Between Sisters

d there I was,” Mama was saying to a rapt audience, “all ready to take the stage in a dress that wouldn’t zip up. I am not,” she said, laughing prettily, “a flat-chested woman, so y’all can imagine—”

“Mama?” Meghann said, touching her arm.

Mama spun around. When she saw Meghann, her painted smile faded. For a moment, she looked smaller, vulnerable. Little Joanie Jojovitch from the wrong side of the tracks in Detroit. “Well?” she whispered.

“Go on up, Mama. It’s good news. ”

Mama sighed heavily. “Of course it is. Y’all were so dramatic. ” She turned back to her audience. “I hate to leave in the middle of a story, but it seems my daughter has made a miraculous recovery. I am reminded of a television movie I once did, where. . . . ”

Meghann walked away.

“Auntie Meg!” Alison said, jumping up, throwing herself at Meg, who scooped her up and gave her a kiss. “My mommy is all better!”

At that, another whoop went up from the Bluesers. “Come on,” Gina said to her friends. “Let’s go see Claire. ”

Bobby walked up to Meghann. “Come on, Ali Gator,” he said, pulling the little girl into his arms. “Let’s go kiss Mommy. ” He started to walk away, then paused and turned back. Very gently, he kissed Meghann’s cheek, whispered, “Thank you. ”

Meghann closed her eyes, surprised by the depth of her emotion. When she looked up again, through a blur of tears, Sam was coming toward her.

He moved slowly, as if he were afraid his legs would give out. He reached out, touched her cheek.

It was a long moment before he said softly, “I’ll expect you at the house this Thanksgiving. None of your lame-ass excuses. We’re family. ”

Meg thought of all the years she’d declined Claire’s offer, and all the years one hadn’t been extended. Then she thought of last Thanksgiving, when she’d eaten Raisin Bran for dinner by herself. All that time, she’d pretended that she wasn’t lonely. No more pretending for her, and no more being alone when she had a family to be with. “Just try and keep me away. ”

Sam nodded and kept walking. She saw that he looped over by the food line and grabbed Mama’s arm, dragging her away from the crowd. She blew air-kisses as she stumbled along beside him.

Meghann stood there a minute longer, uncertain of where she should go.

Joe.

She ran through the hallways, smiling and giving thumbs-ups to the nurses and aides who had become more than friends in the past few weeks.

In the waiting room, she skidded to a stop.

It was empty. The magazine he’d been reading lay, still open, on the table.

She glanced back down the corridor, but Claire didn’t need her right now. There would be time for them later, when the excitement had dimmed and real life returned. There was a lifetime left for them. Right now, what Claire needed was clothes to wear home from the hospital.

Meghann went to the elevators and rode down to the lobby, then headed outside. She couldn’t wait to call Elizabeth with the news.

It was a glorious, sunny day. Everything about the city felt sharper, cleaner. The distant Sound shone silvery blue between the gray high-rises. She walked downhill, thinking about so many things—her life, her job, her family.

Maybe she’d change her career, practice a different kind of law. Or maybe she’d start a business, sort of an informational clearinghouse for people with brain tumors; maybe she could find a disillusioned doctor to partner with her. Or maybe a charitable company, one that helped finance the best of care in the worst of times. The world seemed wide-open to her now, full of new possibilities.

It took her less than a half an hour to walk home. She was just about to cross the street when she saw him, standing outside the front door of her building.

When he saw her, Joe pulled away from the wall he’d been leaning against and crossed the street. “Gina told me where you lived. ”

“Stu told you about the MRI?”

“I spent the last hour with him. It looks good for Claire. ”

“Yeah. ”

He moved toward her. “I’m tired of not caring, Meg,” he said softly. “And I’m tired of pretending I died when Diana did. ”

She looked up at him. They were close now, close enough so that he could kiss her if he chose. “What chance do we have, a couple like us?”