When We Were Sisters by Emilie Richards

Author:Emilie Richards
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 2016-08-23T04:00:00+00:00

26

Robin

Children are perceptive. They know when storms are brewing. Children are also willing to overlook clouds gathering above them if an adult pretends skies are sunny. Nik and Pet must know Kris and I are having problems. But when I told them I thought it would be fun to visit Aunt Cecilia in Florida over the holiday, they took me at my word.

I guess it helped that Kris bought each of them bare bones smartphones with GPS tracking in case they got into trouble, and he made sure they got on their nonstop flight instead of leaving that to Elena. They have friends who split their time between mothers and fathers. Maybe it seems normal, considering. Or maybe, deep inside, they know this is something they’ll need to get used to.

On Wednesday we swam and lazed in the sun, and I let Cecilia and Donny take them shopping for “Florida clothes.” My sister’s found a certain anonymity here, which brings her pleasure. The locals pretend to ignore her, and because they do, tourists decide they’ve imagined that the Cecilia is buying T-shirts and flip-flops at CVS with everybody else. Of course sunglasses and silly beach hats help, too.

Now, as Cecilia’s housekeeper puts the finishing touches on the only vegan Thanksgiving dinner my kids will likely ever have, Fifi—everyone in the unit has taken up Fiona’s nickname—is tossing Frisbees to Nik and Pet. All three of them are just barely holding their own. Nik has been in the water once, and Roscoe, with his matchstick legs, beat Pet to the Frisbee a moment ago and dragged it down the beach.

Mick plunked to the sand beside me to watch the game. “Fifi loves kids. She always wanted a brother or sister. But by the time she was old enough to care, her mother and I knew we weren’t going to last.”

“I’m not sure Kris and I are going to last.” The moment I said it, I wondered why. The words could be construed as an invitation. I feel an undeniable spark igniting whenever Mick is near, and I think he does, too, but neither of us has acknowledged it.

“What’s he like?”

“Quiet. Controlled. Responsible.” I thought a bit more. “Married to his job.”

“That’s part of the reason my marriage ended.”

“Were you sorry?”

“Not really. If she’d forced me to choose, which I guess in a way she did, I would have chosen my career.”

“What was wrong with her that you would have made that choice?”

“Are you asking what’s wrong with you?”

I was. In our weeks on the road Mick and I had talked about almost everything except our mutual attraction. His films were an outgrowth of his wisdom. And he could be trusted.

“I can’t help thinking if Kris wanted to be home more, he could find a way.”

“Home with you, right?”

“Right.”

“Fifi’s mother needed attention. Lots of it. Still does, and Fifi gives it to her.”

I had noticed how much attention Fifi gave Mick, too.

“My emotional energy goes into my films,” he said. “I couldn’t hold her hand every time she needed it.

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