Despite coming to terms with the matter, I couldn’t figure out why Bryan wanted me to walk in on him and Mom. He seemed eager to throw his relationship with Mom in my face. Why, though? Bryan came into my room and called me out for dinner. Since he could walk now, the shadow towering over me frightened me. “It’s dinnertime, Carys.” Flustered, I nodded and walked out of my room. The sudden shift in our dynamics threw me off balance. It was strange having someone my age as a stepdad. Filled with enthusiasm, Mom prepared a feast. Bryan had the beverages covered, and I recalled it was the same drink he tried to feed my mother that afternoon. “You’ve been busy, babe. Have something to drink.” Bryan handed Mom a drink. My skin crawled when he called Mom “babe”. The whole thing was just so bizarre. To give Mom and Bryan some space, I finished my dinner quickly and went to my room. While I was changing my clothes, Bryan opened the door to my bedroom. I slapped on some
Before I knew it, Bryan pressed the pillow down on my face, leaving me without air to breathe. My legs thrashed around frantically. For the first time, death was so close. I thought that was it for me. Suddenly, the pillow was removed from my face, and a police officer looked at me in a panic. “Are you alright, young lady?” I sucked in the air to fill my lungs. My tears silently fell now that the police ripped me away from the jaws of death. The police held Bryan down on the ground, and he met my gaze, his eyes red-rimmed. However, I no longer took pity on him. He deserved it. Mom was quickly taken to the emergency room. The doctor said that I’d have lost her if help hadn’t arrived in time. While she was alive, she lost the baby. As she lay in bed, barely able to breathe, I held her hand emotionally. I had never seen Mom so vulnerable. The ever-dominant supermom was now fragile. My tears dripped onto Mom’s hand as she slowly regained consciousness. She had no
“Can you wipe me down, Carys?” Bryan Cumberland parked his wheelchair outside my bedroom door. His request took me by surprise. How was I, a lady, supposed to help him? While I was a year older than him, I was not related to him by blood. Mom brought Bryan home. She and a friend, along with her family, were in a car accident while traveling a week ago. Unfortunately, Bryan’s parents died in the crash. Bryan and Mom were lucky to survive the ordeal. While Mom was alive and well, Bryan’s legs were broken. Given her friendship with the family, Mom volunteered to care for Bryan, and the arrangement would remain until Bryan could walk again. Mom would usually be on top of Bryan’s hygiene care. However, she was out today. Before leaving the house this morning, Mom urged me, “Please watch Bryan, Carys.” Come to think of it, I should give him a good wipe because of his mobility issues. However, I panicked the moment I wheeled Bryan into the bathroom. My heart raced. B
I was taken aback by what was unfolding before my eyes. Bryan had his hand down low, his eyes closed and his breathing rugged. As an adult, I knew what he was doing. I kicked myself for entering the room. “Sorry! I’ll get out right now!” While talking, I backed away. “Don’t go, Carys. Help me, will you?” His voice was hoarse and raspy. I paused. Did he know what he was talking about? The next minute, I heard him whimpering. I cocked my head back to find tears hanging off the lashes of his red-rimmed eyes. “I feel miserable, Carys.” Bryan stared at me sadly, looking like a lost puppy. He seemed in distress, his bangs clinging to his forehead in sweat. A blush crept across my face, and my heart raced. For some reason, I went over to him. Bryan grabbed my hand and took my breath away. It was right there and then that I knew I would do anything for him. As a man, he had needs. “How should I help you?” I asked. “Touch me, Carys.” Bryan put my hand on him, hi
The moan was one of pure ecstasy, and it only grew louder as I approached. The voice sounded familiar… I knew that voice anywhere. Fueled with rage, I pushed open the door. I caught Mom lying in bed. The back of her blouse was pushed up, exposing a patch of skin. Bryan sat on the edge of the bed, his hand still on Mom’s back. Mom turned over and sat up. Her forehead was damp with sweat, and her cheeks flushed. She seemed flustered about seeing me. “What were you up to?!” I clenched my fists and shouted. Bryan gave me the same innocent look as if he had nothing wrong. “I was giving Mrs. Bee a massage, Carys.”The excuse was ridiculous, with the massage extending to the bed. They would have probably taken things further if I hadn’t interrupted them.Bryan was 22 while Mom was pushing fifty. It was mind-boggling. Mom hurried over and grabbed my hand. “It’s not what you think, Carys. Bryan was giving me a massage.” She pulled out her phone to show me the result
It was Mom. My brain was fried from the revelation. I got out of the room, my expression ashen. My fingers dug into my flesh from clenching hard. Mom got into Bryan’s pants. What was Bryan trying to pull? He invited me over, but he ended up together with Mom. I could only assume that Bryan wanted me to walk into him. The suggestive noises from the room were triggering, playing up my nerves. Did Bryan seduce Mom? Why did he hit on me, too, then? He looked so harmless when Mom first brought him home—the sweet and innocent brother I never had. Unsure of Bryan’s intentions, I didn’t want to alarm him. Fighting back my rage, I retreated to my room. I would see what Bryan was up to. The next day, I got out of bed as usual and ran into Bryan wheeling out of his room. “Good morning, Carys.” His eyes were fixed on me. It struck me that I was wearing a strappy nightgown. So I slipped back into my room for a change of clothes. The moment I opened my bedroom door, I c