Though I apologized, Aunt Veronica refuses to talk to me for three days. She won’t even look at me. My great aunt’s silence bothers me, but I split my attention between Nicole and the Kings, so I don’t have a lot of time to mope.

By Tuesday, Nicole feels strong enough to do more than watch television and spends two hours outside wandering Aunt Veronica’s land. I join her, and we talk about our lives over the eight years of not seeing each other. I keep the conversation from drifting too far into the sad parts. Nicole seems on the fast track to recovery (though she refuses to visit a clinic no matter the advantages I gush about), but fragility still clings to her.

Nicole’s body still shakes, or a limb will jerk at odd moments. If left alone for too long, her eyes become unfocused. Nicole only sleeps a few hours a night and spends the remaining time watching Adult Swim. But her appetite grows each day, and her bouts of vomiting have diminished tenfold.

Though I worry about Nicole the more I hang around her, I have no doubt my sister will recover. Nicole survived Lyme disease, several broken bones, and a fractured skull in her youth; she can do this.

***

Every day, I leave the house like I would if I was going to work. Adam has taken the week off from work, partially because he has acquired too many PTO hours and is forced to, but also because he wants to help me find a new job. In between sending out applications, I kick Adam’s ass at Mortal Kombat, and he picks apart and assists me in building up the business loan proposal I’ll one day present to a bank.

When Crystal comes home from work, we eat the dinner I prepare, then we either play one of Crystal’s board games or watch a movie. I can’t remember any of the movies’ titles because halfway through every single one, someone starts a make-out session that ends in a sex romp or two.

I leave each night thoroughly satisfied and happier than I’ve been in weeks.

***

Friday afternoon, I kiss Crystal and Adam goodbye. “Do I need to bring anything tomorrow?” I ask. The Kings have planned a full day of fun at the nearby state park. Though I don’t like hiking all that much, the Kings assure me I’ll enjoy myself.

Crystal pouts. “Why not stay longer, and we’ll discuss it.”

Adam shakes his head, pokes his wife in the side, and kisses me again. “No, just your beautiful self.”

I smile at Crystal. “I can’t wait for tomorrow.” I wave and turn to walk to my car.

“Don’t forget. Nine sharp and warm clothes!” Crystal calls.

I chuckle under my breath as I reach my car but don’t comment. I get behind the wheel, start it, and wave at the Kings once more. Adam nods, and Crystal blows me kisses until I pull out of the drive and disappear down the road.

***

At Aunt Veronica’s, I rush inside; curse myself for dawdling at the Kings. I’ve left myself little time to shower and dress before Tyson’s class, and I promised Molly I’d arrive early to discuss me donating homemade candles for the upcoming crafts’ sale at the school. We’d talk after class, but Molly has plans to take her oldest daughter to Cleveland for the weekend and still needs to pack.

As soon as I pass through the front door, Nicole steps in my way. My sister’s limp, dull hair hangs in an impressive French braid down her back, and the right amount of makeup covers her face to hide its gauntness.

“You look nice.”

“Thanks.” Nicole points at the jeans she wears. “Do you mind if I borrow these for tonight?”

It takes me a second to realize my sister has on my jeans, and when it does, my stomach rolls. Though we’ve never been too different in size and body shape, after we both hit puberty, we couldn’t swap clothing. Nicole is blessed with the long legs and wider hips, and I’ve gotten the larger chest and bigger ass. Now, my jeans hang loosely around Nicole’s thighs, and my sister must wear a belt to keep them secure at her waist.

For the hundredth time since Nicole’s arrival, I can’t believe how far my sister has sunk. It boggles the mind how much work Nicole has to do before she nears anything close to healthy.

“I can change if you want me to,” Nicole says when the silence has dragged on too long.

“Oh, no, it’s fine. I just, uh...You look nice.”

Nicole’s gaze focuses past me. “...Thanks.”

“So, um, why are you all dressed up? Is Aunt Veronica taking you to the casino?”

“No, I thought I’d go with you tonight.”

“What?”

Nicole looks at her bare feet. “Aunt Veronica said the class is open to everyone, and I really need to get out of the house.”

“I don’t think—”

“She’s going,” Aunt Veronica says as she steps out of the living room.

