My Destiny

Chapter 3. The Orphaned sisters

Although Granny was nice to her, Calyx was her blood relative while she was only related to the family by marriage. Phyliane found it hard to believe that the Johnsons would stand by her during a conflict between her and Calyx. Such was the case with her sister’s parents-in-law.

Before the marriage, the in-laws were nothing but good to Phyliane’s sister, to the point that their birth daughter was jealous. It was a different story after the wedding. Every time Samone got into an argument with her husband, her mother-in-law would get on Phyliane’s sister’s case about being a bad wife. The son was always a family member while the daughter-in-law remained an outsider.

“You must be heading to work, so I should get out of your line. I’ll get Calyx to get you home for dinner tonight.” Says Granny Julie.

“Granny, I’m closing the shop late at night. I probably won’t be able to make it. Can we reschedule it for the weekend?” answered Phyliane.

The school was off on weekends since the bookend’s livelihood depends on the students, and business was slow on days when school was out. She would have time and no need to set up the shop on such occasions.

“Sure, Phyliane.” Granny Julie added. “The weekend, it is. Go on with your work then.” The old lady hung up the call.

Instead of heading straight to the shop, Phyliane sent a message to her best friend Julienne Edwards, that she would make it back before the last school bell rang. With one major milestone ticked off her list, Phyliane had to let her sister know and move out of her place. She reached her sister’s place a few minutes later.

Her sister was hanging clothes out to dry on the balcony when she arrived. Seeing that Phyliane was home, her sister expressed her concern. “Why are you back at this hour? Is the shop closed today?”

Her brother-in-law is not around, he had gone to work. “I’ll go in the afternoon. Is Marcus awake yet?” Marcus is Phyliane’s nephew.

“Not yet. The house won’t be this quiet if he’s awake.” Phyliane asked about last night as she helped her sister with the laundry.

“He’s not trying to kick you out. He’s simply under a lot of stress. It’s not like I’m not working. Samone clarified for her husband. Phyliane kept to herself, knowing well that it was Jacob’s covert attempt to throw her out.

Jacob earned a lot as a manager in a firm. Phyliane’s sister, Samone met him in college and was working in the same firm. When they got married, the man lovingly said to Samone, “I’ll take care of you. Just stay home and rest. I need you rested and healthy if we’re going to have a baby.”

Believing she has found herself the right man, Samone quits her job and becomes a housewife. She gave birth to a lovely son a year into the marriage and had no time to dress up between caring for a child and managing housework. She paid no attention to watching her figure, nor could she break free from her routine and return to the workplace.

Now, after four years, Samone went from a young and beautiful woman to an overweight and un-kept housewife with no time to spare herself.

Phyliane was 5 years younger than her sister. Their parents died in an accident when Phyliane was ten. Since then, Phyliane and Samone had only each other to cling to.

The grandparents from both sides of their family wanted a piece of the compensation for their parent’s accident. With what was left, the sisters had to scrimp and save to pull through college. It would have been enough for the sisters to complete their studies. The grandparents also hog the family home, so the sisters resorted to renting. Their renting days were finally over when Samone walked down the aisle.

Samone absolutely adored Phyliane and talked to her then-husband-to-be about living with Phyliane after their marriage. The man was quick to say yes to taking Samone and Phyliane as a one-package deal, but his resentment was beginning to rear its ugly head.

“I’m sorry Samone, I’m a burden to you,” Phyliane said softly. “No. don’t think that way. Mom and dad left us too soon and I’m all you got.”

Phyliane was moved. As a child, Phyliane could always count on her sister, but now it was turn to be Samone’s support. After a brief silence, Phyliane took out her marriage license and showed it to Samone. She said, “I’m married, Samone. I just signed the papers and came back to let you know. I’ll be packing up and moving out in a bit.”

Samone’s shocked. “You got married?” Samones’s voice turned in high pitch, almost to a screech.

Samone snatched the marriage license for a closer inspection. There was his sister’s name alongside a stranger’s name on the papers. Attached was a photo of the newlyweds. She stared at Phyliane in disbelief.

The man in the photo was good-looking, but his piercing eyes and callous lines along his facial features were telltale signs that he would not be the easiest person to get along with.

“I thought you didn’t have a boyfriend? What’s this, Phyliane?”

While on her way back, Phyliane had already made up a story. She answered, “I have been in a relationship for quite some time. His name’s Calyx. He was always busy with work, so he could never make time to come to meet you. He proposed, and I said yes. Then, we went to get our marriage license at City Hall. He’s a great man, Samone. He’s good to me. Don’t worry, I’ll have my happily-ever-after.”

Her sister had a hard time buying her story. She had never heard of a boyfriend in Phyliane’s life. Yet the latter was telling her now that she had got a ring on her finger.

She must have overheard the fight last night. Upset, Samone teared up and said, Phyliane, I told Jacob you paid for groceries. Feel free to stay with us. There’s no need to rush to marry or move out.”

Samone bet Phyliane had not known her boyfriend for long. Otherwise, she would not have waited until now to tell her.

The sudden decision to get a marriage license was because Samone’s husband, Jacob Sanders, believed Phyliane overstayed her welcome. Phyliane was in a hurry to give herself away before Samone’s marriage was on the rocks.

Phyliane comforted her sister. “Samone, you got nothing to do with it. My relationship with Calyx is very strong. I got my happy ending. You should be happy for me.” She said with a smile.

Samone could not stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. Phyliane helplessly embraced her sister until Samone cried her heart out and calmed down. Phyliane made a promise to Samone. “I’ll visit you often in Samone. Calyx’s house is in Discovery Garden, not far from yours. It takes me ten minutes on my e-bike.

Samone suddenly remembered and asked Phyliane. “What about the situation with his family?”