AUDREY
I stared, once again, across the lawn of my childhood home. The sky was filled with pastel pinks and oranges that hid behind the retreating blue, the thick heavy clouds of warm weather just covering the setting sun. The view was the one thing I loved about my room, I could see just about everything from here.
My peaceful state was disturbed by the ring of my phone, it was Libby. Raising the phone to my ear, I went back to my wall of glass to continue watching the sunset.
"Hey, Libby what's up?" I smiled a little when I saw birds playing in the air, chasing each other like excited little kids on sugar-highs.
"Nothing much, I just wanted to check in. How're the parents?" I could hear sniffing on the other end and the protest of Libby.
"Hello Link," I cooed, satisfied when I hear the tiniest bark, I continued, "they're okay. The usual. My mother's tired and sleeping and my father's at work."
"How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine. Nothing's happened since I got here, I don't know why Margo and I had to come home for the weekend. I asked her but she's just as confused as I am." I admit, shrugging.
"Well, if anything happens please call me. Even if you need me to pop in for a bit I'll be there in a few minutes, just give me a ring," she reassured.
"Will do, don't worry." I chuckled.
She sighed, "How can I not? Okay, well make sure to call me if you need me. I need to go, I'll talk to you in a bit."
"Talk to you in a bit," I replied, a small smile stretching across my lips after she hung up.
I continued to watch the view until Stella came to tell me that dinner was ready. I sighed sadly at the thought of leaving the beautiful scenery but, with hesitation, I turned and left.
I entered the dining room, shocked to see my father at the head of the table. I awkwardly took a seat beside my sister, trying to be as quiet as possible. I received a small smile from my mother and whatever type of smile Margo was wearing, she looked equally as awkward.
We sat in what seemed like a sea of charged clouds, one move and there would be lightning everywhere, zapping all over the place, that was until they walked in.
I knew who they were before I saw them. The scent of apple pies and burnt wood. They strode hand in hand, they have for about half a century now. Their hair shone like jewellery, more silver than ever. The seemingly endless struggle of life made them look so frail, but everybody knew they were anything but.
"Granpa! Granma!" Margo jumped out of her seat, throwing herself at them, hugging them like a bear.
"Margo! Hello dear, how have you been?" my grandmother asked, standing in her crowning glory, anyone would think she was a queen just from the looks of her.
"Just the usual, studying for uni, trying to-"
"Collect all the boyfriends you can, go to every party held, make as many memories as you can? Don't worry, I hear ya," my grandmother teased, throwing Margo a knowing wink.
Margo blushed, with an exasperated gasp she protested, "Granma!"
"Just make sure he keeps it wrapped up, I don't think I want great-grandkids anytime soon," my grandfather warned, taking a seat at the table.
"Granpa! Oh, just what am I going to do with you two?" Margo returned to her seat as grandmother joined her husband.
"And how are you, Audrey? I don't trust Margo with boys but you've grown into a sensible woman, have you got anyone?" Grandfather's eyes glistened with mischief.
"I, uh, no. No, I'm concentrating on my studies," I replied, shaking my head.
"Studies? You work her too hard! Her life has been study this, study that. Let the girl have some fun for once," my father's lips turned slightly as my grandfather slapped his arm lightly.
"You know Audrey, she's a genius, I just want to show her off to everyone," he chuckled, taking a sip of his wine.
"The the girl be a girl for once. Gosh, it seems that boys will always be boys but once a girl is a girl she has to take responsibility for everything," my grandmother huffed, rolling her eyes at my father.
The servants entered with our dinner as my father let a small laugh past his lips.
MARGO
Dinner with my grandparents was always a laugh, literally, that's all that happens. As per usual, grandpa and grandma would whip out the memorised list of stories of my father and his younger days, throwing in the occasional tease. How to embarrass your son 101.
And as perfect as ever, like a beautiful antique doll, Audrey sat in silence.
