BETHANY HUGHES<br/><br/><em>Mmm, this is what the doctor ordered… a nice hot sudsy bath…</em>I lay in the water, drifting away peacefully, for a short while my cares and worries pushed aside.<br/><br/>Then I heard a sound and opened my eyes. I was a bit surprised, Angela was sat on the edge of my bath. She must move around this place like a cat, I hadn't heard a thing. I hadn't locked the door, it had never entered my head to. People didn't wander into en-suite bathrooms where the door was closed without knocking.<br/><br/>Apparently Angela wasn't 'people'. Sure, it was her home but this was a guest room. Then again… we were sisters. I wasn't unduly bothered though I did wonder if she'd do the same to Debbie and Edward. And why<em>had</em>she put them in the same room? A little old to be sharing surely? I needed to ask her about that.<br/><br/>Angela made her peace with me which wasn't necessary, we'd resolved that long ago and her actions of the last few days and weeks were proof enough that she bore me no grudges.<br/><br/>"Mm, I'm better now. Thanks to you. Thanks for everything Ange."<br/><br/>She was in her usual frivolous mood, making jokes about joining me in the bath. To be frank I couldn't really care right now, my mind was too occupied by other problems. She could climb in and soap my back – and my front – for all I cared, it'd make no difference. She was always like this, this earthy foxy kind of person, never hesitating to make her sexuality obvious.<br/><br/><em>To be straight with you Ange, there's a time and a place for everything and right now is neither.</em><br/><br/>She stopped teasing me and told me about her plans for the evening. I was feeling sorry for myself and wasn't really in the mood.<br/><br/>"Thanks," I answered her, "I'll think about it."<br/><br/>She went out. I looked at the clock above the sink mirror. It told me I had an hour still. I slid down into the bubbles until they tickled my nose.<br/><br/><em>I'm grateful to you Angie, truly I am, but right now I don't need your games. My life just got royally fucked over. I need time to deal with it. Please?</em><br/><br/>Forty-five minutes later I was out, dried, perfumed and dressed. I'd just slipped into my simple black silk kimono, loosely tied the belt and pushed my toes into my high–heeled mules. I went downstairs and gawped like a kid at the beautiful house. It was stunning, like it just popped out of the pages of a magazine. The design and the quality and the style just made my dark mood get darker and with a weak smile and hello to my sister I sat down, accepted a glass of sherry and waited for the kids to join us.<br/><br/>Either Batman or Robyn was in the kitchen serving up the buffet meal. She wore her long-skirted maids dress and I idly wondered if she flew across London by umbrella and dated chimney sweeps in her spare time. I smiled at the thought and took another gulp of sherry. Mm, that was doing the trick. Alcohol on an empty stomach, way-hay! Yes! The booze made my mood lift and for one irreverent moment I wondered what Robyn or Batman wore under her skirts. Knowing Angie she'd have on the full set of crinolines, stockings and garters, part of the "working uniform" her kinky boss dictated. Black or white stockings I wondered? I sighed. I loved my sister very much, but why did she have to be so damn<em>mucky</em>all the time?