Chapter 59 – Lola
Chapter Fifty-Nine
LOLA
“Istill don’t understand why it had to just be the two of us. Patrick gives great advice. He’s definitely more qualified than I am for this type of situation.” Elle grumbles as we walk side by side to Mabel’s house. We all live relatively close together, all of our homes on the Farm’s property.
Well, I haven’t built a house yet. I stay at the Big House with Mama, but Elle and Mabel each have their own homes that are close enough it’s just a casual stroll for us to get from one home to another.
“I don’t know but Mabel asked and as her sisters we are contractually obligated to come when she calls.” Elle grumbles something about ‘could be coming’ but I choose to ignore her.
We make it to Mabel’s front door, Elle knocks a little more aggressively than needed.
No answer.
“Huh, knock again.”
“Why do I have to knock again?”
“Did you forget about this giant dish of food in my hands?” I lift the aforementioned pan in Elle’s face and raise my eyebrows.
“Ugh, fine.” Elle knocks on the door again and this time, I’m pretty sure I hear wood cracking.
“Mabel! Open up!” Some type of sound squeaks out on the other side of the door.
“Coming!” Mabel calls from in the house, seconds later she throws open her front door. She looks wild.
Her hair is a sleep mussed, she’s blinking so rapidly I’m not sure she can actually see anything and…she’s not wearing pants.
“This is more serious than I thought.” I mutter, Elle rolls her eyes and walks into Mabel’s house.
“Come in, come in.” Mabel gestures for me to step past her like Elle just did. “Sorry, I took a nap. I thought I set an alarm but…” Mabel trails off, shaking her head like she’s trying to shake an explanation loose.
But she doesn’t say anything else.
She’s just standing in her entry way pantsless, door still open even though we’ve both walked in.
“Good fucking grief, Mabel. You want the whole Farm to see your ass?” Elle had almost made it into the living room but with Mabel’s failed sentence, I can see a flash of worry behind her grumpy expression.
I head to the kitchen area and set down the covered pan of food, when I turn back around the door is shut and Elle has Mabel tucked in her arms and they are walking towards her couch.
I’m quick to join them. The food can wait, something is clearly wrong with Mabel.
More than just not being able to get together with Paul. We get comfortable, Mabel and Elle on one couch, I perch on the other.
Elle is whispering what sounds like comforting words, Mabel’s head nods along before a single tear drop rolls down her cheek. I can’t take seeing my big sister like this.
“Alright, you need to tell us whatever the fuck it is that’s bothering you.”
My heart clenches at seeing her flinch at Elle’s words.
Is this my fault? Have I asked too much of her?
Damnit, I knew I was putting too much pressure on her with work.
Why couldn’t I just do it all like our dad did?
I take a deep breath to start apologizing and making promises to take over whatever she needs me to when Mabel tilts her head up to face us, her tears are gone and her eyes look much more focused.
“I’m in love with Jude. We’ve been intimate since the family vacation and we officially got together after Elle’s wedding. I need to talk to Paul to figure out how to repair their relationship because I’m pretty sure Jude is the end game for me.”
Well, shit. This just got a lot more complicated.
My shock at Mabel’s confession is almost immediately overshadowed by Elle bursting into an evil cackle and announcing she “fucking knew it!”
Before I get the chance to process any of that, Elle demands Mabel starts from the top. She states we got front row seats to everything that happened between her and Patrick, so she deserves to know EVERYTHING.
So, Mabel does.
She tells us everything.
Some stuff I wish she wouldn’t have.
I don’t know how I’m going to get through a work day knowing that Jude ‘licks pussy like it’s his job’ or what happened not ten feet away from where I’m sitting now. My gaze flicks to the counter and I’m silently glad I put the food on her dining table.
“Okay, so the problem is Paul’s hatred of Jude?” Elle is scowling but I can tell it’s because she’s trying to think of a solution. “We need to figure this out. Let’s eat and brainstorm.”
“I’ll go dish up for us. You two start thinking.”
I hop up from my seat, still in a state of shock. I know my twin, but I don’t know how he’s going to react to any of this.
Paul loves his family, but he’s been known to hold a grudge. I’ve never seen him as angry as he’s been with Jude.
Once the plates are loaded, I walk back over to my sisters. “If he doesn’t get over it, I’ll just sit on him until he forgives Jude. Or I’ll teach Henry some swear words. Maybe both.”
Mabel starts to chuckle but it dies as she takes the plate of food from my hand. The blood drains from her face and before I can ask what could be wrong, she’s shoving the plate of food back into my arms and running to the hallway.
My eyes meet Elle’s, they widen in shock as sounds of retching echo off of tile. “Oh shit!” Elle stands, swearing up a storm, and moves to the kitchen. She puts her plate on the counter and hurries to the bathroom.
I put down my own plate and follow after her. Maybe I’ll just skip dinner tonight.
When I join Elle and Mabel in the bathroom, Mabel is thankfully no longer throwing up. Her head is resting against the toilet tank, eyes closed and a worrying green tint to her skin.
Elle kneels down next to Mabel, dabbing her forehead with a wet wash cloth.
She lets out a small moan. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
You handed me that plate and it was like you were handing me a plate of hot garbage.
” She gags as she utters ‘plate of hot garbage’ and I have to fight my own gag reflex.
I’m a sympathy spewer.
“Oh shit, oh shit.” Elle’s back to swearing, worry fills my stomach with worms.
“What, Elle, do you think we need to take her to the hospital?”
Another groan from Mabel at that. “No, no hospital. I just want to go back to bed. I’m so tired.”
“I’m sorry, Mabel.” I squat down, joining the pair on the bathroom floor. Pulling Mabel into a hug, rubbing small circles at her back, I look over at Elle. She seems to know what’s going on and I wish she would share with the class.
“I don’t think we need to take her to the hospital but one of us might need to run to a pharmacy.” I’m more confused than ever and I make sure my face portrays that.
“No more riddles. Spit it out, Bubs.” Mabel cracks her eyes open to shoot Elle a glare. I’m impressed by the intensity she’s able to put behind it, given how terrible she obviously feels.
“Mabel, is there any chance you could be pregnant?”
Oh shit.