A wife for my brother

Beverly was sitting behind her desk when one of the members of the legal staff peeked through her door.

-He didn’t come in today either,” informed the man.

Daniel hadn’t shown up for two days. The coward was hiding after what they almost did that day. She was about to lose her patience when she received a call.

-She went back to the house, went back to him. You weren’t quick enough, Beverly. Now you’ll have a harder time than before –

Then she made a decision. By herself she couldn’t separate them and they were all too quiet for her taste. She knocked on Harry’s office.

– Come in, Beverly –

– I’m sorry to bother you, Harry. But I’ve got several to-do’s to get out and Daniel hasn’t shown up for two days, could you sign some papers for me? –

– Sure. What are they? –

– Some minor legal issues, but if I don’t have the signature of one of the owners I can’t proceed. I don’t know what’s going on with Daniel suddenly taking a “vacation” –

– He must be licking his wounds ever since Deanna left… –

– Is that such a big deal? – She faked it.

– For a man like my brother it’s not easy to be rejected like that by a woman, give him time and he’ll be back –

But she didn’t have time.

– What a mess your friend made with him! And now there are those rumors with Leonard too… Do you think they’re true? –

– Of course they’re not! Deanna would never go for a guy like that, he’s disgusting

– Well, you know his reputation… To get into the Ambassador like that, he must be more than obsessed with her… He’s never pursued a woman this much –

– It’s strange to hear you talk about gossip, Beverly –

– I’m worried about Daniel, gossip doesn’t interest me. I’m just trying to contain collateral damage, it’s part of my job.

Harry signed the papers and she walked out without further ado. But she left behind the seed of doubt. Could Reed have a chance with Deanna? What if he took advantage of her the mood caused by the separation? If he found her with her defenses down… No, Dean wouldn’t look at a guy like that… Although he did notice Daniel despite the age difference.

He went looking for her at the theater.

-No, Deanna hasn’t shown up for rehearsals for almost two days… The other day a woman came looking for her… Who was it, John? –

– I think she said her sister-in-law… We were waiting for them to come out of the prop room to finish setting up the stage…

– That’s right and since that day she didn’t come back. Do you want me to ask Professor Marcus? –

– No need, thank you –

Susan couldn’t keep quiet, she never did. He called her from his car parked at the entrance of the theater.

– What is it Harry? –

-Hi Susan… I came for Deanna at the theater, but I was told she didn’t show up, I wanted to invite her to dinner with Laura, do you know something? –

– Why don’t you call her? –

– I called her, but she’s not answering. – He lied.

– Deanna’s with Daniel, Harry… I’m sorry brother… –

– Ah… well –

– Please, Harry, don’t do anything else. Emma’s about to be born, just go on with your life… –

– Don’t worry, nothing will happen –

– I’ll drop the kids at the house, they want to go back

– Okay, Susan, I’ll see you. Take care –

Again the calm he had achieved crumbled. Again that feeling of failure and helplessness. Would the emotion be different if it wasn’t his brother? If it was just some guy, would he feel the same emptiness? No. If instead of Daniel it was just a regular “Frank” he wouldn’t have to see her all the time; he wouldn’t witness how she loved someone else.

And as if he needed to keep torturing himself, he went to Daniel s home.

-You’re back?

– Yes, from yesterday… – She smiled at him.

– And Daniel? –

– In the kitchen, let me let him know… The kids should be there soon too. Stay for dinner, Daniel is cooking –

– I can’t, I have to go home.

– How’s Laura? –

– She’s fine.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

He was curt.

– What’s wrong with you? –

– Nothing… I just stopped by… I’m leaving… –

– Wait, Harry… –

The little boy rushed past his uncle and hugged Deanna’s legs tightly. He threw her off balance a little.

– Little grasshopper! –

– Deanna you’re back! – Naomi was excited.

– Hi Deanna –

– Hi Ethan –

Harry continued on his way without stopping to say hello.

– What are you doing here? Where are you going? Harry!…. Harry! –

But he didn’t even turn to look at Susan. Deanna looked at her in confusion, but Susan just shrugged her shoulders, dismissing it as unimportant.

But Harry didn’t go back to Laura, he stopped at a bar to drink. Leaning over the bar with his head in his hands, he wanted to die. So rooted inside him that he didn’t stop until the bartender asked him to quit drinking. It was Charles who had to go for him.

-Your mother’s going to make a fuss about this, son –

And Camilla did make a fuss, indignant, enraged; she didn’t understand what her youngest son was doing with his life. She watched him from the doorway lying on his old bed.

– What’s wrong with this brat, Charles? –

– I don’t know…

– He’ll become an alcoholic if he goes on like this –

– Talking to him won’t do any good… If he’s this unhappy, maybe it’s best if he gets a divorce…

– No! His daughter is not even born yet, he can’t just walk away from it all –

– He won’t, he’s not like that… Just because they’re separated doesn’t mean he won’t be a good father –

– No, Charles, that’s out of the question. They’ve been together forever, just like Daniel and Emily… He’ll have to learn to live the life he chose –

– Laura needs to be told –

– God …. –

Laura was crying on the phone when Camila called her. She had lost him again. Nothing was working to bring back the old Harry from college, the one who laughed and played songs non-stop all night long. He was going to spend his life drowning his sorrows in a glass and she could do nothing but watch and bear it.

– Darling, calm down, please… –

– Camilla, I can’t take it anymore… I can’t… – Her crying became more anguished.

– We will find a way to help him with whatever problem he is having.

– He’s in love with another woman. How are we going to fix that? –

– It’s not possible, Laura! –

– What else could it be? Look how he behaves all the time… Emma will grow up without her father… He’s going to leave me, Camila… –

– Of course he won’t! I won’t let him do that! –

The wall refused to fall, it resisted. Daniel and Deanna resisted, but the situation was accelerating.

-Leonard, it’s time for you to do something… –

– Don’t rush me –

– If you don’t do something fast then I’ll make sure she goes away and I’ll see to it that she doesn’t want to come back –

– Don’t you dare ruin things for me, I’m just getting started –

– Then move faster! –

The five of them ate an unhealthy dinner that Daniel prepared to celebrate with his children that Deanna had returned. Something special for them to share as a family so they could start over. All the structures that he had raised with much effort and rigor to try to overcome Emily’s departure, fell apart.

Beverly was still in the company at that hour, running her fingertips over the dark wood of the desk where she almost had him. Wounded pride and hot blood remembering. Maybe, staying in the shadows lurking was no longer useful, she had to move faster or the CEO and her government position would slip away from her forever.