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“I swear, Shep, I didn’t act like I normally do. He’s given me no reason to feel insecure. Even that night, I was genuinely happy he was going out with his work friends. I encouraged him to do it when he was on the fence about joining them.”
“Ooohhhkaaay,” she drew out across more beats than necessary. But my twin was snarky and impatient right out of the womb. I didn’t expect her to coddle me now that I was obviously emotionally fragile. “So what’s going on? This isn’t really making sense.”
“To me either,” I explained. “Friday night we said our goodbyes, and he’s been ghosting me ever since. And that’s not like him at all. Since I’ve been laid up here”—I lifted my enormous blue cast again—“he’s been very attentive. It’s been sweet, actually.” I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my lips when I admitted that. My sister matched my expression and gave my thigh a reassuring pat.
“Then there must be a logical explanation for the whole thing,” she said in a tone more upbeat than I’d heard from her in months. I watched her carefully as she rose and tightened her robe.
Biting my tongue about her weight loss, I said instead, “God, Shep, I hope you’re right. I just don’t know how else to get a hold of him.”
“You know where he lives, right? You were there the night you got hurt?”
I nodded, trying to keep up with her possible idea. When I didn’t say more, she blurted, “Then go there.” She gave me her patented duh look. “Knock on his fucking door, and get some answers.”
It was my turn with the expression indicating she wasn’t using her brain to its fullest capacity. “I can’t drive. Not yet, at least. I have to wait until my appointment on Tuesday for the doctor to clear me to get back behind the wheel. And”—I held up my flat hand to stop her rejoinder because she already had sucked in a breath to let one fly—“before you suggest I drive anyway, Mom was right there when the doctor explicitly said not to.”
She shook her head and grinned that evil, mischievous grin she had perfected. “You’re such a rule follower.” She glanced at the clock on her nightstand and shot back to her warp-speed movement around our room. Gathering her things for a shower, she paused by the door on her way down the hall to the bathroom.
“I have an idea,” Shepperd said.
“I’m listening.”
“I have some downtime tomorrow afternoon. Like around four. I’ll drive you over to his place if you don’t hear from him by then. Sound good?” She waited for me to approve the plan and then disappeared out the door.
In a few moments, I heard the bathroom door slam and the shower kick on.
About ten minutes later, my mother’s tentative knock pulled me from my daydreaming. Since Shep had gone to the shower, I’d been imagining every possible outcome of showing up at Andrew’s house uninvited. From finding him in a compromising position with another woman to him dead on the toilet with his pants around his ankles—I had visited every plausible and ridiculous scenario in my imagination.
“Darling? Can I get you anything?” Her gentle smile warmed my aching heart.
“Hey, Mom. Nah, I’m good here. Plus, it’s just a broken arm. I can do things for myself.” I sat up taller and announced with confidence, “I’m actually thinking about going out with Shep tomorrow afternoon.” At her surprised reaction, I added, “You know, to get some fresh air. Sunshine?” That explanation softened her facial features, so I added for good measure, “I’ve been going a little stir-crazy just lying around. Never good for my head, you know?” I tapped my temple with my index finger a couple of times, and she gave me a hearty nod.
“I think that’s a great idea, honey. And I’m even happier to hear you’re going with your sister.” Conspiratorially, she whispered, “What has her barreling around here? She’s been manic since she walked in the door.”
“I’m not really sure. We were talking before she went to shower, but I was selfish and having a pity party for one. I didn’t even ask her what she had going on.” Great! Now I piled on guilt to the already full self-loathing I was pummeling my psyche with.
“I’ll see what I can find out when she comes back in,” I offered.
I was the only one Shep really talked to in the house these days, so I was often enlisted to investigate what my twin was up to. Not really a bad thing. I knew their concern was genuine. It was the reporting back that always made me feel like a traitor. Not that I necessarily told them everything I discovered, of course. The loyalty to my twin would always trump any other relationship I had.
“Your father and I just worry about her,” Mom explained unnecessarily. “You know that, right?”
“Of course I do. After raising Hannah and Agatha, I’m sure you’ve learned there are some things you don’t want or need to know regarding your twentysomething daughters, though,” I said lightheartedly.
My words had the desired effect, and she went on her way.
Shepperd’s frantic behavior continued over the next hour while she dried her hair and put on enough makeup for the both of us.
“Where are you going?” I finally asked after watching her whip the third black outfit off a hanger so forcefully, the empty hanger flipped off the bar and smacked her in the face.
“For fuck’s sake!” she shouted, and I snickered. I could plainly see she wasn’t injured, so I wasn’t being a total jerk by laughing.
I got out of bed and cautiously approached. “Want some help?” I asked quietly.
She gave me a look I’d seen a hundred times. It was her nonverbal stand-in for be serious, and regardless of how often she treated me to the expression, it always stung.
“What?” I snapped and was surprised at my own tone. I was tired, and my arm hurt, but she didn’t deserve that. “Sorry,” I muttered. “But I don’t understand why you act like I couldn’t possibly be of assistance.”
“It’s not that, Mayday. I mean, not in general. But with clothing? Yeah, I guess it is. You know our styles are completely opposite. I’m already frustrated with this situation.” She waved a fully extended arm in the direction of her side of our closet. “I don’t want to also entertain offers for a style makeover.”
