Sterling parked his car to the side and got out of it. That's when he noticed, Tiff was on her way out. He waved at her. When their eyes met, Tiff couldn't stop but smile. Before she knew it, she was already standing in front of him. "Wow, you are moving so fast!"
"Hi!" Tiff realised how close she was. It didn't bother her though. "So, you're a father now!"
"Oh, you must have met Lisa!" Sterling scratched his head. "Did you two...talk?"
"Well, Brenna was so adamant about spending time with her. Catherine said that's not how she would behave usually but she seemed to be relieved that they were spending time together."
"That's because Brenna didn't like the fact I knocked up a girl! She's so possessive over me!"
"I got the idea on my first day!" Tuff shrugged. Then she saw the gate. "I should be leaving."
Tiff started moving. Sterling turned around and called her. "Before you go, I talked to someone about your sponsorship. He's intrigued but he wants more details!" Tiff didn't expect that. She was still delighted to hear the news but her doubts have been making her crazy.
"Sterling, can I ask you something?"
"Yeah, sure!"
"Why did you come back? I heard why you left from your sisters but I want to know why you returned!"
"To be honest, I wanted to get closure at first." Sterling walked up to the doorstep and sat on the upper step. "My dad...I still can't believe I'm calling him dad." Tiff walked up to him and sat next to him. She wanted answers too but if this was really her old friend, she knew that he needed to be comforted. Sterling continued. "He called me all of a sudden to apologise for his behaviour and he said..." Sterling paused for a moment. Lucia and Brenna knew the truth. They're his family and he trusts them more in the household. Eva had doubts but revealing Tiff would put her on Hunter's radar. Plus, he still had no idea why she was hired as their maid.
"Are you alright, Sterling? You don't have to continue if it's hard for you!"
"No, it's just...you look beautiful in the moonlight!" Tiff started blushing. She playfully punched his shoulder. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable!"
"No, it's just! Peyton...when she was Chad, she only talked about my body features as a trophy. I've never heard a compliment like the one you just said!"
"Well..!"
A deep silence followed. They were avoiding each other's gaze. Tiff's phone rang. "Oh, it's my mom! I should be leaving!" Tiff got up and started walking away.
"Tiff?" Tiff paused as she heard his voice. Sterling was looking at the back of the girl he fell in love with for the first time. "If I had asked you out before Chad..."
"...you didn't!" Tiff started walking away. The moment she left the perimeter, she rested on the outside wall. She pressed her chest feeling her heartbeat. 'Stupid! I'm stupid! Why did I walk away from him?'
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Sterling was upstairs and he was about to open his room. He noticed Catherine yawning and going into her room. "Cathy, can we talk?"
"Not now, big bro! I'm tired after having Brenna boss me around! Amber and Rebecca texted me!"
"I take that you're cool with it!"
"Yeah! I'll talk to you tomorrow!" She went inside her room and closed the door behind her. Sterling opened his door and to his surprise, Brenna was waiting for him.
"Took you long enough!"
"Brenna? What are you doing in my room?"
"We need to talk!" Brenna had her arms crossed. She was wearing a cropped top and her underwear. Sterling pulled his chair and was about to sit but Brenna cut him off to sit on it. "Thanks for that! What a gentleman!"
"I wasn't...never mind! So, did something happen? Did Hunter show up?"
"No, he hasn't. I managed to put some ideas in Mom's head!"
"Wait! What ideas?"
"Huh...about Hunter! Why are you smiling like that?" Sterling wiped his smile off because he was thinking of something else that involved both Brenna and Ophelia.
Sterling couldn't help but notice how neat his sister's thighs were. It was like she just shaved her legs. Her top wasn't doing any great job hiding her big juggers. Brenna seemed to be concerned. That's what Sterling understood by the look on her face. "Sterling, why did you invest your savings on us?"
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Stop it! Lisa told us everything. You don't even know what my plans for the future but you still put enough money for my sake." Sterling stood there silent. He then looked at the picture of them as kids on the desk. "Sterling, talk to me!"
"You know I was hiding this picture from Dad!"
"I didn't even know you had that one frame."
"I asked Aliza to do it behind Dad's back. You know how he was when I got too close to either of you."
"I understand why he did that even though that's not an excuse to be an asshole." Brenna looked at the picture too. "Look at us! Sneaking away from the house to the beach! Did you think we would be here like this back then? This feelings for each other."
