"Hi, it's me," said the female voice into my ear.
Standing beside a large bay window I rubbed the palm of my hand across the smudged glass and stared out at the dreary Melbourne morning. The landscape was misty and dew covered with droplets of moisture like a tiara.
Pushing the Galaxy into my shoulder I turned away from the tree line, trying to focus my thoughts.
"Did you arrive safely?" I asked into the phone.
"Yes," the woman replied. "Everything worked out like you said it would. There was a bit of early morning fog in Sydney, but nothing else."
A strange relief washed over me. "Well, that is good then, I shall look forward to seeing you today."
There was a slight pause. I could almost hear the wheels turning; an undercurrent of mirth clouded her reply. "Yes, I am sure you will, Jason."
I grinned broadly and went along with her lead. "Are you wearing anything special for me?"
"Tssh, handsome brother- all good things to those who wait."
"Oh, that is not fair! You know that I cannot handle surprises."
She laughed. "This surprise will have to wait until you see me."
I licked my lips. "Mmm, I like the sound of that."
"Oh, now who is being the rude boy?"
I feigned ignorance. "What do you mean, sis?"
She sighed and the line went quiet.
I waited a few moments. "Jenna...?"
Her voice was slightly husky when it returned. "Jason, I need to see you too."
"I know that. I feel the same way."
"Good."
I cleared my voice and wondered why I needed to do that. "What time is the booking?"
"One o'clock. Don't forget to bring Mum." She laughed.
"No problem, Jenna. One o'clock it is. Love you. Bye."
***
Dry autumn leaves whirred across my path as I moved along Lygon Street and towards the Italian restaurant. My hands were bunched deep in the pockets of my coat and my boots beat a steady cadence on the worn pavement.
My thoughts were as clouded as the weather above as I wondered what might transpire today.
Jenna had made the booking online from up in Sydney several weeks ago but I was still surprised to even have the chance to see her at all. Last minute plans with her job meant that it was doubtful that she would make it down to Melbourne this year, but I did have my fingers crossed that things would work out nevertheless. I was also glad that she made the effort. I was hopeless went it came to matters of technology and online bookings.
The clatter of a tram crossing sounded off to the side as I held the door open for my Mother.
"Thanks," she said and stepped into the darkened interior.
The door swung shut and I waited a moment for my eyes to readjust. Gradually the room appeared before my vision, like the deep sea diver who returns to the air breathing world. Taking in a deep breath I looked around the tables.
My sister was nowhere in sight, but that did not cause me any alarm. The small tables with their close set chairs and green, white and red table cloths did not suit my sister's style. She was loud and boisterous and the small enclosed space would not have suited her needs.
I smiled and took my mother by the arm. "Jenna is bound to be this way."
"Yes," she nodded and let my lead her over to the white side door with glass panes.
The outdoor area of the restaurant replaced the interior sound with the hum of traffic down Lygon Street again. The lunchtime shopping crowd was lingering and could be seen over the wall and the threat of dark clouds swelled to the south-west. Several small tables sat against the exterior balcony beneath an overhanging canopy.
The door clicked behind me and the woman leaning against the railing turned around.
"Mum! Jason!"
My Mother smiled and headed across to embrace her daughter.
I hanged back slightly and stared at her.
I had not seen my sibling for over a year since she had moved to Sydney for her career. At 25 years of age she was in her peak age bracket and was striking while the iron was hot. Modelling had passed her by and she had now moved into freelance online journalism and blogging. The last year had seen her build up her contacts in the harbor city. Jenna had spent most of her early years hoping to be a clothes model, but a bevy of taller girls had quickly put pay to that. At just over 5 feet 2 Jenna was always going to hit a hurdle in that industry.
The first thing I noticed was that my sister had put on weight in the last twelve months. To most people it would hardly be noticeable, yet to my trained eye it was as obvious as a fly in milk. She wore a dark flower-patterned dress and shiny black tights. The material caught slightly at arms, hips and calves in a manner that I had not seen before. My tongue clucked at the roof of my mouth as I stared in awe. She had rubenesque curves beneath that dress that really suited the burgundy tresses that bounced over her shoulders.
My kid sister had now developed into a lovely looking, independent woman.
"Hi, Jenna," I said when she turned.
A set of ankle-cut boots carried her across to me.
"Jason," she smiled and embraced me.
