In love with my brother's girlfriend

Chapter 24

Maddie

Ken finally arrived in the evening at around seven and I was already setting the table. I decided to make dinner since my mom wasn't home. 'Honey we are home!' Mom always made sure we knew in the most old fashioned way that she was home, she can shout that one; even if you were at the rooftop you would hear her when she shouts 'Honey I am home.' That's her signature sentence. 'Where is everybody?' Daddy asked entering the living room. For some apparent reason, I was not ready to meet Ken, my heart skipped a bit with their footsteps approaching. Henry must have noticed the change in my body language because he took my hand and gave it a little squeeze while looking at me. This really touched my heart. 'Should I go get the rest of the plates?' He asked. We were in short of two plates. I glanced at Claudia and she couldn't take her eyes off the dining room entrance. They finally approached the dining room and my eyes finally met his. He briefly looked at me before shifting his eyes to Claudia who was already in tears. Henry brought the plates a moment later and we were all in silence staring at each other. He tapped me and handed me the plates. The awkwardness in the room was already building up, I don't know if I was the only one feeling it or what. I cleared my voice and finally looked up to Ken. He did lose some weight, it wasn't that noticably bad. My eyes shifted straight to his wrists, there were still bandaged. My mind started having flashbacks of the day he cut himself, the video of him actually cutting himself and I instantly began feeling nauseous. I cleared my voice again and finally spoke. 'Hi Ken' 'Hi Maddie, didn't you miss me, you look like you saw a ghost. Am I really that horrifying?' He hasn't changed a bit, why didn't I assume him in the hospital for this long could make him a nice person. 'Give your brother a hug Maddie' mom said. I walked towards him and embraced him. 'Its glad to know that you are okay.' I said breaking away from the embrace. 'Really, I thought you would be pleased if I died so you become the only child, and take my place of being the favorite.' I really didn't know if he was joking or being serious, I chose not to respond to that. Claudia finally walked to him in tears and embraced him. They stood like that for the next two minutes. 'I am so sorry.' Ken repeatedly said stroking her back. When they finally broke the hug, I motioned everyone to sit down on the dining table. 'I prepared your favorite dishes today, hope you enjoy.' I said to Ken who just couldn't take his gaze off Claudia who looked glared at him. It was like they were in a staring contest and the tension building up around them was just too hard to ignore. 'Do you want me to dish you some baked potatoes?' I said to Claudia in order to get her attention but that didn't work, I glanced at mom to see if she is could say something. Their staring contest was now getting out of hand but unfortunately my mom was really concentrating on her food. I turned to dad but he was also focusing on his food. I cleared my voice and gently hit my glass of water with a fork to have everyone's attention. They all looked at me. I sighed softly with relieve that finally they weren't staring deep in to each other's souls. 'I would love to say a few words, I am really sorry for interrupting your meal, I know you all must be hungry. This would take a minute.' 'Its okay honey' my mom assured me. 'Ken, I am so glad you are home. I know we don't always see eye to eye but I really do care about you. These past few weeks was really not easy for all of us here. But it warms my heart to finally see all of us in the same room like this.' 'One last thing, I cleaned up your room for you.' 'Aww honey.' Mom reached out to my hand and gave it a little squeeze . To my surprise, Ken didn't say anything. His eyes were still fixated on Claudia. I continued to eat in silence.

Claudia

It still feels so surreal that Ken is finally home. To finally be able to see him, embrace him is what I always thought would never happen even after Maddie's reassurances that he was getting better. I felt like somehow she was just saying that to make me feel better. After having dinner, I escorted him to his room, carrying his bag for him. 'Where should I put these clothes?' That's was the first time I ever said something to him tonight. 'All of those smell like the hospital so you can put them in the laundry basket.'

'Let me leave you to rest, I am sure you really missed sleeping on your own bed and not those uncomfy hospital beds.' 'But not as much as I missed you.' I looked up and our eyes met. We stood there for a long time with none of us breaking the gaze. 'Sissy I am already sleepy, when are we going home?' I turned towards Henry, he was standing at the door, I wonder how long he stood there. He was rubbing his eyes while leaning on the door frame. 'We are leaving, let me say bye to Ken okay then we leave.' 'Good night Ken.' 'Will you come see me tomorrow?' He was really disappointed that I am leaving, I also somehow wished I could stayed a little longer and spend some time with him but I had to get my brother home, it's already past his bedtime. 'I don't know.' I briefly responded. 'Can you pass by after school?' 'I don't know, I will try.' 'Come buddy, damn you are heavy.' I carried him and made my way down the stairs, by the time I reached the finally stairs I was already panting. 'Is he sleeping?' Maddie asked as I approached the kitchen. 'I don't know, I think he is.' 'Yep his is sleeping, you are sweating. Are you okay?' 'He is getting heavy, soon I will not be able to carry him.' 'Do you need a hand? You look like you just finished running a marathon.' She giggled. 'Come to me buddy.' She took him from my arms and carried him. 'You are right, he is getting heavy.' Maddie commented as we exited the main door. She placed him on his bed, changed him into his PJs, tucked him and kissed his forehead. 'Goodnight little Spidey.' She muttered. His PJs were of spiderman, he was a big fan of spiderman hence the nickname Maddie just called him. It really warmed my heart to see how much love Maddie had for him. She stared at him for a while with her hand cupping one of his cheeks, kissed him on the forehead one last time and got up. She said goodnight and went back to her house. I then took a shower and went straight to bed.