Evander answered so immediately that Alfred felt as though his brother had struck him; he was just as surprised and confused. Alfred had been after the rocking chair just for the sake of sentimentality, and he wouldn't have been terribly put out if it hadn't been available — disappointed but not dismayed — but Evander's reply made his desire to claim it stronger. It was just sitting there in the attic, unused and unattended, and yet his brother had particularly strong feelings about keeping it to himself? Why, just to prevent Alfred from getting to use it? That was selfish, which injured Alfred's sense of fairness (and nevermind his pride, when he considered why Evander might not trust him with a bloody chair). Evander had been the one to go through all of their mother's things when she'd died, which at this moment seemed like a privilege that Alfred had been personally denied due to his absence. Alfred hadn't even had the opportunity to go to their mother's funeral, much less pick out mementos of his childhood before the lot had been sold off. Evander had everything, or everything he'd thought he'd ever want. Alfred was only asking for one thing. Evander ought to have offered it up on a silver platter, not rejected him out of hand.

"What d'you mean no? You aren't using it," he pointed out. "We would. I've just as much right to it as you do. She was my mother, too." He didn't specify how they would use it; making or even hinting at that sort of announcement when he was annoyed wouldn't do. If he told Evander about the baby now they'd be obliged to all stop and celebrate and be happy about the baby, and Alfred wanted a minute to feel properly annoyed about this ridiculous show of pettiness from Evander.

---

The following 1 user Likes J. Alfred Darrow's post:1 user Likes J. Alfred Darrow's post
   Evander Darrow