“I... I think I do,” he said uncertainly.
“And I need someone to look after Aggie. Do you think you and Bean could keep her for the week? She’s good—she won’t pee in your house.”
“Aggie is the best,” Seth agreed. “But...” He touched his fingers to hers, sort of playing with them, lacing into them. “I’m taking some time off. For fall break. What would you think... I mean, this is out of the blue, but... maybe Bean and I could go with you? Like travel buddies.”
Lorna could feel her eyes widen with shock, to the size of small saucers, she was certain. She was amazed she wasn’t crying. “Really?”
“Only if it’s okay with you. Liz would look after Aggie, I’m sure of it. But I need a break, and I get the feeling you could use some moral support. Not to mention Bean could get his helping badge. You know how bad he wants his helping badge.”
His fingers were still tickling hers, and she liked the feel of them. She liked the idea of Seth and Bean as her wingmen. She liked everything about this moment, and she was astounded that she wasn’t afraid or being weird. She smiled. “I am acutely aware of how bad he wants his helping badge.”
“What do you think?” Seth asked, and his fingers wrapped around hers in a firm hold. “Beach time for the boys, travel companions for you?”
If she agreed to this, she would have to tell him everything—she couldn’tnottell him—but she believed it was worth the risk. “I would really like that.”
Seth smiled. She did too. They stood there a minute, smiling at each other, their eyes speaking words she didn’t quite grasp but knew were there, until they were interrupted by Martin and Liz.
“Earth to our neighbors!” Liz said cheerfully, startling Sethand Lorna both. “We have determined Bean has the best volcano. His spew is better than anyone’s.”
Of course it was.
Lorna laughed more that late afternoon than she had in a long time. She felt easier, and the knowledge that she had someone in her corner was like a warm blanket around her, holding her tight and safe. She felt great. Like she was someone and people liked her, wanted to be with her. Even King Kong had his moments.
She realized how badly she needed the support, too, because she had no idea what to expect when she saw her sister. She hadn’t seen her since the night she kicked Kristen out of her apartment and told her she never wanted to see her again.
Chapter 35Lorna Is Thirty-Nine
Kristen begs lorna to let her in during the coldest part of the winter. She says she’s been living on the street and she’s finally hit rock bottom. She says she is ready to make a change. Of course Lorna lets her into her new apartment. She is her mother’s daughter after all.
In the first few weeks, Kristen behaves herself. She cleans the apartment when Lorna is at work, and she cooks dinner for Lorna when she comes home.
They watch past seasons ofThe Bachelorand groan and cringe at the same time, giggling like they did when they were girls, assigning superlatives to the contestants. “Most Likely to Spew When Drinking,” Kristen anoints a tiny blond. “Most Likely to Throw Her Friend Under a Bus,” Lorna adds for an ex–pageant queen.
Kristen talks about going to school for nursing, or dental school. “I just need to save for it.”
Lorna is so excited that Kristen may be turning her life around, that she may have a sister again, that she says, “I’ll help you pay for it.”
“Really, Lolo?” Kristen asks.
“Really,” Lorna assures her.
Kristen hugs her tight. “I could not have asked for a better sister. I love you, Lolo.”
Lorna has noticed that Kristen has some new tattoos and a scar on her arm that she says she doesn’t want to talk about, and Lorna doesn’t press her. She doesn’t want to think of what life has been like for Kristen. Because she’s warm and funny, and when her health comes back to her, so does her beauty. She is the big sister Lorna had all those years ago, the one she so admired. The one she adored.
Kristen advises Lorna on her wardrobe again, helps her with her hair, even drags her to the gym. They make a TikTok video together—Kristen teaches her the popular dance making the rounds. They are out of sync and so bad, but it is so much fun. They laugh hard and collapse onto the floor in fits of laughter.
“It feels so good to be like this again,” Kristen says to Lorna one night. “Remember when we used to dance for Nana and she would rate us?”
“Ten out of ten every time,” Lorna says, laughing.
But when the weather turns warm, Kristen leaves. She’s been talking to some guy and wants to “hang out” with him. Lorna doesn’t know what that means, really, but she can’t believe it’s good.
“Don’t go,” she begs Kristen. “It’s just going to happen all over again.”
Kristen laughs. “Have a little faith! It’s not going to happen again. I really like who I am when I’m sober. Do you need me to promise? I promise, I will be sober. He’s sober. This is not about that.”
She does not keep her promise. Again.
