Possessed by my Step Brothers

2.

Well, Mum started talking to some guy named Henry. I remember the first time she mentioned him; it was casual, like she was testing the waters with me. But as the days went on, Henry became a regular topic in our conversations. At first, it was just a few messages here and there—harmless, innocent chats. But before I knew it, they were texting late into the night, and I’d find Mum curled up on the couch, a glass of wine by her side, smiling at her phone. It was odd at first. I hadn’t seen her this happy in years, not since before Dad passed.

And I guess I should’ve been happy for her too. After all, she deserved it. She’d been alone for so long after Dad died, and I knew that seeing her content was something I should’ve supported. But the truth was, the change was overwhelming.

Henry wasn’t from around here. He lived in Maine, far from our sunny town in Miami, but the distance didn’t seem to matter. They had so much in common. I’d often hear snippets of their conversations as I walked past the living room. Henry loved hiking, and Mum loved to talk about nature. He adored dogs, and she’d joke about how they might just adopt one soon. They seemed to be a perfect match in the ways that only people who truly understand each other can be. But still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The speed at which their relationship was moving seemed almost too fast, too easy.

Then, just a couple of months ago, Henry invited Mum to visit him in Maine. He paid for her airfare, and she didn’t hesitate for a second. I guess I can’t blame her—who wouldn’t jump at the chance to be whisked away for a weekend with someone who made them feel special? I watched her pack her bags, a giddy excitement in her step, like she was heading off on an adventure.

Her first visit was a whirlwind, and each time she came back, her smile grew a little wider, her excitement a little more evident. She’d tell me all about Maine, the crisp autumn air, the walks through the woods, the dinners they shared. Henry was a man who did the little things—like pulling out chairs for her and remembering the details of her life that most people would forget. And I guess that’s what made her fall for him so fast. He made her feel important again.

Her last visit was this past weekend. She landed back in Miami late last night, long after I’d gone to bed. I didn’t even hear her taxi pull up, didn’t realize she was home until the next morning.

And then, just as I was about to leave for college, I learned that my life was about to change forever.

“Ava, honey, I’m married.”

I froze in the kitchen, my spoon hovering just inches from my mouth. The words didn’t make sense. Married? My brain scrambled for understanding, trying to make sense of what she just said.

“W-wait. What?” I stammered, looking up at my mother. She sat at the table, her face practically glowing, her eyes sparkling like she was about to burst with excitement. “What do you mean, ‘married’? Since when?”

My mother’s smile grew wider, and she pulled her left hand out of her pocket, wiggling her fingers in front of my face. And there it was—the huge, sparkling diamond on her finger, catching the morning light like a beacon. It was a simple, elegant ring, but it looked like a statement. A very permanent statement.

I felt like I couldn’t breathe for a moment. My mind raced, trying to piece everything together. “How? When did this happen?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

She sat back in her chair, the excitement in her voice dimming slightly, but still there. “It all happened so quickly, sweetie,” she began, her voice tinged with a fondness that made my chest tighten. “It was just… it was so romantic.” She placed her hand over her heart, as though to keep herself grounded, her gaze turning distant as she relived the moment. “We were watching a movie, you know? Just cuddled up together, sipping wine, watching a romance film. Henry doesn’t care much for them, but he watches them with me because he knows I love them. Anyway, the female lead in the movie had to go back home to help her family, and while she was there, she met someone—a guy who helped her family out while she was away. And in the middle of the street, he gets down on one knee and asks her to marry him.”

I blinked, trying to process the words, but they seemed to swirl around me like a blur.

Mum continued, her eyes getting that faraway look again. “I got all teary, you know? I mean, what girl doesn’t dream of something like that?” She smiled at me, as if waiting for me to share in the magic of the moment. “And then Henry, well, he did it. Right there, on his knee, in the hotel room. He asked me to marry him.”

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. “Wait, he… he proposed? Just like that?” I could hardly wrap my mind around it.

She nodded, her smile not fading. “Yes, and the very next day, we went to get a marriage license. Three days later, we stood in front of a judge with two strangers as witnesses, and we were married. It was like a fairy tale, Ava. Just a whirlwind of emotions that have bound me to a man I love.”

I stared at her, my brain struggling to catch up with everything. “But… you didn’t even tell me. You didn’t even invite me.”

Her face fell slightly, and she reached across the table to take my hands in hers, her grip tight. “I’m sorry, Ava. I got so caught up in it. It felt right, you know? Life’s too short, and… I don’t know. I guess I didn’t want to wait anymore.”

I blinked, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill. “It’s okay, Mum,” I managed to say, though the words felt hollow. “I’m just… surprised.”

She let out a shaky laugh, pulling me into a tight hug. I could feel her heartbeat against my chest, rapid and full of emotion. “I’m sorry you weren’t there. I didn’t want you to feel left out, but I just didn’t know how to ask.”

I squeezed her back, my mind racing. I wanted to be happy for her. She deserved this, didn’t she? But the shock of it all—my mother, married to a man I barely knew, just… felt like too much.

We pulled apart, and I wiped my eyes quickly, trying to regain my composure. “I’m happy for you, Mum. I really am. If he makes you this happy… then that’s all that matters.”

She smiled through the tears, her expression soft and full of love. “Thank you, sweetie. I don’t know what I did to deserve a daughter like you.”

I smiled back, even though my heart was heavy. “I’m glad you found someone who makes you smile like this. I haven’t seen you this happy in… well, I can’t even remember the last time you smiled this brightly.”

Her smile wavered for a second, but she blinked away the tears and nodded. “Do you think… do you think your dad would be upset? That I moved on? Found someone else?”

The question hung in the air, and I felt a lump form in my throat. “Mum, I—” I started, but before I could finish, a loud bang echoed from outside, startling both of us. The sound of something—or someone—crashing into the doorframe.

I jumped to my feet, my heart pounding in my chest. Mum stood too, her eyes wide with fear.

What was that?

I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. And just as I was about to ask, the door burst open, revealing a tall, shadowy figure standing on the doorstep.

“Ava,” he said, his voice rough, “We need to talk.”!