Between Sisters

“I met George Strait today. Can you believe it? He passed on a song—one called “Dark Country Corners”—and then mentioned that it’d be a good match with my voice. I listened to the song and it was great. ” He started to sing to her.

A sob caught in her throat. She had to stop him before she burst into tears. “That’s beautiful. Top 10 for sure. ”

“Are you okay, baby?”

“I’m fine. Everyone here is fine. Meg and I have been spending a lot of time together; you’d be surprised. And Ali and Sam send their love. ”

“Slap ’em right back with mine. I miss you, Claire. ”

“I miss you, too. But it’s only a few more weeks. ”

“Kent thinks we should have all the songs chosen by next week. Then it’s into the studio. Do you think you could come down for that? I’d love to sing the songs to you. ”

“Maybe,” she said, wondering what lie she’d come up with when the time came. She was too exhausted to think of one now. “Are you loving every minute down there?”

“As much as I can love anything without you. But, yeah. ”

She was doing the right thing. She was. “Well, babe, I’ve got to run. Meg is taking me out to lunch. Then we’re getting manicures at the Gene Juarez Spa. ”

“I thought you got a manicure yesterday?”

Claire winced. “Uh. Those were pedicures. I love you. ”

“I love you, too, Claire. Is . . . is everything okay?”

She felt the sting of tears again. “Everything’s perfect. ”

“I made us a picnic lunch,” Meghann said the next morning after another treatment.

“I’m not very hungry,” Claire answered.

“I know that. I just thought . . . ”

Claire hauled up the will to think about someone else. Sadly, that was becoming difficult, too. “You’re right. It’s a beautiful day. ”

Meghann led her to the car. Within minutes they were on the freeway. To their left, Lake Union sparkled in the sunlight. They passed the Gothic brick buildings of the University of Washington, then raced over the floating bridge.

Lake Washington was busy today. Boats zipped back and forth, hauling skiers in their wake.

On Mercer Island, Meghann exited the freeway and turned onto a narrow, tree-lined drive. At a beautiful, gray-shingled house, she parked. “This is my partner’s house. She said we were welcome to spend the afternoon here. ”

“I’m surprised she hasn’t fired you, with all the time you’ve taken off lately. ”

Meghann helped Claire out of the car and down the grassy lawn to the silvery wooden dock that cut into the blue water. “Remember Lake Winobee?” she said, guiding Claire to the end of the dock, helping her sit down without falling.

“The summer I got that pink bathing suit?”

Meghann set the picnic basket down, then sat beside her sister. They both dangled their feet over the edge. Water slapped against the pilings. Beside them, a varnished wooden sailboat called The Defense Rests bobbed easily from side to side, its lines screeching with each movement.

“I stole that bikini,” Meghann said. “From Fred

Meyer. When I got home, I was so scared I threw up. Mama didn’t care; she just looked up from Variety and said, ‘Sticky fingers will get a girl in trouble. ’?”

Claire turned to her sister, studying her profile. “I waited for you to come back, you know. Dad always said, ‘Don’t worry, Claire-Bear, she’s your sister, she’ll be back. ’ I waited and waited. What happened?”

Meghann sighed heavily, as if she’d known this conversation couldn’t be avoided anymore. “Remember when Mama went down for the Starbase IV audition?”

“Yes. ”