In Your Dreams
CAITLYN’S POV
“Well,” Mom said, rubbing her palms together. “This is it. We’re home.”
I looked through the window again and scoffed. “No. You’re home.”
Her smile weakened. “Caitlyn.”
“What?”
“We talked about this already and you promised to try.”
“I promised to come with you. I’m here.”
“That isn’t the same as trying.”
I folded my arms and stared straight ahead. We had already argued about this enough times. I knew what she wanted me to say. She wanted me to call this place home and act grateful because she had married a rich man.
But home was the small two-bedroom apartment we had left that morning. It was our noisy neighbors arguing upstairs and the smell of burnt toast whenever she tried to make breakfast.
This cold mansion wasn’t my home. It belonged to her new husband and his sons.
Mom reached into the back seat and placed her hand over mine. “Ricardo is a good man. Please don’t decide you hate him before giving him a chance.”
“I don’t hate him.”
“You refused to speak to him throughout the wedding dinner.”
“Because I had nothing to say to him,” I replied, unable to hide my irritation.
“You could have started with congratulations.”
I pulled my hand away. “You congratulated yourself enough for both of us.”
Pain crossed her face, and guilt pinched my chest immediately. I almost apologized, but she opened her door before I could.
“Let’s go inside.”
A man dressed in a grey suit came down the steps as we climbed out of the car.
“Good evening, Mrs. Beauvein.” He gave Mom a polite nod before turning to me. “Miss Dexter.”
Mrs. Beauvein. Hearing my mother called by another man’s name made my stomach turn.
He reached for our bags, but I held tightly to mine. “No, thank you.”
He stepped aside without arguing.
The large front doors opened, and cool air rushed over me as soon as I entered.
My sneakers made small squeaking sounds against the spotless floor. A chandelier hung far above us, bright enough to light the entire apartment building we had left behind. Paintings covered the walls, and a curved staircase rose through the centre of the hall.
I tried not to stare, but it was impossible.
How wealthy was this man?
Mom had told me Ricardo came from old money, whatever that meant. He owned several businesses, had friends in powerful places, and was currently campaigning to become governor.
A man like that could have married anyone. So why had he chosen a single mother after knowing her for barely two months?
“There they are,” a strong, excited voice came from above. My eyes moved immediately to find Ricardo Beauvein descending the stairs. It was almost 7 P.M. and yet this man was in an expensive-looking suit and a tie.
His smile widened further when he saw Mom.
He reached the bottom of the stairs and immediately placed an arm around her waist before kissing her.
I looked away, developing a strong urge to throw up.
Seeing my mother with someone other than my late father still felt wrong.
Ricardo turned towards me. “And I finally got to meet Caitlyn properly. I’ve been waiting for this day.”
I forced a smile and nodded. “Hello.”
His eyes scanned me in a sharp, assessing way that made me want to hide my hands in my jacket pockets.
“Welcome to the Beauvein family.”
He opened his arms for a hug which I hesitated to accept for a while before I managed to force my legs to move closer.
The hug lasted only a few seconds, before I pulled away as quickly as I could.
“I’ve heard so many wonderful things about you,” he added.
“That makes one of us.”
“Caitlyn,” Mom warned.
Ricardo laughed as though I had made a joke. “You don’t believe your mother says wonderful things about you?”
“I don’t believe there are many wonderful things to say.”
Mom’s expression softened, but before she could respond, Ricardo looked towards the upper floor.
“James! Gabe!” he called. “Come downstairs. The whole family is here now.”
The whole family. Yet again, the idea of belonging here made my skin itch.
Within moments, footsteps sounded above us.
One person came quickly while the other seemed to take his time.
When they appeared at the top of the stairs, my breath caught before I could stop it.
The one in front with light brown hair had a smile on his face. Gabe. His smile widened the moment he saw us and he came downstairs without being asked twice.
Then the older one, James, was taller than Gabe and dressed in a black shirt and jeans. His hair was dark, a little messy, and his expression looked completely bored. His cold eyes showed nothing at all.
He looked at Mom first.
Then his gaze shifted towards me.
My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag.
I had seen James briefly at the wedding, but we had never spoken. He had left before the reception ended, and from his expression now, I suspected he wished he could leave again.
"Sons," Ricardo said proudly. "Say hi to the new additions."
Gabe was the first to move. He walked over to Mom and hugged her. “Nice to see you again, Ryssa.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Gabe. Happy to see you too.”
After that, he moved to me, offering a hand. "Hi, I’m Gabe. Welcome to the family."
I took it, grateful for his warmth. "Thanks. I’m Caitlyn."
As for James, he still remained at the top of the stairs, leaning against the banister without saying anything, watching us while his jaw moved slightly like he was chewing on something he didn't want to say.
Mom noticed and tried to create a conversation. "James, Gabe, I'm so happy to finally move in. I have so many wonderful stories about both of you from your dad. I hope we get along soon."
"In your dreams." The reply came from above.
James.
His lips curved slightly, but it wasn’t a smile. It looked more like mockery.
Mom's expression faltered and I saw Ricardo give James a warning stare.
Before things could escalate, Gabe cleared his throat and raised his voice loud enough to swallow the tension. "Caitlyn, why don’t I show you to your room?”
I nodded quickly with a smile. “I’d appreciate that.”
I followed him up, trying not to look back although I could feel James watching me as I passed.
Gabe showed me to a bedroom near the end of the hallway. He stepped aside with a smile.
“This is your room.”
I walked inside and stopped. It was larger than our old living room, there were even glass doors leading to a balcony.
“All of it?”
He let out a low laugh. “Of course. Unless you want to share it with someone.”
I smiled back. "Thanks."
Gabe seemed really nice. Maybe settling down in this huge house wasn’t going to be as hard as I thought.
He gave me a small nod and left. I walked into the room and dropped onto the enormous bed, then I pulled out my phone.
Shit, no signal.
I tried to search for one by lifting my phone towards the ceiling, walking to the window, and even waving it around like an i***t.
None of that worked.
“Wonderful,” I muttered.
I lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
Everything had changed too quickly. I now had a new home, a new stepfather, and two stepbrothers I barely knew.
My mind suddenly drifted to James. To his response to mom’s kind words.
I remembered the cold way he had watched Mom and me, as if our presence offended him. We had not even spoken, yet his message had been clear.
James Beauvein did not want us here and I needed no soothsayer to tell me that living under the same roof with him was going to be hell.
