Sisters
1907 Words
Maddie Thorn
“Appointment for Ms. Thorn.” Jane offers the small woman behind a soft pink-colored counter.
“Oh, of course! We have you in dressing room three. Ms. Thorn, do you have any ideas in mind for a dress?”
“White,” I murmured, continuing to look at the rows and rows of dresses. My head started to ache at the sheer amount of fabric in this place.
“Okay…” The attendant says, looking at me like I’ve grown a second head.
I sigh, not at all ready for this. Why was I getting married tonight again? Oh yeah, because I had a lapse in judgment.
Even from the grave, my mother’s judgmental tone still haunts my thoughts. “Really, Maddie? Believing a man can make you happy? That worked out so splendid for us last time, didn’t it darling?”
Jane’s cold touch on my shoulder pulls my mind out of the dark memories and back into the present. A soft cheerful voice saying my name, “-Maddie Thorn here.”
“Aww yes, they’re over there, just about to go back.”
I turned back towards the entrance, finding a striking woman with plump lips, perfect pale skin, and soft golden blonde curls. “Maddie! Hi, I’m Isadora, Dominic’s sister! I’m so happy to finally meet you! I’ve heard so much about you!”
She looks familiar somehow… it must just be her likeness to Dominic. “You have?” I asked, leaning into her hug. I realized the tightness of her arms surrounding me and was caught off guard for a moment, amplifying the past guilt, the feeling of drowning suddenly gripping my chest, and Isadora is my life raft at that moment.
“Yes, of course! Dominic is my brother, but Zach Myers is my husband.” She says, hugging me a bit tighter.
“Oh wow, it seems like years since I’ve seen Zach.” taking a deep breath, I relaxed and allowed myself to separate from one of the best hugs I’ve ever experienced.
Isadora's smile is bright and joyful as she takes my hand and pulls us towards the dressing room. “Don’t worry, we’ll catch up more after the wedding tonight. Now, what kind of dress are you getting?”
“No idea to be honest.” I sighed, looking towards Isadora and the attendant for help.
“Okay, let's take three at a time,” Isadora smiled towards the attendant.
The attendant is gone a moment later, off to another part of the store as Isadora unceremoniously shoves me into the dressing room. “Let the fun begin!” She calls, shutting the door behind me.
I try on dress after dress, Jane and Isadora are no help. They both just keep saying I look good in everything.
“What dress is right though?” I finally asked, my eyes catching Isadora’s in the mirror.
“Well, have any of these dresses felt right?”
“No, none of them have.”
“Why don’t we try somewhere else then? We have other shops to check and appointments to make.”
I stare at her in shock for a moment, “Just like that?”
Her eyes soften as her sweet smile broadens, “Yes, Maddie, as soon as you voice it, it can be done. Now go change, I’ll take care of things.”
“Thank you…” I whispered, picking up the enormous wedding dress. Jane shuts the dressing room door, immediately getting to work on the long line of buttons on the back.
Isadora’s calm, direct tone was muffled through the door as she spoke with the attendant, “Thank you so much for your time. We will be in touch if our bride decides to change her mind on any of the dresses.”
I didn’t hear the attendant’s response. When Jane and I exit the dressing room again, only Isadora waits for us.
“Thank you again,” I said as she took my arm in hers, walking out of the store.
“Of course silly, all you need to do is ask.”
“I don’t usually rely on other people.”
“I, understandable. Jane, I think our bride needs some pampering before her big night. What do you say, Maddie?” Isadora asks, stepping into the car and pulling me in behind her.
“Umm, sure?” I shrug but am unable to hide my smile.
“Jane, please take us to The Garden Of Eden” Isadora called, relaxing back on her seat.
“Five minutes until arrival at The Garden of Eden Spa,” Jane confirms taking control of the car easily and pulling into the downtown traffic.
“What secrets can you tell me about my husband?” Isadora laughed, grabbing my attention from the road.
“What? About Zach? Umm, he was the number one track star the last two years of high school after Dominic left.”
Isadora’s laugh chimed through the small space, “You’re adorable! What was he like in class? Was he a teacher’s pet? He seemed like he would be?”
“Weren’t you behind us at the Academy?”
“No, actually, my mother and I went abroad to China with Dominic when he left Central City Academy.”
“He didn’t tell me he studied abroad…all he ever says is he left school.”
“Mmm, he studied robotics, of course. That’s where he created his first AI.”
“We have arrived,” Jane said, stopping the car a little abruptly.
