Chapter 17 - THE FIRST INVITATION
Eight months passed before Daryl invited Jenna back.
Not for a weekend.
For lunch.
One Sunday.
No twins at first.
Just Jenna.
She arrived at Malibu in jeans and sunglasses, looked at the front door, and waited.
That mattered.
Daryl opened it.
“Come in.”
She stepped inside.
No assumption.
No key.
They sat at the kitchen island.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Jenna looked toward the shelf upstairs where she knew the repaired sailboat sat.
“I owe Eli an apology.”
“Yes.”
“I said stupid toy.”
“Yes.”
“I was angry at you.”
“He wasn’t me.”
“I know.”
She began crying.
Daryl stayed still.
Jenna continued.
“I thought this house proved Dad still had something. Then when I found out it was yours, I felt like you had secretly won.”
Daryl frowned.
“Won what?”
“Being the successful one.”
There it was.
Old sibling competition.
Robert’s pride.
Daryl’s money.
Jenna’s divorce.
Every adult achievement measured against another.
Daryl said:
“I didn’t buy the house to beat you.”
“I know now.”
“Dad should have told you.”
“Yes.”
“I should have too.”
She looked surprised.
Daryl continued.
“I liked being the quiet one who fixed things. It made me feel useful.”
Jenna laughed weakly.
“So Dad used both of us differently.”
“Yes.”
That did not absolve her.
But it made repair possible.
Jenna asked:
“Can the boys apologize too?”
“Not today.”
She nodded.
No argument.
May you like
Another small thing.
Huge thing.
