Thanks for all the positive comments on part one as well as my earlier stories. I was going to publish this in one part, but it got too long to comfortably keep it in one, so I split it in two. As always, votes and constructive comments are welcome. Also, part of the story revolves around the tech/computer/programming world, which is not my strong point. Please let any glaring mistakes go for the sake of the overall story.
Trigger warning -- later in the story, a suicide attempt by one of the characters is discussed, so please be aware.
Thanks, and please enjoy another story from the rambling recesses of my mind...
Over the next few weeks they researched the different resorts, and finally decided on Hawaii. Even then they were torn by which ones to go to, so they decided to do one week on Kauai, one week on Maui, and travel during the beginning of February. Getting the time off from work was no problem; the only thing left was plane tickets, and Steven got those set - first class from Chicago to Hawaii and back. That part was going to be a surprise for Heather - a late Christmas present.
Christmas was coming soon, and plans were being made for the day. Christmas Eve, Heather's parents were hosting members of their family; Christmas Day, Steven's parents were doing the same for their family; that afternoon, they were also inviting friends and neighbors over for a late brunch. So it would be a busy two days for sure.
Christmas Eve morning, Steve was at Heather's place, sipping wine and wrapping the final presents for her younger cousins and her parents. As they worked, Steven could tell something was bothering her, but he decided to let her bring it up when she wanted. When they were finally finished wrapping and bagging all the gifts, Heather pulled Steven onto the couch, saying the words nobody wants to hear from their significant other - 'we need to talk.'
Filling her glass back up and taking a sip, Heather began.
"Sweetie, it's time for me to be totally honest with you and tell you what happened between me and my ex. Once I start, please don't stop me, as I might lose my nerve. Ok?"
"Ok. But only if you're ready to tell me."
"I am... finally.
"I'm going to start on the day we met and you saved my life, and then go backward. That day in March, it wasn't an accident I was in the river. That day would have been my fifth wedding anniversary had I married Jerry. I had been depressed for a very long time, and wasn't handling things well. I put on a good front for my family and friends, but deep down, I hated myself and what happened to me. So I had decided to end it. I decided that morning to kill myself by walking into the Copper River and drowning. I didn't care anymore. I hurt so bad, and the hurt never went away.
"That's why you didn't find any ID on me - I left all that in my purse at my apartment. But when it came right down to it, I chickened out. I just couldn't do it, so at the last second I changed my mind. But it was too late. I had stepped into the river and tried to back out, but slipped and grabbed that branch. I started calling for help, and that's when you showed up, saving my life. But there's more to the back-story that you need to hear.
"During high school, I wasn't very popular. I had some friends that all hung out together, but I probably only went on one or two dates the whole time. My hair was super curly, my acne came and went quite a bit, and my body hadn't filled in yet. So to say I was naïve when it came to boys would be an understatement. But things changed when I started college.
"Suddenly my hormones kicked in and my body began to change. Throughout my freshman year, my acne disappeared and my hair began to behave itself. But the biggest changes came the summer before sophomore year. During the year I began to run for exercise, and suddenly my legs and ass became toned and beautiful. Then, very unexpectedly, my breasts began to grow. That summer I went from a 32A to a 36C. It felt like I was buying new bras each week. And when school started in the fall, all of a sudden I was popular - all the boys could see was my new body. But inside I was the same shy, naïve Heather.
"And then it happened - I met someone. Jerry was a year younger than me, and he made me feel like the most important person in the world. He did everything right in order to have me fall in love with him. Me - someone who only had two dates ever, now was going out with this handsome man who doted on me. And I fell for him, hook, line, and sinker. We dated all through college, and he proposed during my senior year. We decided to wait until he graduated before we got married, and I told him I didn't want intercourse until then. He agreed, but not whole-heartedly. And even though we never slept together, we did most everything else whenever we had a chance.
"Once I graduated I got a job right away at the bank and began to plan our wedding. Jerry didn't graduate until mid-year the next year, so we had 18 months or so to get the planning done. We were together constantly and were deeply in love. Or so I thought. I found out much later that he was just playing me. The 18 months he was still in school, he was cheating on me the entire time, and I never knew.
"He finally graduated but never found a job he liked, so I was supporting both of us. But I didn't care - I was in love and about to get married. The day before the wedding, I went out to run some last errands. I was already packed for the honeymoon, and my dress was hanging in the guest room. I got done early, and when I got back, I heard noises coming from the master bedroom. I listened and knew instantly what it was. So I took my phone out and crept to the door, which was mostly open. And there I saw him, naked, fucking my best friend and maid of honor, BethAnn, in my bed."
"So that's where that name comes from. The night of the party when you freaked out because of Jerry, you were talking in your sleep. Most of it was gibberish, but BethAnn was one of the words I was able to understand."
Now that she stopped, Heather took a big gulp of wine. And before she went on, Steven could see tears welling in her eyes.
"Yeah, BethAnn was my best friend and my maid of honor. But Steven, BethAnn was also my sister. My baby sister."
Now Heather was full on crying, a painful, heart-rending sobbing that tore at Steven's heart.
"Your sister? You told me you were an only child."
"I know, Steven, and I'm sorry for lying to you. She was my sister, and my best friend. I loved her, Steven. We did everything together growing up, and there she was, in bed with my fiancée, fucking him - and enjoying it. This wasn't anything forced. I can still see it today - her legs spread wide, tits bouncing on her chest, Jerry pumping furiously into her cunt, and her urging him on. That's when I took the video and several pictures. And it was the clicking of my phone that stopped them. They heard the sound and looked at the doorway and saw me standing there. Jerry didn't even pull out - he kept fucking her. Finally she pushed him away, covered herself with a sheet, and started crying. I looked her straight in the eye and told her 'you are dead to me'. And that's the last time I saw her or spoke to her."
Heather crawled next to Steven and held him close while she continued to cry. After a while she began to calm down, and continued.
"I miss my sister, Steven. The hate I had for her is long gone, and I have finally forgiven her in my heart. But I don't know where she lives or what she's doing. I deleted all contacts I had of hers. But I want her back in my life, Steven. I love her still, even after her betrayal. But I don't know what to do."
And the tears came again, harder than before. All Steven could do was hold her and let her know he loved her.
When the tears finally stopped, Steven lifted Heather's face to his and kissed her gently.
"How about this. Get cleaned up and let's go talk to your parents. I'm positive they've been in contact with your sister, and would be ecstatic to help you out. Did you ever tell your folks what happened? The whole story?"
"Oh god, no. I was too embarrassed by the whole thing. Plus we had to cancel everything, so no, I've never told them."
"Do you think your sister ever told them?"
