Free Her Father, My Master: Mentor by Mallorie Griffin

Long naps always did that to me.  I rolled over and went to sleep again.

Chapter 9
     
    The week passed by much as the last did, only this time there was the added tension of having to entertain Kandace.  Rather, she and my parents entertained me with their constant bickering.  It was like she’d changed completely, after she went to college.  Before, she was the golden child, the obedient one, and I was the contrary brat.  But now she was being as argumentative and sullen as me.  I just tried to stay quiet and savor the temporary peace that being out of the spotlight brought me.
    I avoided talking to Kandace, too.  I didn’t want to accidentally spill the beans about Mr. Hendricks, and considering how similar our situations were, I thought I might be tempted to.  Still, s he managed to catch me on Wednesday after class .
    “Hey Krys,” she leapt up from the kitchen table one afternoon, as soon as I walked in the door.  I suppressed a groan.   I’d just spent the entire day fantasizing about Mr. Hendricks, what he had done to me and what he could do to me in the future.  I didn’t need this.
    “Hey Kandy , what’s up?”  Ever since she got back from college, she insisted everyone call her Kandace, but I still used her childhood nickname , much to her chagrin .
    “I’ve been meaning to ask you, what do you think about all this?”  She twirled her finger in her blonde hair nervously as she spoke.  “I mean, with me and Duke.”
    I shrugged and made my way out to the den, and she followed me like a puppy.  “I think you’re crazy, but I have no idea why you care what I think,” I commented as I plopped down in the old, comfy brown couch facing the plasma TV.
    “Because, Mom and Dad are so against me, I just want to know someone’s on my side.”  She smiled at me.  “I want you to be a bridesmaid, after all, too.”
    I blinked, and my teenage sullenness melted away for just a few moments.  “Really?”
    “Of course!”
    I blinked again, feeling a little confused.  “But you have so many friends, why don’t you pick some of them?”
    Kandace waved a hand.  “It’s been a little weird for me at college, and I’ve kind of drifted away from most of those people.  And not a lot of my friends went to the same college as me, of course,” she added matter-of-factly, and I rolled my eyes.  Special Kandace had to go to a super special college, naturally.  “And you’re my sister.  I want you to be in the ceremony.”
    “So, when is it?” I asked, eyebrow raised.
    “In June, we’re thinking.  We haven’t booked the venue yet, so it might get pushed back.”
    “Don’t you think this is a little sudden?”
    “Why does everyone keep saying that?”  Kandace tossed her hair in an aggravated manner.  “So what if we just met?”
    “Look, I don’t want to be like our parents and try to tell you how to live, but I’m just saying, I’m only a year younger than you and I know I’m not ready for marriage yet.”
    She smirked.  “I guess I’m more mature than you.”
    “Right.”  I stood and made to leave.
    “Wait, I’m sorry Krys.  I didn’t mean to be snippy, I’ve just been under a lot of pressure.”
    I sighed, and feel back onto the sofa.  “You think you’re the only one?  I’ve got finals to worry about, and college coming up too, you know.”
    “I know, I know, I was there last year.  It’s a difficult time for everyone.”
    “So, why do you care what I think about you and this guy?”
    “Because, I just want to know someone’s on my side.”
    I flipped my legs over the edge of the couch now, laying down on it.  “Look.  This isn’t normal, you can’t possibly think that it is.  How old is this guy?”
    “40… or 50.  Somewhere in there.”
    “You don’t even know how old he is?” I snorted.  “How can you know him so well that you want to marry him?”
    “Because we’re in love!”
    I rolled my eyes.  “So what?  I was ‘in