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She was being caring, not interfering. Wasn’t she?
She forced herself to examine whether that might be the truth. It was a deeply uncomfortable experience. She could see how it might be possible to interpret her intervention as interference rather than loving concern.
“I suppose the reason I don’t share my own problems is the same reason I do everything else. I’m protecting you.”
Rosie didn’t smile. “You don’t have to protect me from life, Katie. I’m living it, right alongside you. When did we last do something fun together?”
Catherine arrived before Katie had a chance to formulate a reply. She wasn’t sure if she was frustrated by the reprieve, or relieved. Mostly she was worried. It was unlike Rosie to be confrontational.
And there was no sign of her apologizing or softening in any way. She didn’t reach for Katie’s hand or mouth sorry or any of the things Katie would have expected.
And when had they last had fun together?
As they drove back to the lodge, Rosie sat silent next to her.
“I hope your parents are having fun,” Catherine said. “Dogsledding is usually a highlight for our guests.”
Katie couldn’t begin to imagine her parents sledding, but what did she know? Right now she wasn’t thinking about her parents, she was thinking about her sister. According to Rosie, she was no fun.
She answered Catherine politely and then looked out of the windows at the mountains, feeling as if she’d somehow let her sister down.
Despite the discomfort, she forced herself to analyze their relationship. It wasn’t that she didn’t see her sister as an equal, it was more that there was an imbalance in their relationship. Katie had been ten years old when Rosie was born. When Katie had been sixteen, Rosie had been six. They’d moved through each phase of life at different times.
“I’m going to drop you girls back at Snowfall Lodge because I have the floral designer coming at three,” Catherine said. “Katie, Becca can’t do your hair until five, but I thought you and Rosie might like a swim, or a massage, in the meantime. Have a little sister time.”
Sister time.
What was that supposed to look like?
Katie shifted in her seat. It was up to her to make the change, and she needed to do it now. “A swim sounds good, but I didn’t bring a swimsuit.” Would swimming count as fun? She didn’t even know.
“We sell swimsuits. Snowfall Lodge places great emphasis on aquatic recreation.” Catherine turned toward the lodge. “Your parents are having their romantic dinner in town tonight, and I have my book group which I can’t miss because it’s our last one of the year and I’m responsible for the food, so will you two be all right?”
Rosie nodded. “I’m having a quiet dinner with Dan. Is that all right with you, Katie? You could order room service to the tree house and chill with a movie.”
No, it wasn’t all right. Suddenly it seemed urgent that she and Rosie have fun together.
“As we’re having our hair done and getting all gl
ammed up, maybe we should have one last fling as single sisters and go dancing. There has to be somewhere to dance in Aspen?”
“Dancing?” Rosie was looking at her as if she’d suggested looting an art gallery.
“I feel like celebrating. And it would be good to have fun together.”
Her sister held her gaze. “All right.”
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” Catherine said. “It’s been all wedding, wedding, wedding lately and this will give you the chance to relax with your sister. Dan won’t mind. You two have the rest of your lives to be together.”
Katie focused on her breathing. That surge of panic that enveloped her at the thought of Rosie spending the rest of her life with a man she barely knew? She was ignoring it. Mindfulness. Meditation. Medication. Whatever it took. She wasn’t saying anything else about it. Rosie was an adult, capable of making her own decisions.
Maybe her sister was right. Maybe she was too protective. And what did she know about love anyway? Nothing. She wasn’t sure she knew much about having fun, either, but she was determined to address that.
They spent the afternoon swimming in the heated rooftop pool that was the crowning glory of Snowfall Lodge. Covered by a glass dome, it was like being outdoors in the mountains.
She and Rosie had the place to themselves. As Katie slid into the pool, the water warmed her skin and relieved some of the tension in her muscles.
Keeping her body and shoulders beneath the surface of the water, she admired the jagged mountains and the tips of the snowy trees. It was as if the world had been painted in white.
