Marie and her brother, Randall walked along their father’s property, their feet crunching through the previous day’s snow. The snow had stopped by mid-morning, the day had melted the surface, and the night had frozen it over to produce a mirror-like reflection of the sun. Marie had wished she’d spent the night here last night, in their father’s old house. The way the full moon reflected off of the ice made it look like daylight. Less harshly, she thought, as she squinted her eyes against the current glare.
They were here, taking a last look at the place. Their father had died in the fall, their mother passing when they were children, and they’d just sold the place. The keys were being handed over next week. Neither of them lived nearby anymore, so there was no sense in holding onto the place. Besides, both of them had recently gone through their divorces, so the money could be used to pay their legal bills. Pay off that bitch he married, Marie thought. She had made out alright in her settlement, but Randall’s wife had cleaned him out. She’d likely get a chunk of this place, too, which made Marie sad. That her family should pay for Randall’s mistake in marrying the woman. Not that Marie had chosen well, either. Both of them were thirty-five, young enough to bounce back. Irish Twins. They would be the same age until May, when Randall turned thirty-six. Their parents wasted no time in making her after they had him.