The family secret

3 - My name is Kelsey

If you think living under one roof with Kendra Weekland is easy, you're so wrong. Kelsey went to college when she was eighteen years old, just like everyone else. She had a boyfriend and they were in love since they were ten. But everything changed one day and he dumped her. Now she lives with her mom again in East-Lakers, a small town only a few miles below Phoenix.

She walks downstairs where her mother and uncle are normally in the kitchen arguing about stuff. They look alike, but only on the outside. Without greeting them, Kelsey walks into the kitchen and places her favorite mug on the counter. Just as she pours some coffee in, her mother sees her and start her daily nag story.

‘Kelsey, why do you keep drinking coffee? Your legs aren't thin. You should better keep an eye on your health.’

Kelsey ignores her and puts some sugar in her coffee.

‘Oh, no you don't.’ Kendra stopped her and took away her mug, only to empty it in the sink. ‘I will make you a veggie smoothie.

‘Mom, it's my body. I don’t want your smoothie. I'm twenty-one years old, I can make my own decision about my own damn body.’

‘Just as your decision to stop your study at the university? Just, ehm, three times? You can’t make a decision. You never had. Now sit down and I will get you your smoothie.’

‘Just listen to your mother.’ her uncle Jack said. Oh, great, now he was on her side. At least they stopped arguing for a moment. ‘You live under her roof. You chose to live her after you stopped your study.’

‘You're no help Jack.’ Kelsey sighed as she sat down at the bar. It wasn't her fault she stopped her study. First, she tried fashion designing like her mother. But she thought it was boring and she would only get a job afterwards because she is the daughter of a fashion icon. She wanted to make a name of her own. Was that so wrong? Second, she tried a health and beauty study. She liked it; she really did. But then the teacher she liked most was pregnant and the teacher filling in hated her. Why? Probably only because she was a celebrity. The teacher even tried to steal her boyfriend away from her. So, Kelsey stopped and tried to study to become a veterinarian. She loved all animals, had adopted two little dogs and would have adopted a lot more, if it wasn't for a fact, she moved in with her mother again. She stopped her study she liked the most, because Steve broke up with her. They were living together for almost a year. They were talking about a future together, to get married. But then he broke her heart. It was not the only reason she stopped. She hid the truth what really happened and hadn't told anyone about it. If Jack knew why Steve broke her heart or the reason why, he would hunt him down for sure. But she still loved him. She would forgive him easily, but he blocked her from his phone and all social media.

Drinking the smoothie her mother gave her, Kelsey thought about adopting another dog or a cat, just to make her mother angry, but shoved her idea aside when her mother opened her mouth again.

‘Kelsey, why don't you go upstairs after you finish your smoothie and get dressed in your work-out clothes?’ Kendra shoulder length hair was up in a high ponytail, what made her look younger than she really was. Her long thin legs were standing on high heels and the one-piece outfit from Chanel, made her look like she stepped out of a magazine. If only Kelsey looked like her mother, she had calls from all over the world. Now she had Saturday and Sunday auditions for a modeling job and would probably get rejected. Again.

‘Why, mom?’ Kelsey sighed in annoyance.

‘Julian is coming over to train with you again.’

‘Doesn't he have plans or something? It's Monday, wasn't he going on a holiday with his best friend today?’

Jack stood up and hugged Kendra for a small second. ‘Yes, but the boat doesn't start. There is something wrong with the motor or something and they will leave tomorrow. He will be happy to train you. Bye sis. Bye Kelsey’

Kelsey finished her smoothie and went upstairs to change her clothes. Her mother wouldn't leave her alone if she didn't go. She really needed a place of her own, but she didn't want to leave her mother alone in this big house. Not after her brother died and her father left them.

Julian was one of the sweetest. Her cousin handed her his earpiece so she could hear the voice too, that was telling them what to do.

‘Are you ready?’ he asked. Julian was tall and had the same family characteristics. The brown hair, green eyes, long legs. People often thought they were brother and sister, instead of cousins.

‘No, but what choice do we have? My mother is watching my every move. She is probably watching us right now from her bedroom window.’

Julian looked up to see if it was true and smiled. ‘Yes, she is watching.’

‘Told you.’

They started their work-out with stretching and a run around the property. Normally they would run into the forest, but they decided to stay close to home this time. After their run, they did some weight lift and muscle training. They both had a yoga mat laying on the grass, a water bottle and a towel next to it. Kelsey lifted a dumbbell up high and let it fall between her legs. Her arms were already tired, but she lifted it up again and again.

‘Fifteen.’ Kelsey sighed. She let the dumbbell fall on the grass and picked up her water bottle. After a few sips, she wiped away the sweat from her forehead.

‘You know that was only round one, right? You have to do it again two times at least.’ Julian had taken of his shirt. His sixpack was glistening with sweat in the sunlight. All her cousins were practically athletes. Their body healthy and strong. How did they all get a sixpack?

‘How do I get a sixpack?’ she asked, ignoring what he said to her.

‘By doing at least three rounds with the dumbbell every day.’

‘Ugh, you're no fun today.’

‘I should be on my holiday right now. Not stuck here..’

‘Working out with me.’ she finished his sentence. ‘I get it.’

‘I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. But Brent and I had been looking forward to go, since we bought the boat and now, we don't even know we can.’

‘I know a mechanic who can fix everything. He is not from East-Lakers though. Do you want me to call him?’

‘Yeah, that will be great. Thank you, Kelsey. Now, before you do that, we have to finish your training first.’ He gave her the dumbbell back again. ‘Two more rounds, Kelsey.’

They finished the training. Julian walked to the other side of the property, to his own house and Kelsey walked up to her bedroom. Her mother went to work and she had the place to herself. She showered first and got dressed. Then she laid down on her bed and opened her phone. She had twelve messages.

JJ: We need to talk

JJ: Are you ignoring me?

JJ: Why don't you respond?

Irina: Hi, girl.

Irina: Me and Larissa are going out this Saturday. Would you like to join?

Irina: I have something important to tell you.

Irina: Don't leave me hanging.

Kelsey didn't want to read or respond to any of them. JJ was her cousin, but he demanded a lot of attention. He was sometimes very annoying. Irina and Larissa were twins, her best friends, she practically threw them away when she went to college, but needed them the most after she returned. Right when she was going to respond she couldn’t come this Saturday, she reads the other messages from Chloé, her manager.

Chloé: Kels......

Chloé: No need to come this weekend.

Chloé: All models have to be blonde.

Chloé: And only size two or four.

Chloé: I'm so sorry.

Her mother was going to be pissed at her. Kelsey tried hard to get size four, but couldn't get passed size six. She wasn't fat, just not thin enough. She cried for a long time and forgot the call the mechanic for Julian. She did what she always did when she was sad; she drank a whole bottle of red wine.