Chapter 2 The Stepsisters

Sheila stood in the doorway to the kitchen, also frozen in the middle of the run. Our eyes met for a moment, then my head lit up and the muscles in my legs slackened, and I knelt down in the hallway of the house. A hundred little pieces of information suddenly fell into place: the names of parents and peers; the composition of the family is the same; live in Dillon; a sister named Allison; and more. How can I miss diagrams, similarities, identical descriptions of things? I think briefly about how I've divided up my days, so much so that I don't compare what I've heard from each day. I mentally kicked myself into the block. Fran fussed over me, feeling my forehead together along with her cool hand and rubbing my shoulders. Jean raced away to get me a tumbler of water. I waved all of them away, as I struggled to face once more. Dave helped me up. Allison held my different arm to make sure I didn`t fall her way.

I did a brief reconnaissance of the faces. Fran appearance remarkably like her mother. Sheila gave the impression of a just like her father. Ally gave the impression of a mix.

My knees wobbled once more. I found out I changed into useless meat. I'd blown it with girlfriends I without a doubt preferred and had was hoping to get extra extreme with. I felt tears nicely up in my eyes over my unexpected loss.

Fran and Dave helped me take a seat down on the steps withinside the access hall. I placed my head in my palms and attempted to think about what I should say or do to rectify this without a doubt, without a doubt, without a doubt awkward scenario. I changed into shaking my head hoping I'd wake up from this nightmare.

As I regarded up, Sheila slowly got here ahead till she stood subsequent to her sister. Sheila pointed at me and requested Fran, "THISis the fellow you had been telling me approximately?"

Still now no longer attuned to the scenario, Fran eagerly replied, "Yes, that is Steve." She nevertheless sounded involved for me, however I guessed that might alternate any 2nd to certainly considered one among rage. I checked the location for apparent weapons. At this factor, I marveled that handiest thirty seconds had passed, but I knew I needed to bear the ache I felt internal earlier than I should thoroughly retreat again to my condominium in Cambridge and take a lifelong pledge of chastity and monkhood.

Sheila became to me and stated in a sarcastic tone, "Nice to satisfy you,Steve!" In that instant, I felt especially happy she hadn't come from the kitchen sporting a protracted serving knife. I glanced at her palms to make sure.

Fran handiest now picked up at the dynamic among Sheila and me. "Errr, do you recognize every different?"

Before I should say anything, Sheila stated, "Oh, yes.Steve and I had been relationship for the beyond months. He's the only I've been telling you approximately."

Fran's mouth dropped open on the information that I had additionally been relationship her sister.

The girl's mother and father checked out their daughters and me with thinking and perplexed looks. They hadn't but stuck directly to what have been happening.

My mind had crashed, similar to my computer did all of the time. I attempted numerous instances to push the restart keys to no avail, however in the end I began out to get a strong reboot and a number of my mind characteristic began out to return.

First, I found out I changed into maximum probable unmarried once more. The ladies I'd been relationship and falling in love with could hate me from this second on, and take into account what a heartless asshole I'd been, especially to reveal up for dinner with one while the opposite changed into home. I notion how their evaluations could have an impact on a much wider circle of buddies and I could be banned from similarly relationship in that circle for the relaxation of my lifestyles.

Further mind handled my avowed stance of non-exclusivity, now no longer a mystery from both Fran or Sheila. Another notion handled sex, especially the reality that I hadn't had a consummating nighttime with both of the sisters; a factor I notion may bode nicely for one or each of them in the end forgetting this humiliating scenario. Last in my pea-sized mind, I had simply deduced their relationship.

I mumbled, "You are sisters? Step sisters?" Not the maximum diffused or extremely good of statements given the circumstances.

Fran stated in a voice now tinged with anger, "Yes. Is what Sheila stated true? Have you been relationship her too?"

I stated with barely extra authority, "Yes, I had been relationship the 2 of you. I had been sincere with you approximately now no longer being exclusive ... even encouraging you to peer others if that appeared to be some thing you wanted. I simply failed to recognize ..."

Sheila interrupted and became to her mother and father, "THIS is the fellow I changed into going to carry right here for dinner on Tuesday night, besides Frannie beat me to it." She stomped her foot at the naked timber floor, a pass that stuck everyone's attention, after which she fled into the kitchen.

I admitted, "This is without a doubt embarrassing. I had no idea ... I ..." I regarded among the 2 sisters, or even became to their mother and father for assist, for a person to assist get to the bottom of this scenario. I wanted a lifestyles preserver, however failed to anticipate any.

