Page 84 of Every Time We Touch

“Thank god,” Heather says.

The support of her twin sister has helped Jen in a way I, as an only child, might never be able to fathom.

“We can all be in the same space together. And we can talk about Fluxx,” Eric says.

“Fluxx isn’t the only reason I asked you to come over today,” Heather says. “I’ve had an idea I wanted to run by both you and Jen.”

“Can’t wait to hear all about it,” Jen says, “but first…” She opens her arms to Eric. “I need a hug.”

Eric wraps his arms around her and seeing them like that lifts a few more heavy pounds of weight off my shoulders. In this family, with this kind of unconditional love, even things that might tear other families apart somehow remain manageable.

“Thanks, Dad,” Jen mumbles, then steps out of her father’s embrace. She walks straight over to me. I want to take her hand in mine, but I don’t. We might have said ‘I love you’ to each other but the ramifications of our love still need a cautious step-by-step approach. And today marks another huge step. There’s no yelling. There isn’t even any silent incrimination—at least I don’t think so.

“What did you want to say?” Jen asks Heather.

“Let’s sit.” She gestures at the table she and Jen were huddled over before Eric arrived. “You too, Clancy,” Heather says. “Please.”

We all gather around the table. Heather drums her fingertips on the table.

“Jen’s not the only one up for a change,” she says.

For a split second, I fear she might announce she has the hots for a family member-in-law as well—that might be too much for even the St Jameses to handle.

“I want to go back to work,” she says. “I’ve been a stay-at-home mom long enough and Bobby can work part-time if needed.”

“Sure, honey,” Eric says.

“I’ve had an idea for an app.” Heather looks at Jen. “Something easy to use that offers legal guidance for kids in precarious situations. The kids that Juan and Imani work with at the LGBT Center or Justine Blackburn at The Rainbow Shelter.”

“An app?” Jen asks. “Meaning?” A grin is already bursting on her face.

“An app I’d like to develop with you,” Heather says.

“Oh, wow,” Jen says. “I did not see this coming.” She narrows her eyes, as though she can’t believe she wasn’t—for once—able to read her sister’s mind.

“You can take some time off first.” Heather grins back at Jen, then looks at her father. “But I wanted to get your take on it as well.”

“My only experience with apps,” Eric starts. Oops. He glances at me and I can’t help but chuckle. He grins back.

“Is DoorDash?” Jen asks, knowing full well what Eric was about to say.

“Exactly.” Eric nods. He cuts his gaze back to me and winks. This family. Despite Jen’s fears, what we did never even came close to denting it—let alone destroying it.

“Your Dad-take,” Heather says.

They continue their conversation and I follow along, enjoying their back-and-forth and the simple, easy, happy way they behave around each other.

I make a mental note to call my dad later and ask him when I will become a big sister. I never knew being part of a big family would suit me, but maybe that’s because I didn’t understand how they work. Families don’t stay whole because they never break. They stay whole because someone is always willing to put them back together.

Chapter 43

Jen

TWO YEARS LATER

Our first dance was never going to be to any other song.

The opening notes of “A Breathless Place” drift through my mother’s garden, and Clancy’s fingers close around mine.