I've always worried for my sister, looking out for her when I could, but it seems I haven't done enough. For years I blamed myself for what happened to her, for why most of the world treated her so differently. I was the first-born daughter of George Parkinson, the light of his life. She was the second-born daughter, his protegee and future heir of Parkinson Corporation.
My sister and I were always seen in a certain light, but hers was always so different.
As a child, I found a love for horse riding. I would go riding on Amaryllis, my precious horse which I received as a gift for my eighth birthday. Whether I rode over a lawn, competition grounds or even the countryside fields, I felt free. A freedom that my sister could never experience.
I was my father's light, she was my father's future. On the day of my birth, my father cried in happiness as he cradled me in his arms, on the day of Audrey's birth he was only content.
Surely you see that something isn't right here. That this isn't fair. You see that I am his daughter and Audrey is his asset. Every time I see Audrey, I am reminded of a caged bird, so desperate to be free but so scared of the world outside that he remains silent, as she is now.
"You should have seen him, he came home all flushed and red! You would've thought he was drunk, but no, he just came home from a date with your mother. Nothing even happened too!" My grandma's laughter carried across the room beautifully, the same laughter that Audrey inherited.
I giggled, holding my hand over my mouth, but my thoughts were so far away.
"That night we learned that our son can defy gravity. He fell up the stairs." my grandpa cackled, howling with laughter.
The night continued with my father covering his face with his hands, this of course only added fuel to the fire that burned at full blast until my grandparents went to bed. We then all went our separate ways, my mind racing through thoughts as I made my way to the pool house.
I sat on the side with my feet dangling in the water, illuminated by the blue lights. I took this time to try and figure things out until the swishing of my feet in the water wasn't the only sound.
"Hey." I looked over to see my sister, the angel herself.
"Hello, what's up?" I asked, watching her mirror my position, her shoes now abandoned behind her.
"I actually came to ask you that. What happened? You looked very distant during dinner." Her voice was soft and caring like it's always been.
"A sharp eye as usual Audrey, and here I thought I was a good actress, shucks." I drawled, giggling at her deadpan of a reaction.
"Very funny. I'm serious, what's going on, are you already experiencing your mid-life crisis?" she joked.
I rolled my eyes and shook my head, "Ha ha, whatever. I was just thinking."
"That's never good, should I go get the helmet?" She retorted, chuckling a little.
"Oh shut up you. I just, I can't help but think how unfair this is, that I get to do whatever I want and you have to do what father says," I admitted, playing with my fingers.
"We've been over this Margo, you don't have to worry, stop putting yourself down. I'm fine with it. If I was able to do whatever I wanted, well, who knows what could've happened, I mean, look at you." She gestured to me with her hands, her eyes comically wide.
"Hey! That's not funny," I protested, slapping her arm lightly.
She only laughed, those were so rare, "I'm doing this so you don't have to. I have nothing else to do with my life so...may as well do this."
"But Audrey, you have so much potential, you always have. You were good at everything, okay most things that you tried for the first time, like who does that? Now that I think about it, you're so weird and it's awesome that you can do anything if you set your mind to it."
"Yes but Margo, if I were to reject the company and do whatever I please then I would be abandoning everyone who has hope in me. Someone needs to help our patients, someone needs to take control of this matrix of a company, if that needs to be me then it's going to be me. I won't abandon those I can help." She replied, shrugging.
"Why burden yourself. As soon as you become the head of the company, it's weight and our family's weights will lie on your shoulders. That's not good for you," I worried, gazing at my sister who seemed to have her life sorted out.
"Well, you gotta live life on the edge right? Go big or go home. I'm off to study, try not watch scary movies so late at night, I can hear you through the floor, what are you, a banshee?" She stood, reaching for her shoes.
"Okay, go study you looser. You're such a nerd, you need to have a little fun someday." I teased, splashing a little water at her retreating form.
The door quietly shut behind her and I let out a sigh of relief.
"How does she do that?" I mutter to myself. She always knows what to say and when to say it, well, she did study psychology for fun when she was younger.