MMy dear sister Dorothy,
I am writing to you because you would understand me best. You were the only one of us, the four siblings, who chose love over the family. So did our brother Brian, but his love story remained out of your sight. I'll tell you about it, at least the part where we, the other two brothers, were involved, with all its good and bad sides.
You know part of this story. It began eight months ago, on the 7th of January when Andrew and I finally accepted Brian's idea to add the production and trade with flowers to our farm. We decided to hire two more workers. One of them was a woman named Maeve.
Now, I will reveal to you the things you have never heard until now. Maeve readily shared her knowledge of flowers with the three of us but was eager to show the feminine side of her personality to only one - Brian. I could understand her. She was like his lost twin sister in everything. Both had chestnut hair, brown eyes, oval faces, tanned skin, and slender, fit bodies. Swimming and flowers were their shared passion. One could see them in the swimming pool when they were not together in the greenhouses.
I had sympathy for them from the very beginning. They reminded me of my cheerful time with Kathrin when she was still my girlfriend but not my ex-wife. You have walked a similar path, so you know what I mean. My close attention to their relationship was why I noticed Andrew's opposite attitude. He didn't like their closeness.
His initial disapproval was subtle -- a silent hiss or snort when he could see their joyful talking or when they touched each other. The latter was just a behavior of two people attracted to each other, nothing inappropriate. Andrew's discontent was so evident to me. If I asked him why, his answer was, "They distract each other from the work and could make a mistake because of this." or something like that. He sounded reasonable but silly. The closeness between Maeve and Brian seemed like a natural part of their work with the flowers.
My anxiety about Andrew strengthened when Maeve decided to teach Brian something she called a "water ballet." It was like underwater dancing close to each other, doing different turns, flips, and other moves. It could be quite a pretty view if I could ignore Andrew's comments. You haven't forgotten the stories our grandfather used to tell us about his youth, have you? Andrew's remarks were like them -- an echo from those years when unmarried people had to follow quite different rules. I am ashamed that I didn't take Andrew's words too seriously. "We shouldn't blame him." I thought, "Our oldest brother never had even a girlfriend, let alone a wife, while we, his younger siblings, are much luckier than him. He needs time to get used to this new situation."
The turning point was on the 12th of August, our "The Three brother's Independence Day." We still value and celebrate the day when our father made Andrew the owner of the plum orchard, and our big brother invited us to live and work with him. Brian came with Maeve to our brother's dinner on the same date. And not only that, but he also said Maeve should spend the night with him right here in the family house. Andrew's response gave us chills. His speaking was slow, with words falling from his mouth sharp and heavy, like an axe blade that splits wood. Andrew openly disapproved of Brian and Maeve's relationship for the first time. He ordered them to stop any closeness to the moment they became husband and wife. He meant not only sexual acts but also kisses, hugs, and any other physical contact. We, the three listeners, were stunned. You can understand it by Brian's actions. He obeyed without any resistance. After a while, when Maeve was leaving the house, he asked Andrew for permission to accompany her to her lodging. It sounds ridiculous, but it is true.
I was not better. My only reaction was shaking my head while staring at the table when Andrew and I remained alone in the house. My brother saw me and responded. "Connor," he said, "I have done the right thing. All people must think with their brains but not with their genitals. When Maeve curbs her passion, she should consider whether Brian is the right person for her. The same counts for Brian, too. I have the best intentions for them." His words sparked the suspicion that he might be jealous of Maeve and envious of Brian. But I didn't say anything, preferring the silence to avoid the inevitable argument.
