She was certain that her mind was playing tricks with her. It was some sort of joke, an illusion! She had either gone crazy or had completely lost her mind. That was a plausible explanation, a reasonable explanation. She pinched herself to see if she was dreaming. She wasn't and flinched when she felt the pain.
"There has to be another explanation. It isn't possible," she said, still clutching the photo.
"That's what I thought at first when I saw you with the locket. Here…"
He reached for his drawer and brought out an envelope. She timidly took it from his hand. It was a DNA report. She held back tears as her eyes scanned the sheet of paper in her hand. They were a 99.9% match. She pinched herself again. If she was truly dreaming, it was the best time to wake up.
"I'm supposed to hate you," she cried.
"I'm sorry, Julianne,' he pleaded.
"I felt so odd being the only kid in school who didn't have a father. People mocked me and called Mom names! Why weren't you there?"
"I thought it was for the best…"
"Well, it wasn't!"
"I realize that now. I never wanted your mother to leave."
"How did…how did you two meet?"
"It's a long story…"
"Make it short then."
He laughed lightly. "Using my words against me, aren't you?"
"Maybe."
"I'll tell you after dinner."
"Promise?"
"Promise. You should get some rest."
She nodded as she left the office. For the first time in a long time, she didn't feel alone.
She didn't walk far before she was spotted by Kyrie, who ran to her side hastily.
"I told the men to drop your stuff in my room. We can be roomies!" She squealed as she hugged her. Julianne hesitantly returned the hug, she wasn't a touchy person. But since Mr. Heathrow was her father. Kyrie was her step-sister.
"Whoa girl, what happened? Are you crying?"
She cleaned her face with the back of his palm. "It's nothing. I feel so happy right now."
She wasn't sure how Kyrie would react if she found out they were sisters. Would she continue to be nice to her? Would she hate her? She decided not to say anything, Mr. Heathrow would tell her in due time. She dragged her to the bedroom. How she hated the color pink! It made her feel dizzy…
If she was going to stay there, she thought, she would have to get used to the bedroom and its bright colors.
"I thought since my bed was really big we could share it, right?"
She nodded. Siblings share, grandma used to say. But I have no siblings! Wait, I do, two. Two! Great…
"Hello, earth to Julie? What's going on in that head of yours?"
She blinked twice, realizing she was still in the dollhouse of a bedroom. She sighed as she brought a faded Arsenal FC T-shirt and a pair of shorts out of her bag. How she loved the gunners! Kyrie was sitting in front of her mirror, taking the pins out of her hair.
"Bathroom's that way!" She said, still removing the pins.
She nearly jumped with glee when she realized the room had its bathroom! Doreen would never believe it, and neither would her grandparents. She suddenly realized that she would have to inform her grandparents that she had met her father. He was alright, she thought, and she didn't hate him as much as she thought. They wouldn't be so upset if they realized he was the one who sponsored the initiative that brought her here in the first place. Had he known she was his daughter when she lived with her grandparents? It's not possible, she thought. He told her he found out when he saw her with the locket. Something like that, at least that was what I heard…
She jumped into the bathroom, taking her time to scrub herself. She wrung her hair dry with a towel, it worked better for her than a blow dryer. They were too complicated. When she was done, she put her clothes on and jumped out. Kyrie had removed the pins on her hair.
"I'll take a shower and then we'll sort out your stuff. Cool?"
"Cool."
Kyrie waltzed into the bathroom. She sat on the bed, deep in thought. She didn't notice when Kyrie came out of the bathroom. With the agility of a cat, she snuck behind her and covered her eyes with her palms.
"Kyrie!" She squealed. "Cut it out!"
She giggled as she removed her palms from her face. "You'll have to get used to it, roomie! I'm a big jokester, ya know."
She got up from the bed and walked towards the boxes. She picked up a box and placed it on the bed. She opened it and removed the alarm clock. Stupid alarm clock!
"There's no need for an alarm clock," Kyrie said as she pointed at another alarm clock. "I have one here, see?"
"This one is special," she said, "I can't seem to get rid of it."
"You're the boss!"
She flinched when Kyrie held her photo. She knew she wouldn't be able to recognize her father, his face was crossed out.
"Who's the pretty lady?" She asked.
Julianne smiled as she replied. "That's my mom."
"Does she stay with your grandparents?"
"Technically, she does. Although she's six feet beneath them."
Her face went pale at the revelation. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't be, it wasn't your fault."
When they were done, they lay on the bed. Kyrie's eyes twinkled with mischief. "So, how's your lover boy?"
"Cut it out, Kyrie! He isn't my lover boy."
"Yeah right. Exams start next week, ya know. After that, you won't see him again. You should make each moment count."
"What? Why?"
"He's a senior," she clarified. "It's their last year in high school."
"Pish posh," she said, "I don't care."
"Yeah, you do."
"No, I don't!"
"You…"
She jumped when she heard the knock on the door. Julianne clutched her stomach, rolling back in laughter. Kyrie huffed as she walked to the door. When she had conversed with the person on the other end, she closed it. "Dinner's ready! I hope you're hungry."
She sighed and took her hand as they walked out of the room.
She had never felt uncomfortable eating. She never thought she would feel that way until the day she came to Heathrow Manor. She avoided eye contact with Mr. Heathrow. He's your dad, you should stop calling him that.
Yeah, right…
She knew his wife -her stepmother- was glaring at her, she didn't have to look at her to realize that. She nearly passed out when she heard her father clear his throat. Everyone stopped eating. Lori stared quizzically at him. "What's he up to?" She thought. "Is he going to tell the twins?"
All eyes remained on him as they awaited his announcement.