Be Prepared
Copyright© 2025 by Han Jansz. van Meegeren
Chapter 2
I tore Drew away from his lab and delivered him home.
“Have a good night’s sleep first. I’ll come by around two o’clock, and then we will talk about the future.” He looked at me as if I were the guard who told the inmate on death row that tomorrow was the final day.
“Don’t overthink. Give me a kiss.” He kissed me like he’d kiss the sister he didn’t even have. I had to stop myself from ruffling his hair. It was not always easy to love Drew.
I went home. I was in luck; Dad was home and sober.
“Dad, would you mind if I moved in with Mrs Giraut? I have my own room there, and my wardrobe over there is filled with more clothes than I have here.”
“So you intend to leave me as well, huh?”
“Dad, it’s not like you have been around much. I think you only slept at home twice last month, and I have no idea where you were the rest of the time. I know it’s tough that Mom’s gone, but it’s been two and a half years. We barely talk, so I don’t even know if you’re seeing someone. Dad, it’s time for me to go. I’m going to the colonies with Drew and Joyce, and I need to be there to handle things. I miss Mom too, but leaving was her decision. We can’t grieve her forever, Dad. I don’t wanna do that, and you shouldn’t either.”
Seeing him smile caught me off guard. Not the weary smile I’ve been seeing a lot of, but a real one.
Looks aside, you’re definitely the smartest person I know. You’re right. Maybe it’s time we moved out and sold the house. Too many memories. I’ve met a woman I’m quite interested in, and I might bring up the idea of us living together. Lauren and I are in the same boat. Her husband left on one of those cursed ships, leaving her behind.
“Does she have kids?”
“No, he failed to come up with it. I’m sure one of those medical tubes on the ship will take care of that little problem. She wants kids, though.”
“Is she good for you?”
“She is not as pretty as your mother is. But she says she loves me. I’m starting to believe her.”
“Good for you. That means you’re OK with me moving out real soon?”
“You’re still hung up on that dork?” He grinned in an attempt to take the edge off his remark.
“Yeah.”
“Good luck, girl. Let’s meet once a week somewhere to keep in touch.”
The following morning, I showed up at the Joyce’s residence with two suitcases. Right in front of the house, I parked my car by the kerb. Again, I was wondering why Joyce had bought this immense house when they only used a few rooms. This was the point of no-return. In normal times, I would have married Drew; we would have settled in a friendly house, got ourselves a golden retriever and, if he wanted them, I would gladly have given him a couple of kids. But this is the new normal, and I would do whatever I had to do.
Joyce came out to help me with the suitcases.
“Are you certain you’re okay with me moving in?” I checked again just to be sure.
Joyce pulled me into a tight hug. “Of course, dear. How could I not be?”
“Off the top of my head, I can easily come up with 396 reasons.” I smiled. We pressed bodies together again. Her large titties against my little bumps. She kissed me on my forehead.
“You are family now, Sharon Stone. And family is always welcome here.”
“Thank you, Joyce. Any second thoughts about our talk yesterday?”
“Yes, second, third, fourth all the way up to 396. But I cannot seem to think of a better plan.”
“I know what you mean, but we need to join forces. I can’t do it alone.”
“Come on, I will help you unpack. Einstein is probably still out cold.”
Joyce refolded all my underwear before putting it in the drawer. All of them exactly the same size and sorted by colour. Neatly stacked in neat stacks, a testament to careful arrangement. Autism is hereditary, and Drew didn’t just get it from his father, whoever he was.
“Hey, sleepyhead, finally awake?” Joyce saw Drew standing in the doorway. She was holding a couple of my raunchiest bras in her hands. Also in dire need of refolding, apparently. It explained the blush on Drew’s face. “Go and get a shower. Your clothes are on your nightstand, as always. I will make you brunch. Hurry.”
Joyce looked at the bra in her hands. A few straps of thin black lace — that’s really all it was. It wasn’t designed for support; it was meant to showcase what lay beneath the sheer material. She looked at me. “Perhaps I should buy one of these as well,” she teased.
With a deadpan expression, I stated, “It’s not perhaps; you absolutely should buy a couple of those. Unless Drew would want you in the nude all the time, of course.” Joyce was out of the room in a flash, mumbling something about brunch.
“Drew, what are your thoughts about the threat of a Sa’arm attack?” I asked after patiently waiting for him to devour a huge amount of food.
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