2.The Unwanted Brothers

Mia

My mum was excited, more than I had ever seen her. It was a week after we had gone to Albert's house for dinner and things for their marriage moved faster than I could think. It felt like the two were waiting for me to meet him and like him before rushing ahead with their marriage plans.

The two were going to be married soon but mum didn't want to stay far away from her beau. Now that I knew of him, I believed she felt like she didn't have any reason to hide her relationship.

She was moving into his house and I was going with her. I had done my interviews and waiting for feedback. I wanted to see where my mum was going to live for the rest of her days.

"Are you ready, Mia?" Mum shouted from the garage outside where she was with the driver.

Albert had sent a truck to help us move and I was impressed at his thoughtfulness. He had also sent a small car where we would sit while the truck was only for our luggage. I wondered how rich he was.

Whatever. I didn't care about that, as long as he took good care of my mother.

"Yes, mum. Just a minute." I yelled back. I picked my bag and wheeled my travel box outside.

My mum had packed all her belongings but not me. I wasn't going to keep on staying at our house and only stay with my mum whenever I wanted to take a break. She was going to be a newly wed soon and I wasn't infringe on her privacy, regardless of how much she wanted me to stay with her.

I only needed a few clothing to be with her till I got feedback from the jobs I had applied for.

I got downstairs and looked at our house with tears in my eyes as I locked the doors. I was going to miss it till I was back. I had grown here and I was quite attached to it. My mum was already seated in the black car and the truck was already turning to move into the street.

"Get in here, Mia." She called out to me.

I slipped into the car and the driver moved after the truck. Minutes that felt like eternity already to me, I looked out the window, noting how we were moving out of the city. We were leaving houses and civilization behind and going deeper into the unknown. 

Where were we going and why was it so far? I had no doubt that we had moved past eighty kilometers from home. I didn't think that I was going to visit my mum as I had thought earlier though I didn't doubt that Albert was going to send a car for me if I wanted to so I didn't have to worry about transport cost.

I glanced at my mum and noticed that she didn't seem worried as I was. She was on call and I knew without asking that it was Albert she was talking to with the way she giggled and blushed.

I sighed. It was no wonder she didn't seem worried that we were being driven into the woods. I prided myself on being brave and wasn't going to whimper like a frightened cat. 

My mum was happy and I wasn't going to ruin that for her by calling her attention to the fear churning in my mind, one that might not even be real. For her sake, I was going to be strong and stamp down on my fears.

Albert could be one of those who liked to keep their privacy. With the way he was with my mum and even me, I didn't think I had anything to fear.

"Are we not there yet?" I asked the driver.

He didn't even turn to look at me. "We are almost there."

"I need specifics."

"Just about twenty kilometers more." 

I sighed as I leaned back on the chair and put my headphones back on my ears. Thank goodness for music. I would have been bored out of my wits and screaming bloody malady.

I heaved a sigh of relief when the driver finally parked in front of a huge house and turned to me. "We are here, Miss." 

His eyes twinkled at me as he spoke and I narrowed my eyes at his unwelcome show of humor. So, he knew that the trip was long and boring.

I looked up at the mansion and my eyes rounded with wonder. I couldn't believe we would be living here. It was huge, more than I had ever seen. I had thought that my father was wealthy but this was grand.

The butler was already waiting by the door when we got to it. I could see servants already going to the truck to move our boxes inside.

The butler bowed when we got to him. "Welcome, Mrs. Garth and Miss Garth." He motioned inside with his hand. "Shall we?"

We nodded at him and let him lead us inside, taking us on a tour round the house. He showed us our rooms and I breathed as I saw mine. It was beautiful.

The butler's eyes sparked with delight when I told him that. "Thanks for your kind words, Miss."

He turned to my mum. "Mr. Wolfe would be here soon. Would you like to rest before dinner?"

"Yes, please." Mum replied.

He nodded and led her to her bedroom. Mum turned to look at before leaving. "See you soon, honey."

Dinner was more than I thought. I walked into the room, shocked at the array of food on the table. I didn't think the three of us would be able to finish them all and I had no idea that we were expecting guests. 

Mum was already at the table with Albert and the two were talking. 

Albert smiled as he saw me. "Good of you to join us, Mia."

"Good evening." I greeted as I pulled back a chair and sat.

"Let's eat." Albert said. "Your brothers would join us shortly."

My brothers? I had no idea siblings came with the deal but it would be silly of me to think that Albert didn't have kids of his own.

I nodded and didn't say anything else. Five minutes later, three tall, sturdy, muscular men joined us at the table and I had no doubt that they were my step-brothers. They looked just like their father.

I wasn't comfortable with them as I never was with males and hated how they all sat beside me. I felt caged in, wondering why they left the seats beside their father. 

Were they already trying to act as overprotective brothers? I hoped not. I could take care of myself and didn't need them to.

I finally summoned courage and looked at them, surprised to see them looking at me too. They seemed strangely familiar and I couldn't remember where I had seen them.

Albert's voice was filled with warmth and pride. "Meet my sons, Mia. Sons, meet Mia, your soon to be step-sister."

"They should know one another." I heard mum say, looking at Albert. "Didn't you say that they all went to the same high school as Mia?"

I gasped, shrinking in fear as I remembered where I had met them. Quinn, Jack and John, the triplets of misery in my high school life.

I looked at them again and saw them smiling at me. Those bastards. They had recognized me. I wanted to stand up from the table and run away. This was a mistake. How could mum get married to their father? How could Albert, as nice as he was, be the father to those devils with handsome faces?

I had no doubt that the only thing they had inherited from their father was his looks.

Mum seemed to notice the change in my expression. If only she knew that it was terror building in my heart. 

"Are you okay, darling?"

My mum was happy and I wasn't going to ruin this for her. I swallowed and shook my head. I couldn't even talk past the lump in my throat.

Jack reached forward with his hand and patted me playfully on the head. "Our new little sister is so cute. We will cherish her."

It took everything I had to sit still and not cringe at his touch.