After a protracted silence, Ally, Fran and Jean moved off to the kitchen to enroll in Sheila. I figured my goose changed into cooked. I collected myself collectively and organized to go away the Henson household. I figured Fran could get pushed again to her condominium close to mine via way of means of certainly considered one among her own circle of relatives members, and I'd in no way pay attention from her once more. Just the notion that I'd in no way see her once more made my coronary heart ache.

Dave Henson sized me up. "Steve, supply them a couple of minutes to talk. You did not anything wrong, primarily based totally on what I simply heard. Why do not you return back with me into the den and we will chat a touch whilst the ladies kind out what simply happened."

I nodded and observed Dave throughout the residing room right into a heat and manly den that changed into manifestly his territory. I felt steady in right here, however nevertheless knew I changed into emotionally prone to what the ladies could say in a couple of minutes after they reappeared.

Dave and I had been silent besides for his gesture for me to observe him to his den. Without asking he poured me a tumbler of Jack Daniels neat. I sipped at it, attempting now no longer to choke at the sturdy liquor. While my head began out to clear, no awesome thoughts to remedy the scenario had been forthcoming. He said, "What happened has to do with expectations. Sheila and Fran both have expectations regarding their relationship with you. Right now they're rearranging those expectations and taking it all into consideration. what you told them. I hope you didn't build false expectations. "

I said quickly, 'Oh, no, sir. I've always been honest with them. I did everything I could to make sure they knew that I was dating someone else, but I also cared about them a lot. Now tell me about yourself. ”

I'm sure we talked for half an hour, but I was on autopilot, answering his questions because my thought was how can I make Fran and Sheila happy again? again. During this time alone with them dad, I realized that I love both Sheila and Fran... and Sheila ... each very much. I guess now it will all end badly. Sir, I didn't know they were sisters until a minute ago. We have not discussed our family in detail, except in unequal discussions. I do not know. I am really sorry. The last thing I ever do to one of them is embarrass them in that way or hurt one of them. Oh my god, I'm sorry.

Dave smiles at me, but I can't tell if it's a humorous way or the smile you get from a jackal before it begins to chew your ending with renewed enthusiasm.

I feel compelled to keep talking. “Mr. Henson, I hope the girls and I can become friends. I thought I would end up having a real romance with either of them, but… well, I was attracted to both. I wish I didn't have to choose one over the other because both are so much fun... in different ways. "I stopped and looked at the girls' dad: 'Sir, do you think they'll talk to me again? Should I go? If I have to go, can Fran go back to her apartment? I tried to hold back my tears.

Dave ignored my question and asked, “First, remember to call me Dave; I like it. Second, a question: What kind of dating do you see from now on, especially now that your dating is public? "

I thought about it for a while." Sir, ... errr Dave, a lot of people believe or insist on the monogamous dating rule that you can only date one person at a time. Maybe I'm not normal, but I usually date a lot of girls at once, but don't take any of them seriously. When I met Sheila and a few days later Fran, I took a break from dating for a while due to work and some big travel. Their dating seems very normal to me. I don't try to hide my behavior from them. At first, I thought I explained this to both of them; I want to manage their two expectations in case a mutual friend sees me with someone else. I'm sure they all know that I'm dating at least one other person. Now I am interested in each of them.

Dave laughed and said to me, "What is your intention now, if you could wipe out hours ago?" "

" Yes sir, I hope to continue dating the two of them, deepen our relationship, have fun dates, go to interesting places and events, and just enjoy the company of the other two. a? ”

After thinking about it, I shook my head.” I don't think I can do it right now. "I pointed to the other side of the house and added: me again."

From the back of the house, a girl's sobs echoed in the hallway to my ears. Sheila was really upset and cried. My heart is breaking from her disappointment, an emotion I created when I introduced myself to her sister. I cried again. I started to stand up in response to the screams. I want to go and soothe my girlfriend, make her feel better, be her source of love and peace, free of discord and suffering.

Dave put his hand on mine. “Steve. Sit down. Now is not the time to be a brave knight in this room. He completely read my mood.

I say with sadness and in a choked voice: it's all my fault. I wish I could do something to improve it for her. Should I go? Would it be better if I disappeared? ”

I heard Fran's voice shouting at his sister, but I also refused to answer that. I feel bad that I have started this sibling rivalry, and I am at the center of all the animosity you now feel towards each other and towards me. What a rotten triangle I accidentally created.

I shook my head and kept repeating things like, “I'm so sorry I created this situation. I don't know... they're not the same. Damn, their last names are also different.

Dave explains, "They came to John and I from previous marriages. Allison was the child Jean and I had together. We never bothered to change our children's last names, perhaps, perhaps. we should do so to avoid situations like tonight, his thoughtful approach to the situation, he said, “I think you should stay here for now. Let me see what's going on with women. I will be back. Prepare yourself another drink...and drink it. He left the room and went into the kitchen.