"I know I liked you back then. I didn't think it was romantic. Plus, the time I've spent away showed me how much you all mean to me as a family. Physical affection is a way I know to express my feelings for you, Brenna! I would never take advantage of that to hurt you. And I refuse to believe my feelings for you are just genetic influences I got from Hunter."
Brenna got up and hugged Sterling from behind. "Our feelings for each other are our own! I don't give a shit about Hunter's sex god stuff. All I know is that you care about me as much as I do!" Brenna pressed her chin over Sterling's left shoulder. Sterling leaned in expecting something. "Go for it, baby! I want to kiss you too!" The lips connected. Sterling patched things up completely with his big sister.
"Hey, Bren!"
"Still the sweetest kisser ever!"
"You should say that to mom! She would be devastated!"
"Stop making this weird!"
"Says the girl who fucks his brother's girlfriend who's also her bestie!" Sterling turned around and held her in his arms. "I love you, Brenna!"
Sterling knew he wouldn't get her response but he felt like a weight was lifted off of his shoulders. "Sterling, what are we going to do from now on?"
"First thing first, let's get rid of the old stool!"
"He's not here! Can we do something fun tomorrow?" Brenna asked while twisting Sterling's t-shirt collar.
"Ms. Johnson, are you asking me out?"
"What if I was, Mr. Johnson?"
"Well, Mr. Johnson would love to go out with you and he can't wait to see what you have planned!"
"Great! Eva told me about this place I wanted to see and this other place...I am going to my room. I have to make some reservations!" Brenna pecked her brother's lips and dashed to her room. Sterling jumped on his bed and thought, 'a couple of days without Hunter, I'm the happiest man alive! I got it, Dad! When you wake up, you will see the precious family you wanted. Although there will be things happening behind your back, I hope you will understand it. I think I've already paid for it with my childhood so deal with it, dad!'
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In the middle of the night, a crying baby noise disturbed Sterling's sleep. He went to check what was going on. He followed the noise and opened the door. The noise stopped. All he could hear was a slurping sound. A familiar figure was standing in front of him. He was facing her back. Sterling slowly approached her and gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "Mom?"
"Did he wake you up, honey?" Ophelia asked. Sterling was confused. "Look at him going! He's as good as you were when you were a baby!" She chuckled.
"Mom? You're breastfeeding my baby!"
"You mean our baby, right?" Sterling didn't understand any of it. He looked around. The room he was in was filled with pictures of him and his family. Some pictures showed him holding babies with his sisters and aunts. Each of the babies looked different. "Wake up, honey! Breakfast is ready!"
Sterling opened his eyes slowly to see his mother. "Mom?"
"It looks like you were dreaming." Sterling yawned as he got up to reveal his bare chest. Ophelia admired her son's body. "Come on, honey! Brenna wants you downstairs. Get ready!"
"Brenna? Did she tell you anything?"
"Well, she said you two are going out for a picnic. Catherine is mad that you two left her out again then she went to Aliza's to see Lisa."
"What time is it, mom?"
"10 Am!"
"I should be getting up too! The guys are here, right?" Sterling tossed his sheet and got out of his bed stretching his limbs. Ophelia was just looking at the man. Without David, she felt left out.
"Sterling, do you mind sleeping in my bed tonight?"
"Oh, completely forgot about that Mom! Don't worry, I will!" Ophelia cupped Sterling's and kissed on his forehead. "No kiss on the lips, mommy!"
"Go brush your teeth if you want a kiss from mommy!"
________________
Sterling came downstairs. He was looking for Brenna but she wasn't there. "Mom, where's Brenna?"
"Someone rang the bell, honey! She's seeing who it was!" Ophelia answered from the kitchen. Sterling went to the main door to see what was going on but he already knew who was at the door.
"So, let me get this straight...your name is Owen Wilson?" Brenna was asking the person at the door.
"Don't believe it...check this out! Waaaouuh!"
"I still don't buy it!"
"I am not going to ride on a jetski to prove it young lady!" He looked over her shoulder. "Finally, you're here! Didn't you tell her I was coming?"
Sterling chuckled and showed his hand for a handshake. "I should have but I overslept."
"Sterling, who's this guy? And why is he pretending to be Owen Wilson?"
"I wasn't pretending. I was just messing with you, Ms Johnson. I'm an acquaintance of your father. I'm here as a supervisor for the construction."
"Supervisor?" Brenna looked at Sterling for an answer.
"Wilson, is that what your alias is?"
"Not so loud kid! Walls have ears remember!"
