Libertine

Chapter 9

Kendall woke up the next day refreshed and re-energized. Looking at the bedside clock, she read 08:40.

Not bad for a weekend morning.

She heard dish noises coming from downstairs, someone was already making their breakfast. Most likely her stepfather since her stepbrother usually slept until 10:30 and her mother wasn’t showing her face before two in the afternoon anymore.

She decided to go eat breakfast before anyone else woke up. She groaned a little as she got up from bed, her butt still sore. She splashed a little cold water on her reddened cheeks before walking downstairs. Her guess was right: Frank was the only one in the kitchen. He didn’t turn around or even acknowledged her presence before speaking.

‘’I thought it was you I heard rummaging upstairs, baby girl.’’ He said.

‘’How did you know it was me?’’ She shyly asked.

‘’Just a hunch…’’ He mysteriously answered. ‘’Do you want eggs?’’

‘’Sure Daddy, but I can make my own you don’t have to –‘’

‘’I want to.’’ He cut her off.

‘’Uh, fine. Over easy, please.’’ She meekly replied.

They ate breakfast just like they always had, lightly talking about everything and anything. Kendall thought that no one could guess what transpired the night before. She blushed immediately as the images invaded her brain. The change of color didn’t escape Frank’s attention.

‘’What are you thinking about?’’

‘’Nothing.’’ She answered too quickly.

‘’Don’t lie to me, my pet.’’ He sternly said.

‘’I – I… I was just thinking about yesterday.’’

He groaned with a little smirk. He didn’t talk for a moment, he kept munching on what was left of his breakfast.

‘’Do you have any plans today?’’

She thought for a second.

‘’Hum, no. I was planning on doing homework for the weekend. Tina did invite me to a party tonight but I haven’t really answered her yet. I told her that I would see how my progress goes since we have end-of-year exams coming up soon.’’

‘’Good, then you can tell her that you won’t be able to make it. You’re spending the night with me.’’

Kendall felt her inside contract violently at the thought. She immediately started to sweat, and her face was on fire. Her stepfather pretended not to see it and continued.

‘’Your brother will be gone again, I think at his girlfriend’s and your mom has a house-warming party tonight. So, it’ll be just you and me.’’

She felt a pang of jealousy despite her better judgment.

Carl has a girlfriend?! Since when? I bet she’s exactly his type; blonde, blue eyes, and waist so thin he can join his hands around it.

She difficultly kept a lid on her emotions, she didn’t want anyone to know how she felt. It would be a dead giveaway.

‘’That’s great, Dad. I’ll start my work this morning so that I’m done for sure for tonight.’’

They finished eating shortly after, neither Carl nor her mom joined them being still asleep. Kendall took a shower, scrubbed her face, and did a little bit of dusting around her shelves and desk. Once everything was in place and she felt ready, she sat at her desk and plunged into her studies. She wouldn’t have stopped for lunch if Carl hadn’t disturbed her.

‘’Hey sis, lunchtime! Need you to help set up the table.’’ He arrogantly said after knocking twice and barging in the door.

‘’Can’t you do it? And next time, wait until I answer you before opening the door.’’ She snarled, annoyed that she had to set up the table again when he obviously wasn’t doing anything.

‘’Hey, don’t bite my head off. Mom’s the one asking for you. Plus, I knew you wouldn’t be naked or anything, it’s not a big deal.’’

‘’Oh, it’s not? Ok fine, I’ll just do the same to you and barge in your room whenever I want.’’

‘’Yeah fine, I don’t mind. It’ll disturb you more than me.’’ He replied with a wink.

‘’Ugh! Perv! Leave me alone.’’

‘’Seriously though Kendall, your mom asked me to get you to help her prepare the lunch.’’

She couldn’t exactly pinpoint why that particular day she had a short fuse, but she felt like she was about to explode. Certain factors like the general laziness of her mom or the fact that she had been stuck on the same math problem for an hour and a half were definitely contributing but they didn’t affect her as much before. She was just generally upset about everything at the moment and Carl was about to get the brunt of it.

She bared her teeth and glared at him. He must’ve seen she was in an awful mood because she saw him back away a little.

‘’I think you need a break from this anyway. Come on, I’ll help downstairs too.’’ He said more gently this time.

His change of attitude surprised her. He was now acting selflessly and like he cared. She didn’t want to doubt his motives or if he was genuine, so she let it change her attitude as well.

