“The funding, I know.” Sari nodded. She still held Becca’s hand captive. “But your eyes are telling me what your words won’t, Becca. Something’s wrong and I’m not leaving here until I find out what it is.”
“Sari, I’m telling you—”
“I’ll wait for Will to get home if I have to.”
Shoulders sagging, Becca turned, put their plates in the dishwasher. “You have enough to deal with.”
“Stop it!”
Becca stared as her sister crossed back to the table and sat down. She couldn’t believe Sari had just yelled at her.
“Stop what?” she asked.
“Coddling me, treating me like I’m some kind of emotional invalid. I can’t stand it anymore.”
“I don’t do that!” Becca might have felt hurt if she wasn’t so astonished. She joined Sari at the table.
“Yeah,” Sari said softly, “you do.”
Becca didn’t know what to say.
“I’m not blaming you,” Sari said. “For a while there, I needed to be coddled. But I have to get back to living, Bec, or I may as well die.”
“You are living! You’re on three of my committees.”
“That’s existing, not living.” Sari’s expression was pleading and adamant at the same time. “I need to be able to contribute something meaningful if my life’s going to mean anything. I’m ready, Becca. I want to live again.”
“Have you told Bob?” There’d been a time when Sari’s husband had been afraid he’d never have his wife back again.
Becca had shared his fears.
“We’ve talked,” Sari said. “He’s still skeptical, but I know I’m ready. I feel strong now.” She smiled. “I was so irritated at Mom today I wanted to scream.”
With tears in her eyes, Becca took Sari’s hand. “Welcome back,” she whispered. And thanked God for what had just been returned to her.
“So, you gonna tell me what’s wrong?” Sari asked again, so gently Becca started to cry in earnest, but she was smiling through her tears.
“I’ve missed you,” she said, pulling her sister around the table for a hug.
But when they broke apart, Sari still had the look of a pit bull working on a side of beef. “Tell me what’s wrong, Bec. Maybe I can help.”
Becca shook her head. “There’s nothing you can do. Nothing anyone can do.”
“You’re scaring me.”
“Don’t worry,” Becca said automatically. She’d been protecting Sari for a long time. It wasn’t a role she was comfortable relinquishing, no matter how badly she needed to do so. “Everything’s going to be fine. I promise.”
Sari sank back into her chair. “Who’s sick?”
“Nobody’s sick.” Becca sat down, too. For not being sick, she had a stomach that was sure giving a convincing imitation.
Sari looked her directly in the eye. Becca held her ground.
“What do you want to do while we wait for Will?” her sister finally asked.
“Sari.” Becca drew out the name, begging her sister to let it go.
“We could play cards. Or figure out what to do with that empty alcove in your foyer.”