Jellybean

The snow was falling thickly across the city, and though she knew in a few hours it would be brown and gross, Ainsley couldn’t help but feel that it was beautiful. Snuggling into her coat to brace herself from the cold, she strode across the seven city blocks that were between the apartment of her oldest brother, and the apartment she had just begun to rent. The pleasant walk and relatively short distance were the reasons that Ainsley’s parents had allowed the eighteen year old to move out of the family home. Naturally, Madeline had let her baby go with much weeping, and even Jonathan hadn’t denied the sadness that passed over his face. Still, Ainsley knew it was about time that her parents had the place to themselves, and she’d promised to see Christian at least twice a week, and to come home for Sunday dinner.

Tonight, she was walking to her brother’s for dinner. Ainsley had always been close to this brother, in spite of the nine-year age difference between them. The grocer’s bag filled with chocolate and marshmallows swung easily in hand, and her pace quickened as she neared the proper building. Christian was blessed with a small fireplace in his apartment, and Ainsley planned on roasting s’mores. She’d not inherited her brother’s gourmet cooking talent, and so she nearly always brought something simple when it was her turn to provide dessert. The doorman nodded at Ainsley with a smile, knowing that any greeting he passed to the quiet woman would be returned with only a smile in kind, anyway. Ainsley took the stairs, and raced up the three flights- thanks to track and field, she barely lost her breath, and Christian greeted her at the door to his apartment with a loose hug.

“How was your walk?”

“Pleasant.”

Christian took her bag while she removed her coat, and she could nearly feel his perceptive gaze lingering over her waistline. Ainsley raised her eyebrow, and her brother shrugged helpless, saying only the word ‘Mom’. Ainsley knew what he meant- their mother wanted to make certain that there was enough meat on little Ainsley’s bones. Ainsley rolled her eyes, hanging up her coat, and then following Christian into the kitchen, perching on the island stool. The kitchen was beautiful, and state-of-the-art. Cookbooks were occasionally scattered here and there, but Ainsley knew that her supper hadn’t come from any of them- Christian liked to try his new recipes on her. Unlike his twin, Ainsley wouldn’t cushion the truth from him, but neither would she rip the cooking to pieces.

It was only a matter of a few moments before Christian set two plates on the island, one in front of Ainsley, and one in front of himself. It was some sort of chicken, a lovely and bright coloured sauce, and a rice pilaf concoction. Christian watched as Ainsley lifted her fork and knife, holding it over the plate, before she paused and glanced at his face. Christian, well-used to the silent communication, laughed at her expression.

“I won’t tell you what’s in it, until you’ve tried it.” The girl cut some of the chicken, and took a bite. For a few minutes, there was only the sound of her thoughtful chewing.

“Don’t bother to tell me, Chris, just get me a glass of water.”

The faucet cut on over the sound of her brother’s laughter, and the meal continued with continued laughter and conversation- most of it surrounding Christian’s employees and staff at ‘Madelynn’s’ which was the restaurant Christian had named for their mother- and also, which Ainsley frequented. After the meal was finished, and the two siblings had playfully washed the dishes, they settled in Christians lounge, in front of the fireplace.

“So, tell me. How are things with Izzy and Reuben?” Ainsley asked, sticking a marshmallow on the end of the roasting stick. Christian chuckled, watching the methodical and smooth movements of his baby sister, amused at the fact that of all of the friends and family surrounding Reuben Hughes, only Ainsley didn’t refer to him by a nickname.

“They’re alright. Little Dawson was drawing pictures on your invitation to his birthday party next week. He says you promised to be there.”

“My nephew’s fourth birthday is hardly something I can miss.”

Christian chuckled, adding his own marshmallow to the fireplace, nudging his elbow against Ainsley. “Have you gotten a good look at Isobel’s waistline lately? I think she’s trying to hide it from us that she’s expecting again.”

“She’s hardly hiding anything.”

“You know for sure?”

“She promised me I could come up with the middle name.”

Christian’s face was surprised, and he blinked a few times. Often he shared things with Ainsley that he didn’t tell Isobel, but seldom did Isobel share her secrets with anyone other than him. After a long pause, Christian relaxed, smiling wryly as his marshmallow erupted into flame.
“Have any ideas?”

“I was going to tell her Christine or Christopher, but I’m saving that for my first kid, or yours.”

“You’ll have children before I do, Ains.”

Ainsley didn’t reply that remark, removing her marshmallow from the fireplace, gently placing the sweet treat on a bar of chocolate, and with great precision removed the marshmallow from the roasting stick by pushing on it with her graham cracker.

“Well, it’s true. You and Izzy are way ahead of me and Jakie-cakes.” The nickname given to their other sibling by Isobel sounded odd, from Christian. “I mean, you two have someone in your life. We men fail at getting the women.”
Ainsley snorted, and her older brother’s dark brown eyes raised to hers, and he chuckled.
“Uh-oh. Is there something that Jacob neglected to tell me?”

“Her name is Hannah Cooper.”

“Your best friend from before you went off to France and met S.S.?”

“She’s still my best friend, silly.”

“Mhmm.”

“She is. It’s just that Sarah is more of my best friend. Anyway, it’s not official. Hannah just knows she loves him.”

“That means Jake’s a goner. I know that Cooper family- Julie’s got stories about them.”

“She’s Hannah’s biological mother, after all.”

“True. So….I guess that just leaves me.”

Ainsley shuffled over to her brother, one arm sliding around him, and the other hand daintily held her rather sticky s’more. “It’s okay, Chris. I know you’re happy without a partner.”

“I wouldn’t turn it down, you know. I just haven’t found someone like that.”

“As long as you aren’t lonely, Chris, don’t let it get to you.”

“Mom wants grandkids, Ains. She harps on it all the time, especially ever since Dawson was born. She’d love more.”

“Which is why she has Isobel, who’s already on baby number two; not to mention Jake, because once he wakes up and realizes he loves Hannah too, they’ll start a family.”

“What about you?”

Ainsley arched her eyebrow, a clear look on her face that warned him not to go there. Christian knew that look, and he knew that he was exempt from the danger it indicated.

“Come on, Ainsley. You and Avery have been official for a year now. When does he intend to make an honest woman of you?”

“You’d have to ask him.”

“I plan on it.”

For once, Ainsley did not react as he was expecting. Rather than another pointed look, her face took on a hurt and surprised appearance, and rather than speaking to him sternly, when she spoke her voice was begging.
“Chris, please, don’t do that!”

His hand smoothed her hair, holding her close.
“I won’t, Jellybean. I won’t.”

Ainsley relaxed against her brother, popping the last of her s’more into her mouth.

“So, when can we expect you to add to the grandchild list?”

Ainsley scooped up a handful of marshmallows, and lobbed them at his face. Christian grinned, wrapping his arms tight around Ainsley, so that she couldn’t throw any more.
“Love you, Jellybean.”
“Love you too.”