29 Underestimating His Love

Lyra couldn't recall the older Mrs. Wellington present at her sister's wedding. If she recalled correctly, none of Kurtis's family was except for Rose. That was indeed strange.

But this time, Kurtis's mother—Emma—was on a surprise visit to wish her niece a happy birthday. She seemed pleasant enough, not condescending in speech and her actions were as graceful as they could get. She would talk to everyone at the table, making good conversation and be able to get everyone talking, using Kurtis as the anchor. Eat a little, talk a lot, and then back to eating was how the lunch went, all the way up to high tea time.

When it was time to leave, Angela volunteered herself and her sister to take the first helicopter back so the three closer family members could ride in their own little group.

Lyra followed along as Angela climbed on with her high heels with ease and offered her a hand. The younger twin took it and hoisted herself up. The pilot advised the passengers to buckle up before starting up the engine and ascending the sky.

The younger twin noticed that her sister was rather quiet so she took it on her shoulders to start the conversation.

"Mrs. Wellington seems nice. But I don't remember seeing her at the wedding?"

Angela didn't answer right away, only looked out into the sunset. She let out a deep sigh, dropping her shoulders slightly.

"That's because she didn't attend. Kurtis's dad didn't go either."

The younger sister cocked her head to the side, not sure if she chose the right conversation to start.

"He doesn't like me much…" Angela said after another long pause. Looking down at her left hand, she started playing with the shiny diamond ring on her finger.

Lyra offered a bleak smile. "Did he at least take the chance to get to know you?"

The older sister shrugged. "Maybe…maybe not."

"Did you talk to Kurtis?"

"No. He wouldn't understand," Angela replied instantly.

Maybe it was because the sisters' philosophies were different, but Lyra thought it peculiar that Angela wouldn't even talk to her spouse about such important matters. Shouldn't he be the first one she consulted?

If anything, her brother-in-law could be dense as a rock about people's feelings, but he wasn't that terribly insensitive that Angela couldn't voice her concerns about her standing in his parents' eyes.

"How would you know if you didn't even talk to him?" Lyra didn't know why she was making the effort to defend Kurtis.

"It's complicated," Angela sighed out before giving her sister a sad pat on the knee. "Our relationship works because we see the best of each other. To each other, we are perfect. And together, we can be reminded that at least a part of our lives will always be perfect."

Lyra, of course, didn't have as much experience in the love department as her sister counterpart, but there was something clearly wrong with that reasoning.

Is that really what her sister thought of Kurtis? Is the illusion of perfection the only basis of their relationship? That can't be, can it?

The younger sister looked upon Angela gravely. "You're not serious are you?"

Angela's expression of doubt daunted on her twin as she leaned back on her chair.

"You're underestimating the love Kurtis has for you, sis," Lyra said, being the one looking out into the sunset this time. "He doesn't expect you to be perfect."

Her twin crossed her arms and pouted, making light of the situation. "You won't understand, Ly," Angela said into the distance.

Lyra shook her head in disappointment. "But I do. I was there with him on the island, Angela. He told me things that you should've heard instead of me."

"Like what?"

"That, you need to ask him yourself," Lyra said, stirring up Angela's curiosity. "If you went to the island instead of having me go in your stead, you'd already know. I'm just trying to tell you, have some faith in him. He's a good guy."

'Why am I counseling a married woman on her love?' Lyra wondered to herself, but continued to urge her sister to reconsider her tactics.

Angela nodded. "I'll think about it…"

"But remember," Lyra warned as she held her twin in her stern gaze, "You don't deserve him if you expect him to be perfect."

There was logic behind her words, but Angela also detected something else. There was so much emotion in Lyra's eyes that it seemed like she was doing more than just trying to protect their relationship. She was defending Kurtis.

The older twin sat a little straighter before meeting Lyra's same brown-colored eyes.

"Lyra, you like Kurtis don't you?"