“He does,” Spencer agreed. Being teased about his bakery crush wasone of Travis’s favorite things.
“This one came in the mail today from Uncle Andy and AuntJeannie,” Margie said as she slid a gift toward Travis. Her sister andbrother-in-law lived in Phoenix, but always sent birthday and Christmas giftsfor Travis and his sisters. Travis shoved the rest of the cookie into his mouthand reached for the brightly wrapped package. “Chew that,” Margie ordered,holding tight to the box.
“How’re you doing, kiddo?” Mary Beth took advantage of thedistraction to focus on Spencer, who didn’t really want to talk about it.
“Fine.” Shrug. She watched Travis but could feel Mary Beth’s eyeson her. They stayed long enough to make Spencer squirm, and she looked at herin defeat. “What?”
“You don’t seem fine.” There was nothing but love and concern onher sister’s face. “You seem sad. And a little lost.” Under the table, shegrasped Spencer’s knee, squeezed. “Talk to me.”
Travis’s whoop of joy over the video games he’d opened gave hercover.
“I ran into Rebecca the other day.”
“Really? Where?”
“Coffee shop. I think she was on a date.” Spencer worked hard tosay it nonchalantly and was pretty sure she failed.
“Was that the first time you’ve seen her since…” Mary Beth let hervoice trail off, leaving the sentence for Spencer to fill in however made herfeel the least terrible.
“Since I’ve been single? Yeah.”
“Did you talk to her?”
“I did. I asked if we could get together some time.”
Mary Beth gaped at her; Spencer could see it without even looking,and it caused one corner of her mouth to tug up in a half smile ofself-satisfaction. “Wow,” her sister said. “I did not see that coming.”
“I know, right? Neither did I. It just kind of…slipped out.”
Mary Beth squeezed Spencer’s knee again. “What did she say?”
“She said she’d like to, and then the date came back from theladies’ room, and it got all kinds of awkward. I ran out of there like I wasbeing chased by zombies.”
“I can shoot zombies now,” Travis said, holding his game up forSpencer to see.
“Good. You can protect me.”
“You got it.” He held up a hand and she slapped it.
“Have you talked to her since?” Mary Beth asked, as Travis rippedopen another gift.
Spencer shook her head. “Chickened out.”
“You want to know what I think?” Mary Beth asked.
“Does it matter? You’re going to tell me anyway.” Spencer wrinkledher nose in fun.
Mary Beth glanced at the table where Travis had finished with hisgifts and was talking animatedly to their father. She pushed her chair back andsaid quietly to Spencer, “Come with me.” Spencer followed her, brow furrowed,until they were in the kitchen, just the two of them. Mary Beth turned to faceher, put both hands on Spencer’s shoulders, and told her, “I think you’reready.”
That surprised Spencer. She wasn’t sure she agreed. She didn’tfeel ready. At all. “You do?”
“I do. Because I’ve observed something.” When Spencer didn’tcomment, Mary Beth seemed to take a different tack. She dropped her hands fromSpencer’s shoulders and instead twirled a hank of her sister’s hair around afinger. “How long were you with Marti?”
“About two years.”
Mary Beth nodded, still twirling, seemed to watch her own hand asshe searched for the right words. “In those two years? I never once saw you asrelaxed and just…youas you are now. Not once.”
Spencer’s eyes widened in yet more surprise. “What the hell areyou talking about? Relaxed? I’m not relaxed. I’m a mess. I’m sad. I feel…lost.I…” She shook her head, not wanting to list more. When she turned her gaze backto Mary Beth, her sister was smiling, and she lifted her hand, rested her palmagainst Spencer’s cheek.
