Memories Of Joseph

Their parents turned around and walked away as Christine and Joseph began to get dressed. They dressed in silence knowing their parents were a few feet away. It only took a minute and they were wearing their wet clothes again. Joseph held Christine's hand but quickly let go of it as soon as his father turned around.

"Get back inside and put on some dry clothes!" The siblings' mother ordered.

The four walked back silently. Once inside, everything went haywire.

"Christine, go to your room. We have to talk to your brother."

Christine saw the look in her brother's eyes. She knew he was going to get blamed for everything. She didn't want that! She wanted to yell at her parents and say that she was deeply in love with him and that they couldn't do anything about it.

"No! Dad, it's not his fault! I-I wanted him!" Christine boldly said.

She felt a hard sharp slap on her face from her mother. "Get to your room you dirty little girl!"

Christine felt tears rolling down her face. She gasped and tried to speak up but she knew it was useless. She slowly walked to her room and closed her door. She sobbed on the bed while she listened to her parents argue with her brother. She couldn’t make out what they were saying but she knew it wasn't good. She changed into some dry clothes and cried more.

The last thing she remembers is feeling her eyes heavy and falling into a deep sleep. The next day she woke up with the sun peering at her through the small window in her room. She groaned remembering the events that happened the night before. She got up and walked into the quiet living room. She looked around and her parents were drinking coffee in the kitchen. She walked over to them slowly staring at them. They looked at her with so much hate.

"Where's Joey?" She asked softly.

Her mother gave her a dirty look. "He's gone off to New York early. You won't be seeing him for a few months."

Christine fought back her tears. "B-but I didn't get to say goodbye."

Her father scoffed. "You think after the little game you two played last night that we'd let you say goodbye? Young lady you need serious help. Once we get back home, you are going to start seeing a psychologist to get that head of yours straightened out."

Christine couldn't believe her ears! Her parents were being so awful to her! "Dad! There is nothing wrong with me! I love Joseph! I love him with all my heart!"

Her mother stood up and shook her head. "You are a sick child. I'm sorry Christine but you do need help. You can't be in love with your brother. That's sick!"

Christine felt like running out the house and looking for Joseph. "It's not sick! It's love! Mom you don't understand. Both of you don't understand!"

Her father stood up looking at her sternly. "This is the end of the conversation young lady."

Christine kept trying to hold back her tears but they rolled down her face naturally. Once they got home she was forced to see a psychologist about her "problem" but no matter how many sessions she went to, she knew she still loved her brother. She didn't see Joseph for over a year but when she did see him, her parents made sure never to leave her alone with him. She knew he stilled loved her and she loved him.

They spoke a few times every now and then but never brought up that night again. They had to get over it although deep down they both wanted each other again.

As the years went by she had felt more depressed than ever. She made the mistake of marrying the first man she went out with years later in college. The only things she didn't regret of her marriage were her two children. Now she was single again. The whole time she was married, all she ever did was think of Joseph. She loved him with all of her heart. He never married or had children. He loved Laura and Michael as if they were his own children. It had been months since Christine had last spoken to him.

She opened her eyes and realized she'd been masturbating just remembering that night of passion she had with her brother. He put her skirt back down and buttoned her top back up. She turned to the side and reached out to pick up her phone.

Her fingers nervously dialed his number. It was at least 8pm in New York. He had to be home by now. After a few rings she heard his voice.

"Hello?"

"Hello?" She echoed.

"Christi?" She could hear the smile in his voice.

"Yes. It's me Joey. How are you?"

He sighed and paused. "I’m fine and you?"

She nervously played with the phone cord. "Oh pretty good. I wanted to call and tell you something. Something that I've kept in me for too long."

He was breathing hard. "Yes?"

She gulped. "I miss you so much. I still love you. I always think about you. I think about us and that night we shared.

She heard silence for a minute. Her heart was pounding. "Joey?"

"Y-Yes I'm still here. I love you Christi. I've never stopped loving you. God I miss you so much!"

"You know the holiday's are coming up and maybe you can come visit."

He sounded so choked up. "I would love to. I thought you'd never ask."

She smiled feeling like a schoolgirl talking to her first crush. "I have something else to tell you too."

"Yes?"

"I caught Laura and Michael kissing today."

He gasped. "Oh really?"

"Yeah. I don't know how to handle it. I just know I'm not going to handle it the way Mom and Dad did. I'm going to be understanding. I'm not going to keep them away from one another. It's too damaging. Look at all the years we missed together. All the years we could have shared."

"Yeah I know. It was different back then I guess. We are different than our parents. I know you'll handle the situation just fine baby."

She giggled and heard him laugh softly. "I love you," they both said in unison.

"Well I have to order dinner now but I will call you later on. We have a lot to talk about."

"Yes we do."

A few moments later she hung up the phone and heard a soft knock on her door. She got up and to open it and found Laura and Michael standing looking at her so innocently.

"Mom we are hungry. Any food?" Michael asked shyly.

She laughed. "Yes I was about to order a pizza."

Laura hugged her mother. "Thanks mom. Thanks for everything."

She called up the pizza delivery and as the three waited for their dinner in the kitchen, Christine could see the love in her children's eyes. Their stares and romantic glimpses at one another kept bringing back memories of Joseph. Memories of her one true love.