Page 121 of The Next Lie

“Mr. T. I know.”

Her eyes flick to mine. For one second, I see it. A tiny crack. Recognition, maybe. The shape of a laugh that dies before it can make sound.

Then she looks toward the pool.

“You should go back inside.”

I almost laugh. “Amazing. You really do fit right in here.”

Her gaze cuts back. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means everyone in this house has a favorite version of telling me where to stand and how to grieve.”

“I’m not telling you where to stand.”

“You literally came outside to tell me to go back inside.” The leash swings as I gesture.

“I’m telling you to leave New Orleans altogether.”

I stare at her. “Excuse me?”

She crosses her arms. “You heard me. Go back to Chicago.”

“That’s not happening.”

“You’re a little idiot if you don’t.”

“Why? Because you said so?”

“Because you don’t belong here.”

My throat tightens before I can stop it. I hate that she sees it. I hate that her face does not soften.

“I’m your sister, Dee,” I say. “Whether you like it or not.”

“No.” Her voice goes flat. “You were my sister.”

The patio seems to tilt half an inch under my feet. Homer chews the leash near my shoe, oblivious to the fact that my heart just took a direct hit.

Delia keeps going. “I don’t know what you came looking for, Reva, but you won’t find it here. I’m not that girl anymore. I’m not your lost half. I’m not your reunion story. I’m not going to cry in your arms and make all of this mean something beautiful.”

I snap the rubber bands on my wrist, hard, one right after another. “That’s not what I asked for.”

“Yes, you did. Maybe not out loud, but you came here with those eyes.”

“What eyes?”

“The ones that keep trying to dig up a child who is dead.”

Anger saves me from the hurt.

I reel in Homer, scoop him up, and march to the sliding door. He complains loudly as I set him inside on the cool floor. His harness leash trails behind him like the world’s saddest parade ribbon.

“Stay,” I tell him.

He immediately bats at the glass.

“Great. Boundaries are going well for both of us.”