About two months after Emilie and Samual eloped, Emilie's twenty-second birthday rolled around. She was expecting to just sort of sweep it beneath the rug and instead have a normal day and just maybe he could cook her dinner. Emilie woke up in a good mood and was in a good mood for most of the day, then he came home, ignored his wife, and went to sleep. He had forgotten. This soured her mood, she heated up some leftovers and went to settle on the couch. A thought crossed her mind,
I wonder if Beth is there?
She called up Benny's number, a cold "What?" came from the other end.
"Hello? I'm just trying to reach Beth,"
"Emilie? She went back to Kentucky,"
"Since when?"
"Since Paris and she lost to Borgov again," there was a rushed politeness in his voice, like he just wanted to get this conversation over with.
"Oh."
"You really shouldn't call here again,"
"Yeah sorry it's just-"
"Don't it's fine it's just-"
"I won't call again don't worry,"
"Happy Birthday by the way," the line went dead.
Well at least Beth was nearby, and Sam was asleep maybe she could pay her dear sister a visit.
-
"Oh my god Beth, why didn't you tell me you were back in town?" she said excitedly as soon as the door opened. Beth had a look in her eye that could only be described as hazy, and when Emilie went to hug her she could smell the nicotine and alcohol, "Beth you okay?"
"Yeah I'm great." Beth put her arm's length away, "What brings you here?"
"Well it's my birthday and when I found out you were in town, I thought we could spend it together!" Emilie put a warm smile on her face, masking her genuine concern about Beth's current state.
"Shit! Is it really? I'm sorry I didn't call things have just been really busy-"
"Yeah sure," Emilie said skeptically.
"Anyways what about Sam, last time I checked he was your husband, and you should be getting some great birthday sex tonight," Beth tried to close the door on Emilie.
"Well Sam- he uh- he was just really-" Beth cut her off,
"That cocksucker forgot didn't he!" Beth opened the door, "You need a drink,"
Emilie stepped through the threshold and was greeted by the stench, it was stronger in the house then on Beth. A lot of things were sort of hanging on by a thread like she was mid-renovations. There was a half-full glass of brown liquor on the table. Emilie went to go grab glasses, while Beth took a swig straight from the bottle. Emilie saw numerous other bottles in the trash. She put two glasses in front of them, the glasses went mainly ignored.
"Sorry I don't have a gift Emmy,"
"A gift doesn't matter, it's just nice to see you," she gave her a tight smile, after a moment she realized something, "Wait Beth... you never call me Emmy..."
"You know the last time I saw you was at Christmas," she took another drink, "Didn't know we were going to be only see each other on holidays kind of siblings,"
"Well Christmas was a bit odd and after Mother-" Emilie took the bottle from Beth and took a large swallow of liquor.
"What was that whole thing with Benny anyways?" The way she asked it almost sounded like she already knew the answer but Emilie answered in her normal way,
"It was nothing. That son of a bitch just got in my business,"
"That's what you're going with?" Beth said, turning to look at her more directly.
"Well yeah cause that's what happened? What exactly are you implying?"
"Oh nothing, just a coincidence as soon as you left Benny started flirting with me and trying to get in my pants?"
"He did what?" Emilie was concealing her rage, "You didn't let him, did you?"
"No, I'm not an idiot. I did want to fuck him before Christmas but then I just got a feeling that something was off,"
"Good, you're too good for him,"
"You say about someone who you've had maybe two conversations with," Beth was careful about each of her words, like she was about to dominate this conversation, just like her chess games, and she could almost see the endgame.
"Well in one of the ones I did have, he acted like an insensitive idiot cowboy so, sorry if it left an impression,"
"Why did you not react when he called you Emmy?" Beth was frank and bold in her speech normally before but alcohol was letting her ignore any semblance of a boundary that her sister had and try to figure out if her suspicions were true.
"He didn't call me Emmy,"
"Yes he did,"
"Where are you getting these ideas?"
"Why are you lying when we both know what happened?"
"Well what do you think you know?" Emilie asked with annoyance.
"Well I know he was fuming when you announced about you and Sam, and when you kissed Sam you looked straight at Benny,"
"That's what you think you saw?" Emilie grabbed Beth's hand, "Beth I think you're just confused, did you really like Benny?"
"Do you think by acting all sweet you can make me stop asking these questions? I am your sister, I'm not an idiot and I know you,"
"Beth.."
"Your old boyfriend was Benny right?" Beth paused but not leaving room for an answer, "It makes sense! He lives in New York, you knew where everything was in his apartment. It's why- oh my shit! So much of it makes sense?"
"Come on Beth! Let it go!"
"You aren't even denying it anymore!"
"What do you want from me Beth?"
"I want you to be honest! Jesus Fucking Christ Emilie be honest with me is that too hard!"
"You aren't giving me options. Can't you just respect I don't want to talk about it."
"I want you to say it,"
"Fine me and Benny Watts were seeing each other for almost a year,"
"So you dated?"
"If that's what you want to say, yes,"
"So you loved him?" she continued on, "You loved him didn't you... Emmy," the term of endearment now had poison within it.
"Beth, you need to understand that was the past and I have a husband now,"
"Yeah an awful one you married to get back at him,"
"This isn't your place, Beth. Stop," her words were cold now.
"Are you really going to live your life like this?"
"I thought you didn't like Benny,"
"He has his flaws, but he's good. He's a friend," Beth was an angry drunk most of the time but this seemed to actually matter, "You don't have to stay with Sam, you have no kids tying you down or anything,"
"He wants them you know? Kids."
"Do you?"
"Kids are great but you don't want them,"
"I want kids,"
"With him,"
"He's been having us try," there was slight disgust in Emilie's voice, of course she had consented but her regrets were very real.
"You're not serious are you?"
"I've miscarried once so far,"
"You stupid bitch,"
"You're insulting me? At least I have a relationship and some stability, instead of obsessing over chess and pushing people away,"
"You're talking as if you're the picture perfect representation of stability,"
"It's my birthday, I don't need to listen to your drunken idiocy,"
"You're the one who came here, sorry you are so in denial you can't handle me pointing out the truth,"