My top lip curls. “But she’s—”

I stop the upcoming words that will sound like an insult no matter how I say them. I don’t want to hurt Nicole’s feelings, but I refuse to be seen anywhere with my sister until her condition improves. One look and anyone can tell she has a drug problem. What will people think if they see me with Nicole, even if they know we’re sisters? How will that reflect on the Kings once it comes out I’m dating them?

Nicole plays with the extra fabric of her blouse. “You know, maybe I should stay in. I’m not actually feeling as well as I said I—”

“You’re going,” Aunt Veronica says; her eyes never leave me. “If needed, I’ll drive you.”

“Are you sure it’s a good idea?” Nicole asks.

Aunt Veronica nods. “You’re part of this community now, too.”

I groan internally but don’t argue. I don’t have the time, and I don’t want to risk upsetting Aunt Veronica to the point she kicks me out. Yes, the Kings will probably house me, but I can’t impose and know it’s unwise to move in with my partners so early into our relationship.

“Fine. I’m leaving in twenty minutes,” I say and shove past my sister. I march into the bathroom and slam the door shut.

***

A half-hour later, we head into Derbinwood. Neither of us speaks, and Nicole stares at her hands; tears I refuse to acknowledge shimmer in her eyes. Even if I do, I won’t apologize. I don’t want Nicole to stay at home because I don’t want to spend time with her. In fact, I’ve loved the past few days. But Nicole must realize how embarrassing she appears right now. I wouldn’t expect Nicole to take me anywhere if our positions were reversed.

We reach the community center with ten minutes to spare, and I refrain from complaining to Nicole. Instead, I urge my sister out of the car, and we hustle inside the building.

Unlike when I first started the class, the room isn’t as full. It’s been like this for three weeks now. When I commented last class, Tyson told me attendance always falls around the start of the holidays, and in the middle of spring.

“Why not get a seat in the back?” I suggest to Nicole as I wave at Molly, who sits at our usual station.

“But I wanted to sit with you.”

“I can’t.” I don’t explain further and almost run to Molly.

“Who’s that?” Molly asks while I tuck my purse and coat into the station’s cubby.

My attention doesn’t roam to find my sister, who’s meandered into the room. “Family.”

Molly studies Nicole. “She’s your sister, right?” She nods without confirmation from me. “I can see it in your noses and chins.” Molly frowns at me. “Why didn’t you introduce me to her?”

My fingers itch to tear at my hair, but I remain calm. “After class.” When Molly seems about to argue, I add, “How many candles do I need to make?”

Molly sighs but drops the topic of meeting Nicole, and until Tyson bustles into the room, we go over the details of what Molly wants.

“Hello, everyone,” Tyson says once free of his leather jacket.

Most people respond with a pleasant greeting, but none as loudly as Nicole. I wince and risk a glance at her. Nicole sits at a station alone two behind me. The sad expression she wore when entering the building has vanished, and she flashes Tyson a sweet smile.

Dread floods my veins. Oh, no. The last thing Nicole needs to do is get involved with someone. Or, more likely, have her heart broken. My sister can’t afford a setback.

I bury my displeasure for the time being and do my best to concentrate on tonight’s lesson: how to create a base stock. I don’t talk much to Molly as we chop vegetables, and I barely acknowledge Tyson when he comes over for a few minutes. Most of my thoughts revolve around trying to think of a gentle way steer Nicole’s attention away from Tyson, or any man for that matter. Then I have to come up with a way to negate Aunt Veronica’s input when she eventually adds it.

By the end of class, I haven’t come up with a solution outside of blatant honesty. Yet how will Nicole respond to that? Before my sister left for California, we were nothing but truthful with each other, no matter the topic or likelihood of it pissing off the recipient. Often our mother chastised us in her belief we went out of our way to be brutal, but my father applauded us on more than one occasion.

But what if Nicole can no longer handle that level of harsh reality? If I say what needs to be said, will it cause my sister to relapse? What if Nicole gets so upset she overdoses and dies?

Fear of the possible can’t hold me back, though.