I breathed in the sweet fragrance of her perfume and felt dizzy as the world spun around me. I could hear her soft, female giggle play in my ears and I felt a kiss touch me dangerously close to my mouth.
"Wow," I exclaimed and held her at arm's reach. "You look fantastic."
She glowered under my praise. "Thanks, Jason."
I stared down at her womanly curves. "You really do! That dress looks great! What have you done?"
She smiled and stared down at herself. "It is just the Sydney lifestyle, Jason- restaurants, ice-cream on the beach and coffee in the cafes, late start and even later finish."
I laughed. "Good to see a return on the expense."
She punched me playfully in the arm. "Oww."
"That is for picking on your kid sister."
I massaged the wound as if it was shrapnel from the war.
Jenna took me by the hand. "Come, Jason, time for your surprise."
I felt myself spun around and turned towards the table against the wall. A man stood up and approached me.
"Jason, please meet my fiancé, Anthony. Anthony, meet my brother, Jason."
I stared in shock and horror. Fiancé. What was she talking about? The man who grasped my hand was only half my size and weight, with a balding crown and glasses and looked nothing that would suit her. He looked like a plastic surgeon or a solicitor. Somebody with soft hands.
"Jason, so nice to meet you. Jenna has told me so much about you." His grip was cold and slimy.
I stared at my sister and then at my mother. I could see from the look on her face that see was in on the deal. "You knew?" I whispered in disbelief.
My Mother smiled. The crow's nest bunched at the corner of her devious eyes. "Jenna told me to keep it a secret. She made sure I would not say anything."
"Wow..." I said and turned back to my sister under a storm cloud of emotions. I was happy, of course that she had now moved along with her life. We had discussed this for many years prior to her leaving for Sydney and had both come to the conclusion that our 'weird relationship' was not healthy for either of us. But the realization that she had moved on hit me like a sledgehammer.
"Congratulations," I said and wrapped her up in a loving hug.
Beyond me the bruised clouds rolled in across Port Phillip Bay.
***
The one thing I could not fault was the meal.
My chair was pushed beside my sister and we both enjoyed the chance to catch up on the missing twelve months. Jenna ate Scaloppine Gamberi e Peperoncino with unladylike manners while I sampled some Bistecca Alla Siciliana and washed it down with a bottle of Barbera Alba.
Her fiancé, Anthony, was indeed, a solicitor. They had met six months ago through a mutual friend and she was glad to find somebody that she could settle down with. He worked on conveyance jobs and I had great fun telling her that she was about to marry an imposter.
I have always loved my sister's giggle and it trilled in my ears while she glanced at Anthony across the table. Unconsciously I slid my hand under the table and played with the short hem on my sister's dress.
The action was something we had always done for years together. I loved to play with my sister's clothing and she loved to touch the nape of my neck. It was our sibling thing that we always shared that no one else knew about. Moving my hand downwards I let it run along the top of her nylon encased thigh. The material felt as sleek and shiny as it looked and it ran through my greedy hands like fine gold. My fingertips stopped to stroke the contours of her shapely kneecap.
"You certainly surprised me, Jenna. I did not expect you to find yourself a fiancé so soon," I whispered.
She popped her fork into her mouth and chewed down hungrily as she turned her face. I had a strong, desperate urge to kiss her mouth and suck her saucy tongue.
"Yes, I was really worried about what you might think," she returned with a glance across the table. "I have not been able to sleep this week as it played over in my mind."
My hand slipped down the inside of her nylon thigh. "You have done well for yourself, kiddo."
Starting slightly my sister reached for her wine glass. She held it high to hide her expression.
Moving my hand I headed towards her short hem again. The sheer material slid through my naughty fingers. I noticed that she made no effort to shut her legs or push me away. A brief sigh escaped her lips as I stroked her inside leg and I felt tension ease from her body as she settled down into the chair.
"Mmm," she murmured and relaxed her bottom. Her legs fell open slightly.
I smiled as my hand disappeared down and under her short dress. Touching paradise for a brief moment I teased a nail against the thin band of nylon that covered her cleft mound.
"Jenna-Marie!" Our mother called from the other side of the table.
My sister's legs snapped together and she sat bolt upright in the chair. My hand remained trapped at the entrance to the forbidden cookie jar. I left it there and enjoyed the harbor of warmth that locked me in on each side.
"Yes, Mum?" she asked.
