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Her phone vibrated. She picked it up and looked at it. “Oh, thank God.” She closed her eyes and put it face down on the sofa cushion.

“What?”

“She burned the turkey. They’re going to Pancake Disco.”

I raised my head. “Tell them to come here.”

She opened her eyes. “Really?”

“Yeah, my parents would love to see everyone.”

“Is there enough food?”

I laughed. “Come on.”

“Right. Forgot where I was. Okay, I’ll text them.”

I watched her type in the message.

“It was called the Urinary Leash,” Grandma said to Paulie. “Look it up on that Google thing you got on your phone. Women could only be gone as long as their bladders could hold out, no women’s restrooms, all of Great Britain. It was to keep women home. Another tool of the patriarchy.”

The whole room groaned. If she used the word patriarchy, we had to drink twice.

“I need to call it,” I said, putting my drink on the coffee table. “I have to be able to function.”

“Me too,” Anna said, setting her glass next to mine.

“You want some water?” I asked, getting up.

“Sure.”

I went to the kitchen. I was grabbing two glasses when Dad came in behind me.

“Good to see you two together,” he said, squeezing my shoulder.

“Yeah,” I said, even though I couldn’t look at him.

I was suddenly glad I was scheduled at the hospital on New Year’s Eve. I’d been feeling sorry for myself, and now I was just grateful for the excuse not to have to show up at the end-of-year party and explain why Anna wasn’t with me. Why Anna would never be with me beyond today.

Dad crossed his arms and leaned on the counter. “So how long has this been going on?”

I scoffed. Three hours?

“It’s really new,” I said, getting ice.

Mom came in holding two of Grandma’s empty martini glasses. “I think Grandma’s been overserved. She’s talking about stabbing men with knitting needles.”

“Again?” Dad said.

“Don’t worry, I’ve hidden them,” she said, putting the glasses in the sink.

“Hey, Anna’s family’s coming over,” I said. “They burned their turkey. Five more.”

My parents brightened instantly.

“I’ll put out more place settings,” Dad said. “How exciting! It’ll be good to catch up. God, it’s been what? Almost ten years?”

“Maybe this time next year they’ll be in-laws,” Mom said, giving Dad a pointed look.