The evening reminded me how hard Kimberley’s life must be and how glad I was to be a part of it.
Status Report #6
Thursday’s wish: Consultation on collectibles
Dear Boss,
After we left the beach house, I accompanied Sara on a buying trip. She sought stock for her mother’s consignment shop.
Sara makes fast decisions and has an excellent eye for quality. The items she selected will have good resale value. It was instructive to watch her. When she forgets her life and focuses on something external, she is cheerfully productive.
My study of psychology served me well today. Since Sara has eschewed human counselors, I encouraged her to speak about Sean. She complied readily. I believe the effort was therapeutic for her. I listened in near silence, finding myself unable to resist comments about her sadly inadequate choice in a romantic relationship.
Lacey and Kimberley surprised Sara with an invitation to hang out. I’m relieved that she went. I’ve been here six days, and tonight marked her first purely social outing outside of the time she spends with me.
Regards,
Grant
11
The Awkward Stage
The guy who rescued me from facing my brother’s things alone had been here a week, and all we’d packed were clothes, books, and a bed.
My brain had concluded that we hadn’t done enough, that I’d squandered two wishes. Even though my heart didn’t feel the same way, it was time to kick the rescue up a notch.
We would next take on my brother’s hidden life, the parts that he kept on his computer or on the internet. Not that they were secret, exactly. It was hard to slide lies past a twin.
We had used the same passwords and essentially had complete access to each other’s private files and sites. Yet I’d never snooped. Never violated his trust. And I’d bet anything that he’d never violated mine.
I sat in the sunroom with my brother’s laptop and typed in our February password. I’d looked over his shoulder enough to anticipate what I’d find, although hehadkept the identities of Camarin and Grant from me.
Of course, if he’d told me the truth, I would’ve accused him of losing his mind.
There wouldn’t be much on his computer that I couldn’t predict, at least not of any value. What, then, was holding me back?
“Grant?”
He stood before me, hands behind his back. “Good morning, Sara. Did you enjoy your evening out?”
I nodded absently, already consumed with today’s project. We wouldn’t find anything, right? Why was I so nervous? I brushed my fingers over the lid of the computer. It was big for a laptop. The largest screen possible. My brother liked it that way.
“Will you wish for me to inventory Sean’s computer?”
“Yes. That.”
“Shall I share my findings with you later? More wishes will likely result.”
“Sounds good.” I handed it to him.
“It won’t take long.”
“I’m working at the shop until six.”
“I shall be ready.”
Business at my mother’s shop over the past four months had gone through three distinct stages. First came a month where traffic had been huge. Lots of new consignments. Lots of shoppers. A high percentage of buys. I called this the pity stage.
