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Esther knew when the whole thing started. Or the first incident she noticed at least. There could have been smaller, unmemorable moments before then, but the big one— “It was my parents’ divorce.”
“Oh.” Ashley slid down to the floor next to her, leaving Trouble to drift off to the middle of the room untethered. “That does sound like a big one. When was that?”
“Thirteen years ago now?” She tried waving it away like it was no big deal. “I was probably a couple of years older than Jason.”
“Do you want to talk about it? I’m told I’m an excellent listener.”
“I thought I was helping. They were so busy all the time and hardly talking. I just wanted them to be happy again. I heard about this radio giveaway for a free week-long cruise for two, all expenses paid. It felt like a sign, so I called the station, and I did it. I won. I gave my parents the tickets.” Esther braced her forearm across her chest, holding herself in place, while she fiddled with the cross at her ear. “By the time they got back, Mom had taken a job as the cruise line’s sous-chef and Dad had met Marjorie and their divorce was officially being filed. I’d failed at keeping them together.”
“Are they happy now?”
“I think so.”
“Then that’s what really matters. You didn’t wreck anyone’s life.”
“But that doesn’t negate that my good intentions end up with negative results. You heard what Uncle Pete and Jason were saying. That was just the tip of the iceberg. I can’trecommend the smallest thing without the worst possible outcome happening.”
Ashley nodded along. “That’s fair, but I still think you’re taking on too much of the responsibility for other people’s decisions.”
Esther eyed her sideways, not trusting her words. What she hadn’t told Ashley was that a part of her just wanted something new, something exciting, and sometimes she projected that desire onto others when giving suggestions. When she picked the restaurant for the family reunion, the final choices were either the new place or a couple of chains they’d been to a million times. When her aunt asked Esther for her thoughts on a new hairstyle, Esther had already overheard her aunt bemoaning the lack of control she had over her wedding and how she wanted something for herself. When her parents fought, her mom lamented never going anywhere new anymore and her dad would fire back that he needed more quality time. In the moment, her suggestions always sounded like the right ones.
“All right.” Ashley’s cool hand on her knee brought her back from her memories. “How about you continue to tell me your thoughts and suggestions. I’m immortal after all. You can’t kill me, Esther.”
“You say that now,” she mumbled.
“I’m ready for whatever you throw at me. Trust me. It’ll be fine.” Ashley smiled, and it took some of the chill out of the room.
“All right,” Esther said. “I’ll try.”
16
Ashley
The nice thing about taking anthropology was they didn’t do a final exam. The awful thing about taking anthropology was the final project was a twenty-page report on a subject Ashley had lost interest in fifteen pages ago. She picked up her phone.
Ashley
Remind me again why I’m taking anthropology?
Esther replied in a matter of seconds.
Esther
Besides the fact that it’s a fascinating subject and everyone should take at least one class? Probably because you of all people need to remember how to be human.
Ashley scoffed at her screen. She was plenty human. She took another sip of her Bloody Mary—with actual blood. Well, itwasn’t like she could stop drinking blood. That was just part of the package.
Esther
You’re not doing anything tonight right?
Ashley
Wow. Presumptive.
Esther
I’m on my way over to pick you up.
