying to hold her anger within her fists.

  Rose settled against the chair. ‘I’d like to know—’

  A commotion from the doorway stopped her.

  Reen whipped around as a tinkling sound, accompanied by the clacking of heels over the smooth marble floor, approached them. Tristan stood up as if someone had lit a fire under his ass.

  ‘Mother,’ he said, smoothing his hair back. He placed the water glass on the table and walked over to her.

  Dad’s sister-in-law stood behind the couch. Blonde tufts of hair, shaped to perfection, outlined her face. Reen wondered if a hurricane could move that style.

  ‘I see you’ve started without me,’ Carolina Barros said. She tugged at her pristine white sleeveless blouse, curling her blood-red lips.

  Reen’s memory of this woman crashed over her. At Dad’s funeral, their aunt had been beside herself, almost as bad as Mom. For someone who wasn’t even blood-related, she wondered how much of Carolina’s past revolved around him.

  Rose extended her hand to her aunt. ‘It’s been a while.’

  Carolina took it and then snatched her hand back. ‘What is the meaning of your visit?’

  Rose cleared her throat and glanced at Reen before speaking. ‘We wanted to talk to you all about our parents’ relationship. There’s a lot we don’t know about our mother’s past that we thought you could shed some light on.’

  Carolina’s eyes darkened. ‘Why not ask her your
self?’

  ‘She has dementia. She hasn’t been able to remember things for a while now.’

  Carolina flinched and then the lines of her face smoothed. ‘Are you looking for us to foot the bill for her medical costs? Because that is not going to happen.’

  ‘Mother,’ Tristan warned.

  ‘Don’t allow these two to sway you,’ Carolina said to her son. ‘It’s too late to make amends, and none of your father’s money is going to them.’

  ‘We don’t want your money,’ Reen said.

  Carolina laughed, dragging it on a little too long. ‘You couldn’t possibly want anything else.’

  ‘Someone like you couldn’t possibly want something else,’ Reen said. ‘We value family more than money—’

  ‘People who don’t have it say ridiculous things like that,’ Carolina spat. ‘Did you know Pearl asked for our money too?’

  Reen shook her head. ‘She wouldn’t.’ Mom and Dad were proud of their lives in The Burrow. She couldn’t recall a time where her parents needed anything other than each other.

  ‘Every family has secrets,’ Carolina revealed.

  ‘Mother, what are you talking about?’ Tristan asked, his gaze darting between his mother and cousins.

  ‘When Pearl was pregnant with you, Rose, she came here. Wanting to “make amends” as you call it. But Harry wasn’t having it.’

  The mention of their uncle made Reen’s stomach flip. From what she knew, Dad and Uncle Harry had been thicker than thieves until Mom blew into town. But if Mom had something to do with the family drama, she wanted to know.

  ‘I see from your stunned silence that she never brought it up to you. Typical.’ Carolina brushed at her hair. ‘She came into his life and stole him away from his family. Just like that.’ Carolina snapped her fingers for emphasis. ‘They built that hovel together. He broke his parents’ hearts, and it was all her fault. She destroyed their family. Good thing I was there to help pick up the pieces.’