Rindy
Yawning, Rindy Aird closed the book she had been reading after her father had put her to bed, telling her she could read until she had finished her chapter. Unlike a lot of her classmates, she loved reading. It made her become part of a different and exciting universe in a way watching television or YouTube videos never could. Her parents encouraged her reading, convinced it would make their daughter more aware of the world and all its possibilities around her.
From a very young age Rindy was aware she was part of an unusual family. Not only because of her father’s political career and the very public life that came with it, even for her. She also learned that the relationship between her parents was different than that of other married people she knew, like Aunt Marjorie and Uncle William. The first time she stayed with them for a sleepover-party with the twins, she was surprised to find out her aunt and uncle had the same bedroom and even shared a bed. Her parents each had their own bedroom, located in different wings of their house, her own bedroom situated in the middle. And while her aunt and uncle, to the great dismay of their children, often kissed or hugged in their presence, her father and mother hardly ever touched each other.
Somehow she knew not to mention her parents’ sleeping arrangement to her friends and classmates. But at the same time, she shied away from talking with her parents about such an intimate matter. Which only left her one option: to ask her Aunt Abby. Rindy adored her godmother, who regularly took care of her when Harge and Carol were away on business, political or otherwise. She liked being part of Abby’s somewhat chaotic household, always filled with dogs and visiting friends and family members.
They were in Abby’s kitchen, trying to make their own pizza’s. Her hands and arms covered with flour, Abby desperately checked the cookbook lying in front of her on the kitchen counter.
“I’m really not sure if this is a good idea, Rindy. Why didn’t we just order some pizza’s?”
With a sigh, Rindy looked at the knife she was carefully using to chop some onions.
“This is much more fun, Aunt Abby and Mummy says it is much healthier if you prepare your own food.”
“Thank you Carol, … “, Abby muttered, using her hand to wipe away the small drops of perspiration that were forming on her forehead. She added some olive oil to the flour and started kneading. Rindy put down her knife and walked up to the counter. There she remained standing, her posture betraying she had something on her mind. Abby’s brown eyes fixed on the girls face.
“What’s the matter, honey?”
Rindy remained silent. With her finger she drew the outline of a cat in the flour that by now was spread all over the counter.
”You know you can tell me anything …”
Rindy bowed her head, then decided to ask what had been bothering her for some time now.
“Aunt Abby, why do Mummy and Daddy both have their own bedroom?”
If Abby had been prepared for anything, it wasn’t this, at least not at this moment. Knowing that it was, of course, only a matter of time before Rindy would start to question the way Carol and Harge had shaped their marriage, Abby expected that this would probably happen when the girl would have reached puberty. She had talked to Carol about it, but had also made it clear that, if asked, she would be frank with her daughter. But now Rindy was only nine. Buying time, Abby replied with a question:
“Why do you think that is?”
Rindy shrugged. Her eyes fixed on her drawing, she whispered.
“I don’t know … perhaps because they don’t like each other?”
Abby realized it would not do if she would give a noncommittal answer. Right now and despite her age, Rindy needed to know that her parents loved each other, only not like many other parents.
“Honey, trust me, your Mum and Dad love each other very much, but more like …” she hesitated, trying to find the right words. Rindy looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
“But more like a brother and sister… And brothers and sisters don’t sleep in the same bed.”
She looked at the blonde girl, who was now leaning against her. She kissed the top of her head.
“Do you understand?”
Rindy nodded, feeling relieved. She mustered Abby’s hands and apron, totally covered in greasy flakes of flour and oil.
“Oh, Aunt Abby … perhaps we should order those pizza’s.”
They both started laughing, soon accompanied by Abby’s dogs, excited to join in with the fun.
Rindy turned off her bedside lamp and wrapped herself in her duvet. She thought about her talk with Aunt Abby about her parents’ bedrooms, only a few months ago. She was convinced that Abby had told her the truth, but why was she thinking now that something was wrong?
She was certain that it had started after Therese had left Salt Lake City. Rindy had noticed a change in her mother. She was more relaxed, smiled a lot and Rindy even imagined that she looked different, radiating a soft glow, was even more beautiful.
Rindy reached for Rupert, the fluffy black bear sitting on the shelf next to her bed. Although she was a big girl now, she sometimes needed his comforting company, especially when she wasn’t feeling well. Clenching him against her chest, she remembered her father’s sad face when he had tucked her in. She had tried to make him laugh, telling him some silly story from school, but he had only smiled and then kissed her goodnight. He had changed as well, she knew, after Therese left. He was barely at home and when they were together Rindy sensed the tension between her mother and father. She had never seen her father angry at her mother, but yesterday he had yelled at her, seemingly for no reason, shocking them all.
Yes, it definitely had started after Therese had left. I had been fun being with Therese, playing soccer together and learning how to make pictures. She was proud of the pictures she had made of Aunt Abby’s dogs and of Therese herself. Rindy imagined that having a big sister could be like this.
Unable to sleep she turned around, Rupert still in her arms. Mummy liked Therese too. Rindy had noticed the way she looked at her, especially after that morning she had seen her leave the guesthouse where Therese stayed. It was still very early, but Rindy had already taken her soccer ball out to practice against the wall of the garage, next to the guesthouse. Mummy hadn’t noticed her, but Rindy had noted her broad smile and tousled hair, recognizing the clothes her mother had worn the evening before.
And Mummy had been to New York, for work she said, but Rindy was certain she had visited Therese there. After she returned she seemed distracted, a little bit sad even. It made Rindy feel sad too. She sighed. Tomorrow she would see Aunt Abby. Maybe she could help her find a way to make her parents happy again.