I am angry at my brother. Why I had to wash the dishes? Moreover, by hand! I am also angry at Pascal Hillard. Why would he be so cheapskate? He is a doctor after all, he has money. Why doesn't he buy washing up machine? Every normal household has one. No, he doesn't have. I don't know, that it is a coincidence, or some educational stuff, but I suppose the lack of the washing up machine is intentional. No wonder, his children don't love him very much. I agree with them going to the hills without his consent.
This man is unbearable. He should have everything to support the future carrier of Ivo and Yvonne, and he doesn't do that. Maybe old men all become coveters. Like my uncle. Like Pascal Hillard. I would like to tell the kids, to sell his car, and cover the costs from that. It is a big area, the houses are pretty far from each other, so going on foot to treat his patients would be a good punishment for Pascal Hillard. Although I can't say anything like this. I am a teacher, after all, and Peter's main command is: making the parents to be angry is forbidden.
"Where are we heading?" My brother asks me suddenly. " We are standing here for minutes. It is a bit uncomfortable."
"That way!" I storm toward the restaurant, but I know it is very far from here. I have to prepare myself for a long walk, and a long talk with my brother. The last one is the most inconvenient.
"So it was really you." Tyler stated. His voice is strange. Not angry at all.
"Really me, what?"
"You broke Vanessa Carpenter's arm."
"No, it wasn't just me." I tell her the whole story. "See, it wasn't just me. I am not sure what happened there. But I tried hard to straighten things up later."
"Why didn't bring her together with the others? Her broken arm is not an excuse."
"Well, it was first her broken arm. At seconds her personality. She is an unbearable girl. Wilful, wayward, evil-minded little bitch. Nobody likes her at all." My brother smiles at me.
"Even Ivo Hillard?"
"Even Ivo Hillard hates her." I am confident. "He never spoke about her during the summer holiday." I don't add, that his mouth were usually full with Taylor.
"But it seems Vanessa Carpenter was his girlfriend."
"I don't really think so. At least Yvonne would have told us about her and Ivo, but she also didn't say a word about her. Not even her name. Neither of them went to Adam's store to make a phone call, only at the last day."
"Did they have permission to go to the camp? Ivo and Yvonne."
"I don't know." Tyler would open his mouth, but I lift my hand. "I don't care. They are both adults, so I can't ask them about permissions. They are legal to decide some things alone. Their real problem is the family, but we cannot interfere."
Tyler stay silent.
"I am glad, they came. Glad, that Taylor has found a good boyfriend, and she is finally in love. I am really-really glad, that I finally have a normal life with friends, relatives, workplace and a house where the walls are not try to squeeze you. That's why I hate you to come here. I don't want to lose all of this because of you."
My brother doesn't say a word. His face is straight, not showing any emotions. We walk toward the restaurant without saying a word. The way seems much more longer because of the silence.
There are things what never change. This restaurant is one of them. It looks like the same, when we came here six years ago. We came here after our parents' funeral, to make Ian reconcile with his ex-wife. Our plan wasn't successful, but we finally made acquaintance with our cousins. They were around my age, so we went to a lot of parties. I really like them and I still miss them, but they are still studying at a university, far from here. I hope, we will meet more, after their graduation.
"Huh. I feel like those years would have never been happened." Tyler says, when he looks around in the inside. "It looks exactly like last time."
"It is one of the stable points in the world."
Sylvia comes in with her husband, and the little Jasmine. I don't know what reaction would be waited from Tyler, but he disappoints everyone. He friendly greets Sylvia, and praises her for the new pregnancy. He shakes hands with Sylvia's new husband, congratulates for the baby, and he wants to caress Sylvia's daughter's head, but the little one pull her head away his hands. My brother doesn't force making friendship with the little girl, but now I see, that she in not too likeable for him.
"She is a good girl, but now, when she is getting two little brothers, she is under a great stress." Sylvia apologizes for her daughter's behaviour.
"I want choco cream!" Jasmine cries, when she discovers the sweets in the refrigerator. "Choco, choco, chocoooo!"
Well, Sylvia doesn't really tries to soothe her daughter, but she negotiates with the child. After eating a kid's menu, she will get one. This is enough to make her being somewhat silent. Tyler and me also eat a kid's menu, we have just eaten at the Hillards, neither of us is hungry. The only good point of Pascal Hillard, that he cooks well. Sylvia and her husband are eating big, while they cooing to each other, like newly-weds. My brother is remarkably patient and passive, since the cooing would be rather irritating for him, and the little Jasmine is shooting him with peas from her plate. I almost can't hold my laughing back. Well, that kid is cute. I chew the food and suddenly I feel like I have a real family.
Well, this warm feeling doesn't last long, Sylvia gets up and hurries to the restroom, and brings the little one with her. Tyler gets a napkin, and wipe the traces of the peas from his face and clothes.
"I am somehow happy, that I don't have a child." He tries to give an explanation to us.
"Well, it is exactly what we want to talk about." Graham Harris says after he clears his throat.
"Do I want to hear about this?" My brother turns to pale.
"When Sylvia married to me, she was pregnant, like you know." He start to explain, without reacting Tyler's previous words.
"Pregnant, with your child." My brother emphasize.
"We were discussed about this with Sylvia, when she found herself pregnant. She didn't know whose child was in her belly. But I wanted her to be by my side either way. I didn't mind that her child was not mine at all."
"But that kid is not mine." My brother states clearly and firmly.
"She couldn't be my biological child, judging by the blood-group."
The two men stares at each other. What? Do I understand well? Is little Jasmine my brother's daughter? It explain several things. Her black hair and brown eyes. Sylvia and Graham are both natural blonds, and has green and blue eyes. Jasmine couldn't be their biological child. It is simply impossible, with these colours. So I am an aunt. I have a niece! I want her.
"So you suppose, she is my child."
"Yes."
"So now, when you soon have your own children, she is unnecessary."
"Don't misunderstood, I have enough money to give her a proper upbringing, and don't mind to spend money on her. If this is Sylvia's desire, I will give her the money to be with Jasmine. But according to her psychologist, Jasmine has such a behaviour, because she miss her blood-related father. I want Sylvia to be happy, so if this means, I have to live under one roof with you, to make her and her daughter glad, I am in."
"So the behaviour of this child is start to case troubles to you, and want to give off the responsibility."
"I wouldn't say it in this way, but approximately yes. The opinion of the doctor is that Jasmine needs her biological father's attention, and in this way her behaviour problems will be solved."
"No."
"May I ask your reasons?"
" I haven't got the slightest intention to live together with you."
"You don't have to live with us, there is a few empty house in the area, you could move here. Just keep in touch with Jasmine. She is your daughter after all!"
"No. I don't believe, that she would be my daughter. Furthermore I have my own life, I love my work in the hills, so I don't plan to move here."
"But Tyler!" I cry indignantly. "You have been weeping for a daughter, since Sylvia left you. Now, that you have one, you refuse..."
"I have already told, that she is not my daughter, I don't believe in Sylvia. She lied, when she left me. Do you have any proof, that she is telling the truth this time?"
"Well, this problem could be solved easily. I suppose, a DNA test would convince you."
Graham Harris waves to the waitress, and asks for the bill.