Kim Meyer studied her sister-in-law with a critical eye.
She looked... Normal. Maybe a little sad, but that wasn't unusual considering the circumstances. It would be weirder if Eliza was chipper and unaffected. Her husband had left to stay with Kim for a week and counting.
Eliza had always been a beauty. A slim supermodel build, with just enough curves around the hips and chest to give her a touch of feminine softness, not to mention a juicy little ass. She had pale, radiant skin, coal-black, lustrous hair, and crystal blue eyes. Kim was a looker as well, but Eliza made even her jealous.
Eliza was the perfect bride as well, based on how David always gushed over her, the sappy lunk. Eliza was thoughtful, loving, and supportive. Or, at least, she had been. That was why Kim was here today, sitting across from Eliza in the living room of she and David's home. Something had changed, and Kim needed to get more info on the issue before she could advise her brother on what to do.
"So, Eliza," said Kim, leaning forward with a keen look in her eye and dispensing with the inane small talk they had been wasting time with up to that point, "What's been going on with you? Be honest with me."
A faint blush colored Eliza's face, and she folded her hands in front of her. "Ah. Yes. I thought that might be why you asked to meet," she said nervously. "It's a fair question. I admit that I've made some questionable decisions lately." Her words were cool and precise, as usual, and her eyes calmly met Kim's hard, skeptical gaze.
"Like the inappropriate clothing," prompted Kim with a raised eyebrow. Eliza wasn't wearing anything scandalous right now. In fact, her lilac sweater and dark jeans covered her from wrist to ankle. But if David's complaints were even halfway accurate, Eliza had basically been flashing the goods to their entire office.
Eliza's face twisted in a wry expression of self-deprecation. "Yeah... that was one of my worst decisions."
"So help me understand," said Kim flatly, leaning back in her chair with her arms crossed. Despite how good Eliza had been for David, Kim had always had a tense relationship with her sister-in-law. There were a few reasons for that. First of all, Eliza was too perfect; one of those incredible, poised, self-confident, effortlessly feminine women who made Kim feel insecure. But second of all, even though Kim knew it was a childish reaction, she couldn't help but resent that Eliza had taken away her brother. So a sneaky part of her wanted to come away from this secret meeting she had called with a guilty verdict. A part of her would be relieved if she could confidently tell David that he should split with his wife for good. But Kim had to give Eliza a fair shake first, for David's sake. Eliza was the love of her brother's life after all.
"It's... a sensitive topic," said Eliza hesitantly, her hands fidgeting in her lap. "A personal one. But if you must know, your brother has been having... difficulty performing in bed. It made me feel unwanted. I reacted poorly."
Kim grimaced in discomfort. Shit. That didn't excuse dressing like a slut at work, but it might explain it. Even so... Kim didn't think that Eliza was lying, but it still felt like her sister-in-law was holding something back. Kim had always been the type of gal who cut straight to the chase without games, and that was her instinct right now.
"Eliza, David means everything to me," said Kim sincerely, leaning forward again with an intense sparkle in her lively green eyes.
"I know," said Eliza with a gentle smile, "and that's why I..."
"I don't think you DO know," said Kim sharply, cutting her off. "It isn't just that he's my brother... Ok, I'm going to tell you something really personal that I don't share with just anyone, so listen up." She cleared her throat and bit her plump lower lip, forcing herself to go on. Eliza needed to know why this was so important. Why Kim would do anything for her brother.
Eliza just watched her silently, her beautiful blue eyes wide and receptive.
"You know our Dad left, right?" asked Kim softly. "David told you that much at least, I hope."
Eliza nodded, looking a little uncomfortable at Kim's sudden emotional turn.
Kim sighed and moved on. The only way out was through. "It happened when I was little. But not so little that I didn't remember it. David really had to step up. He was the most important man in my life. The man of the house. It was a lot to ask of a kid, especially when he had a bratty little shit of a sister like me. So I want you to understand this, Eliza..." She reached out and grabbed Eliza's knee with a forceful grip. "David isn't just my brother. He's the closest thing to a Dad I have. If I feel like you're bullshitting me or that you might hurt him, I'll tell him to drop you. And he'll listen."
Kim watched carefully as a complex and indiscernible mix of emotions crossed her sister-in-law's face. But then Eliza's cool blue eyes hardened, looking deep into Kim's. Her hand fell to passionately grip Kim's hand still resting on her knee.
"Kim, I swear to you: I love David. More than anything. And I desperately want to be the best wife I can to him... even if I mess up sometimes."
Kim studied her closely, that sneaky part inside her that disliked Eliza on principle searching for lies in her chilly blue stare. But there were none. Kim could plainly see that, even if she had been oddly evasive earlier, Eliza meant every word she had just said. Kim let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding in a puff through her nose, and pulled her hand out from under Eliza's.
"Ok, ok," she said wryly. "I get it. Fine. I'll tell the big meathead he should give you another chance. But don't make me regret it."
Eliza's obvious, pathetic gratitude made Kim uncomfortable, so she made an excuse and left shortly afterward.
Kim stewed in her thoughts on the car ride home. Although she had given Eliza the basics about their family history, what she'd shared hadn't fully conveyed what her brother meant to her. Their Dad leaving had kind of messed Kim up; she was freely willing to admit that. It was why, despite being a hottie (if she did say so herself), Kim was a serial dater who could never stick with a long-term relationship. She was intensely attracted to dominant, masculine men, but when she actually got into a relationship with one, she instinctively rebelled against them, pushing them away. She was practically the poster child for daddy issues. She obviously didn't think about David in romantic terms, but he was the only guy in her life who had ever been able to put up with her petty, bratty attitude.
She was a little disappointed that she didn't have a chance to get rid of her annoyingly perfect sister-in-law. But this wasn't about her. It was about David. And, no matter what was going on with Eliza, she had convinced Kim of one thing today: Eliza wasn't lying about wanting to be a good wife to David.
...
Eliza watched Kim's car drive away from the window, her heart beating quick and hard in her chest. She had somehow convinced Kim, despite the squirming mass of anxiety filling her belly. Eliza couldn't say whether that was a good or bad thing for David.