Chapter 44
44
We had decided as a family that it would be better for Dan to go and get his things from his old house as soon as possible. Easier for all concerned if he just got it over and done with. I know he was dreading it and originally he said he wanted to go alone but this morning, he crept into my room around seven and said he was dreading it. When I offered again to go with him, he said he’d love me to be there as his backup in case he weakened.
‘You won’t though, will you?’
‘God, I hope not. She’s just so bloody manipulative. You know that.’
I did and it was one of the many things that I hated about her.
When we arrived at Dan’s house, I agreed to wait in the car, and had the window open so I could hear if everything was OK.
‘Stay strong, buddy. You’ve got this!’
He blew air out of his cheeks and nodded, bravely steeling himself as he walked towards the house.
I could see he was in trouble the moment the front door opened. Sabrina flung her arms around him and started to wail. I could hear her begging him not to leave her. And her empty promises of changing, which we’d all heard a million times before. He unravelled her arms from around his neck and turned towards me, not really knowing what to do.
Within seconds I was by his side.
‘Hi, Sabrina. I hear you’ve already put things into boxes for him. Can we come in and get them please?’
‘Oh, Danny, you didn’t need to bring backup surely.’ Her true colours would be coming out any time now. We just had to wait. ‘Little Miss Do-Gooder come with you to do your dirty work for you, has she?’
And there it was.
‘Don’t call her that please. She’s my sister and she’s come to help me.’
She rubbed at her eyes and made a fake baby crying noise. ‘Oh, Sabrina,’ she began. ‘I love you, can I come back? I can’t believe you just asked me that. No, you fucking can’t, Dan. Oh wait, maybe you can. I can’t quite decide. Give me a moment.’
She put her finger on her lip and looked up to the sky, pretending to consider it.
Dan turned to me, not quite believing that she’d turned so quickly. The penny was finally starting to drop with him and he was seeing her for the absolute horror that she was. He’d never really seen her ability to switch personalities so quickly even though we’d tried to point it out to him time and time again.
‘I’ve tried so hard over the years to like you, Sabrina, and I promised Dan that I’d come with him here today and not say a thing. But…’ I turned to Dan. ‘Sorry, bro, but I have to have my say. You…’ I prodded Sabrina in the arm ‘…are a narcissistic controlling cow. And it’s gone on for long enough. He…’ I pointed to Dan ‘…isn’t going to take it from you any longer.’
Her face changed, the penny finally dropping. Dan had finally seen sense and was moving out.
She pouted. ‘You won’t get better than me, Dan.’
He went to speak but I cut across him.
‘He’d get better than you every day of the week. You’ve never been and never will be good enough for him. He’s worth a million of you and we’re all just so delighted that he’s finally realised it. Are these his?’ I tilted my head towards some boxes in the hall.
She nodded, stunned into silence.
I pushed past her and Dan and headed to the boxes, strength I didn’t even know I had taking over my body. Dan stood with his mouth open, staring at me.
‘Come on, Dan. Help me put these in the car.’
Sabrina finally found her voice again. ‘Go on, Dan, do as your sister tells you. You’re nothing, you know, without a strong woman behind you, telling you what to do. You haven’t got the bottle to make decisions yourself.’
Dan brought himself up to full height and approached her. I hoped to God he wasn’t going to do anything stupid. His face was as close to hers as he could get and she had nowhere to go because the wall was right behind her.
‘I’d rather be on my own than with you, Sabrina. You can find someone else to play your little games with. I’m done.’
‘Fuck you!’ She spat in his face and spittle from her mouth landed on his nose.
He was totally dignified when he grabbed the rest of his belongings from the hallway and took them to the car.
‘I’ll take these for now and I’ll be back at twelve tomorrow for the rest. Make sure you’re out. I’ll leave the key behind me.’
‘Keep the key,’ she said, in a quieter voice, beginning to plead with him now. ‘You never know when you might want to come back.’
‘I said I’ll leave it tomorrow. I’m done.’
He held his head high and walked back to the car. Sabrina was leaning on the door frame. I didn’t know whether her tears were real or fake. I did know that Dan’s hands were shaking as he tried to put the key into the ignition and turn it. He put his hand on the gear knob ready to put the car into reverse, and I covered his hand with mine.
‘I’m so fucking proud of you.’
‘Come on, let’s go. I can’t quite believe I just did that. I need a stiff one.’
‘Don’t we all,’ I replied flippantly.
He threw his head back and laughed. My brother was back. My job here was done.
‘You should be so lucky,’ he said. ‘God, look at us pair. Both single?—’
‘And ready to mingle,’ I finished for him. We both laughed again.
‘It is Christmas, after all. Maybe we can jingle too.’
‘Come on, let’s go and drop the car off and go to the pub. I need me a drink. I’m not intending to get shit-faced but a beer or two with my little sis is just what’s needed right now.’