THR33 DIFFERENT WOMEN. Part 58.

Jay had turned off his phone when the voicemail inbox was filled up. Right now he didn't want to speak to anyone, or hear their voices. No one being able to track him was an additional bonus. He hadn't spoken since he left Bradley Kreuz a broken man. Except to leave a message of his own. He needed some alone time to think things through. After which he'd taken one of their many vehicles for a long drive. Though he'd had no destination in mind, he'd ended up here. Having driven past Dale and Sophie's old place and a lot of other memories.

They'd all changed. The present had reached back through time to alter the past. He'd found himself thinking over everything he'd said and done. Trying to work out whether those things had changed as well. Quips, remarks, jokes, arguments, conversations. All the things he'd done with Sophie since they'd moved to this place. The cabin in the woods. Had he said things which hurt her? Did he do things that reminded her of her disgusting ordeal? It didn't matter how inadvertently the hurting had been done. It only mattered that he might have caused her pain. It didn't matter how he looked at this, their relationship had changed. Having kept her rape secret from him for so long, it must have been a terrible decision to allow him access to her undisclosed past. The guilt she'd felt for betraying him? Why? When she'd had no other recourse. No one to turn to, because he was a callous, selfish, unfeeling jerk.

If not for her training him in the arts of friendship, he'd never have found Nef. She'd insisted he take that job. The one that was now his life. A fairly happy one until today. All the blessings he had, turned into ashes. Like those photographs in the fire. He didn't want her to change. He didn't want their relationship to alter in the slightest. The contradictions weren't lost on him. Those weren't changes he decided. They were evolution. It was dark now. Not as dark as his mood. Nowhere near as black as his soul. He shivered. Part the chill of a mountain nightfall, part the thought of what he'd almost certainly lost. Things had been going too well. The move to Tuvah, where they spent almost half the year. Gerard and Liz coming along. He'd been hired as a pilot. Enjoying being the first one to take off and land on the new airstrip. Happy memories. Would there be any to add to them?

"Any chance of you getting your head out of your ass?"
That was how Sophie usually snapped him out of one of his moods. Now he was hallucinating. Sad that he might never hear her say that again. Jay froze as he felt the warmth behind him. What the fuck? Of course she'd have worked out where he'd end up. Even when he didn't know himself. She knew him better. Sophie's arms came around his neck. Her chin rested on his shoulder. The silent tears started slowly trickling down his face.
"I'm sorry." He wailed, wanting so hard to take her in his arms and make this all go away.
He couldn't bring himself to touch her with the hands he'd beaten Bradley with.
"Why? What have you done little bro?"
"I'm just sorry."
"Not as sorry as you will be when Nef gets here. She's been worried sick. Thought you might have done something stupid."
"Where is she?"
"Waiting in the car. She sent me ahead. Thought it would be best if we had a private chat first."
He rested his head on her arm, the tears still flowing. More slowly now. He sniffed.
"I must have been so deep in my headspace I didn't hear you."
"We used a Tesla. Damn those things are a lot better than you'd think. The acceleration is scary fast. Now she's buying me one. It's great having a bestie who has more money than God."
He rubbed at the tears he'd only just noticed on his face.
"It's complicated. Most of that money is shared with the citizens of Tuvah."
"Well I'm not sharing my Tesla with them. They'll have to get their own. I might start a dealership on the islands. What do you think?"
Could this be possible? The whole dynamic between them should have changed. Yet here they were talking crap about nothing, like they always did. Jay was sitting on the back step. One down from the top. Sophie wrapped her arms and legs around him, like she used to do. Like she always did. Like she always would. Jay wiped his sleeve across his face.
"So are we okay?" He asked, still uncertain.
"Why wouldn't we be? Nothing's changed between us. It never will. You'll always be my annoying little brother and I'll always be your much smarter big sister."
"Are you dry humping my husband by any chance?"
It seemed Nef had become tired of waiting.
"Yes I am."
"Cool. Can I join in?"
"Sure feel free."
Jay chuckled.
"Do I get any say in this?"
"No." They answered simultaneously.
Nef set herself down beside him, her arms intertwined with Sophie's.
"I'm sorry my darling." He pushed his face into her long black hair, kissing his wife softly.
"Me too baby. I think today has been tough on all of us. Do you need more time to get your shit together?"
He sighed. Took a deep cleansing breath.
"Yeah I think we can head back."
All three rose together.
"Or." Nef responded. "We could stay here for the night."
Sophie shrugged.
"We can make up two beds, no problem."
"One bed will be fine." His lovely wife gave a dirty giggle, or was it the other way round?

