Chapter 2: The Twins get Naked!
While Tyler and Brenda were dozing, Janice and the twins settled in. Janice set herself up in the 2nd floor guest bedroom. The twins would be sleeping on the fold-out sofa in the 1st floor greatroom.
As Tyler's Mom put the finishing touches on dinner, she glanced over at the twins and sighed sadly. To her, they were the daughters she never had. Tyler's delivery had been difficult and it left her without the ability to have more children.
The twin girls were sitting quietly on the sofa reading. With their somber demeanors, slouching posture and drab cloths, Janice could see why it was so easy to dismiss and overlook them. They rarely spoke. They didn't even try to interact with anyone. They acted as if they expected to be ignored.
Calling out to them Janice said, "Girls, it is very important that Tyler and Brenda rest. The doctor said for their hands to heal properly, they can't use them at all. So we will be their hands." The girls nodded without looking up.
"It will be hard for them to let us do everything for them. I have a plan that I believe will get them to accept our help. Later when you tell your parents about this, you can tell them it was all my idea and that we were just following the doctor's orders. Okay?"
With blank expressions on their faces, the girls again nodded not knowing exactly what they were agreeing to.
"Go upstairs and bring our guests down for dinner."
Soon after hearing their clunky strides on the stairs, Tyler saw Abby and Beth appear at the door. In unison they whispered "Dinner is ready."
Dinner was a strained affair. Abby fed Tyler while Beth fed Brenda. The only conversation was a rambling account of recent family events delivered by Janice. She felt the need to try and make this meal feel like a normal family dinner. After the injured were fed, the care givers ate in silence.
"Beth and Abby, please take Tyler into the greatroom to watch TV. I'll do the dishes. Brenda, will you stay with me?"
Brenda perched herself on a high chair at the counter saying, "Janice I can't thank you enough. For dinner and everything."
Ignoring her remark Janice said, "Your dad was in the military, right?"
"Yes"
"Did you have to move often?"
"Yes. It seemed we barely got all the boxes open before we had to pack again," Brenda said with a smile.
"That must have been hard for you. How can you smile now thinking back on it?
"It really wasn't that bad. I learned how to make new friends. Moving as often as we did introduced me to lots of great people and places."
"I guess you were always popular with the boys?"
"Hardly," Brenda said while rolling her eyes. "In 9th grade I was still as flatchested as I had been in 1st grade! Then suddenly over the summer going in my sophomore year I grew boobs. I started getting asked out on dates and the rest is history."
Janice looked deeply into Brenda's eyes and said, "Well, then you know how hard it can be to be different."
Brenda's chin clinched as if she had been slapped. Her mind was suddenly flooded by her painful school memories. She nodded slowly explaining, "All my friends ... developed before me. Everyone knew. Some of the meaner boys called me Pancake Brenda."
Janice wrapped one arm around her daughter-in-law's shoulders and gave her an understanding hug and said "The twins are in that same unhappy place. I fear they're trapped there."
Feeling that she had found common ground, Janice moved in front of Brenda and gave her a fuller embrace and said, "I'm so glad you are a part of our family. You've made my son so happy. I was wondering... hoping...would you help me with the twins?"
Her emotions stirred, Brenda's voice broke as she replied, "I would be glad to try."
"They are ...Well, you've noticed how shy they are. When they talk at all, they whisper. They have zero self confidence. I worry about how they are going to make it in the world."
Brenda nodded.
"It's their mother's fault. Cindy has babied them all of their lives because of their handicap. She doesn't let them do anything. They are 18. Can you imagine they've never been on a date? Their only friend is each other? That isn't right."
Brenda shook her head slowly. Her eyes expressed her sympathy and the sadness she felt.