Photograph - 1. Chapter 1

“Come on, out with it.”

Steve slowly turned to the chair where his sister, Norah, sat. “Out with what? You’ve only been here five minutes so you better not be inquiring about my love life.” His face showed a mix of disbelief and worry.

“Or lack thereof.” A smile peeked at her lips, but it vanished when she saw the crease of her older brother’s eyebrows. Norah managed a small cough. “Anyway, I wasn’t asking about that. I’m more interested in him.” With a flick of her finger, she motioned at the photograph lying on top of the fireplace adorned with Christmas decorations.

“Him?” Steve shifted his gaze and his eyes mellowed slightly. “You already know about him, Norah. What more do you want to know?”

Dropping her gaze, she picked at a fiber sticking out of the chair she sat on. “Is he really just a friend? If you think you’re protecting me, you don’t have to. I see the way you look at the picture, at him.”

“I keep forgetting you’re not a little girl anymore. How old are you again? Twenty?” He sat on the sofa to the side of Norah’s chair. “He was more than a friend. I didn’t tell you not because I don’t trust you. It was in the past, that’s all.”

Standing up, she moved on the sofa next to Steve and linked her arm around his. “Hey, I’m not mad that you didn’t tell me, but I want you to know that I’m ok with it. You’re my brother and you’ve taken care of me since after our parents died so I don’t have to tell you to let you know I love you no matter what.”

He smiled but said nothing while his eyes watered with tears. Norah blinked away tears of her own.

“Hey, don’t go emotional on me. I still want to know about him.” When he remained silent, she looked at him and the blush on his cheeks made her mouth drop. “Oh, no. No, I don’t wanna know about the intimate… stuff. Please, you’re my brother! I want to know what happened between you two. Why are you not together anymore?”

“Because of me.” His voice cracked and he hid his face from Norah. “Kevin’s an amazing guy and I was so much in love with him. I still am, I think. Not that it matters. He’s gone. I… I made him run away from me.”

“Steve--”

“It’s the truth, Norah. Whenever I think about it, I’m ashamed at myself. You should have seen me back then. I was always in his case about something. Most of the time, I was jealous and angry. It got to the point when all we did was fight until he took off. I don’t blame him, it was all me.”

Tears flowed freely from his face. Norah leaned against his brother and gave him a one-armed hug. “Where was I during this time?”

Patting her shoulder, he planted a kiss on her head. “I was twenty-five and you, my dear, were busy being a teenager.”

“Oh.” She pursed her lips as a solemn expression crossed her face. “You should have told me. It sounded to me like you really needed somebody during that time. I’m sorry it happened as it did.”

Breathing hard to clear the emotions that gripped him, he shook Norah softly. “There was nothing you could really do even if I told you. I was in a bad place that time. It was like I was a completely different person. By the time I realized my mistake, it was too late.”

“Why didn’t you try again?”

He smiled bitterly. “Didn’t have time. I busied myself with work. That and I didn’t feel I deserved a second chance.”

“Steve, you made a mistake. Everyone does. It doesn’t mean you should make yourself pay because of it. You deserve to be happy.”

“I knew it would somehow turn to this.” Steve’s hollow laughter sounded for a second. “If I promise I’d try dating again, would that get you off my back?”

“It would!” A triumphant gleam appeared on her eyes. “Steve, I sort of asked a guy to join us for Christmas dinner. Hope that’s okay.”

“Since when did you ask for my permission to date someone?” Before she could answer, the bell rang. “Why don’t you get that while I get another plate from the cupboard. Good thing I made allowances when cooking.”

While Steve prepared a seat for Norah’s guest, she and her friend appeared on the doorway. “Steve, I’d like you to meet Mr. Sullivan.”

“Nice to meet you Mr…” He dropped the fork he held in his hand as his eyes landed on Kevin’s face. Leaning against the table, he helped himself to a chair.

“Merry Christmas, Steve.”