They were on the news again.
Their pretty faces were displayed on the hundred-inch laser TV in the living room.
Orla watched her helpless sisters, all in cuffs.
They were on the news as always, but this time, it was for something inimical. She watched them with bleary eyes, wishing they had never trodden that path that almost crumbled her life for years.
Now, they were everywhere, wallowing in shame as lights from a hundred cameras flashed on their faces, capturing them to display to the world that they killed their sister and mother.
Three Daughters of Arnold Sullivan Are Murderers.
The news headline was displeasing, not anything that Arnold would ever be proud of.
All he had worked for all his life was about to collapse because of the scandal. But he started it, he charged them to court. He must have thought of it and was ready to lose everything before thinking that sending his daughters to jail was the best decision to make.
"What's the final judgment?" Orla asked Callan.
She had chosen not to follow the news since the inception, but Callan made sure he was updated on every step that the case took.
He reached for the remote on the table, tuning into another channel . He crouched next to her, reaching for her hands.
"They have one more hearing until the final judgment," Callan responded. "How do you feel?"
"I am not happy, Callan. I have forgiven them, and I wished my father didn't take this far. It's fine if we never talked to each other again, but I don't think I will ever forgive myself knowing that three of my sisters are in jail because of me."
"Orla, they are paying for their sins. They are not in jail because of you." He heaved a long sigh.
He wished for that day that she would stop blaming herself for other people's misfortune. He hated that she always felt that way.
He wanted her to understand that some people are meant to pay for their sins. But he knew very well that, no matter how hard he tried to convince her, she would never fully understand that she didn't have to always be sad.
Tears slipped down her cheeks, in fat folds. "I wish they didn't do it,"
"Hey," Callan frowned at her, "you promised me that you will stop crying at the slightest provocation."
"I know I did," she shook her head, wiping her eyes with her thumb. "I don't know what to do, Callan. How can I help them?"
"There is no way you can help them, Orla. It's now a national case, everyone is interested in the case. It can't be dropped now, you just have to hope that they get fair judgments."
He was right, that was all she could do.
Callan had the day planned out already, and he didn't want Orla to ruin it.
"You've been home all week, working and sleeping. Do you want to go out for fresh air?" He stared down at his heavy wife. "I have somewhere to take you if you'd like to go with me."
Orla thought for a while. She could barely lift herself from the couch, Callan had been the one doing everything in the house, and she didn't want to stress him out by going out with him and halting at intervals, seeking his help to push her forward because she was too weak to carry herself.
"No, Callan. I am fine," she smiled, shaking her head.
"Hmmm," he didn't want to coerce her, but he had plans. "Orla,"
"We have a few weeks until the babies are due, I don't want to stress them." She moaned, feeling a sharp contraction within her.
"Hey," he grabbed her. "How do you feel?" Worry struck him. He sat back on the couch, rubbing her back. He had been doing that for days now. Whenever she raised an alarm, he would rush to her to see if there was any way he could help out. "Let's go to the hospital." He couldn't bear seeing her in pain anymore.
"No, Callan. We were there two days ago, and the doctor said we had two more weeks until delivery. I think these are just normal contractions that occur when delivery is near. I will be fine," she promised, not certain she was telling the truth.
"I can't have you stay here like this. We have to go now, Orla. Come on," he stretched his hand out to her, but she didn't take it. She remained on the couch, giggling hard.
"Now, I am fine. Where do you want us to visit earlier?"
Callan gave her a weird look. "The hospital is the only place you need to visit now."
"You worry too much, Callan." She took his hands, heaving herself up.
She was big, her tummy was so large it scared her sometimes.
She and Callan had decided not to opt for a gender reveal party until the babies were born. They chose not to know the genders of both babies, but Orla prayed that they would be same-sex twins, a reincarnation of Isla and herself.
Callan didn't argue when he told her what she wished for. He knew that whatever sexes she'd give him would be the most beautiful babies in the world, and he couldn't wait to hold them in his hands.
With Orla, he longed to be a father, a better one.
"I feel like I should leave the house, Callan. Where do you want to take me?" She smiled sheepishly, hugging him from the back. "Don't you want to go out with me?" Her pouty lips melted his heart. He kissed her before he could restrain himself. Orla blushed, covering her face with her hands. "Why do you always do that?" She looked away from him.
He loved that she still blushed whenever he unexpectedly kissed her.
"I have something beautiful to show you. Do you want to see?"
"Yes, Callan."
He smiled.
As much as he didn't want to stress her, he also didn't want to miss out on what he had already planned for her that day.
How are you guys doing? The chapter is short but it's because of the suspense and I want you all to guess what Callan has on his mind for her.
Who can guess right? Let's see.
Thanks for always reading. Don't forget to vote and comment, I love you all.