There were few things better than being awoken by the smell of bacon. The ladies had obviously done some grocery shopping. His taste buds tingled. Would it be thick cut maple smoked? It was a strong possibility. He found Sophie in the kitchen. Oh yes, they'd bought his favorite. They did love him. Beating the shit out of a shit sure built up an appetite. Although it might have been almost a day since he'd last eaten and that had ended up on the ground. There was thumping coming from the loft, as he gave his sis a hug. She gave him a big smile. Things weren't back to exactly how they'd been. They'd get there though. An upside down head appeared through the hatch above and behind him.

"What's in this trunk?" Nef asked.
"A better question would be what the hell are you doing up there?" He retorted.
"Nosing around. Seeing if I can find out any of your little secrets. So what's in the trunk?"
"He doesn't know. His father left it for him." Sophie provided, then went on with a brief explanation of the trip they'd made across the length and breadth of the mainland.
"Where's the key?"
She wasn't going to let this rest. Unless he stamped down on it hard. As if he could do that.
"There isn't one. And I don't want to break it open."
That should halt this in its tracks.
"Not a problem. Get your arse over here I'm passing it down."

Resistance was futile. The three of them had breakfast with the trunk sitting there. Jay finding it impossible to work out why he'd never opened the damn thing. It was something he'd get around to. Then after it had been consigned to the attic, he'd forgotten all about it. Even now he was reluctant to open it. With the absence of a key, he hoped Nef would give up. At least he thought he did. As soon as she'd finished her food, his wife wiped her hands on her jean, crouching down in front of it.

"That's quite an impressive lock there. Shouldn't be too much of a problem though." She declared, before looking around. Her face brightened. She'd spotted something. Passing out through the open door, Nef returned with a couple of pieces of wire or metal in her hand. She displayed her finds, a big grin on her face. Damn. She was going to pick the lock.
"How the hell do you know how to do that?" He mused aloud.
"I went to an English boarding school for almost 4 years. That's how."
Jay gave Sophie a confused stare.
"That only brings up even more questions."
Big sis laughed.
"Got it." His wife declared happily.
"That was suspiciously quick. I'm beginning to think I should be checking out your little secrets."
"Come on then. As it's your dad, you should be the one to open it."
No going back now. He lifted the lid back until the thin chains came to their limit. There inside were maybe 20 box files. Nef and Sophie nodded their heads eagerly for him to check one. Jay selected a file at random, opening the catch. There inside were his school certificates for various achievements. Along with his silver medal in gymnastics. Nef had been gymnast until her boobs became a problem. He took another one out. This held family photographs. He could see the question on their faces.
"Pick one if you like."
They were both far more selective. Sophie taking the one with a date written on the spine. It was from a few months before his father passed away. Jay was about to take another.
"There's a letter here, with your name on it. A bit redundant I suppose. Who else would be going through the contents."
Big sis handed it to him. Opening it carefully, he found a single sheet of folded paper inside. Handwritten on one side. Definitely his dad's writing. Only a single paragraph. No greeting. He read it. He read it again. What the hell? Jay began to laugh. In a second he was helpless with mirth. He had to sit down.
"What's so funny?" Sophie inquired.
The missive was passed to her.
"The son of a bitch is still alive. He faked his own death. Holy shit." Shaking his head. "How on earth did he do that, on a public golf course in front of dozens of witnesses who knew him? I'm feeling quite proud of that, the only other person in on it was my mother. Wait till I speak to her. I've got a few things to say"
He collapsed again. Laughing so hard Sophie and Nef, grew concerned for his health and his sanity.