Between Sisters

When Claire heard the ping of the elevator, she went into the condo, closing the door behind her.

Inside, the stereo was on. Dwight Yoakam’s “Pocket of a Clown” pumped through the speakers.

Claire turned the corner and there he was.

Bobby.

Her hand flew to her bald spot.

She ran to the bathroom, flipped open the toilet lid, and threw up.

He was behind her, holding what was left of her hair back, telling her it was okay. “I’m here now, Claire. I’m here. ”

She closed her eyes, holding back tears of humiliation one breath at a time.

He rubbed her back.

Finally, she went to the sink and brushed her teeth. When she turned to face him, she was trying to smile. “Welcome to my nightmare. ”

He came toward her, and the love in his eyes made her want to weep. “Our nightmare, Claire. ”

She didn’t know what to say. She was afraid that if she opened her mouth, she’d burst into tears, and she wanted to look strong for him.

“You had no right to keep this from me. ”

“I didn’t want to ruin everything. And I thought . . . I’d get better. You’d dreamed of singing for so long. ”

“I dreamed of being a star, yeah. I like singing, but I love you. I can’t believe you’d hide this from me. What if . . . ”

Claire caught her lip between her teeth. “I’m sorry. ”

“You didn’t trust me. Do you know how that feels?” His voice was tight, not his voice at all.

“I was just trying to love you. ”

“I wonder if you even know what love is. I’m in the hospital every day, honey, battling for my life, but don’t you worry about it, just sing your stupid songs. What kind of man do you think I am?”

“I’m sorry, Bobby. I just . . . ” She stared at him, shaking her head.

He grabbed her, pulled her toward him, and held her so tightly it made her gasp. “I love you, Claire. I love you,” he said fiercely. “When are you going to get that through your head?”

She wrapped her arms around him, clung to him as if she might fall without him. “I guess my tumor got in the way. But I get it now, Bobby. I get it. ”

Hours later, when Meghann returned to the condo, the lights were off. She tiptoed through the darkness.

When she reached the living room, a light clicked on.

Claire and Bobby lay together on the sofa, their bodies entwined. He was snoring gently.

“I waited up for you,” Claire said.

Meghann tossed her briefcase on the chair. “I had to call him, Claire. ”

“How did you know what he’d do?”

Meghann looked down at Bobby. “He was in the recording studio when I called. Actually recording a song. Honestly, I didn’t think he’d come. ”

Claire glanced down at her sleeping husband, then up at Meg. A look passed between the sisters; in it was the sad residue of their childhood. “Yeah,” she said softly, “neither did I. ”