26

Cameron

- Are you joking, I hope?

Standing in front of the stairs, I, my brother and Adeline witnessed the scene that Henri was making with my mother on the phone. Helpless, we all remained silent, waiting for the end of the argument that we would have preferred not to hear. With the cell phone pressed to his ear, my stepfather paced the living room like a caged lion, dressed in a suit jacket and dark trousers. His perfume hangs in the air as he works in front of our eyes.

- No, I don't care that you have a job, Mia.

- ...

- You've known the date of her show for six months.

- ...

- So what? Do you realize what it's going to do to her to know that you put your work before her?

With my arms crossed over my chest, I give a reassuring look to Adeline, who is sitting on the edge of the couch. A pained grimace crosses her face when our eyes meet and I try to give her a warm smile. A little tense, she manages to return it with a shrug, disappointed that the evening is starting so badly.

- There won't be a next time! Tonight is the night she wanted you to come, Mia!

A little late, my stepfather seems to realize that three pairs of eyes are staring at him, and he puts a hand to his face and calms down.

- It's time, we'll talk about it later.

Then, frustrated, he hangs up and puts his phone in his jacket pocket. We are all silent for a few seconds before Jayden speaks from behind me.

- We'll take my car.

He walks down the last few steps separating him from Henri and puts a hand on his shoulder. My stepfather glances at the source of the warmth before taking my brother's hand in thanks.

- Good idea.

A slight smile appears on his lips and everyone heads for the front door to leave. The car ride is a real ordeal as the tension surrounding us is palpable. Sitting in the front seat next to Jayden, Henri doesn't say a word, playing endlessly with the buttons on his shirt. Only my brother and I exchange a few words without anyone showing any interest. It wasn't until we entered the theater that the good mood began to show. The three of us followed Henri, who walked purposefully toward a vestibule where a long, disorderly line was waiting.

- Do you have the tickets, dear?

Adeline nods and reaches into her bag to pull out five laminated yellow papers. She puts the fifth one away and begins to pass out the others.

- Thank you, sis, I say to her as she hands me two tickets.

I pass one to my brother behind me and tuck mine into the pocket of my suit jacket. After leaving our coats at the cloakroom, we make our way through the lobby filled with groups and enter the hall. We easily find our row and sit down one after the other. I sat between Henri and Adeline, and when my brother sat next to her, I could feel her tension. I looked in her direction, but her eyes remained fixed on the red curtains that hid the stage. We waited in silence for the show to begin.

As the curtains close at the end of the performance, thunderous applause fills the room and we all stand up to congratulate the dancers. The show was fantastic and I, not a fan of this kind of thing, was dazzled to see them all dancing so well. When Astrid appears in front of us, we can't help but applaud and whistle, making her blush with embarrassment. Adeline is the first to hug her, kiss her tenderly and congratulate her on her talent.

- It was great, honey.

My brother reaches out and ruffles the dancer's hair before hugging her in turn.

- It's true, did you like it? he asks in his little voice.

- How could we not? All we saw was you, Jayden compliments proudly as he sets her back down on the floor.

Astrid's wide smile shows how much she appreciates the congratulations. I watch the scene for a moment before turning my attention back to Adeline, who seems unable to take her eyes off my brother. An indecipherable gleam in her eyes, she finally averts them when she notices me staring at her. Embarrassed, she turns her head to admire what's going on around her, and the same sensation I felt when I saw Jayden leaning over her squeezes my stomach. Adeline, I think you're hiding something from me as well.

- Will you get your things, darling, and let's go?

Henri puts a hand on his youngest daughter's neck and gives her an encouraging smile.

- Isn't Mia here? she asks in surprise.

- She's been busy, Jayden adds, seeing Henri's outstretched arms, but she's looking forward to seeing the videos I've made.

At this moment I feel sorry for Henri that he has to put up with my mother. She's the woman I respect the most in the world for her determination to succeed and her strength of character. Only now I can't help but be angry with her. She, who always wanted to put her children first, at the expense of her first marriage, finds herself doing the opposite, which will probably end the same way.

***

After I have put my things in my room and changed, I decide to talk to Adeline.

I need to know.

I knock lightly on her door and enter her room when she invites me in. Lying on her bed, she has her phone in her hands and seems to be surfing social media.

- Am I disturbing you?

- No, not at all.

I close the door behind me and sit down on the mattress next to her. I look around the room with little interest, trying to find a way to start the conversation. Finding nothing to say, I decide to be blunt.

- What's going on with you and Jayden?

Her eyes widen in a split second and I see her chest tighten before I hear her breathing heavily. So I wasn't dreaming, something's wrong.

- What are you talking about? she replies weakly.

- Adeline, please, I say and put my hand gently on her forearm. Don't play this game with me.

She lowers her eyes for a second and sits up on the bed to be at eye level with me.

- He slept with Esther, she finally says in a whisper.

- Excuse me? I choke out.

- Esther confirmed it to me this afternoon. It was Halloween, when you went to her party.

Vague memories of that night spread through my mind and I try in vain to recall Esther's presence.

- I don't remember seeing her there.

- She was there, and he was screwing her.

A little disoriented, I fully realize the situation and open my mouth to try to find something to say. It's useless. How could my brother hide something like that from me? He couldn't be stupid enough to sleep with one of our sister's best friends. Could he?

- Damn it!

- You said it.

Adeline seems jaded, even genuinely saddened by the situation, as if the discovery that her best friend was having an affair with her half-brother affected her much more than she would have liked

- She loves him, she adds, looking me straight in the eye. Do you think he...

She leaves the question hanging, but I know exactly what she's getting at and can't help but laugh. Is Jayden in love with Esther? Of course not.

- No, I think she'd better forget about it.

- That's her intention, she assures me.

We are silent for a moment before she continues:

- I don't think your brother even realizes he's hurting people.

Jayden, my boy, I'm going to give you a hard time for what you've done to our sister.