Read When We Were Sisters for Free Online Page B

snapped back.
    â€œWell, I was in shock and I cried anyway.”
    I let the name-calling pass this once. “In a crisis everybody reacts in different ways. There’s no good or bad way.”
    â€œWhat’s your way?” Nik said in a tone that made it clear he really didn’t care. “Staying away from funerals? Working harder?”
    â€œYou’re about one second away from a week without television.”
    â€œWho cares?” Nik turned his head toward the window to watch the passing scenery.
    Nik has never been an easy kid. As a baby he had colic, and by the time he grew out of it Robin swore she would never give birth again. We skated on smooth ice through age two, which is why Pet was conceived, but three was a nightmare. That’s been Nik’s pattern, a good year or two, followed by a dark period when nothing feels right to him. He’s a sensitive kid and notices everything. And he lives for justice. Robin says he’ll be a lawyer, too.
    If he is, I hope he loves the work more than I do.
    â€œWe’ll go to shivah tomorrow.” I had already explained that Talya’s family would stay at home for seven days to receive guests and we would be expected to be among them. “I wish I hadn’t missed the funeral, but we’ll let Mr. Weinberg and the family know how sorry we are tomorrow night.”
    â€œI don’t want to go,” Nik said.
    â€œMe, either,” I said. “But this isn’t about us—it’s about them.”
    For once he didn’t argue.
    The rest of the trip was blessedly silent. I parked in the garage that Robin and I added when we extended the house. Those days, far behind us now, were golden. Redesigning with our architect, watching the future come together one expanse of cedar at a time, imagining the years in front of us. Robin was right on-site through the noise and confusion, but she made friends with our crew and insisted she didn’t mind. Sometimes when I came home in the evening I found the men still sitting around our temporarily relocated dining table, going over plans for the next day while they drank a well-deserved beer.
    Robin seems shy at first, but she loves anybody who loves her back. That’s not hard to do.
    â€œWe can do wings with the pizza if you’d like,” I said as we got out of the car. Concessions can work wonders at home as well as the negotiating table.
    â€œMaybe we should get a salad?” Pet asked.
    Nik whistled. “Wow, Mom’s little helper. And she’s not even home to know how good you are.”
    Only she was home. We opened the door, and Robin was right there, waiting for us. For a moment I didn’t know what to say.
    â€œThey let me out for the funeral,” she said, holding out her arms. “And here I am.”
    Pet leaped forward for a hug. If I’d had any doubts my daughter cared what had happened, they were allayed immediately. She was sniffing back tears.
    â€œHey, I’m okay,” Robin said. “Really. How are you?”
    Pet pulled away. “Mad at you!”
    â€œI’m sure. And, Nik, you’re okay?”
    â€œWhy wouldn’t I be?”
    I stopped staring at my wife to glance at my son. His voice had cracked, just a little, and his expression wasn’t as steely as he probably hoped.
    â€œIndeed,” Robin said lightly. She finally looked at me. “Cecilia’s here. She baked a file in a cake and sprung me.”
    I really should have expected that, but I had been so busy absorbing everything else I hadn’t gotten around to processing details.
    Cecilia. Of course.
    I made what passed for a protest. “You were supposed to stay in the hospital until tomorrow.”
    â€œYes, and isn’t it nice I’m home instead?”
    â€œIf you’re actually well enough to be.”
    â€œI’m standing here smiling at you, aren’t I?”
    She was expecting something, and I realized it