3 and a half years ago...
She really appreciated the Reubens for their support. They were the best. They were always happy to see her and never looked at her like she was the daughter of...them.
Today though, they didn't look happy. Not even her usually bubbly aunt Beatrice.
"Hi..."
Her uncle, Paul gave her a small smile as she stepped in, gesturing her to drop her bag.
"Is everything okay?" she asked tentatively.
They all exchanged glances before the three youngest left for their room, leaving only Andrew standing beside his parents.
"You should sit," her uncle said, as he sat down, obviously trying to relax on the couch.
The living room was cool, which was unusual. But the weather wasn't freezing, so it wasn't too bad. And Tina didn't complain, because whatever they were going to talk about was more important.
She sat down right where she could see their expressions properly, and they could see hers.
"So... Is everything okay?" It wasn't, but she just had to say something to break the suffocating silence.
"A few people reached out to me," her uncle said.
"Okay?"
"It's about your parents," her aunt Beatrice said.
Her eyes widened as she took in her words. They knew where she was? She never told anyone where she was running away to. Why did they look for her? It's been so many years.
"They reached out," she said. "Why?"
"They didn't reach out," her uncle disagreed. "Their representative did though."
She looked at him in confusion.
"Your parents are on life support right now. And you need to be around to see them. And... take care of their business."
Tina didn't know what to say to that. And it seemed no one was going to force her to talk. No one expected her to.
So she sat, taking in the words. Trying to look for the compassion. The fear... The only thing she was worried about was going back. She was comfortable here and now... She had to go back.
"You have to go, Tina. You're an only child and... This is important."
"What if I don't want to?" she asked.
"You have to."
She didn't really know who was talking, because her thoughts were far away. Thinking about just how far her parents home was from hers.
"Okay," she said after a bit.
Best to get it over with. She didn't care. She just had to get everything done and come back. Come back and live her life.
"Are you going to tell him?" Andrew asked. "Why you're leaving, I mean."
She opened her mouth to say something, then paused as she looked down. "No," she said. "There's no need to explain the truth. I'll be back before he knows it."
She was so wrong about that.
She sniffled as she remembered.
If she'd said the truth from the beginning and they'd found out the truth at the same time, what would he have said?
Maybe he wouldn't be mad. They wouldn't have broken up.
Maybe everything was all her fault. She complicated everything.
"Tina!"
She stood up from the bench as she heard her name called. Lamont was probably worried about her staying out for so long in the cold of the night.
She faced Lamont. "Hey."
Lamont looked worried as he stepped closer. "Are you okay? You look...pale."
"It's just..."
"Trevor?"
Tina sighed as she nodded. "He's mad at me. And it's all my fault. All because I'm so stupid."
Lamont frowned as he reached out to touch her hand. "Don't say that. You're not stupid. Maybe you did something wrong, miscalculated or whatever. But you're not stupid."
She smiled wryly. "You said something about today being a good day... I don't think it's a good day though. Especially for me."
What she'd been avoiding came back to find her.
Lamont took in a deep breath and reached out to wrap her in a warm hug. "I don't know why you're feeling the way you are. I don't know the history. But I do know that beating yourself up won't do anything." He continued softly, "We should go back inside so we don't seem rude. After a few minutes, we'll give an excuse. Okay?"
She nodded as she was released from his arms. She didn't feel any better, but it was a nice hug.
"Let's go talk to him one more time," she said, after clearing her throat, trying to prepare herself. If Trevor could go inside even though he was mad, she could control her emotions and do what she came to.
Lamont smiled at her as they walked back inside, side-by-side.
***
Tina's fingers trembled as she sifted through the dusty files in her family's old estate. The air was thick with the scent of decay and forgotten memories. She hadn't set foot in this house for years, not since she'd practically disowned her parents.
But now, with her parents gone, Tina had no choice but to return and confront the demons she'd left behind. The news of their death still felt like a numb, distant hum in her mind.
As she delved deeper into the files, Tina stumbled upon a folder labeled "Sinclair-Samuels." Her heart skipped a beat. She knew that name. Everyone knew that name.
Curiosity getting the better of her, Tina opened the folder, revealing documents, photographs. That made her eyes widen in shock as she took the words in.
Her grandparents, respected pillars of the community, had been involved in some shady dealings. They'd orchestrated a ruthless takeover of the Sinclair-Samuels' prized land, crippling their business and destabilizing their family.
Tina felt like she'd been punched in the gut. Her mind reeled with the implications. Did the Samuels know she was related to them? No one really knew what she looked like because she'd always been kept in the shadows. But do they know? If they didn't, what if they find out? People should know by now that her parents are dead. And when they find out, they'll hate her.
Fuck.
"Why did I even come here?" she asked herself.
The room began to spin, and Tina's legs buckled beneath her. She collapsed onto the dusty floor, surrounded by the dark secrets of her family's past.