Winter Garden

“Mom? Sick? She never even gets a cold. ”

“I know. Weird, huh?”

“Now I’m certain about my plan,” Nina said. “What plan?”

“I’ll tell you at dinner. Mom needs to hear this, too. Come on, let’s go. ”

Nina waited with obvious impatience while Meredith returned the photograph to its hiding place and hung the coat back up. Together, they went downstairs.

Their mother was seated at the kitchen table. On the counter, there were dozens of loaves of bread and several bags from the local Chinese restaurant.

Nina carried the Chinese food to the table, positioning the white cartons around the vodka bottle and shot glasses.

“Can I have wine instead?” Meredith said.

“Sure,” Nina said absently, pouring two shots instead of three.

“You seem . . . buoyant,” Mom said.

“Like a Pekingese when the mailman comes,” Meredith added when her sister sat down across from her.

“I have a surprise,” Nina said, lifting her shot glass. “Cheers. ”

“What is it?” Meredith asked.

“First we talk,” Nina said, reaching for the beef with broccoli, serving up a portion on her plate. “Let’s see. My favorite thing to do is travel. I love passion in all of its guises. And my boyfriend wants me to settle down. ”

Meredith was shocked by that last bit. It was so intimate. To her surprise, she decided to match it. “I love to shop for beautiful things. I used to dream of opening a string of Belye Nochi gift stores, and . . . my husband left me. ”

Mom looked up sharply but said nothing.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Meredith said at last. “I think maybe love can just . . . dissolve. ”

“No, it does not,” her mother said.

“So how do—”

“You hang on,” her mother said. “Until your hands are bleeding, and still you do not let go. ”

“Is that how you and Dad stayed happy for so long?” Nina asked. Mom reached for the chow mein’s serving spoon. “Of course that is what I am speaking of. ”

“Your turn,” Nina said to Mom.

Meredith could have kicked her sister. For once they were actually talking and Nina turned it right back to the game.

Mom stared down at her food. “My favorite thing to do is cook. I love the feel of a fire on a cold night. And . . . ” She paused.

Meredith found herself leaning forward.

“And . . . I am afraid of many things. ” She picked up her fork and began to eat.

Meredith sat back in amazement. It was impossible to imagine her mother afraid of anything, and yet she’d revealed it, so it must be true. She wanted to ask, What frightens you? but she didn’t have the courage.

“It’s time for my surprise,” Nina said, smiling. “We’re going to Alaska. ”

Meredith frowned. “We who?”

“You, me, and Mom. ” She reached down and produced three tickets. “On a cruise ship. ”