“Hey, are you okay?” I asked, leaning forward to touch her metal shoulder.
“Yes, thank you, Maddie. I’ll be fine.” She touched my hand reassuringly before stepping out of the car and opening my door.
A small bot dressed as a spa attendant steps forward. “Welcome to The Garden of Eden,” they say, handing Isadora and me bottled water.
“Thank you,” I said, taking them, the bot turning to open the doors.
The space opens up into a beautiful black marble with silver inlays. Two large mental doors open on either side of the space.
“Good morning Mrs. Crane, what can we do for you and your guest today?”
“Well Mr. Masters, this is Maddie Thorn, she is getting married to my brother this evening. We need two wedding packages, within three hours. Have lunch available during our stay. Oh and, if the bride would like, Jane can be serviced and treated as well!”
“What?” I said, turning in shock, Jane’s face trying to copy the shock, her neon eyes looking more worried than happy surprised.
“Yes, The Garden of Eden offers services for individual and their mechanical servants all the time.” Mr. Masters adds, smiling softly.
“Please ensure it is a full service package but do not override any saved files.”
“Of course, Ms. Thorn. We will ensure your servant is perfect for this evening's festivities, as well as you and Madam Isadora. Please follow William to the spa. Jane, if you will follow me.”
I take Jane’s blue and silver hand, squeezing it for reassurance, she just stares at it for a moment, not seeming to register the act as she normally would. I let go of her hand. “Go on ahead, Jane. I will see you in a bit.” I whispered, heading to the large metal door to the right with Isadora.
“Please feel free to change into your robes and enter the infra-red sauna. Once your sweat has been cleaned, we will have a bubble bath ready for you.”
“Thank you, William,” I said to the bot. Isadora once again ignored him for the most part.
He leaves us in the small dressing room next to the sauna. I stuff my shoes into the locker. Throwing off my shirt next.
“What’s up with you?”
“Why did he call Jane a servant?”
“I mean that’s what she is…”
I slammed my locker facing her, “Jane is much more than that to me. Why don’t you address the others? You address Jane, but you won’t address the attendants.”
“So what?” Isadora sighs, throwing me a robe.
I caught it easily and dressed quickly, “I think it means you at least understand that Jane and I are close, and I would be upset if someone ignored her presence.”
“I walk a very thin line with the droids, Maddie.” Isadora opens the door to the sauna, smooth steam swallowing her as she enters.
I followed quickly, shutting the door, the hair warm and tight in my lungs for a moment.
“It seems to be something you ignore. You treat the droids as equal, human in a way.” Isadora mutters, fluffing her blonde hair and letting it fall around her shoulders.
“Aren’t they though? Or on the cusp of it at least?”
Isadora laughs, “My brother would like to think so. God, you two are a match.”
“I don’t know about that. This agreement is purely transactional. Dominic even outlined it in the damn prenup, we have to attend at least two social events a week for media, and possibly do a view photos throughout the week of us at lunch and dinner.”
“Is that so bad?”
“Well…I guess not… I don’t know. I’m not an open social person.”
“Mmm, I can understand that it’s hard to let people in.”
“Extremely, Jane and my work are all I have allowed close to me since my parents died.”
“So why my brother?”
I sighed, leaning against the soft wood walls. “Honestly, I don’t know…I-I have been drowning for a long time…he feels like a life vest somehow…”
“Maybe even a boat?” Isadora asks,
I laughed, meeting her soft blue eyes, “Yea…maybe even a boat…”
“If it was up to Dominic, it would be a yacht!” Isadora chuckled, enjoying her joke.
“To be honest, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen my brother this excited and determined. As his sister, I, of course, don’t want to see him get hurt…but after meeting you, I don’t want you to get hurt by this relationship either, Maddie. I guess what I’m trying to say is, if you ever need anything, let me know.”
“Even if this relationship ends in divorce before the 353 days are over?”
Isadora laughs, “Yes, even then, Maddie Thorn, this world is cutthroat. We women must stick together at the best and worst of times.”
“Thank you, Isadora. I appreciate that.”
“Anything for my sister!”
Sister? I laughed, trying to cover up my shock, stupidly sucking in the hot air too quickly, coughing out“I feel cleansed. What about you?”
She laughs, lying down dramatically against the wood bench, her robe slightly opening. “I feel suffocated! Does that count? Let's go.” She stands abruptly as the sauna’s warm air hasn't fazed her at all.
I regain my composure, following behind Isadora, my jaw dropping as we enter the true Garden of Eden Spa.
- Writer