‘’Ok.’’ She sighed.

She followed him downstairs. When she reached the kitchen, she witnessed her mother gulping an entire glass of wine while handling a knife above half-cut peppers.

‘’Jesus Mom! Can’t you wait until you’re done handling sharp objects before pounding your Chardonnay?!’’

‘’Oh calm down. I’ve got it.’’ The woman answered dismissively.

There was no time to waste on a pointless argument, such debate never ended well with her mom and Kendall didn’t have the strength to go through it. For sure, she wouldn’t be able to keep her emotions in check.

‘’Seriously mom. I’ll do it, go rest.’’

‘’Alright, if you insist…’’

I didn’t…

She dropped the knife, refilled her glass, and left without one more word. Kendall sighed tiredly and picked up where her mom left.

Carl observed her a moment and started to chop the rest of the veggies. He took the lead, took out the frying pan, oil and spices, and started to cook like it was the most normal thing. She was about to go to the dining room to start setting up the table when Carl spoke.

‘’You know she’s only getting worse right? It won’t be long before Dad starts talking about dragging her back to rehab. Are you prepared to have this conversation?’’ He said just quietly enough to not be heard by anyone but loud enough to cover the frying sounds.

Kendall closed her eyes, wary of something that hasn’t happened yet. But she had lived through it and for nothing in the world would she want to do it again. However, that choice wasn’t hers.

‘’Oh, I know. Are you bringing this up because you want me to be ready for it?’’ She hissed.

‘’Yes and no. I want you to have that frank conversation before Dad gets involved because I fear that he won’t be as gentle this time. It’ll get ugly, even more than last time and I’d hate to see it backfire on you.’’ He raised his eyebrow meaningfully at her.

She shook her head vehemently.

‘’It won’t… Not this time. I won’t let it.’’ She almost yelled like she was trying to convince herself.

‘’Ok. Good then.’’ Carl was dropping the subject. She knew he only did that because he didn’t want to push too much. But he didn’t need to, he had made his point.

Kendall gulped.

‘’I’ll talk to her… again.’’ She murmured.

He nodded before concentrating on his dish.

The afternoon wore out slowly and painfully. Lunch did help Kendall rest, she powered through her math exercises but now was stalling on chemistry. She barely could read her formulas anymore and decided that it was time for a break. She gasped when she saw that it was 17:46 hrs, she had lost complete track of time.

Ok, time to see what the world is up to.

In the hallway, she could hear a shower running, coming from the master bedroom. Probably her mom. Zero noise was coming from her stepbrother’s bedroom though. Was he already gone?

She went downstairs to see if his car was still in the driveway. Looking through the window, she couldn’t see it.

‘’What are you looking for, little one.’’ A voice came from behind her.

Kendall jumped and screeched.

‘’What the hell is wrong with you? You almost gave me a heart attack!’’ She growled.

He chuckled.

‘’Sorry, didn’t mean to.’’ He mocked ‘’Were you looking to see if Carl was already gone?’’

‘’Yeah, I didn’t hear him in his room, and I was so absorbed in my work, I didn’t hear him leave.’’

He groaned approvingly.

‘’How did that go? The schoolwork?’’

‘’Good… You know.’’ She answered evasively.

‘’Did you cancel with your friend?’’

‘’Yes, I did.’’

‘’Good.’’

After her mom rummaged through every piece of clothing and make-up she owned, or so Kendall heard. She left the house, wishing everyone a good night, and said not to wait for her. Kendall knew she wouldn’t see her before the early hours of the morning, the friends she was going to was just as bad as her mom. Recently divorcees who just moved out to a brand-new house.

Great minds think alike.

Five minutes after she heard the front door close, she heard a knock on her bedroom door. She didn’t have time to answer before Frank poked his head in.

‘’Baby girl, I want you in my room in five minutes and completely naked. The door will be open so let yourself in and wait for me at the foot of the bed. Understood?’’

‘’Yes, Daddy.’’ She mumbled.

He closed the door and she undressed right away. She felt vulnerable standing naked, even in her own room. She took a long breath in, braced herself, and walked out.

She had been standing where he told her for several minutes when she heard him walk in and close the door behind him. She didn’t want to turn to look at him. She feared he would see right through her nerves.

‘’Good, baby girl. Now, let’s get this started.’’