After we’ve dried our remaining dishes, Molly gathers her bag and mumbles a hasty goodbye. I wish her well, grab my own things, then book it to the back of the room. Nicole and Tyson have talked since the end of class, and he leans against her station. Nicole’s hand touches his wrist.

I step beside Nicole and make a show of putting on my jacket. “Ready to go?”

Nicole’s attention stays on Tyson. “Can we wait just a few minutes?”

“I have p—work in the morning.”

“Five minutes, I promise. I need to hear more about the diner’s food. So far, it sounds like heaven.”

I rip Nicole’s coat off the back of her chair and thrust it into Nicole’s lap. “The food’s amazing, and I’ll take you there sometime soon. Okay?”

“I’m there every day but Saturday,” Tyson says.

Nicole slips on her coat. “I’ll drop in.”

Tyson grins. “Can’t wait to feed you.”

“I bet it’s—” I tug on Nicole. “Bye! It was nice meeting you.”

“Nice meeting you, too.”

As quick as lightning, I whisk my sister out of the community center. When we reach the car, Nicole wrenches her arm out of my grasp.

“What was that about?”

I fish around in my purse for my keys. “When?”

“In class. Why’d you act that way?”

I shrug. “I need to get to bed.” I find my keys and open the driver’s side door. I nod at Nicole. “Let’s go.”

Nicole frowns. “Did you have a problem with me talking to Tyson?”

“What? No, why would I?”

Nicole’s eyes narrow. “I embarrass you, don’t I? That’s why you dragged me away from him. Also, why you didn’t want me with you tonight.”

“I’m concerned about you. You aren’t exactly at your best right now.”

“But I can still go out and meet people.”

I roll my eyes. “Yes, you just wanted to ‘meet’ Tyson.”

Red colors Nicole’s cheeks. “What I do with my life isn’t really your problem.”

My calm snaps. “Well, it needs to be someone’s since you’ve done such a piss-poor job.”

“Of course, Dad. You always know what’s best. Don’t you, Dad?”

“I—You—”

I into my car, slam the door and jam my keys into the ignition. My thoughts spin. How dare Nicole make that judgment! I’m not trying to control her, just make her life easier. I speak out of love, not a need to have life go my way. Plus, wouldn’t I, the one who’s never done any drug harder than marijuana, have a better idea of how to avoid major pitfalls?

Nicole crawls into the passenger seat but can’t buckle her seatbelt because her fingers shake so hard. She tries for a solid minute before she gives up and tells me to drive.

I comply but say, “If I get a ticket, you’re paying for it.”

My sister grunts

Silence engulfs us while our hurt feelings and dark moods simmer. From the corner of my eye, I notice Nicole flick a glance at me every few seconds. More than once her mouth opens but she utters no sound. After the sixth time, I lose it.

“What?”

Nicole looks out the window. “I know you’re not Dad.” She still sounds disgruntled, but her voice has lost its edge.

“I really resent that comparison.”

“I didn’t—I said it because you’re making me feel smothered. Like you think I’m too fragile to use my brain. Like Dad does.”

“I—”

I blanch. Didn’t I precisely think that? I didn’t intend to overwhelm Nicole, but I did believe she couldn’t make any sound conclusions at this point in her life. Just as our father had with both of us.

Tears crawl down my face. “Why am I so much like him?”

Nicole shakes her head and pats my shoulder. “You’re better than him.”

“Only when I try hard. If I don’t focus, I’m a clone of him.”

“No! Dad doesn’t do any self-reflection. I don’t think he knows how, but you do.”

I snort.

Nicole’s grip tightens on me. “We both know I speak the truth. Dad hasn’t seen or talked to me in almost a decade, and I bet you haven’t had any contact with him since moving here. Now is that the behavior of someone who can admit they’ve made mistakes?”

I wipe at my damp chin. “I suppose not.”

Nicole nods; wears a thin smile. “You have hurdles to jump, but I know you’ll get better. You can start by apologizing.”

“I am, you know. Really sorry.”

The seriousness drains from Nicole’s expression. “I know you are. But a doughnut may make me a little more convinced.”

I laugh. “I guess I can do that.”

“It’s really the least thing.”

We both bust a gut as I drive to Tops Friendly Markets, the only nearby place open at this hour with baked goods.