"Come in, Mr Wilson! I will direct you to your area of work."
"Much appreciated, Mr Johnson!"
Brenna entered in a confused state but she trusted Sterling that he knew what he was doing. As Detective Wilson was entering, Sterling pulled him towards his mouth and whispered. "Seriously, Owen Wilson?"
"Lola said it would be funny! Why didn't you tell your sister?"
"Walls have ears in this house, remember!"
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An hour later, Sterling and Brenna were driving to a park nearby. Brenna was feeling the breeze as she was filled in with the details. "....so, he's there in case Hunter shows up with an impromptu plan."
"But still I don't know what it was, but I felt like I knew him. When I opened the door, I got this familiar feeling."
"To be honest, I got the same feeling when I first met the guy! And guess what, the guy stayed by Dad's side even when he wasn't paid."
"You paid his bill, right?"
"And hooked him with some cool gadgets!"
"To think that you planned all these in just a night!"
"Well, I'm looking forward to what you had planned for us today!"
Sterling pulled over his car at the parking space and got out. Brenna grabbed a basket and a blanket. She was excited to be spending some time outside, alone with her brother after a long time. Brenna brought Sterling to a familiar spot. "Hey, I remember this tree," Sterling said as he ran towards the trunk. He knelt and started feeling the carvings. "Brenna is the best sister! I can't believe it's still here. How old was I when I did this?"
"You were ten! Mom brought us here when Dad was away. You climbed up to this tree on your own carving something. I was panicking because I thought someone kidnapped my baby brother. Then I found you here."
"You were mad when you were running towards me then I showed you the carving."
"You were so innocent and precious back then, Sterling!"
They both chuckled as Brenna prepared the picnic. Sterling sat down watching his sister prepare his snack. "Once I'm done with Hunter, we will bring everyone here for a picnic, Catherine, Mom, Dad, Aliza, Lucia..."
"And Lisa too!" Brenna said as she gave Sterling his sandwich to eat. Sterling took a bite and she took the next one. When they were kids that's how they shared food. "I shouldn't have been making her feel unwelcome. The more I think about it, I exit because of an accident."
"Brenna, you're not an accident!"
"Mom and Dad didn't plan to have me, Sterling!"
"If it wasn't for you, Hunter would have taken Mom just like he took Keira and Grandma. Dad mentioned it in his diary, remember?"
"I know. What I wanted to say was, I shouldn't have treated her so harshly. I took my anger from elsewhere and directed it towards you and her."
"Elsewhere? Is it about your ex?"
"I don't want to go into details but I felt like she took you away from me but in reality, you've always thought about me and the others."
"You know I will always be part of your life no matter what, right?"
"I know. And the one who made me realise that was Lisa...when she told us about your savings and what you decided to do with it."
"Mom was asking me about the house too. I know, I know, why do we need all those rooms? Well, I want a big family!"
"Of course you do baby!" Brenna rested her head on his shoulder.
"Sterling, when you said big family, what did you mean by that?" Brenna asked. Sterling wrapped his arms around her shoulder and rubbed her arm.
"I am polyamorous."
"Wait, does that mean you're not actually fooling around with Amber and Eva?" Brenna looked at him in the eyes but Sterling was only looking at the kids playing in the Parc with their parents.
"I'm in love with Eva. And Amber too! I think I had feelings for them way before I left the house but I didn't know if it was acceptable. Yesterday, Rebecca and I connected too. You know that I had a crush on Tiff but I don't think she feels the same."
"Wait, so all the rooms in our new house are there so you can bring new girls to fuck!"
"No, I want them to feel the same way I do. I want my girls to see me as their home. Brenna, I want to spend my life appreciating each of you and how important you are to me!" Sterling looked at her focused this time. "I want to have kids!"
"With all your girlfriends?"
"That means you too! Only if you want to!"
"But we're..."
"Yes, there's the issue but apparently we're the exceptions."
Sterling explained to Brenna about their genetic development that prevents the side effects of inbreeding. Brenna didn't buy it at first but he showed her the details he got from Dr Martinez. Brenna wasn't okay with the idea of having sex with Sterling because of the scare of getting pregnant. That's when she was reluctant to the penetration when she had her threesome with Eva. "Sterling, are you saying that you and I too have a kid without worrying?"
"We will keep the details to ourselves, we can also fake the papers for the sake of our kid."
"You would go that far to be with me?"
"Bren, that's how much I love you!" Sterling kissed her to seal the deal.