I’mattheofficeearly on Monday morning, trying to get through some work, when I hear my phone vibrating like crazy in my desk drawer. By the time I pull it out, I’ve missed about ten messages from my sisters.
Noli:Sooooooo, how’s life in the north?!?
Noli: Miss you guys bunches and bunches.
Rose: Aww, Noli! Miss you too. Life in the north is interesting…
Noli: … Good interesting or bad interesting?
Rose: We’ve taken to calling our apartment “The Downer.” This morning, literal plaster rained down on me while I was showering.
Rose:
Noli: OMG do you feel like Indiana Jones in the caves?!
Rose:Umm, no. I feel like I’m a third wheel who followed her sister to live in her boyfriend’s hometown only to discover the living quarters are basically atLittle House on the Prairielevel.
Noli: I bet you’d look cute in a bonnet, though.
Noli: How’s Poppy?
Rose: Fine, I think. She’s already at work today…putting us to shame, as per usual.
I’m doing a rapid-fire scan of my sister’s text message exchange. I try not to text while I’m on the job, but this is the first time we’re hearing from Noli since we moved to Wisconsin. We left her back in Pensacola, Florida, and I’m feeling majorly guilty about it.
I’ve always been close to my sisters. In a lot of ways, our closeness has been out of necessity—we are all each other has. But it was also easy to stay close since we all lived in the same house—at least until Noli moved in with her boyfriend.
I’m trying not to be overly critical of that decision. She’s an adult, and it’s important that she sees me as a sister now that we’re grown up. Old habits die hard, though. I’m used to being the authority figure in her life. Mostly, I don’t love the thought of her shacking up with a dude who is the definition ofnot good enough for her.
Gram is probably rolling over in her grave knowing that Noli and Nelson are living together. She always wanted us to be able to stand on our own two feet, and she’d have all sorts of things to say about Nelson having no need to buy the cow if the milk is free.
I’ve never liked that metaphor. I mean, don’t call a woman a cow, right? But still, Gram’s point stands—or at least the point IthinkGram would be making.
I refuse to think about what Gram would say about me moving to another state for a man.
Anyway, I’m getting distracted. The takeaway here is that I love my baby sister. I want what’s best for her. And I’m glad she reached out.
I cast a look out my office door. There’s no one here except Patrick and Lou, who’ve been lingering in the hallway of the P&R building all morning. I’m not sure why. I type out a quick message in reply.
Poppy: I’m right here. Some of us have day jobs… It’s good to hear from you, Noli! I miss you.
Poppy: Are you eating? Are you sleeping? Are you wearing sunscreen?
Oops. My pseudo-mom card is showing. Noli will call me on it.
Noli: Down, girl.
See.
Poppy: Sorry! But seriously, how are you?!
Noli: All is well here. Nelly is good. Work is good. Not much to report on my end.
Rose: Pfft, boring!
Noli: I know…such a bummer.
Poppy: No! Boring is good!
