Everett, the always stern and domineering Big Brother, who was known to be cold and unforgiving, rushed to comfort her, “Stop saying that nonsense, Erica!” he snapped. “You are the precious daughter of this family. If Evangeline ever try to pick on you, I'll break her legs!”
His words cut deep, even more than the cold seeping into my bones. I stared at the concern in his eyes, the same eyes that had glared with hatred when he shoved me from the car.
Tears spilled down my cheeks despite myself. “Then you should’ve pushed harder, Everett. That way, you’d have broken both my legs and not just one.”
Everett’s head snapped up, his sharp eyes zeroing in on the window where I stood.
Panic gripped me. I quickly brushed the snow off my coat and forced a smile, trying to act like everything was fine.
For a second, he hesitated, his face softening into something I hadn’t seen in years—kindness. He smiled back at me, warm and radiant.
The icy weight in my chest lifted and I waved frantically, shouting, “Happy New Year!”
Before I could catch my breath, fireworks exploded in the sky, their brilliant colors reflecting in the glass. Everett’s smile lingered, but not for me.