Chapter 5 #2
When I finish showering, I step out of the shower before blow-drying my hair and doing my make-up in the fogged-up mirror, repeatedly having to wipe it with my hand to get it to stay clear enough and not poke my eye out while applying my eyeliner.
Getting dressed, I slip my clothes on before walking to Maya’s bedroom.
Pulling back her pink unicorn comforter, I shake her shoulders gently.
“Maya, time to wake up, sweetie. You need to get dressed,” I tell her.
She squints back at me, and I feel terrible that she has to wake up so early every morning.
Her lips form an O as she yawns. She sits up, rubbing her sleep-filled eyes, and I scoop her up, taking her to the kitchen and pouring her milk into the cereal bowl my mother has placed on the bench for me.
Maya rests her head on the table, and I have to jostle her to remind her to eat her breakfast.
Going back upstairs, I grab my small luggage and place it by the door when I hear a knock. I look at the clock hanging in the hallway. It isn’t even twenty to six yet. Opening the door, I see Cyrus standing there in his black slacks and white shirt rolled to his elbows.
I roll my eyes, opening the door further, and notice Eli standing behind him, dressed similarly but with a suit jacket and tie.
“You’re early,” I say, stepping aside for them to enter.
They both walk in before stopping in the entryway.
“You have a nice home, but I swear I recognize your car in the driveway from somewhere,” Eli says as he follows me to the kitchen.
I pause and look back at him.
“Cut anyone off lately?” Eli says before he chuckles.
I glance at Cyrus, who has a smile on his lips.
“Relax, we knew it was you that cut us off, though I would still like to punish you for it,” Cyrus says.
I gulp, but he walks past me to where Maya is still trying to force her breakfast down. I walk over to her and kiss her head, and she turns to look at me before noticing them.
She stares at them before looking at me. They stare back at her, and I can see a little confusion on their faces because Maya looks just like my sister and therefore is also my carbon copy.
“She looks like you. The resemblance is uncanny,” Eli says, stepping closer to her.
Maya looks up at him shyly. “Hi,” she says nervously before looking back at me.
I point to the photo on the wall behind them. “My sister,” I tell them, wondering why they care that we look so much alike. I already told them she wasn’t mine, not that it was any of their business if she were.
Cyrus turns to look at the photo of my sister and me from before she became a drug addict and we still looked identical. “You’re a twin.”
I nod. Grabbing Maya’s now-empty bowl, I place it in the sink and grab her clothes. I leave them standing in my kitchen before taking her upstairs and quickly dressing her in her school uniform. Coming back down, I sit her on the bench, placing her socks and shoes on her feet.
Eli and Cyrus both look at all the pictures on the wall while also watching me. I can feel their eyes roaming over me, making me very aware of how odd it is that they are in my house.
“Who is this man to you?” Eli asks, staring at the photo with an angry expression on his face that startles me. Cyrus holds a similar expression as he glares at the photo.
“That would be my father. He died when I was sixteen,” I tell them.
They nod, and I see Cyrus raise an eyebrow at Eli. Both are watching me, but I ignore them, putting Maya’s shoes on and tying the laces.
“We need to leave soon,” Cyrus says, looking at his watch.
I grab the hairbrush from on top of the microwave and start pulling her up quickly. Maya whines as I tug on her curls.
“I’m sorry, baby,” I tell her when her hair becomes tangled around the brush, and I pull a couple of strands out. Pulling it into a high ponytail for her, I then grab her backpack, tossing it over my shoulder before grabbing my bag and her hand.
Cyrus follows directly behind me. As I reach down to grab my bag near the door, his hand snakes out, grabbing it.
“I will get this,” he says, and I open the door, stepping out, waiting for them to step past me, and I quickly lock the deadbolt on the door. Walking past my car to the end of the driveway, I notice a limo parked on the curb.
“Aunty Ada, what happened to the car? Why is it so long?” Maya says, staring at it.
Eli walks past, opening the door. “It’s a limo. It’s how they are made,” he tells her, holding his hand out to her.
Maya stares at it hesitantly before placing her tiny hand in his large one. He helps her step in, and I notice a man get out of the front, grabbing my bag from Cyrus. Hopping in, I slide across the seat before placing Maya’s seat belt on. I notice neither of them have bothered to put one on.
“You are meant to wear a seatbelt,” Maya says, and they seem a little shocked by her calling them out before Eli smiles, clicking his into place.
“Better?” he asks, and she nods.
I feel awkward sitting opposite them, their eyes trailing over me, and I pull the front of my skirt down that keeps riding up so I won’t flash them my underwear. The trip to the before-school care facility only takes a few minutes, but it feels like forever under their gaze.
As we pull up, Eli undoes his belt, following me out. He pulls his phone from his pocket before showing it to Maya.
“This lady will pick you up after school and take you to your grandma,” he tells her, showing her the photo he’s sent me.
“She is pretty, like a fairy. What is her name?” Maya beams up at him. Maya seems to really like them, which I find strange. She is usually pretty standoffish with strangers, especially men, yet she speaks comfortably with them.
“Her name is Emery,” Eli tells her, and Maya nods.
“I emailed her teacher last night to let her know,” I tell him, and he nods once before hopping back into the car. I walk her inside before rushing back out, not wanting to be the reason they are late.
Climbing back in, I slide along the seat. I suddenly feel very claustrophobic without Maya as a distraction in the small space with them. I tug my skirt down as it rides up as I move across the seat across from them.
“Nice purple-lace panties,” Cyrus says, his eyes looking between my legs.
My face heats up, knowing he has already caught a glimpse. He smirks at how uncomfortable I have become. Reaching down and grabbing my handbag, I place it on my lap to hide myself from them.