SISTERS
1533 Words
The Vale mansion was unusually quiet that afternoon.
Elena sat in the garden with her sister, Carol, while tea cooled between them. It was one of the few occasions when the sisters had been able to spend time alone.
It's been 4 days since Victoria left, she had called just once , stating she would be leaving where she was for another place.
“You've hardly touched your tea,” Elena said.
Carol smiled faintly. “I'm listening to you.”
“You always say that when you're thinking about something else.”
“Maybe I'm thinking about what you just said.”
Elena laughed.
“I was talking about Amara.”
“I know.”
“She has changed so much since graduating.”
Carol nodded.
“She has.”
“She used to complain about studying all the time. Now she spends hours reading business reports.”
“She takes after Richard.”
Elena smiled.
“She does.”
There was pride in her voice.
“Richard says she's learning quickly. She's already attending executive meetings.”
Carol looked toward the house.
“Isn't that a little soon?”
“I thought so too at first. But she's doing well.”
“Better than expected?”
Elena considered the question.
“Yes.”
Carol lowered her gaze to her teacup.
“That must make Richard very happy.”
“He's proud of her.”
“He always has been.”
“She's been asking questions about the company that I wouldn't even think to ask.” she continued.
“She'll probably take over sooner than you think.”
Elena smiled.
“I hope so.”
Carol looked at her sister.
“You really trust her with everything?”
“She's my daughter.”
“That wasn't what I asked.”
Elena laughed softly.
“Of course I trust her.”
Carol nodded.
“I suppose you've always had that confidence in her.”
“I have.”
For a moment, neither woman spoke.
Then Elena changed the subject.
“What about Victoria?”
Carol's fingers tightened slightly around the teacup.
“What about her?”
“She called yesterday.”
“She did?”
“Yes. She said she's enjoying her trip.”
Carol smiled.
“She needed it.”
“Six months is a long time.”
“She wanted some time away.”
“Do you know when she's coming back?”
“Not exactly.”
Elena frowned.
“I miss her.”
“You could call her.”
“I have. She doesn't always answer.”
Carol gave a small laugh.
“You know Victoria. She disappears when she's overwhelmed.”
Elena nodded.
“She was always like that.”
Carol looked toward the garden.
“She's probably enjoying having no one comparing her to anyone.”
Elena turned to her.
“Comparing her?”
Carol's expression remained relaxed.
“You know what I mean.”
“I don't think I've ever compared Victoria and Amara.”
“Not you.”
Carol took a sip of tea.
“People do it.”
Elena's expression softened.
“They're different girls.”
“Exactly.”
Carol smiled.
“They're both special in their own ways.”
Elena reached across the table and squeezed her sister's hand.
“They're family.”
Carol looked at her hand.
“Yes.”
Her voice was quiet.
“They are.”
-
Inside the house, the front door opened.
Richard walked into the garden a few minutes later.
“Elena.”
She looked up.
“You're home early.”
“I finished my meeting.”
His eyes moved to Carol.
“Carol.”
Carol stood immediately.
“Richard.”
There was an uncomfortable pause.
Elena noticed it.
“Why don't you sit with us?”
“I actually have somewhere to be.”
“You just arrived,” Elena said.
“I know.”
Carol picked up her handbag.
“I'll call you later.”
Elena frowned.
“Carol—”
“I'll see you soon.”
She walked past Richard without waiting for a response.
Richard watched her leave.
When the garden door closed behind her, he looked at Elena.
“She still doesn't like me.”
Elena sighed.
“Richard.”
“She never has.”
“She does.”
“No.”
He sat down opposite his wife.
“From the day we got married, she's treated me like I did something unforgivable.”
Elena looked uncomfortable.
“It's been years.”
“I know.”
“Maybe you're imagining it.”
“I'm not.”
Richard leaned back.
“She was different before our marriage.”
Elena said nothing.
Richard's expression hardened slightly.
“I remember how close you two were.”
“We still are.”
“I know.”
He looked toward the door through which Carol had disappeared.
“But every time she looks at me, it's like she remembers something I don't.”
Elena lowered her eyes.
“Leave it alone.”
Richard studied her.
“You know why she hates me.”
Elena remained silent.
“Don't you?”
After a moment, she shook her head.
“I don't want to talk about it.”
Richard didn't push.
He reached for his wife's hand instead.
“Fine.”
But the question remained between them.
---
That evening, Elena was reading in her study when her assistant brought her ringing Cellphone to her.
The caller was an unfamiliar number.
She answered.
“Hello?”
A man's voice came through.
“Mrs. Vale?”
“Yes.”
“I'm calling regarding your niece, Victoria.”
Elena froze.
“Why?”
There was a pause.
“We have some difficult news.”
Her hand tightened around the phone.
“What happened?”
The voice became slower.
“There has been an accident.”
Elena's face went pale.
“What accident?”
“The flight Victoria was scheduled to take crashed earlier today.”
The room seemed to disappear around her.
Elena couldn't speak.
“What?”
“We're still waiting for complete confirmation, but—”
“No.”
Her voice broke.
“No, you have the wrong person.”
“Mrs. Vale—”
“My niece is abroad.”
“We understand.”
“No. She called me. She was fine.”
“We're investigating the passenger list.”
Elena dropped the phone.
It hit the floor.
Richard rushed into the room.
“Elena?”
She stared at him.
Her lips trembled.
“Victoria.”
“What happened?”
“She...”
She couldn't finish.
Richard picked up the phone.
“What happened to Victoria?”
Elena covered her mouth.
“The plane.”
Richard's expression changed.
“What plane?”
“The plane she was supposed to take.”
---
Within hours, the news was everywhere.
A passenger aircraft had crashed.
Rescue teams had been dispatched.
The number of casualties was unknown.
Families were gathering at airports.
Authorities were working to identify the passengers.
And among the names being reported was Victoria's.
The Vale family received confirmation late that night.
Victoria had been listed among the passengers.
There were no survivors confirmed.
No body had been recovered.
But the airline's records showed that she had boarded.
The news broke across television screens.
Elena sat motionless on the sofa.
Richard stood beside her.
Neither of them spoke.
Amara was not in the country at the moment, she was attending her first Overseas meeting at New Zealand.
Carol had not stopped crying.
She had collapsed when she heard the news.
She kept repeating the same words.
“My daughter.”
“My daughter.”
“My baby.”
Elena held her sister tightly.
“Carol, please.”
“She was supposed to come home.”
“I know.”
“She was supposed to come home.”
Carol's body shook as she cried.
Elena cried with her.
Richard stood nearby, unable to find anything to say.
The woman who had always seemed so strong was completely broken.
Carol clung to Elena as though she were the only thing keeping her standing.
“I should have gone with her,” she whispered.
“You couldn't have known.”
“I should have known.”
Elena held her tighter.
“No.”
Carol shook her head.
“She called me before she left.”
Her voice cracked.
“She said she was coming home,After six months.”
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
“Am sorry.”
Carol covered her face.
For the rest of the night, she cried.
She refused food.
She refused to sleep.
She refused to leave the living room.
Every time someone tried to comfort her, she broke down again.
Nobody noticed the moment her tears stopped.
Nobody saw her lower her hands and stare blankly ahead.
Nobody noticed how quickly her expression changed.
Because beneath the grief was something else.
Something cold.
Something deliberate.
And when everyone finally left her alone, Carol looked toward the television.
Victoria's photograph appeared on the screen.
“Niece to Billionaire Suspected dead in a plane crash ".
Carol stared at it for several seconds.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
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