I figured now was as good a time as ever to go for a run and enjoy the early morning before it got bogged down by the late June heat. When I got dressed and made it downstairs, I nearly tripped over my feet seeing Mom standing at the kitchen island, still in her pink-striped PJs and making a cup of coffee.
“Oh shit,” I hissed to myself, but it was loud enough for her to hear and lift her gaze to me. I really should have just stayed in bed.
“Good morning,” she greeted me, lifting her coffee cup up to her mouth to take a sip.
“Morning,” I replied, putting a hand to the stair banister so I could stretch my calves. Maybe if I kept it casual, so would she.
“Saw Brooklyn leaving.”
Now why on earth would I have thought she’d say anything else? Bad judgment on my part. I winced, shaking my head to avoid direct eye contact with her.
“We fell asleep.” I shrugged. “It was an accident.”
“Did you two rehearse that? Because he said the same thing.” She smirked behind her coffee mug. “The last time I saw aguydo a walk of shame was when I was in college.”
I groaned. “I am going for a run and pretending this conversation did not happen.”
While that was a great idea in theory, I could only avoid the inevitable for so long. The inevitable being my sister, who was awake by the time I got back, drinking what was left of the coffee Mom had made earlier. The two of them had been sitting at the kitchen island, and as soon as Nikki clocked me, she scraped the stool back with a screech against the kitchen floor, scowling at me as she walked past and back upstairs to her room.
“What wasthatabout?” Mom asked.
“Don’t worry about it,” I told her, making a beeline for the empty coffeepot. I stared into it, as if in the swirl of leftover grinds was some kind of spiritual response, like tarot cards or tea leaves. I didn’t even believe in that stuff, but maybe I should. “She’s being moody.”
I couldn’t loop Mom in without exposing all of Brooklyn’s lore, but I was beginning to tremble with how much I’d been keeping in, so I tiptoed around it the best I could.
I spun around to face her and leaned back against the counter. “Look, Brooklyn has a history. Who doesn’t? But right now, Nikki isn’t being very understanding of that. That’s all. It’ll blow over.”
Mom nodded as she continued to sip her coffee. “I’m sure it will, because you’re a fixer, not a fighter.”
“Who said we’re fighting?” I set the empty coffeepot down on the counter a little too aggressively.
“That poor coffeepot,” she replied. “Look, Nat, just be careful about how much energy you put into fixing other people.”
“I’m not—” I groaned and pulled at the sleeves of my running jacket. “Who are we even talking about here?”
“I’m only giving you a general word of caution. I’ve been in your shoes. You can put an exorbitant amount of effort into fixing someone who maybe doesn’t want it or isn’t ready for it, and you end up just damaging yourself in the process.”
“I’mokay,” I reassured her. “I’m being supportive. Is that so wrong?”
“No, it’s not,” she replied. “I’m sure your sister could use some support too.”
“I’malwayssupportive of her.” I heard the patience thinning in my voice. “That doesn’t mean I have to agree with some of the things she said.”
“I understand, and I don’t need to tell you she feels the same way.” Mom got up from the stool and began fixing the coffee maker for another round. “And that’s more important than whatever you two disagreed about.”
“Sometimes I hate being the bigger person,” I grumbled.
“You hate fighting more.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I waved her off. “Guess I should go shower and try to no longer be in disagreement.”
“Sounds good.” She nodded. “Because your hair smells like low tide.”
“Thanks.” I chuckled.
When I made it upstairs, Nikki’s bedroom door was cracked open slightly, and rays of light from the suncatcher in her window cut across the hallway floor. I knocked on the door softly, but when she didn’t answer, I nudged it open farther to see her in her bed with her headphones on.
“Can we talk?” I asked her, motioning for her to take her headphones off. After a few moments of glowering and being stubborn, she realized I wasn’t going to leave, so she pulled them down.
